Nothing can stop Pinky Cole in 2022! Last month, she opened Slutty Vegan’s 1st NYC location to lines down the block. Plus, Inc. selected Pinky for their 2022 Female Founders 100 list. She is also the face of PETA’s new “Garden of Vegan” campaign. With a Harlem location on the horizon, Pinky also announced a five-city Pinky Cole Experience Tour from Live Nation in celebration of her first cookbook Eat Plants, B*tch: 91 Vegan Recipes That Will Blow Your Meat-Loving Mind. 

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Pinky’s cookbook will deliver her signature 100% vegan comfort food to home kitchens everywhere. Featuring 80+ easy recipes, it’s chock full of crave-worthy meals aimed to please dedicated vegans, flexitarians and carnivores alike, including festive options like Southern Peach Cobbler, Amazing Mac ‘n Cheez, Stuffed Butternut squash, Jalapeño Corn Bread, and so much more!

21Ninety caught up with the entrepreneur to discuss her new cookbook, book tour, her upbringing and much more!

Liz Smith: I think a lot of people have this idea of who Pinky Cole is, but in your own words, can you briefly tell us exactly who you are?

Pinky Cole: Pinky Cole! Let’s see, Pinky Cole is a force to be reckoned with. She is an around the way girl from East Baltimore that is big energy, sometimes rough around the edges, but raw, authentic and got the biggest heart in the world. And she just so happens to sell vegan burgers, pies and fries for a living. But more importantly, I’m really about culture and community, and tapping into the hearts and minds of people when it comes to entrepreneurship. That’s just who I’ve been all my life and here I am showing up like I show up in my most authentic self and I’m just happy to be here.

LS: Now, of course, I have to say congratulations and all of your success. 2022 has definitely been an amazing year for you. But most importantly, congratulations on the release of your new cookbook, Eat Plants B*tch. Has putting out a cookbook always been a dream of yours or was it something that just evolved over time?

PC: I’ve always loved to cook, I have never been a chef and yes, it evolved over time. I love cooking for myself and I love cooking vegan food for my friends and family. So it was right time and you know a time in life everything is all about where opportunity meets timing, right? And the timing couldn’t be any better. I have this booming business, everybody’s coming to the restaurant, the lines are down the block and people are falling in love with the experience. I’m like, Alright, I need to be able to take this experience home, because I want them to still have that natural high when they get into their own comfort zone and that natural high is “Eat Plants Bitch! It’s not just for the vegan, this is for the person who just likes to eat food and they can try these recipes and not feel like they have to compromise the things that they like. That’s why I created it and I’m so happy. The book is a beautiful book! It isn’t just beautiful recipes, but the aesthetic of it, the storyline, you get a little bit about how I came to be this vegan media maven. It’s just amazing how all of this came from an idea and conceptualized itself to manifest into a whole cookbook that’s in Barnes and Noble and on Amazon. It’s everywhere that everybody can purchase and get their hands on and that feels really good to me!

 

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LS: Yes, ma’am. It is beautiful. I love the colors. I love the feel of it. It’s just so amazing. I’m super excited and talk about perfect timing for the holidays! So what is your favorite or go to recipe from the book and why?

PC: There’s a black bean burger in there with Black Eyed Peas and it might not sound like that would go good in a burger but it’s so good. Then I have a scallop recipe because I love oyster mushrooms. And I feel like mushrooms are underrated. Mushrooms tastes better than chicken if you ask me and I have a really, really good mushroom recipe in there. So listen, whatever you like, there is something for you to choose. Even if you just want a smoothie, there’s something in it for you. What’s more cooler about the book is that I have influencers and people who have their own restaurants that have contributed to the recipes in the book. How cool is that? They get the opportunity to expose their own brand while they’re in my book. So I’m just happy about that as well. All the food is good!

LS: I already know I’m really excited to try it out for sure. Now you’re going on a five city Pinky Cole experience tour from Five Nation with stops in New York City, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas and Baltimore. How can your supporters get these tickets? Are they already on sale? Is it sold out? Like what’s the logistics?

PC: You can go to ticketmaster.com to get tickets. I just did Atlanta and New York City and I brought Dougie fresh out and Lil Mo to my tour stop. Let’s be honest, what author you know doing that? So that was super cool. We’ll be talking about the book, about food, about my love life and my family and it’ll just be a whole vibe. I didn’t want it to feel like a stuffy book. I’m just happy about all that my team has been able to do, the support and making this happen.

LS: Do you have any plans on taking this experience overseas and bringing the Pinky Cole experience worldwide?

PC: Listen I’m thinking world domination, okay! I know it’s not impossible. One thing I believe about myself is that if I say I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna do it. I don’t care how I’m gonna get it as long as I’m intentional with how I get it. I’m going to do all the things that I dream about and one of those dreams that I’m going to manifest is to be a universal brand. You will see it in Jamaica and overseas, we already got our trademarks overseas. One of my favorite sayings is when you stay ready, you ain’t never got to get ready. We are preparing now so that when the time comes, we already have everything in place!

LS: Now that’s dope. That’s a really good entrepreneur tip right there. I love that. Now, while there will be celebrity guests on tour, you’re also seen as a celebrity. How do you think your upbringing has prepared you for the superstar status that you’re currently embracing?

PC: You know, it’s funny, that you said that, because I don’t even feel that way. I feel like I’m not working hard enough and like I need to be doing more. That is the kind of mentality that keeps me focused. I never like sit and dwell in the clouds I keep grinding, I like the grind. Don’t stop, even if you have the accomplishments. Yes, I’m now starting to feel present in the moments of my achievements but I still got a lot of work to do. I have this mentality because I watched my mother, my mother is a musician. She’s always been a local celebrity in the DMV area and I used to watch my mother perform in front of large crowds growing up. She used to bring us to her shows and we’d watch her perform and then she would bring us on stage. I watched how everybody loved my mother and I grew up saying “I want to be just like my mother.” I’m having this full circle moment now because I didn’t really know that was happening as a kid. I became my mom on steroids. I believe I always was ready. I was Miss Clark Atlanta University and I was always very popular, well known and I always had a good heart and wanted to help people and see other people win.

 

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LS: You are definitely the true definition of a businesswoman. What is a piece of advice, or one thing about entrepreneurship that you know, now that you wish that you knew when you first started?

PC: Be careful what you say and this could go on each side of the coin, okay? The power of the tongue is so real. You have to be mindful of how you move. You may say “I want to dream big, and I want to have all of these things.” Then when you get it you can’t even handle it because you weren’t ready or you may speak negativity over your life. Being mindful and careful of the things that you say, and being prepared for what comes with the things that you say. Make sure that you are making strides and moving in that direction so that when those opportunities come you are ready.

LS: So true. The power of the tongue is definitely not one to play with. I’ve spoken so many amazing things over my life and it’s obvious you’ve done the same. Now, what impact in the culinary arts industry do you want to leave for the next Pinky call that comes along?

PC: When you think about food and cooking and the culinary world I am not a chef. I’m not a trained chef. I don’t desire to be called a chef. However, I want people to know that in the culinary world there are no rules, do it your way. If you mess up, guess what, at least you tried. Nothing beats trial but a failure. So as long as you keep going and don’t give up, you’re going to be successful, something is going to pop for you, something is going to manifest itself for you. You don’t have to follow anybody else’s blueprint because you may be creating the next blueprint for millions of people to follow. So do it your way, as long as it feels right in your spirit. Don’t give up and follow your path.

 

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LS: Amen! Tell everyone how we can keep up with you stay in touch, you continue to support you?

PC: Absolutely. You can find me on all social media handles @Pinky907. You can follow Slutty Vegan ATL on social media. If you want to learn more about the tour, go to ticketmaster.com and just type in Pinky Cole and and I hope to see and meet everyone soon. If you just want to come to one of the restaurants just Google us, we are almost everywhere, coming soon. I’m just excited to be able to connect with all the people who continue to support me and the brand.