Francine Cohen, Inside F&B Founder/Editor-in-Chief/Lead Consultant, New York City, New York
Nothing thrills Francine Cohen more than the opportunity to sit down with a mixologist, chef, purveyor or manufacturer and spend hours exploring the intricacies of their business. Francine is the editor-in-chief of Inside F&B, based in New York City, and an influential voice in the industry. Her passion for the world of fine food and spirits began at the early age of 2 when a local chef invited her to his kitchen because he wanted to meet the child who had ordered a meal of escargot, salad with gorgonzola dressing and a napoleon.
Francine’s interest grew into a professional career that led to jobs at various food and beverage product advertising agencies and the communications department of ITT/Sheraton. She helped raise awareness of the NYC Hunger Hotline as its director of communications before turning to a career in journalism, brand marketing and consulting.
Now, in addition to being an inside voice of the hospitality industry, Francine dedicates her efforts to Les Dames d’Escoffier; New York Women’s Culinary Alliance; LUPEC (Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails); Citymeals-on-Wheels; and Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation to alleviate hunger in America. She sits on the advisory board of a newly-launched Cachaça brand, judges cocktail competitions and is currently at work on a new publication.
She recommends The Perfect Purée to clients and uses it as a go-to ingredient for event cocktails.
“Every single day I juggle a lot between writing, brand strategy and development and event planning for my clients. And I need everything to be just right,” Francine says.
“It’s the brand I turn to for great flavor, consistency and satisfaction. I know that when I source a flavor from The Perfect Purée’s portfolio, the bartender’s recipe is going to turn out great.”
Francine initiated a collaboration between top cocktailians Tony Abou-Ganim and Dale DeGroff in the creation of a Pisco cocktail called Alliance. A year-round refresher that brings people together, Alliance’s debut in July 2017 marked the first-ever drink collaboration between these spirits industry legends and celebrated the love they and Francine share for Peru’s national spirit, Pisco.
A native of Washington, D.C., Francine now lives with her husband in New York City where, much to the dismay of her pastry chef friends, she’ll readily pass up dessert for something savory.