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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 food writer and professional cook from rural Central California. He is a Memphis transplant by way of New Orleans and New York City. He has a bachelor’s in English from UC Berkeley, a culinary diploma from the Institute of Culinary Education and is an MFA candidate in Creative Writing at the University of Memphis. Find more of his work on his website, joshuacarlucci.com


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