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Honoring and Commending South Philly Barbacoa's Cristina Mart?nez and Royal Izakaya's Jesse Ito for their first-time nominations for James Beard Foundation Awards.
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WHEREAS, The James Beard Foundation's mission is to honor, celebrate, and nurture chefs who are pushing the boundaries of food culture in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Each year, the James Beard Foundation Awards recognize select chefs and restaurateurs for their inspiring and innovative culinary work. The Foundation also honors writers, journalists, and documentarians whose work explores how gastronomy drives cultural development and policy change. The awards, founded in 1990, are widely regarded as the "Oscars of the food world"; and
WHEREAS, The story of South Philly Barbacoa Chef Cristina Mart?nez, a finalist in this year's Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic category, is one that speaks to Philadelphia's heart. Mart?nez fled her hometown of Capulhuac, Mexico - widely known as the "capital" of barbacoa- to seek economic opportunity to provide for her daughter's schooling. After making her way to Philadelphia and meeting husband Benjamin Miller, she dedicated herself to perfecting the culinary tradition of barbacoa, bringing flame-cooked, succulent lamb tacos with pancita and consom? to day laborers and migrant workers as a reminder of home, and eventually to Philadelphia residents and travelers from around the world; and
WHEREAS, Mart?nez has also emerged as a fierce activist for immigrant justice in the City of Philadelphia. She is a staunch advocate for advancing the rights of undocumented restaurant workers, and together with Miller and others championed Council Resolution No. 170416, which recognized every person's fundamental right to earn a living, regardless of immigration status, and affirmed the City of Philadelphia's commitment to protect and secure a safe and dignified workplace for all. Her inspiring story was most recently featured on Season 5 of Netflix's Chef's Table; and
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