Today we’d like to introduce you to Sunni Ankh.
Sunni, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m a 32-year-old creative director/curator, entrepreneur, and chef. I’ve been cooking professionally for about 15 years now and curating forever five years. I never went to culinary school or anything like that. I’m more of a self-taught local chef. I’ve worked a few gigs from Vegan restaurants, coffee shops, and night clubs/bars and music festivals.
In 2014, I decided to join forces with a friend of mine who was interested in forming a local co-op called “PECAN MILK.” in which we produce dairy-free milk alternatives and natural juices/teas, etc. The purpose of our co-op is to help find dignified work for LGBTQ POC as well as women, young adults, immigrants and folks with disabilities. As of right now, we are in a total of five natural food/community owned stores and two coffee shops and still expanding.
In a matter of a few weeks, we will be doing home deliveries and shipping nationally across the USA. Outside of Pecan Milk, I am working with two close friends to help launch an amazing food truck to help serve vegan-friendly and vegetarian cuisine to lower income/urban communities throughout Atlanta. I am also the curator and creative director for ART REV: THE HUB, a curated cultural hub & creative agency based in ATL.
My goal is to ideally start up a community owned and operated cafe here in the city where I can serve farm-to-table, vegan, worldy and internationally infused cuisine.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The hardest struggles is finding people to collaborate and work with who are truly decided to their craft. Also, having to deal with managers and business people who have never run restaurants, bars or been industry workers and have the nerve to want to be managers, CEO’s and owners.
Luckily, I have never been without a gig/job ever. I learned how to work under pressure and just deal with stuff half of the time, especially when it was out of my control. Often times I have the sources and answers to most situations that have occurred in my workspaces in the past, but a lot of people don’t take my advice, so I just let things dissolve and go on about my business.
Please tell us about Pecan Milk + ART REV: THE HUB.
PECAN MILK has been a blessing for me. I’ve got to work alongside some of the most amazing people. I am 1 of 6 of the worker/owners of the co-op. In the co-op, I am the producer of the product and help take care of a lot of marketing and social media content.
As far as cooking goes, I love to infuse foods from all over the world, putting my own twist to them, even going as far as making them vegan/vegetarian/pescatarian approved. I am so proud that my team and I at PECAN MILK are all very strong beings.
We range from musicians, chefs, performing arts artist, photographers, and activists who are all queer poc from the city of ATL trying to make a name for yourself and others spreading love and awareness one day at a time.
Our product is different from a lot of other companies because our product only uses four ingredients or less, we use all local product and we produce, package and directly sell ours produces ourself.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
One of my most favorite memories as a child was being able to travel to a small country town outside of Atlanta called “Griffin.” I knew we would always have an amazing time.
From the backyard BBQ’s, swimming or going camping with my cousins and other youths within the community.
My uncle used to have this pick up truck, and my sisters, cousins and myself would all play on the truck bed floor until the sunset we would just hang out on it, watch the sunset until the stars came out while the grown folks would be jamming to music and having their drinks. Nostalgia at it’s finest!
Contact Info:
- Address: 704 Lakeside Village Drive Atlanta,Georgia 30317
- Website: www.pecanmilk.com
- Phone: 6789003481
- Email: sunni.ankh@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunniankh/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunni.ankh
- Other: www.artrevthehub.com
Image Credit:
photography by Shayla Hill, Quintin LaFrench Cammack
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