Latest news with #Loaiza
Eater
3 hours ago
- Business
- Eater
Aria Reveals New Executive Chef
A chef from Savannah will now lead the kitchen at Aria. The Buckhead restaurant has appointed Joseph Harrison as its new executive chef. This comes after renowned chef and owner, Gerry Klaskala, announced his retirement after 25 years of opening Aria. Harrison is a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef Southeast and the former executive chef of Common Thread in Savannah. He begins his new role on June 18. Klaskala handed over the reins to longtime general manager and sommelier, Andrés Loaiza, and together they began searching for a new chef. They've kept an eye on Harrison's culinary growth over the years, from starting at Mystic Grill in Conyers to his time at top restaurants including Lazy Betty, Mujo, and Cooks & Soldiers. Harrison helped open Common Thread in 2021, where Loaiza dined quietly. Dishes like North Carolina flounder with berbere spice and redfish with jalapeño emulsion and pickled green tomato sealed the deal for Loaiza. Harrison has been working at Aria for a month, learning recipes and implementing menu changes. 'Joseph's talent and vision immediately stood out to us … From the moment I sat down with him, it was clear he shared our commitment to creating meaningful experiences for guests. I'm excited for the future of Aria with Joseph at the helm in the kitchen,' said Loaiza in a statement. At first, Harrison wasn't expecting the offer. 'Anyone working in this industry knows who Gerry Klaskala is,' said Harrison in a statement. 'I quickly learned Andrés and I share a passion for hospitality. It's rare to find someone who feels just as passionately about the front of house as you do about the kitchen.' In addition to changes in the kitchen, Aria is getting a facelift. Starting June 18, expect new landscaping, exterior cosmetic changes, new china and glassware, and menu changes. Though Aria will never be the same without the legendary Klaskala walking the halls and greeting diners, Harrison acknowledges his responsibility and says he's stepping into the role with humility and excitement. Aria is the 2025 James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Hospitality. Harrison, Klaskala, and Loaiza are travelling to Chicago this weekend for the James Beard Award ceremony on June 16. See More:
Newsweek
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Chihuahua Mix's Reaction to Owner's Girls Night in Has Internet in Stitches
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A 29-year-old woman's way of including her "unbothered" Chihuahua in a girls' night has delighted viewers on Instagram. The pint-size dog, named Eevee, carried a larger-than-life presence at the evening event, claiming center stage in a moment that went viral after being shared to the platform under @cinthyakarelyy. The pup had been filmed by a friend of her owner, Jaqui (jaquelinevega460), who showed Eevee calmly holding court at a dining table as the party played out around her. Her owner, Cinthya Loaiza, 29, later uploaded the clip to her own account on April 18. Viewers were able to see the Chihuahua mix occupying her very own seat at the table that had been kitted out with a meal and drinks. The party had been planned for Loaiza's best friend from her corporate job, and she described the event as being a "full-on girls' night," complete with matching PJ sets, music, dancing and a perfectly comfortably dog. "Eevee is a sweet, affectionate Latina Chihuahua mix with major 'girls' girl' energy," Oregon-based Loaiza told Newsweek. "She is not big on other dogs, but she thrives around humans. "She was not just part of the party; she was the party and, at one point, I looked over and saw her vibing while sitting down in my kitchen island chair next to all of my friends, totally relaxed and soaking it all in like she belonged there, because she did!" From left: Eevee the Chihuahua sits at a dining table during her owner's girls' night; and sits on a stool. From left: Eevee the Chihuahua sits at a dining table during her owner's girls' night; and sits on a stool. @cinthyakarelyy Since it was shared to Instagram, the post has amassed more than 112,000 likes, and many viewers have shared their delight at the viral moment. "He's got the drunk eyes," one viewer said, while another added: "I can't wait to reincarnate to be a Latina's girls dog." Reflecting on the viral attention online, Loaiza said she initially "did not expect much" from the video, but added that internet viewers had other plans for her. "Suddenly, everyone was obsessed with my dog's unbothered, main-character energy," Loaiza said. "She was giving cozy, confident, 'this is my party too' realness—and people felt that. "She was genuinely having the time of her life that night, surrounded by love, snacks, and her favorite thing: attention!" As for Eevee? The canine is blissfully unaware of her viral status online, but Loaiza said that her pet is ever ready for her next girls' night. "She really is out here living her best life," her owner added. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Al Jazeera
17-03-2025
- Health
- Al Jazeera
How Trump's US aid freeze has stymied Colombia's immigration system
Medellin, Colombia – Fraymi Loaiza's five-year-old daughter, Samantha, was refusing to eat. Instead, she lay in bed with a raging fever that her mother attributed to an infection she had been battling since before the family left Venezuela in December. Now in Medellin, Colombia, Loaiza agonised over whether to take Samantha to a local hospital. She and her family are among the 2.8 million Venezuelan migrants and refugees who have fled to Colombia in recent years, and their immigration papers have yet to be processed. Without those documents, Loaiza and her children are not yet enrolled in Colombia's public health insurance programme. She worries they could be turned away at the hospital or charged a fortune for care. "I don't know if they'll see her or how much they would charge me to do some tests," she told Al Jazeera. Adding to the uncertainty was a broader geopolitical upheaval: the election of United States President Donald Trump. Upon taking office for a second term on January 20, Trump announced a freeze on the disbursement of foreign aid. By February 3, Colombia's government migration agency had been forced to stop processing documents for migrants and refugees, due to the staffing cuts resulting from a lack of funding. That left families like Loaiza's in desperate straits, and immigration workers frustrated. Before the freeze, Adriana Llano Medina was among the volunteers coordinating migration documents and healthcare enrolment for Venezuelan migrants and refugees, through a local nonprofit called Famicove. Samantha and her younger sister, Clarion, made it on a list of 80 children she was slated to register. When Venezuelan kids do not have health insurance, their lives are at risk, Llano Medina told Al Jazeera. Many hospitals will not treat undocumented kids until they are in dire need, she explained. "By the time they get to the hospital, they're already bad." Llano Medina remembered that, on February 3, WhatsApp messages began to pour into her phone, as dozens of teachers, parents and school psychologists begged for help. But there was nothing she could do. "Look!" she said, showing Al Jazeera her incoming chats. "My phone can't take any more messages."
