Restaurant Associates

It's the end of Women's History Month but in R/A we continue to highlight our female talent throughout the year. Here's a look at some more of the incredible team members in our company as we wrap up March's celebration. Sunilda has been a dedicated member of the team for 17 years. She plays a vital role in the kitchen, and is a natural leader among her peers. She is known for her hardworking spirit and ever-present smile! Lisa's passion for cooking began at 8 years old in her aunt’s catering kitchen. At 17, she earned an associate degree in culinary arts from the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute. In 2019, she moved to the U.S. to further her education at Monroe College, earning a bachelor’s in hospitality and an associate degree in baking and pastry. Ashley joined R/A in August 2022 and quickly became an essential part of the team. Known for her dedication, hard work, and excellent customer service, she was honored with the Hospitality Hero award in 2023. Fidelka has been a valued team member since September 2013, demonstrating versatility and dedication across various stations. As the star at her account's Wellness Bar, her expertise and hospitality have contributed greatly to its success. Luisa was born and raised in Colombia. In May, she will mark two years with the company, where she started in the kitchen as a packer and now proudly serves as a Culinary Operator Administrator with @unionsqevents. In 2019, Maryolin joined as a Catering Lead at one of our NYC accounts. By 2024, Maryolin’s dedication and leadership earned her a promotion to Hourly Catering Supervisor, where she now works alongside the Catering Director to oversee and enhance catering operations. Marina began her journey with R/A and built a strong foundation for her career growth. Serving as Director of Dining Services, she oversees multiple accounts, seamlessly blending her expertise in both front-of-house and back-of-house operations. Maria joined the company in June of 2023 with no hospitality experience, but a great attitude and desire to create a wonderful experience for guests. Maria’s attention to detail and dedication to her floor exemplify the meaning of the word HOSPITALITY.    #ProudtoWorkHere_RA #WomenInCulinary #RAwomeninculinary

For Women’s History Month, we followed Chef Priscilla Yeh around The Restaurant at Gilder at American Museum of Natural History to see what the day in the life of an Executive Chef is like. Priscilla prioritizes teamwork and innovation. She draws inspiration from her background in fine art and architecture as well as loads of culinary and cultural research. Her personal library of over 400 books ranges from cookbooks by contemporary chefs such as Daniel Humm and Gabriele Hamilton, to writers such as Elizabeth David and Mark Kurlansky. Her skill and generosity are evident in the way she collaborates in the kitchen. #WomenInCulinary #WHM #ProudToWorkHere_RA #RAWomenInCulinary

For Women’s History Month, we followed Regional Executive Pastry Chef Stephanie Oliveira around L’Avenue at Saks (https://lnkd.in/eq2PWTFJ) for a day to catch a glimpse into what a day in the life of a pastry chef is like. Stephanie pours her heart and soul into each of her sweet creations. Her passion for her work shows through her constant smile and creativity. She was inspired to become a chef by Julia Child who also showed her how to break boundaries and face challenges. Stephanie’s parents have inspired her to work hard and be the best that she can be. She is proudly living the American dream that her immigrant parents wanted for her. #LavenueAtSaks # SaksFifthAve #PastryChef #WHM #RAWomeninculinary #proudtoworkhere_ra

Diana Ubiera, one of our 2024 APT program graduates, describes herself as a vibrant Afro Latinx from the Dominican Republic. Diana has been part of the culinary industry since 2010, but has been in the kitchen since she was 8 years old, right beside her grandmother. Her grandmother has been, and still is, an immense inspiration to everything she does. Diana is hungry for growth, and continues to challenge herself in the kitchen at her NYC account. Her hope is to continue to learn to prepare authentic cuisines from cultures different from her own, providing delicious food to her clients, coworkers, and loved ones. Having experienced them herself, she holds the legacy of each cuisine and each ingredient dear to her heart. For her own legacy, Diana hopes to build a deep understanding of diversity, inclusion and equity in the culinary industry. #ProudtoWorkHere_RA #WomeninCulinary #APT2024 #RAWomeninculinary

Kristine Gil has been a valuable team member since September 2023. In a short period of time, she has demonstrated true leadership skills and takes pride in her role. She is a single mother of 2 beautiful children and expertly balances her work and home life. Before joining R/A, Sheron Davidson spent 19 years as a data entry specialist before following her passion for cooking in 2022 and she hasn't looked back since. Her culinary style is deeply influenced by her hometown of Georgetown, Guyana, where bold and spicy flavors reign. Sous Chef Rikki Sanchez has a natural energy and drive, which bring positivity to her entire team. She’s open to challenges and embraces new learning opportunities. A Long Island native, Denise McCabe has spent the past 13 years making a lasting impact across New York City locations and special projects within the organization. With extensive experience in amenity operations, she is dedicated to fostering teamwork, creativity, and exceptional service. #ProudtoWorkHere_RA #WomenInCulinary #RAwomeninculinary #womenshistorymonth

Pamela Brunson, President of Wolfgang Puck Catering, seeks inspiration through practices like purposeful reflection, and providing constructive feedback within her team. She recommends designating a time to reflect, and communicating the purpose of learning and finding improvements. Michaela Thomas is a cashier at one of our accounts in Atlanta, GA, and she is a true example of positivity, encouragement, and reliability. The impact she makes on her team is impossible to ignore – she is supportive and kind, quick with an encouraging word and a proven resource in a trying moment. She provides constant anticipatory service and is a natural leader. Lorna Mateo’s has an infectious energy, dedication, and problem-solving mindset that reflects the strength and perseverance that Women’s History Month celebrates. Lorna continues to inspire and empower those around her with her ability to overcome challenges and go above and beyond every day. Born in Queens, New York, of Haitian and Guyanese descent, Melissa Vigilance began her culinary journey as a cook with R/A in 2014 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Over time, she advanced to sous chef at various restaurant concepts and played a key role in launching a shared kitchen in Brooklyn before transitioning into supply chain management. #ProudtoWorkHere_RA #WomenInCulinary #RAwomeninculinary #womenshistorymonth

This Women's History Month - and every month of the year - we are proud to celebrate the women in our company. Today we highlight Susanna, a 2024 APT graduate. Born and raised in the greater Philadelphia region, Susanna's love of cooking began at a young age as she helped her mom cook for their family of 12. As a teenager, she spent several summers working in the kitchen at Camp Sankanac where she fell in love with the energy and community of commercial kitchens. In 2009 Susanna joined R/A as a frontline associate at Longwood Gardens with her sights set on finding her way into the kitchen. She worked as a prep cook in catering before taking a few years away from the kitchen to raise sheep, chickens and produce. Now, she has returned to the new 1906 restaurant, excited to pursue her career in the kitchen at the beautiful, inspiring grounds of Longwood Gardens. Susanna brings her life-long passion for creating experiences that help others feel loved and nurtured through food, and takes special delight in using locally-grown produce and meats when possible, to foster more environmentally sustainable practices and simultaneously building community connection. #ProudtoWorkHere_RA #WomeninCulinary

With our CEO Ed Brown as a Board Member, we couldn't be more proud to be a part of Culinary Careers Program (C•CAP). Join us on Monday, April 7 as we celebrate 35 years of C•CAP, empowering under-resourced high school students and adults to become the next generation of leaders in food and hospitality. Head to https://lnkd.in/gFtQYc7G for tickets, sponsorship and the full line-up of the event - or if you can't make it but still want to make an impact, you can donate money through the same link.

We are delighted to welcome renowned sustainable seafood expert Barton Seaver to the R/A family as a consultant! Together, we will advance our efforts to redefine sustainability in restaurants and foodservice. Read more about our partnership on the R/A Newsroom: https://lnkd.in/esD6KspY

This week's Fill the Bag Benefit was the standout of the year, raising crucial funds to help New York Common Pantry continue to fight poverty and hunger. Our CEO, Chef Ed Brown, was there to accept the 'Distinguished Partner Award' for R/A, along with Bloomberg Nancy Cutler, Head of Corporate Philanthropy for the Americas, and of course, the iconic Al Roker.