June marks Pride Month, a time where cities around the world embrace the rainbow as a symbol of diversity and inclusion by celebrating their LGBTQ communities and their allies through parades, rallies, protests, and other joyous gatherings. At Zerocater, we’re taking the month to recognize and celebrate our LGBTQ culinary partners who are making strides to improve LGBTQ inclusion within the hospitality industry. If you’re looking for a way to honor Pride Month at your office try hosting a guest speaker or encouraging your LGBTQ employees to share their stories if they’re comfortable, plan a team volunteer day or collect donations for an LGBTQ alliance, and organize employees to participate in your community’s Pride parade. Of course, our #1 way to celebrate Pride is by supporting LGBTQ-owned restaurants and caterers.
Bali Kitchen, New York
- Name: Jazz Souisay and David Prettyman
- City: New York
- Business: Bali Kitchen
Favorite dish to make?
Nasi Campur Bali
Favorite local restaurant?
Lui’s Thai Food
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve given or received as an LGBTQ individual in the hospitality industry?
Treat every customer the same as we would like to be treated when we go to another restaurant. It does not matter if they are gay or straight, male or female, young or old. The customer is always King (or Queen).
What do you do to make your business more inclusive?
We don’t do anything, in particular, to make our business more inclusive. Basically, we just treat everyone, whether a customer or team member, with respect and dignity.
Do you celebrate Pride Month? If so, how?
We will be offering special discounts to our loyal customers throughout the month of June. We will also be supporting “Satu Pelangi (One Rainbow)”, an Indonesian-American LGBTQ group that has participated in the March for ten years.
Destino, San Francisco
- Name: James Schenk
- City: San Francisco
- Business Name: Destino
Favorite Dish To Make?
Empanadas
Favorite Local Restaurant (Not Your Own)?
Lolinda
What’s The Best Piece Of Advice You’ve Given Or Received As An LGBTQ Individual In The Hospitality Industry?
Always stay true to your vision, ideas, and creativity! Never back down, never give up.
What Do You Do To Make Your Business More Inclusive?
Everyone is treated like a VIP! Be consistent with your offerings and treat everyone with respect and grace.
Do You Celebrate Pride Month? If So, How?
Always! Drink promotions, special pride hours, in house pride party. Also, we set up an empanada stand outside the restaurant which is always super fun!
Order from Destino for your office
Ararat Mid-East Fusion, Austin
- Name: Kelly Abshire
- City: Austin
- Business Name: Ararat Mid-East Fusion
Favorite dish to make?
Yummus! (It ain’t your typical hummus yall).
Favorite local restaurant (not your own)?
Sadly most of my favorite restaurants have closed which is the nature of the restaurant business… But with so many restaurants opening, I’m excited to find new favorites! I am a big fan of the Salty Sow and Casa de Luz. ♥️
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve given or received as an LGBTQ individual in the hospitality industry?
Serve the entire community with love, and if someone is a jerk give them an extra serving of love, and if they send it back well at least you tried. ♥️🌈🙏🏽 (Our kindness is not a weakness and blatant bigotry and hatefulness will result in your hummus privileges revoked.)
What do you do to make your business more inclusive?
At Ararat, you can sport your skirt and your mustache. You can choose your name and your pronoun. You be you and treat the food with love and attention to intention.
Ararat is for lovers. ALL Lovers. ♥️
Do you celebrate Pride Month? If so, how?
Every month is Pride Month ♥️
Other LGBTQ Culinary Partners to support this month and every month!
Baz Bagel & Restaurant, New York, NY
A bagel store in the heart of Chinatown hand rolling New York Style Bagels.
Empanaderia, New York, NY
A Brooklyn based, family-owned company making traditional authentic Latin cuisine with recipes developed over 3 generations.
Mulberry & Vine, New York, NY
Mulberry and Vine promotes healthy eating by offering local, seasonal, organic, pesticide-free, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free dishes.
TRILOGI SF, San Francisco, CA
A certified Green Business, TRILOGI uses locally sourced produce and fresh ingredients to provide playful versions of favorite Asian dishes.
Brazilian Bowl, Chicago, IL
Serving up authentic South American cuisine, Brazilian Bowl uses traditional flavors and sauces to make a delicious and healthy meal!
B. Street Waffles, San Francisco, CA
Delicious and unique, each b. street waffle is made with pearl sugar and waffle irons imported directly from Belgium!
