FOOD XX, the platform and movement that focuses on empowering content for women by women in South Africa’s food and drinks industry, is hosting its first conference and awards on 12 February in Cape Town. Here are nine reasons why you should buy a ticket once your salary lands. (You don’t have to be a woman yourself; all allies are welcome!)

It’s a safe space for much-needed conversations about women’s roles in the kitchen and South African food media.

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In case you missed it, there’s a new Afro-Caribbean restaurant in (Cape) Town. Restauranteur @malabryan has opened @kweyolcapetown inspired by her childhood food memories growing up on the island of St Lucia. She’s honouring her heritage with authentic Creole flavours and a serious island vibe. Congrats Mala! #XXcelebrates #FOODXX #Womxninfood

A post shared by FOOD XX (@fxxd_xx) on Jan 18, 2019 at 7:58am PST

You can attend a workshop on indigenous ingredients.

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From food growing to animal husbandry and urban gardening, the @woolworths_sa Farming award is for the soil sisters. Nominate yourself or other deserving womxn for the FOOD XX Awards in partnership with @eatoutguide – 12 February, @vandawaterfront. Link in bio for more info. #FOODXX #Womxninfood #WoolworthsSA

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You’ll find out first who the winners are of the inaugural FOOD XX Awards.

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Meet the judges for the first FOOD XX Awards in partnership with @eatoutguide. @alixrosecowie: editor of @chipsonline, writer and photographer. @zola_nene: celebrity chef and author @jess_spiro: a culinary school graduate, freelance food and lifestyle writer @lily_vanilli_cake: baker extraordinaire and co-founder of #bakeforsyria @mokgadiitsweng: chef and co-founder of Lotsha Home Foods. #FOODXX #Womxninfood

A post shared by FOOD XX (@fxxd_xx) on Jan 18, 2019 at 2:08am PST

You can pose questions anonymously to the in-house clinical psychologist.

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? We’re starting a chain love-letter – pass it on! ? How to play: * Dedicate an instagram post or story to womxn you admire in the SA food industry * Tag them because now it’s their turn to go * Tag @fxxd_xx so we can follow along Keep it going! Let’s celebrate womxn in food. Nominations for the @fxxd_xx awards in partnership with @eatoutguide are open until 31 December. Animation by @libbyvanderploeg We nominate writer and chef-in-training @sylviamck to start us off. #FOODXX #Womxninfood

A post shared by FOOD XX (@fxxd_xx) on Dec 3, 2018 at 8:02am PST

You’ll hear from women in the industry how to run a mindful and modern business.

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We’re so inspired by Ntsiki Biyela @nbiyela, the founder of @aslina_wines and the first black womxn winemaker in the country. She says, “When I was working for or collaborating with other brands, I always knew that at some point I am going to have to start my own company – I also knew that I was going to name it after my late grandmother, Aslina, in her honour.” We can drink to that. #XXcelebrates #FOODXX #Womxninfood

A post shared by FOOD XX (@fxxd_xx) on Dec 21, 2018 at 5:00am PST

You can buy cute chefs’ pants at the Polka Pants pop-up shop, plus books and other goodies like pickled periwinkle from the West Coast women collective, Weskusmandjie, and condiments from Mokgadi Itsweng’s Lotsha.

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We’re saying thank you to all the change-makers, enriching the community through food and drink by honouring large and small-scale social enterprise initiatives in our Giving Back category at the FOOD XX Awards in partnership with @eatoutguide. Nominate yourself or a fellow inspiring womxn. Link in bio for more info. #FOODXX #Womxninfood ?: @alixrosecowie

A post shared by FOOD XX (@fxxd_xx) on Nov 26, 2018 at 2:00am PST

You’ll get to network with other badass women in the industry.

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Out of 23 000 nominations, food blogger Astrid Field @thesweetrebellion represented SA as one of 6 baking finalists in the @saveurmag Blog Awards in Memphis earlier this year. After she was diagnosed with MS in 2013, she left her job as a food scientist. The Sweet Rebellion began when she started documenting her baking experiments as a creative outlet. Now she works as a recipe developer and food stylist. #XXcelebrates #FOODXX #Womxninfood

A post shared by FOOD XX (@fxxd_xx) on Dec 28, 2018 at 5:00am PST

You can enjoy a feast of bites prepared by Mokgadi Itsweng, Colette Robert and The General Store crew, Jessica Shepherd (The Table at De Meye), Jules Randles (The Commissary), Jess Spiro, Sinenhlanhla Ndlela (Yo Coco), and Huiskombuis in collaboration with District Six Museum and Lily Jones (Lili Vanilli).

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We’ve collaborated with chef and founder of @thegeneralstore Colette Robert and her amazing team to create a childhood-inspired breakfast for the FOOD XX Symposium and Awards in partnership with @eatoutguide. Not to be missed! Ticket link in bio. #FOODXX #Womxninfood

A post shared by FOOD XX (@fxxd_xx) on Jan 8, 2019 at 5:07am PST

You can buy a booster ticket for someone who wants to go but doesn’t have the means to pay for their own.

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Stephanie Simbo @maven.polly and Marine Durand @capitaine_marin are the definition of sisterhood. They’re the co-founders of Beyond Bars @bbakademia, an academy in Cape Town teaching ex-offenders and fellow womxn to make cocktails for a living. They also offer hospitality, customer service and sommelier training and life skills, placing the womxn in full-time positions once they graduate. Stephanie says, “Someone once told me that second chances are not given to make things right, but instead to prove that we could be better even after we fall.” #XXcelebrates #FOODXX #Womxninfood

A post shared by FOOD XX (@fxxd_xx) on Dec 7, 2018 at 5:00am PST

Buy a ticket now for R1100 (or R950 if you have the Eat Out app).

Follow FOOD XX on Instagram for more news, info on the symposium and awards programme, other events later in the year and content on great women in the industry.