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Former nurse and chef is behind Rawgirls’ revival

By , Special to The Daily Memphian Updated: January 30, 2025 10:51 AM CT | Published: January 27, 2025 4:00 AM CT

When Laura Wegner saw an opportunity to merge her culinary roots with her health care expertise, she didn’t hesitate.

“I wanted to care for people on a deeper, more impactful level,” Wegner said. “I saw patients whose health issues could have been prevented with better lifestyle choices. That’s where Rawgirls comes in.”

Rawgirls — a raw, vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free and seed-oil-free food business — has been a Memphis staple for 15 years. Founded by chef couple Amy and Hannah Pickle, Rawgirls carved out a niche in health-focused dining long before it became trendy.

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Rawgirls Subscriber Only Restaurants Health & Wellness

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Joshua Carlucci

Joshua Carlucci

Joshua Carlucci is a writer and food journalist from Los Banos, California. He holds a BA in English from the University of California, Berkeley, a culinary diploma from the Institute of Culinary Education, and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Memphis, where he was managing editor of Pinch. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Brussels Review, Redivider, Gravy, EatingWell, Southern Living, and elsewhere. He is a staff writer at Brooklyn-based food and beverage industry magazine, StarChefs.Find more of his work on his website, joshuacarlucci.com.


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