- Gregory Leon was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but lived in Venezuela from the age of 5 to 19 | Main photo: Courtesy
Venezuelan chef Gregory León has been nominated for the James Beard Awards, also known as the Oscars of the culinary world. His restaurant is called Amilinda and is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
What are the James Beard Awards?
The James Beard Awards are annual awards presented by the James Beard Foundation to recognize chefs, restaurateurs, authors, and journalists in the United States.
León has already been nominated several times for important awards in the gastronomy field, so his restaurant has gained notoriety to the point where it will receive visitors to the Republican National Convention, which will take place between July 15 and 18.
“I was nominated in 2022 and 2023 as the best chef in the region, and this year I was nominated as the best chef in the country by the James Beard Awards,” León said in an interview with Univisión.
He was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but lived in Venezuela from the age of 5 to 19 and returned to the United States in 1989. “My love for cooking began when I was a child. Coming from a large family on my father’s side, our house was filled with friends and family on the weekends, cooking together with music in the background,” he says in his biography.
His career as a chef
The chef previously lived in San Francisco, California, since December 1994 and moved to Wisconsin 12 years ago to open his own restaurant. The name Amilinda is inspired by the fusion of his parents’ names. His menu usually features dishes that come from traditional recipes from Spain and Portugal.
“I got my first job as a breakfast cook at a well-respected restaurant following lying on my application and saying I had kitchen experience,” he revealed.
Due to his lack of experience, Léon was fired 3 months later and confessed that despite being part of the LGTBIQ+ community, he never suffered any act of discrimination during his time at that San Francisco restaurant.
“It was an intense and eye-opening experience that I treasure and remember even following 29 years in the industry. Having started my cooking career in SF, I was never subject to any anti-LGBTQ+ behavior, quite the opposite,” she said.
Gregory León said he feels proud to represent Venezuela in the United States and added that, in his opinion, Venezuelan food has a great influence from Europe, a product of the migration that arrived from that continent during the 20th century.
“I am very happy to be able to represent Venezuela and perhaps show these Republicans that Latinos are good workers and good people, because I think that some may have an idea of immigrants or Latinos that is not very favorable,” said León.
Her restaurant Amilinda is listed as one of Milwaukee’s 38 essential restaurants in the East Side.
“This career is beautiful, and I always tell people that it’s the kind of career you go into if you love cooking and working with your hands. It takes a lot out of your mind and body, and I was ready to quit many times,” she concluded.
Venezuelan restaurant in Miami receives Michelin star
Venezuelan chef Álvaro Pérez Miranda received the first Michelin star on April 18 for his restaurant Ogawa, located in Miami and managed in the kitchen by chef Masayuki Komatsu.
“For me, this Michelin star is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team at Ogawa,” Pérez Miranda said in a statement.
For this culinary space, linked to Japanese culture since 1989, the Michelin star represents recognition of the quality of the food that Ogawa offers in the capital of the Sun.
“It is an honor to be recognized by such a prestigious institution that values culinary excellence worldwide,” added the creator of the restaurants Wabi Sabi, Hiyakawa and Midorie.
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2024-07-12 09:27:37