12 LGBT Food Industry Leaders Get Real About Inclusiveness In The Kitchen | stanton-company.com

12 LGBT Food Industry Leaders Get Real About Inclusiveness In The Kitchen

By Jesse Szewczyk

 

For Pride Month, BuzzFeed chatted with 12 out and proud leaders in the food world to celebrate the varied and changing faces of the industry.

In recent years, representation in the culinary landscape has finally started to highlight the diversity of the industry – and although we still have a long way to go, these individuals are working hard to make sure there’s a spot at the table for everyone.

Here’s what they had to say about life, work, and inclusivity in the food world.

 

2. Cat Cora: TV personality, author, and restauranteur.

Location: Santa Barbara, CaliforniaFavorite thing to cook?That's like asking which child is my favorite out of our six boys. I always say it depends on what day of the week it is, seasonality, what ingredients I can get my hands on, and what my mood is. Each day is different. I do love to grill, so anything I can throw on a grill is fun - steaks, chicken, salmon, burgers.Least favorite thing to cook?There aren't many, but anything I have to boil or blanch isn't my favorite. I love fast, from-the-hip style cooking, so waiting for a pot to boil bores me. Advice for people who are just starting out in the industry?Get great experience in a restaurant. Not a deli or sandwich shop, but a full-service establishment. The job experience is priceless. This will also tell you whether this industry, and working in a restaurant, is for you. Over the course of your career, how have you seen inclusivity in the food industry change?I've seen it change pretty significantly over my 20+ years in the industry. For me, I would say sexual orientation was less of an issue than gender. I never witnessed harassment of gays and lesbians - not that it didn't happen - but I was so busy trying to fight the good fight of gender equality and harassment within the industry that I didn't recognize being discriminated against for my sexuality.The industry has come a long way in being more inclusive in executive positions and pay, but we still have a long way to go for full equality and inclusiveness - as do all industries.

Photo: Jonpaul Douglass

Location: Santa Barbara, California

Favorite thing to cook?

That’s like asking which child is my favorite out of our six boys. I always say it depends on what day of the week it is, seasonality, what ingredients I can get my hands on, and what my mood is. Each day is different. I do love to grill, so anything I can throw on a grill is fun – steaks, chicken, salmon, burgers.

Least favorite thing to cook?

There aren’t many, but anything I have to boil or blanch isn’t my favorite. I love fast, from-the-hip style cooking, so waiting for a pot to boil bores me.

Advice for people who are just starting out in the industry?

Get great experience in a restaurant. Not a deli or sandwich shop, but a full-service establishment. The job experience is priceless. This will also tell you whether this industry, and working in a restaurant, is for you.

Over the course of your career, how have you seen inclusivity in the food industry change?

I’ve seen it change pretty significantly over my 20+ years in the industry. For me, I would say sexual orientation was less of an issue than gender. I never witnessed harassment of gays and lesbians – not that it didn’t happen – but I was so busy trying to fight the good fight of gender equality and harassment within the industry that I didn’t recognize being discriminated against for my sexuality.

The industry has come a long way in being more inclusive in executive positions and pay, but we still have a long way to go for full equality and inclusiveness – as do all industries.

Click here to read the full post.

Source: Buzzfeed.com 

Posted on: June 25, 2018

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