In 1948, after her friend Johnny Nicholson relayed his plans of opening a café, Edna Lewis talked him into letting her oversee the café’s fare. Edna Lewis was among the first to serve good food in a more relaxed setting. The café was considered a secret among the in-crowd, including customers such as Truman Capote, Eleanor Roosevelt, Gore Vidal, and Tennessee Williams. Lewis continued to write cookbooks, and remained an inspiration to other women in the city who desired to open restaurants.