Before founding the natural foods brand Partake in 2017, CEO Denise Woodard "had a career in corporate America," working at Coca-Cola for nearly a decade. She eventually left the big-biz world for entrepreneurial pastures, specifically to launch a line of allergy-friendly treats that her daughter Vivi—who is allergic to tree nuts, eggs, corn, and bananas — could safely snack on and enjoy as any other kid could.

Today, Partake makes ready-to-eat cookies and a variety of dry mixes for baking pancakes, brownies, and pizza crusts at home. You can find the brand at over 9,000 retailers—not too shabby for Woodard, who actually describes herself as "a mediocre cook and a mediocre baker at that; I enjoy cooking but I'm not particularly good at it." With the help of Vivi’s nanny, Martha, the duo initially attempted to make tasty, safe-to-eat recipes in Woodard’s kitchen in Jersey City. Woodard experimented and "fail[ed] miserably" with her creations before enlisting a professional product developer she found on LinkedIn to help bring her treats to life.

Denise Woodard is the founder and CEO of Partake Foods.

Partake has since upgraded to its own kitchen, but these days Woodard’s personal kitchen still remains a destination where she can whip up simpler meals for her family during the week. Since launching Partake, Woodard and her family have moved twice and back to New York City, where (as it comes to no surprise) her kitchen space can be… a bit tight. "Even with [our city kitchen which] I would consider adequate space, there’s definitely no room for any multiple items. I have to be really selective in the pantry items that we have, and also the pots, pans, hardware, and appliances that live on our coveted counter and inside the limited cabinet space, that's for sure," Woodard says. "Like, I have this cutting board I love. I have a Dutch oven that I love. I have one chef's knife that I love." All this to say: The kitchen items that Woodard treasures (and recommends below) are her absolute faves. 

"For me, as a small business owner who happens to be a woman and a minority, I know how important every single sale is so I'm really deliberate when I'm shopping to amplify brands that are woman- or person of color-owned when possible. Thankfully, there's no shortage of amazing products," Woodard says of her picks, which includes stovetop investment pieces, umami-packed condiments, and even a couple Partake delectables.

Partake's pancake and waffle mix can be remixed to craft endless confection combos.

Ahead, Woodard dishes on her most coveted kitchen essentials that particularly help her flex on cooking savory, non-dessert meals. "My dad's African-American and my mom's Korean so I like to cook foods from both their cultures," she says. "When I'm making more elaborate meals on weekends, I rely heavily on easy sauces that I can drizzle on any type of protein or veggies. I like to eat and serve my family meals that don’t take too much time or energy."  

"This WOC-owned, beautifully-crafted pan is my daily go-to. It works for so many things: a stir fry for dinner, pancakes for breakfast, and more."

"This brand is Black-owned, by Ghetto Gastro! I use it to make a variety of foods that harken to my southern roots. Also, it doesn’t take up a lot of room on my NYC kitchen countertop. I love that I can cook an entire meal in it—my go-tos are grilled proteins like salmon and chicken, sweet potato wedges, and broccoli. You can also make a variety of savory and sweet Partake recipes with it!"

"Sustainably sourced, delicious to roast veggies or mixed in a salad dressing, this WOC-owned line of oils and vinegars taste great, and its thoughtfully-designed bottles look great next to my stove or on the table."

"When the only pancake and waffle mix that was safe for Vivi (my daughter) to eat was discontinued in the middle of the pandemic, I decided to add one to our product line! The best part? This mix makes pancakes by just adding water to the mix and is so versatile, that you can use it to make cakes, muffins, and more."

"This female-founded line of ready-made sauces work well with veggies, proteins, and can dress up any meal. They also offer tools like recipes and shopping lists that make shopping and preparing meals way too easy."

"These woman-founded brands are the perfect combo of salty and sweet and join forces to make the best spicy margarita—my favorite cocktail."

"Decadent and fudgy chocolate brownies that are also gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, and allergy-friendly do exist—and Partake makes them! The best news is that all it takes to whip up your new favorite dessert is this mix, oil, and water."

"I purchased this investment piece ten years ago and it’s still in immaculate condition. I use it when I need to slow cook stews and jambalaya and when I need to get my fry oil just right for chicken."

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