PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has kicked off Dine Latino Restaurant Week. Through Friday this week, participating businesses are ready to share their cultures with new visitors after being hit hard during the height of the pandemic.
Chamber President Jennifer Rodriguez says participating owners look forward to this every year.
“It’s really about celebrating and promoting Latino-owned restaurants,” Rodriguez said. “As we emerge from the pandemic, restaurants and the hospitality industries were severely hit, particularly, Black, brown and other diverse businesses.”
Rodriguez says it’s good for people to come out of their often segregated communities and experience other cultures.
“We tend to think of restaurants in Center City, but the reality is that every neighborhood has its own identity,” Rodriguez said. “You can experience, really, the world in Philadelphia.”
The five-day culinary event will offer patrons one complimentary appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two dinner entrees.
Alfredo Aguilar, has owned Las Cazuelas on West Girard Avenue since 1999, and he says he is honored to be a part of Dine Latino for a fourth year in a row.
“For years, there were many cultures that celebrate and showcase their cuisine, and for us it’s an honor to say that finally we get to showcase [ours],” he said. “From the cochinita pibil, to the mole poblano — with so many different ingredients in the mole.
Aguilar says Latino-owned businesses need support. During the pandemic, Aguilar says, he was able to keep his business afloat by pivoting to online orders and take out. This was necessary, in fact, for the survival of most restaurants at the height of the crisis.
Jennifer Gomez Hardy owns the new Lou and Choo's in North Philadelphia with her husband Tracy Hardy. This is their second year participating.
She says they are offering more Latin fare and entertainment this year.
“We are trying to be super creative, bringing different artists and themes, so that our Latinos feel comfortable crossing that Broad Street," Jennifer said. "I don’t know. It seems like a ... wall.”
Their business features mostly soul food and American cuisine, but she says they want very much for more of the Latin community — and everyone else, for that matter — to feel welcome.
“It’s always good to get your name out there,” Jennifer said. “It’s important that we all come together as a melting pot, because we all have something to learn from one another.”
Get a full list of participating restaurants at philahispanicchamber.org.