Melissa Araujo, the manager chef and proprietor of Alma Cafe in New Orleans, has carved out a formidable culinary profession that celebrates her Honduran heritage. Araujo’s journey has taken her from working as a young person in New Orleans restaurant kitchens to honing her expertise in prime institutions in Italy and Mexico, earlier than returning to her adopted hometown to open her acclaimed Honduran restaurant.
At Alma Cafe, Araujo pays homage to her grandmother’s hearty cooking model, providing guests a culinary expertise steeped within the flavors and traditions of Honduras. Her nomination as a 2024 James Beard: Finest Chef South semifinalist is a testomony to the rising recognition of Latina cooks and the significance of their illustration within the food and beverage industry.
Araujo’s story is certainly one of perseverance, ardour, and the flexibility to convey the wealthy cultural heritage of her Honduran roots to the forefront of the culinary panorama within the South. By way of her work, she has not solely elevated the profile of Honduran delicacies but additionally paved the way in which for extra Latina voices to be heard and celebrated within the trade.
Within the following Q&A, Araujo shares insights into how her Honduran heritage has influenced the dishes and culture at Alma Cafe, her views on the evolving function of Latinas within the culinary world, and her recommendation for aspiring Latina chefs. Her story is an inspiring instance of the ability of embracing one’s cultural id and utilizing it to supply significant and genuine illustration.
How has your Honduran heritage influenced the dishes and tradition at Alma Cafe, and the way do you suppose this illustration impacts the broader culinary scene?
All the pieces about Alma Cafe represents my Honduran heritage. From conventional dishes that pay tribute to my grandmother’s cooking to the robust espresso program, the decor, and even the music. All of them pay tribute to Honduran tradition.
I’m able to open the door to a broader culinary scene in New Orleans, the place individuals from totally different walks of life can come collectively and expertise the richness of Honduran delicacies. I really feel Honduran meals deserves a seat on the desk, as a result of we’ve got a lot to supply. And I’m pleased to be one of many restauranteurs who fill this hole and authentically symbolize my individuals.
How do you see the function of Latinas evolving within the culinary world, and what might be carried out to foster extra alternatives for them?
I feel that, as Latinas, we’re beginning to get the deserved recognition of how our cultures affect others. However there may be nonetheless extra that must be carried out. Extra doorways should be opened and extra alternatives should be provided to Latinas. We need to have a seat on the desk.
I feel shining a highlight on profitable Latina ladies and their tales is vital to the evolution of Latinas’ function within the culinary panorama. Magazines like Hispanic Govt assist inform these tales.
In your opinion, how can the meals and beverage trade higher assist and promote variety, fairness, and inclusion, notably for Latinas?
For my part, the meals trade must have a deeper dialog about how the trade is run. To advertise diversity and inclusion, the trade must be extra open to in search of expertise in non-traditional methods. For instance, Alma Kitchen is run completely by immigrant ladies from Central America. This isn’t one thing that I got down to do as a chef, however as a substitute what life serendipitously deliberate for me.
I discovered myself in a scenario, throughout COVID-19, the place I used to be going by cooks opening my restaurant rapidly and dealing with most of the pandemic-related issues of the trade. So, I began discovering new cooks in locations I by no means considered trying initially. However trying again, it made sense.
Most immigrant ladies coming to this nation don’t have the right culinary expertise, however they gravitate naturally to the kitchen. So, I discovered myself instructing them easy methods to turn into skilled cooks. What shocked me was how willingly and simply they took to it. We’re desperate to be taught. Now, it’s nearly opening up the trade to be extra intentional and inclusive once we take into consideration genuine illustration within the kitchen.
Your journey has taken you from Honduras to Italy and again to New Orleans. How have these various cultural experiences formed your culinary perspective?
My culinary travels have undoubtedly outlined who I’m right this moment. They usually have enriched me as an individual. Every place has its personal delicacies and tradition, so I’m fortunate to have the ability to draw from all of them and incorporate them into the way in which I have a look at meals.
As a toddler, meals was on the heart of my life. My mom and my grandmother—each lady in my life—was at all times cooking one thing, or there was at all times a purpose to create. I suppose watching all of them prepare dinner, I naturally gravitated in direction of turning into a prepare dinner myself, and I see them in each dish I make.
At her flagship restaurant, the Honduran native pays tribute to her grandmother’s cooking with dishes like baleadas, pollo chuco, pupusas, and extra. In 2023, Araujo was tapped by Keely Sheeran of Pirogue’s Whiskey Bar in Arabi, Louisiana, to open Oscar for a celebration of traditional bar meals from world wide.
With Alma Cafe paying tribute to your grandmother’s cooking, are you able to inform us about her affect in your life and profession?
My grandmother at all times taught me to respect the substances used whereas cooking, and to actually perceive the character of their ecosystem and the place they arrive from. You could perceive that an animal should die to offer us sustenance. All the pieces is a part of the circle of life, and also you should be respectful of that.
All of the substances used at Alma Cafe are homegrown in my yard, as I care about what my clients put of their stomachs. It’s a supply of nourishment that ought to intentional—and cared for.
Congratulations on being named a semifinalist for James Beard: Finest Chef South 2024! What does this recognition imply to you, personally and professionally?
The James Beard nomination, personally and professionally, means alternatives to open different doorways in my profession and in my companies. I can’t wait to see what the longer term brings.
Future plans for Alma are to get higher at our craft and develop exponentially. Hopefully, we’ll unfold to a few extra areas. As for future initiatives, Araujo Restaurant Group will probably be opening 4 extra initiatives below our umbrella within the close to future.
As a profitable entrepreneur and chef, what recommendation would you give to Latinas aspiring to enter the culinary world?
Perceive who you actually are and be taught to not take something personally. Preserve an open thoughts and be taught as a lot as you’ll be able to. By no means doubt your self.
Melissa Araujo, the manager chef and proprietor of Alma Cafe in New Orleans, is a 2024 James Beard: Finest Chef South semifinalist. Born in La Ceiba, Honduras, Araujo’s culinary journey has taken her from working as a dishwasher in New Orleans eating places (when she was a young person) to honing her expertise in prime Italy and Mexico kitchens. At present, she’s returned to her adopted hometown to open her personal acclaimed Honduran restaurant, Alma Café, in New Orleans’ Bywater neighborhood.
At Alma, Araujo pays tribute to her grandmother’s hearty cooking model and Honduran heritage, providing guests a culinary journey by meals and tradition. Her nomination for the celebrated James Beard Award highlights the rising recognition of Latina cooks and the significance of their illustration within the meals and beverage trade. Araujo’s story is a testomony to the ability of perseverance, ardour, and the flexibility to convey the flavors of 1’s cultural heritage to the forefront of the culinary panorama.
