Chef Ambassadors Selected To Represent San Antonio As UNESCO Creative City Of Gastronomy Through 2023

Press release from the City of San Antonio:

July 1, 2021

SAN ANTONIO – The City of San Antonio World Heritage Office announces six individuals selected as chef ambassadors to represent San Antonio as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. A selection committee reviewed applications, which were submitted from May 3 to June 11, 2021, for the World Heritage Office’s inaugural Call for Chef Ambassadors and chose the individuals who will participate in local, national, and international activities such as festivals, media opportunities, and other events that will occur over the next two years.

The selected chef ambassadors are:

• Lilla Bernal (Culinary Institute of America)
• John Brand (Hotel Emma)
• David Caceres (La Panaderia)
• Kelly Daughety (San Antonio Food Bank)
• Jesse “Chef Kirk” Kuykendall (Hotel Havana and Milpa)
• Stephen Paprocki (Chef Cooperatives)

A special presentation will take place in October where the selected chef ambassadors will be officially recognized.

“San Antonio’s culinary community and the local food traditions they uphold are becoming increasingly more recognized on national and international levels, and the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy designation has played a significant role in that increased awareness,” said Colleen Swain, Director of the World Heritage Office. “The City of San Antonio congratulates these six selected chef ambassadors who will continue sharing San Antonio’s unique food culture and heritage and showcase the authenticity that our city is known for.”

The selection committee was comprised of members of the San Antonio UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy Advisory Group and City of San Antonio staff. They evaluated proposals in accordance with the selection criteria stated in the official application and the San Antonio UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy Guiding Principles. The committee included: Chef Johnny Hernandez (Grupo La Gloria), Chef Frank Salinas (St. Philip’s College), Chef Elizabeth Johnson (PharmTable), Chef Jose Frade (Culinary Institute of America), Dave Krupinski (Visit San Antonio), Shanon Miller (Office of Historic Preservation), and Colleen Swain (World Heritage Office).

“In reviewing the applications, the selection committee looked for individuals who displayed a commitment to the culinary field, innovation and sustainability, and the overall San Antonio community, in addition to experience and expertise,” said Frade, Culinary Institute of America Associate Dean of Degree Programs. “Being a representative of our city at national and international events is an honor that should not be taken lightly, and we feel we selected individuals who will rise to the challenge.”

Chef ambassadors will showcase local culinary traditions, cooking techniques, and recipes authentic to the city at opportunities within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network through 2023. Previous chef ambassadors that have represented San Antonio include Blanca Aldaco of Aldaco’s Mexican Cuisine, Esaul Ramos of 2M Smokehouse, Hinnerk von Bargen from the Culinary Institute of America, and others.

More information about the San Antonio Chef Ambassador Program from previous participants is available on the World Heritage Office YouTube channel.

In 2017, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated San Antonio as a Creative City of Gastronomy for its culinary legacy as a confluence of cultures. The indigenous roots; the traditions and tastes introduced by the Spanish colonists in the 1700s; and the European, Asian, and African influences that came with European settlers in the 1800s have created a complex fusion that make San Antonio's cuisine distinct from other southwest regions in the United States. As a UNESCO Creative City, San Antonio is part of a distinct group of international cities committed to sharing best practices, developing partnerships that promote creativity, strengthening participation in cultural life, and integrating culture in urban development plans. The City’s World Heritage Office oversees this designation for San Antonio.

More information on San Antonio as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy is available at www.sacityofgastronomy.org. The website provides information on the designation, a community calendar of gastronomy-related events, profiles of local chefs, and more. Information on the World Heritage Office is available at www.sanantonio.gov/worldheritage.

This press release was produced by the City of San Antonio. The views expressed here are the author’s own.