Hispanic Heritage Month is here — and it calls for celebration. Lasting from September 15 through October 15, this month-long holiday is the perfect opportunity to honor the history, culture, and contributions of Latino and Hispanic Americans.
There’s a lot that companies nationwide can do to celebrate this month in the workplace — and food is an excellent place to start. Sharing a meal is one of the best ways to bring people together, so why not shine a spotlight on Hispanic cuisine? Besides feeding hungry employees and switching up the lunchtime routine with something new and delicious, ordering catering from a Hispanic-owned eatery empowers small businesses. Everyone wins.
As part of our own effort to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we reached out to the hard-working people behind three restaurants featured on ezCater. In addition to highlighting their delicious offerings, we asked them to share how they got their start in catering, how they express their identity through food, and some hands-on tips for supporting Hispanic-owned businesses like theirs this month.
Henderson & Kane Catering
Henderson & Kane Catering in Houston started out over a simple cup of coffee and has since blossomed into a dynamic celebration of Texas Mexican cuisine. Owned by Veronica Avila and her husband, John, the restaurant is inspired by neighborhood general stores. It’s a place that offers convenience while focusing on local products made from scratch. Here, the menu is more than just a collection of dishes. Every item is rooted in tradition and carries sentimental value.
“As forgotten Texas Mexicans, our identity is uniquely disguised by Texas culture,” shared Veronica Avila, co-owner. “We strive to express our culture by making our food accessible and identifiable by everyone.”
This starts with making basics like their delicious chorizo and tortillas in-house. From there, they’ve created a variety of Texas Mexican dishes that complement their main offerings — the long, slow-cooked, barbecued meat. “By far, our brisket and ribs are my all-time favorites,” Avila enthused. “The time and attention make the end product so delicious.”
As for how you can support Hispanic businesses this month? “The best way to support any Hispanic business is to spend what you can when you can,” she shared. “BBQ is known for being pricy, but we have plates like The Pitmaster that can feed an entire family on a budget.” These types of plates are a great way to get a taste of everything the Henderson & Kane team has to offer.
JJ’s “Fresh From Scratch” Catering
Located in Orlando, Florida, JJ’s “Fresh From Scratch” Catering is a celebration of the home-style Latin American cuisine cooked with love by owner JJ Paredes’s mom and abuelita.
To honor this rich family heritage, JJ and his mom, Olivia, have been cooking healthy, flavorful food from their family’s recipe archives since 2014. To make their dishes stand out, they’ve taken their traditional Latin American recipes and fused them with the best techniques and ingredients from around the world.
“JJ’s brings a homemade, flavorful meal that will never sacrifice quality or integrity for any reason,” explained owner JJ Paredes. “Our name ‘Fresh from Scratch’ is not just a name. It’s a way of being.”
With JJ and his mom in the kitchen together, they’ve spent more than ten years developing memorable recipes that evoke the cozy feeling of home cooking. The care and attention JJ and Olivia use with their ingredients and techniques is evident in dishes like the crowd-pleasing Arepas with Roasted Pork, topped with fresh pico de gallo.
Sampling a feast like this at the office is a great way to ring in Hispanic Heritage Month, but it’s not the only way you can celebrate. “Social media is such a fundamental key to success nowadays,” JJ shared. “Posting about Hispanic-owned businesses is a huge way to support them.” This helps bring attention to the restaurant and exposes them to new potential customers who would enjoy their delicious, fresh-from-scratch cooking.
Bagel Bazaar
At first, bagels don’t seem to have a particularly Latin or Hispanic American background. However, Paul Salas, the owner of Bagel Bazaar in Middlesex, New Jersey, aims to change that. Salas started working at the eatery at just 15 years old. By the time he turned 19, he was a partner in the first of four locations. More than just an ambitious business venture, Bagel Bazaar has become an outlet for Paul’s self-expression and creativity.
“At Bagel Bazaar, there are so many ways for me to express my Hispanic heritage,” Paul shared. “I’ve introduced new flavor combinations of spreads, sandwiches, bagels, and beverages. Certain flavor profiles can easily spark a memory or a feeling. Simple flavors that are reminiscent of certain signature dishes my mom used to make are my favorite.”
This includes the fiery and savory Cheddar Habanero bagel, which is delicious hot out of the oven or made into a breakfast sandwich. For a sweeter breakfast option, Paul recommends a warm Cinnamon Raisin bagel with cream cheese.
No matter which popular menu item you’re ordering, Paul says the best way to support Hispanic-owned businesses is to come in as often as possible. There’s no better way to get to know the independent restaurants in your area than to try all they have to offer.
Bring Hispanic Heritage Month to life with ezCater
This month, you can make your Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations more meaningful by sourcing your workplace meals from a Hispanic-owned restaurant. Whether your group craves bagels for breakfast, a mixed barbecue buffet for lunch, or roasted pork with all the trimmings for dinner, ezCater can help you find the perfect Hispanic-owned restaurant near you. Use the Diversity of Ownership filter to effortlessly feed the workforce while channeling your food spend for good.
