The Latino Culinary Institute and Association recently hosted its Chispa Awards, an annual event that recognizes Latino restaurant owners, chefs, cooks, and other culinary staff.
The LCIA is a non-profit organization that aims to facilitate professional development for Latinos in the culinary, food services, and beverage fields in the United States.
The winners included Adan Venture from Tasty Paella for the Best Chef Award and Alejandro Castro from Fleming’s Steakhouse for the Best Sous Chef Award.
The Chispa Awards took place at the Taste of Addison event on Saturday, June 1st, in Addison, Texas.
According to the National Restaurant Association, the restaurant industry is the second-largest private employer in the United States.
Approximately 26% of restaurant and food service employees are Hispanic, serving in various roles from entry-level to management to ownership.
Additionally, 12% are Black or African American, and 7% are Asian.
Each of these groups is more prominently represented in the restaurant industry than in the overall U.S. workforce.
For example, 78% of agricultural workers and 48% of abattoir laborers self-identify as Hispanic, and 43% of restaurant laborers and 26% of all food-service workers are also Hispanic, according to the National Restaurant Association.
Furthermore, nearly 30% of domestic workers, which includes many food handling and preparation duties, identify as Hispanic, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
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