Latest news with #Amano
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
These Latino restaurateurs in unlikely places are nominated for a prestigious culinary prize
Before moving to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, two decades ago, Oscar Ortega had left Mexico City at a young age and spent many years in several European countries, where he studied gastronomy with what he calls incredible teachers. But he never forgot 'where my roots came from, my origins,' he said in an interview with Noticias Telemundo. Cacao originated in Mexico, he explained, which was one of the reasons Ortega decided to dedicate himself to becoming a chocolatier, gelato maker and baker. This year, his Jackson Hole establishment, Atelier Ortega, is one of five finalists for the outstanding bakery prize of the prestigious James Beard Awards, which will be announced June 16 and are considered the Oscars of the culinary world. Ortega, whose desserts have won international competitions and who's been featured on numerous television programs, is one of almost 20 Latinos who are finalists across different categories, recognized for making their mark in the culinary and beverage arenas — including in states with smaller Latino populations. One of them is Wyoming, a state where 10% of the population is Hispanic and that many people might associate more with 'cowboy country' than with chocolate making, Ortega said with a laugh. 'But I said, 'Let's see, let's try,'' and he opened a chocolate and pastry shop in 2004. There were days when he didn't sell anything, he said, but then everything started selling out. To keep honing his skills, he began entering international culinary competitions. Initially, he represented Mexico, his native country, but after winning several times, he was invited to join the official U.S. team with which he has won several prestigious international awards. 'And after I made the desserts for the competitions, I would serve them in my bakery when I got back. And that's how it began to establish itself' to the point of getting James Beard recognition, Ortega said. Like Wyoming, Idaho and Alabama are not states with the largest Latino populations. But in Caldwell, Idaho, people of Hispanic descent make up almost 40% of the population compared to 13% in the rest of the state. In this city, Salvador Alamilla's dishes at his restaurant, Amano, have earned him a nomination for 2025 James Beard best chef: mountain, where he's competing against four other chefs in nearby states. The restaurant's website touts a dedication 'to uplifting the food and beverages of the Mexican diaspora through ancestral cooking methods.' From the beginning, Alamilla said, his restaurant sought to be a place that offered 'the dream of eating like you did at home, with food like your grandpa or mom used to make it.' That's why regardless of whether he wins the James Beard Award or not, he said he's already been rewarded by 'seeing how people react to this food, saying, 'That's how my dad made it,' or 'Wow, it tastes just like my grandma's.'' That's behind one of this season's signature dishes at Amano: seasoned goat meat that's slow-cooked in an underground pit, or birria en hoyo, as it's known in Spanish. He's been making it with input from everyone who works at the restaurant, based on how they remember their own older relatives did it using the ancient technique. Along with his wife, Becca Alamilla — who's also the restaurant's manager — the chef's mother, aunts, brother and cousin also work there. 'It's a family project that has become a community cornerstone here in Caldwell,' Alamilla said. For the family, that includes advocating for community initiatives, such as raising funds so local teachers can purchase more books by diverse authors. 'We can be a place that offers a connection to this beautiful culture that exists here because we're here,' Becca Alamillo said. 'I think it can help carry people back to a place that they had forgotten and then it brings back really special memories.' In Birmingham, Alabama, José Medina Camacho has been nominated for outstanding professional in beverage service as co-owner of the bar Adiõs. Medina Camacho told Noticias Telemundo that, at first, he didn't want to be involved in the food industry because his mother and stepfather worked in kitchens, and he saw how long and tiring their days would be. But once he decided to do it, 'I worked my way up the ladder in every aspect of a restaurant,' he said, 'dishwasher, line cook, busboy, server, and then manager in one place, bartender in another, putting together the wine list in yet another... everything.' During the pandemic, he considered moving to another industry, until his partner in what is now Adiõs suggested opening a bar. He said he was initially afraid to make that step, but then he thought it over. "I saw and went to bars all over the city and said, 'Yeah, something's missing here. Where are my people?'' he said. While people in the area knew about Southern hospitality, 'Mexican hospitality is on another level, and I wanted to show them that," he said. At first, people who came to his stylish bar didn't know what to expect; they asked for 'chips and salsa,' he said, because they didn't necessarily know that Latin American culinary establishments can offer so many other things. 'Now they love music in Spanish, they ask me about epazote (a Central American herb), they want to know all the differences between the types of mezcal or tequila,' Medina Camacho said. In that vein, one of the bar's current favorites is a martini made with aged tequila, pickled watermelon and campari. 'We want to attract the entire Birmingham community, whether Latin or American, and show them our culture ... I'm excited about the future, whatever the outcome is' regarding the nomination, he said. Back in Wyoming, Ortega believes his own career's advancements reflect how 'the influence of Mexican and Latin American cuisine has been incredibly significant' in the American culinary world over the last 10 years. 'And in part, it's because, from New York to San Diego, there's no kitchen without Latinos, whether they're chefs, those working alongside them or those financing them, and regardless of whether they're Michelin-starred restaurants or small establishments,' he said. Ortega would be the first Wyoming chef to win the James Beard Award. But he said that regardless of whether he wins, being considered a finalist is a boost after years of work, tireless hours in the kitchen and coaching a team. 'My priority, regardless of the outcome, remains having the opportunity to grow as a pastry chef, chocolatier and ice cream maker, internationally,' Ortega said. He still has one goal, however: re-creating his favorite dessert, which is a flan (custard) that tastes just like the one his late mother used to make. 'Imagine that: after so many years of working at this, I haven't been able to copy her recipe, which she took with her,' Ortega said with a sigh. 'But you have to keep trying.' An earlier version of this story was first published in Noticias Telemundo. This article was originally published on
NBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
These Latino restaurateurs in unlikely places are nominated for a prestigious culinary prize
Before moving to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, two decades ago, Oscar Ortega had left Mexico City at a young age and spent many years in several European countries, where he studied gastronomy with what he calls incredible teachers. But he never forgot 'where my roots came from, my origins,' he said in an interview with Noticias Telemundo. Cacao originated in Mexico, he explained, which was one of the reasons Ortega decided to dedicate himself to becoming a chocolatier, gelato maker and baker. This year, his Jackson Hole establishment, Atelier Ortega, is one of five finalists for the outstanding bakery prize of the prestigious James Beard Awards, which will be announced June 16 and are considered the Oscars of the culinary world. Ortega, whose desserts have won international competitions and who's been featured on numerous television programs, is one of almost 20 Latinos who are finalists across different categories, recognized for making their mark in the culinary and beverage arenas — including in states with smaller Latino populations. One of them is Wyoming, a state where 10% of the population is Hispanic and that many people might associate more with 'cowboy country' than with chocolate making, Ortega said with a laugh. 'But I said, 'Let's see, let's try,'' and he opened a chocolate and pastry shop in 2004. There were days when he didn't sell anything, he said, but then everything started selling out. To keep honing his skills, he began entering international culinary competitions. Initially, he represented Mexico, his native country, but after winning several times, he was invited to join the official U.S. team with which he has won several prestigious international awards. 'And after I made the desserts for the competitions, I would serve them in my bakery when I got back. And that's how it began to establish itself' to the point of getting James Beard recognition, Ortega said. 'Tastes just like my grandma's' Like Wyoming, Idaho and Alabama are not states with the largest Latino populations. But in Caldwell, Idaho, people of Hispanic descent make up almost 40% of the population compared to 13% in the rest of the state. In this city, Salvador Alamilla's dishes at his restaurant, Amano, have earned him a nomination for 2025 James Beard best chef: mountain, where he's competing against four other chefs in nearby states. The restaurant's website touts a dedication 'to uplifting the food and beverages of the Mexican diaspora through ancestral cooking methods.' From the beginning, Alamilla said, his restaurant sought to be a place that offered 'the dream of eating like you did at home, with food like your grandpa or mom used to make it.' That's why regardless of whether he wins the James Beard Award or not, he said he's already been rewarded by 'seeing how people react to this food, saying, 'That's how my dad made it,' or 'Wow, it tastes just like my grandma's.''
Asahi Shimbun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Asahi Shimbun
Final Fantasy artist gives mythic paintings to Kyoto shrine
Yoshitaka Amano, third from left, talks about the paintings with Masami Funahashi, head priest of Fushimi Inari Taisha, second from left, and other members of the shrine at Fushimi Ward in Kyoto on May 18. (Yoshiaki Arai) KYOTO—Famed artist Yoshitaka Amano, known for his iconic illustrations for the Final Fantasy game series and the Vampire Hunter D novels, donated 17 magnificent sliding door paintings to the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine here on May 18. 'I tried to express the world of Fushimi Inari Taisha and the world of mythology. The time I spent painting was fresh and blissful,' said Amano, 73. The dreamlike paintings depict goddesses, foxes, horses and dragons rendered in black 'sumi' ink on 17 white 'fusuma' paper doors of the shrine. The paintings are titled 'Inari.' Amano started working on them at the shrine office on May 10 and completed them on May 18. That afternoon, a dedication ceremony for the offering was held in the shrine's main hall. In 2023, Amano collaborated with artist Baku Yumemakura on another artwork that they donated to the shrine. Afterward, Amano asked to create something more for the shrine, which led to this series of door paintings. The paintings will not be shown to the public for the time being, but the shrine will consider displaying them publicly in the future.
Forbes
30-04-2025
- Forbes
What To Eat And Drink In And Around Auckland, New Zealand
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JULY 27: A View from the Auckland Harbour looking back onto the Ports and ... More through to the City skyline, Saturday 24th July 2004. (Photo by) The Greater Auckland region encompasses an eclectic array of sights, sounds, and flavors. It contains the country's largest population center, with just about 1.8 million people. There's all the cultural vibrancy you'd expect from such a crowd. And yet it's easy to get lost in this landscape, to escape into verdant hills, or set sail for remote, idyllic islands, about which you could explore all day without encountering another living soul. This expansive range of experience enables the area to be the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure playground. Especially when it comes to eating and drinking well. Suspended amongst the skyline in your downtown hotel, you could talk a short walk over to the pier and ferry over to the vineyards and olive groves of Waiheke Island. Or you could take a short drive north to explore the farmers markets and craft breweries of Matakana. Maybe just stay put and enjoy Michelin-caliber cuisine in the lobby of your own lodging. Auckland is your oyster and we're not just saying that on account of all the world-class seafood. With so many options at your disposal, the only downside is decision paralysis. We've got the antidote in the form of a couple of carefully curated itineraries to guide you through your perfect day (or days) in Greater Auckland. AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 17: Amano Restaurant operations manager Jonathan Lefevre works as a ... More single server for a table of guests as the restaurant opens for the first time in level two on May 17, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. Amano – a popular, seasonally-focused Italian eatery. You'll want to sample several of the house made pastas, including the beef shin agnolotti. Kingi – a boisterous locale in the lobby of the boutiquey Britomart hotel, opposite Waitemata Harbor. The focus is on sustainably caught seafood, paired with an extensive selection of New Zealand wines. Panacea – a modern mixology lounge in the CBD describing itself as a 'cocktail kitchen.' Although you'll want to explore some of the unique offerings, don't sleep on the Old Fashioned; it's the best in the city. Caretaker – A speakeasy style subterranean lounge that specializes in bespoke creations. Fishsmith – 'It's the best takeaway in town for freshly-fried fish and chips,' according to Auckland native, Gabbie Tutheridge. 'Pack it up and head down to neighboring Herne Bay for a sunset dinner to remember.' Odettes Eatery – A verdant and inviting spot located at the City Works Depot. The playful-yet-sophisticated menu synthesizes flavors from the Mediterranean and Northern Africa into something wholly unique. Duck Island Ice Cream – Purveyors of hand-crafted, small batch confections with four separate locations across the Greater Auckland region. AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - OCTOBER 11: Local Matakana resident John Hay sells fresh produce from his ... More stall at the Matakana Famers Market in Matakana October 11, 2008 near Auckland, New Zealand. Farmers markets in New Zealand are rapidly growing in popularity as people seek more healthy, fresh and nutritious alternatives to supermarket food. (Photo by) Matakana is a quaint bedroom community just 45 minutes drive north of Auckland. Yet it feels like a world away. In recent years, the area has become a lightning rod for DIY sorts—artisan cheesemakers, kombucha brewers, ceramicists, knife sharpeners. You'll spot all of them selling their respective wears and tears weekly at the Saturday Farmer's Market. Or you can stroll your way through the heart of downtown and pick up fresh flowers and handcrafted gin and mixers to build your own picnic on Omaha Beach. Below is an itinerary custom-built for those with an indefatigable indie spirit. If you're dedicated to supporting the craftspeople in your own hometown, you clearly carry with you the same objective as you set out across the globe. We feel your passion and feed it fully with an hour-by-hour rundown of a magical day in Matakana. And we've shaped with the help of trusted Kiwi insight. 10 a.m. - Load up on protein at the Matakana Smokehouse 11 a.m. - Peruse the popular Saturday Farmers Market 1:30 p.m. - Picnic at the Sculptureum 3 p.m. - Beeline to the beach 5 p.m. - Cocktail hour at the Vintry 7 p.m. - Dinner at the Saw Mill AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - OCTOBER 11: An old sign for the Matakana Famers Market is displayed in ... More Matakana October 11, 2008 near Auckland, New Zealand. Farmers markets in New Zealand are rapidly growing in popularity as people seek more healthy, fresh and nutritious alternatives to supermarket food. (Photo by)
Forbes
30-04-2025
- Forbes
The Best Food And Drink In And Around Auckland, New Zealand
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JULY 27: A View from the Auckland Harbour looking back onto the Ports and ... More through to the City skyline, Saturday 24th July 2004. (Photo by) The Greater Auckland region encompasses an eclectic array of sights, sounds, and flavors. It contains the country's largest population center, with just about 1.8 million people. There's all the cultural vibrancy you'd expect from such a crowd. And yet it's easy to get lost in this landscape, to escape into verdant hills, or set sail for remote, idyllic islands, about which you could explore all day without encountering another living soul. This expansive range of experience enables the area to be the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure playground. Especially when it comes to eating and drinking well. Suspended amongst the skyline in your downtown hotel, you could talk a short walk over to the pier and ferry over to the vineyards and olive groves of Waiheke Island. Or you could take a short drive north to explore the farmers markets and craft breweries of Matakana. Maybe just stay put and enjoy Michelin-caliber cuisine in the lobby of your own lodging. Auckland is your oyster and we're not just saying that on account of all the world-class seafood. With so many options at your disposal, the only downside is decision paralysis. We've got the antidote in the form of a couple of carefully curated itineraries to guide you through your perfect day (or days) in Greater Auckland. AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 17: Amano Restaurant operations manager Jonathan Lefevre works as a ... More single server for a table of guests as the restaurant opens for the first time in level two on May 17, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. Amano – a popular, seasonally-focused Italian eatery. You'll want to sample several of the house made pastas, including the beef shin agnolotti. Kingi – a boisterous locale in the lobby of the boutiquey Britomart hotel, opposite Waitemata Harbor. The focus is on sustainably caught seafood, paired with an extensive selection of New Zealand wines. Panacea – a modern mixology lounge in the CBD describing itself as a 'cocktail kitchen.' Although you'll want to explore some of the unique offerings, don't sleep on the Old Fashioned; it's the best in the city. Caretaker – A speakeasy style subterranean lounge that specializes in bespoke creations. Fishsmith – 'It's the best takeaway in town for freshly-fried fish and chips,' according to Auckland native, Gabbie Tutheridge. 'Pack it up and head down to neighboring Herne Bay for a sunset dinner to remember.' Odettes Eatery – A verdant and inviting spot located at the City Works Depot. The playful-yet-sophisticated menu synthesizes flavors from the Mediterranean and Northern Africa into something wholly unique. Duck Island Ice Cream – Purveyors of hand-crafted, small batch confections with four separate locations across the Greater Auckland region. AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - OCTOBER 11: Local Matakana resident John Hay sells fresh produce from his ... More stall at the Matakana Famers Market in Matakana October 11, 2008 near Auckland, New Zealand. Farmers markets in New Zealand are rapidly growing in popularity as people seek more healthy, fresh and nutritious alternatives to supermarket food. (Photo by) Matakana is a quaint bedroom community just 45 minutes drive north of Auckland. Yet it feels like a world away. In recent years, the area has become a lightning rod for DIY sorts—artisan cheesemakers, kombucha brewers, ceramicists, knife sharpeners. You'll spot all of them selling their respective wears and tears weekly at the Saturday Farmer's Market. Or you can stroll your way through the heart of downtown and pick up fresh flowers and handcrafted gin and mixers to build your own picnic on Omaha Beach. Below is an itinerary custom-built for those with an indefatigable indie spirit. If you're dedicated to supporting the craftspeople in your own hometown, you clearly carry with you the same objective as you set out across the globe. We feel your passion and feed it fully with an hour-by-hour rundown of a magical day in Matakana. And we've shaped with the help of trusted Kiwi insight. 10 a.m. - Load up on protein at the Matakana Smokehouse 11 a.m. - Peruse the popular Saturday Farmers Market 1:30 p.m. - Picnic at the Sculptureum 3 p.m. - Beeline to the beach 5 p.m. - Cocktail hour at the Vintry 7 p.m. - Dinner at the Saw Mill AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - OCTOBER 11: An old sign for the Matakana Famers Market is displayed in ... More Matakana October 11, 2008 near Auckland, New Zealand. Farmers markets in New Zealand are rapidly growing in popularity as people seek more healthy, fresh and nutritious alternatives to supermarket food. (Photo by)
