The Future of the Restaurant Industry?
Inclusion is key, states Travelle’s new chef de cuisine Justin Gomes. He has a lot more to say on what he believes should happen now and for years to come.
We thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Justin Gomes, the new chef de cuisine of Travelle, situated on the lobby level of Langham Chicago hotel. He’s a wealth of knowledge about food, restaurant culture, and the future of it all.
Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Gomes has been in Chicago for almost 10 years and he brings his rich food culture with him. Fresh seafood and nuanced Caribbean flavors highlight his menus, and he encourages his diverse kitchen staff to contribute to as well.
“As an immigrant, I want to highlight my view of American food, but also want to highlight my team’s view,” explains Gomes during our conversation on the LIVE! Culinary Series. “My team is full of immigrants. I have people from every culture and background in the world. I think that it’s very important that we showcase those things.
“Sometimes we will see dishes that have Asian influence, we might [also] see some Latin American and Caribbean influence in our food. I think that it’s the most visible way we can display our cultures.”
During our discussion, Gomes also talked about his vision for getting the industry back on track, from how to combat labor issues to sustainability and offering staffers an ideal work/life balance.
Also during this episode: Mixologist Lynn House, who acts as co-host of the LIVE! Culinary Series, paid tribute to two Irish female icons with new cocktails. She created drinks honoring Grace O’Malley, known as “The Pirate Queen” and helped fight for Ireland’s independence, and also Lady Jane Wilde, an Irish poet who wrote under the pen name Speranza and supported the nationalist movement. She was also famed poet Oscar Wilde’s mother.
Watch the episode in its entirety right here.
Another great interview! 😁