June marks Pride Month, a time of reflection and celebration for the LGBTQ+ community. It’s a big deal: 9% of adults identify as LGBTQ+, and these 30 days are a great opportunity to show some extra support for the community — especially at work.
Ordering catering from LGBTQ-owned restaurants can help mark Pride Month in a meaningful way. It can boost the mood, uplift LGBTQ+ employees, and bring your teams together. What’s more, every dollar you spend promotes the local economy.
As part of our own effort to recognize Pride, we reached out to three LGBTQ-owned restaurants featured on ezCater. We asked each owner how they broke into the food industry, how they express themselves through food, and tips for supporting small businesses like theirs.
Steve’s Hot Dogs
In 2011, Steve Ewing satisfied late-night cravings out of a St. Louis food cart. Today, Steve’s Hot Dogs has brick-and-mortar locations across the city.
Steve didn’t do it all alone, though. When juggling a popular restaurant solo and his career as the lead singer of the alternative rock band The Urge became too much, Danni and Marcus Eickenhorst stepped in to help in early 2020.
That year wasn’t easy for anyone in the restaurant business — and Steve’s Hot Dogs was no exception. Instead of giving up, the trio created a giveback initiative to help the struggling community.
“A huge part of my identity is generosity and community,” Danni shared with us. “At Steve’s, we work in partnership with community organizations to feed the hungry in our community with our Feed the People program.”
Modern and creative, every dish coming out of Steve’s Hot Dogs’ kitchen is a huge source of comfort. With all-beef sausages, vegan frankfurters, and burgers, the menu has something for everyone. For Danni, though, nothing beats the Horseshoe Dog. Taking inspiration from a Central Illinois classic, this recipe features a smoked all-beef hot dog topped with burger crumbles, fries, cheddar cheese sauce, chili, sour cream, crispy onions, bacon, and jalapeños.
Serving satisfying comfort food is fulfilling. But for Danni, running an iconic eatery means so much more.
“My favorite part of owning restaurants is the community that pops up around them to support them — our regulars,” she said. “We’re an LGBTQ+ safe space, and that means a lot, especially in our state. People need to feel safe first to grow.”
Want to take part in this restaurant’s welcoming and diverse community? If you’re in the area, Steve’s recommends ordering catering to celebrate Pride Month.
Hunny Beez
Andrew Wegman started Hunny Beez in 2019 in Newberg, Oregon, after leaving a corporate job. The first iteration of the restaurant was a charming 1970s food truck. Today, Andrew and his culinary team have found a brick-and-mortar home in Portland.
Diners in the Rose City have plenty of options come meal times. And yet, none are quite like Hunny Beez. The menu is a delightful fusion of Filipino and American flavors. From fried veggie lumpia rolls to loaded spam sandwiches and ube cheesecakes, every dish is bursting with flavor.
Foodies have Andrew to thank for coming up with such an original and memorable menu.
“I would say I am a little sweet and a little spicy, so a bit of that is in my cooking,” he explains. “I love seeing people enjoy something I made, so I try to make everything yummy and make people smile.”
Not sure what to try first? Andrew shared his favorite dish with us: the Deluxe Rice Bowl. It’s a nourishing combination of furikake-seasoned white rice, tocino, and a fried egg, topped with sriracha, mayo, green onions, and house sauce.
No matter what you choose from the menu, June is the perfect time to feast on Filipino-American delicacies. Andrew and his team work hard to make everyone feel safe and welcome, in line with the spirit of Pride.
Tacos El Norte
Tacos El Norte is a welcoming restaurant in Lake Bluff, Illinois. Behind the scenes, you’ll find Diego Lasso running the place with his mother and sisters. The tight-knit family has been in the food business since 1991, so it’s no wonder this taquería in the northern Chicago suburbs is such a hit.
Every week, Diego and his team serve authentic Mexican meals to locals. Feeding the community is one way Diego expresses his identity.
“Food is family,” he told us. “Our food has kept my family together and allowed us to prosper. Now, it makes our customers and their friends and family come together.”
This is a place where customers go to make memories while sharing memorable dishes. You’ll find burritos, enchiladas, tortas, flautas, salads, and many other popular Mexican recipes on the Tacos El Norte menu. If you ask Diego, he’ll recommend the lamb quesabirrias — a treat for fans of intense flavors, buttery-tender meat, and melty cheese.
The lakeside taquería is already a local success story, but why stop there? Diego likes to dream bigger, and he shared those dreams with us. “My professional goal is to become the most highly regarded catering restaurant in the north ‘burbs, or Illinois, or in the Midwest, or who knows!”
Placing a catering order with Tacos El Norte helps the young, ambitious restaurant owner continue the Lasso family legacy. Whether you’re feeding a small or large crowd, Diego and his crew are eager to serve you — during Pride Month and year-round.
Celebrate joy and authenticity during Pride Month with catering
Pride inclusion shouldn’t be limited to a single month, but June is a great place to start. Consider supporting LGBTQ-owned restaurants (like these) and treat your employees to meals that not only bring your teams together, but support the local community. With ezCater’s Diversity of Ownership filter, you can find LGBTQ-owned eateries near you. Feeding your teams — while channeling your food spend for good —just takes a few clicks.
