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Welcome to the first 2025 issue of el Restaurante.
The beginning of a new year is typically a time not only to celebrate but also to look hopefully ahead to opportunities the coming months will bring. Sadly, as everyone knows, that hope has been shattered all too quickly by the horrific California fires that have devastated communities, businesses and lives. We know that many members of our restaurant industry “family” have been impacted, and we send our condolences to everyone struggling to deal with the aftermath of this tragedy.
While nothing can take away the feelings of despair, uncertainty and fear about the future for those who have lost so much, it has been encouraging and uplifting to witness the outpouring of support from within the restaurant community nationwide. On page 6 of this issue, Publisher Ed Avis reports on ways Latino restaurants in particular are stepping up to help and offers information about resources available to restaurants impacted by the fires.
In addition, restaurateurs in Chicago — our home — are stepping up to help their peers to the West. The Ballyhoo Restaurant Group, which owns nine restaurants including Old Pueblo Cantina, hosted a Dine for LA event on January 22 and donated 10 percent of sales from all its restaurants to aid those affected by the fires. And on January 23, Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group held From Chicago With Love, a dinner for Los Angeles Wildfire Relief benefitting World Central Kitchen, hosted by top Chicago chefs including Rick Bayless, founder of Mexican restaurants including Frontera Grill and Topolobampo.
As the work to rebuild in Los Angeles continues, restaurants there and throughout the country will move forward with the resilience that members of the foodservice community always have shown, in good times and bad. We hope el Restaurante will be a source of information that in some small way will help propel you forward through what will be a successful year ahead.
Click here to go to the next article, Latino Restaurants Step Up to Help LA Fire Victims