Three Restaurant Mamas on the Joys and Challenges of Parenting While Running a Business

In a feature for CULTURED, three New York-based chefs and restaurateurs—Donna Lennard of Il Buco, Ann Redding of Thai Diner and Mommy Pai, and Camille Becerra, former chef of As You Are and Casa Pueblo—share their experiences balancing motherhood and running restaurants. Lennard, whose son Joaquin was born in 2005 when Il Buco was already 11 years old, emphasizes the challenge of dividing time between work and family, but notes the joy of her son growing up within the restaurant's extended family. Redding, whose son Leo is 9, recalls the early struggle of surviving on no sleep while opening Uncle Boon's Sister and pumping, and now faces the challenge of balancing time as a workaholic small business owner. Becerra, a single mom, cites financial pressure as the hardest part, relying on lentil soup and rice between jobs. All three highlight the joy of their children developing sophisticated palates and a love for food. The article, published May 8, 2026, coincides with Mother's Day.