Abir Hammoudi, founder of Benti, embodies the innovative spirit of Tunisian street food. With a passion for the gastronomy of her native country, she has successfully blended tradition and modernity, creating a unique culinary concept that showcases the authentic flavors of Tunisia. A management graduate, Abir has navigated the world of entrepreneurship with flair, transforming her vision into reality. Her ambition is not only to delight palates but also to share the rich cultural heritage of Tunisia through its iconic dishes, while fostering a dialogue around street food in a setting of azulejos tiles and bougainvillea, reminiscent of Sidi Bou Said. She is in partnership with her husband, Yassine, and her parents.
• Can you give us a portrait of who you are as a person and the professional environment in which you work?
I'm 34 years old and of Tunisian origin. In 2020, I launched a Tunisian street food concept to honor my parents' culture and share this cuisine. I come from a communications background, having worked as a project manager in the media. This experience allowed me to bring a more feminine and aesthetically pleasing perspective to the very masculine world of street food. It was also very important for me to tell this story in some way.
• Have you ever felt confined to a "woman's" role? How did you react to or circumvent this?
Yes, especially at the beginning. Some suppliers, particularly butchers, preferred to negotiate with my husband, as if legitimacy in this area came exclusively from men. I could have let him take that role and remained in the background regarding supplier relations, but I decided to continue managing it myself: your legitimacy doesn't come from your gender.
• What gesture, piece of advice, or phrase from another woman still supports you today in difficult times?
My father always advised us—we are three sisters—"Don't seek acceptance, seek respect." I strive to do this every time, with gentleness and determination. I've learned that you can remain true to yourself while still making yourself heard. I engage in a lot of dialogue to ensure I'm understood.
• In your field, what are the invisible barriers you still encounter as a woman?
In the restaurant industry, there's still this unspoken assumption that sales, management, inventory control, and so on, are men's domain, not women's. We're tested more than men: when I make a decision, it's questioned much more often. Men's skills seem more "natural" to many people. I see this, for example, with the cooks. Fortunately, my husband and business partner doesn't fall for it and uses this magic phrase when they try to get around me to get what they want: "You'll see about Abir!"
• How do you reconcile your personal life with your professional or creative ambitions?
It's been five years since I created Benti. At first, I was looking for balance; in fact, I feel like you never really find it and that it's more about alignment. That's why I preferred to open a restaurant that's more of a lunchtime "canteen" so I could be free in the evenings and see my children. Now, I know how to set boundaries. I run this project with Yassine, my husband, who understands all the work and what goes on behind the scenes. He also comes from an immigrant background, and we communicate a lot. I think we women are very good at this.
• What would you like us to stop asking women… and finally ask men instead?
I wish we would stop asking women how they manage to juggle everything, and instead ask men to contribute to maintaining a balanced family life. The mental load should rest on the shoulders of both people in a couple.
• If you could change just one concrete and immediate thing to improve the lives of women in your neighborhood and city, what would it be?
I believe we need a place, whether temporary or not, that organizes team-building activities around creative moments – where we would do painting, ceramics, etc. – so that women entrepreneurs can exchange ideas in small groups.
• But come on Abir, these creative workshops or courses do exist in Paris!
Yesssss it's true! But I don't have the time (laughs)... because I'm a woman, and we women don't have the time.
• Which young woman or girl in your circle gives you hope for the future, and why?
My mother and all young immigrant women inspire me and give me hope. My mother arrived in France from Tunisia in the 1980s, without speaking French, without professional skills, and today she is a civil servant working in early childhood education. I find that very courageous and powerful. I am very proud of her. It is very positive that women, and especially those from immigrant backgrounds, are now daring to create, to put themselves out there, to show their determination. It takes even more courage to exist when you come from somewhere else.
Text: Katia Barillot
09.03.26
