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Chef Angel Barreto has numerous culinary accolades alongside his name, including “Culinary Ambassador” of the United States – Andscape

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6 months ago

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When Angel Barreto he was 31 years old and dealing 16-hour days as a sous chef before he had a mental breakdown. At the time, he was staying at Wolfgang Puck’s now-closed restaurant, The Source. Every night, Barreto would drive home from the restaurant at 2 a.m., only to show around and return at 9:30 the next morning. He said his burnout was less about the hours he was working and more about “a reaction to the very, very high pressure at the old school where you were yelled at a lot,” he explained. “I also started training such people. And I just think it’s not good. This is not what I want.” This experience modified the way Barreto worked. He is currently a James Beard Award-nominated chef at an award-winning DC restaurant Anju and partner in Fried Rice Collective restaurant group.

In Anju, he does the whole lot completely in another way.

“We don’t shout at people here. We treat people well in the kitchen. We focus on food, but also on the mental health of the staff,” Barreto said. There’s a poster in the worker locker room for the Southern Smoke Foundation, a nonprofit organization that gives mental health funding and resources for people working in the restaurant industry. Barreto told his staff that the error was simply a mistake. “We are not brain surgeons. It’s not every day that we save people’s lives. This is food. Our job is to provide guests with a great experience,” he said, recalling what he told them. “I want them to know that they are listened to and appreciated,” he added. He said the high staff retention rate is proof of the caring atmosphere in the kitchen. The awards are confirmation of his culinary talent.

Shortly after Barreto helped open Anju, serving “eclectic Korean cuisine,” the accolades began pouring in. In 2019, the company’s culinary critic: Tom Sietsema called him “a talent to watch.” The following yr, Barreto was a finalist for DC’s RAMMY Award for “Rising Culinary Star of the Year”.” In 2020 he was semi-finalist of the James Beard Foundation’s “Rising Star Chef of the Year” competition award, and a few months later awarded him the title of one of the winners in the country best latest chefs. In 2022, the James Beard Foundation again nominated Barreto in two categories: “Emerging Chef of the Year” and “Best Chefs”. This yr, the foundation included Barreto on its list again, this time for The best chef in the Mid-Atlantic. It can also be Culinary Ambassador of the United States.

Asparagus with potatoes, grilled Samgyeopsal, ssamjang and ricotta.

Leading DC

Chef would not be on his list in the event you asked 7-yr-old Barreto what he desired to be when he grew up. Instead, he desired to grow to be a history teacher or a politician – his interest in these subjects stemmed from his parents’ military careers. However, food became his passion quite early, as he found it in his grandparents’ kitchens. Throughout elementary school, Barreto moved around every two years. While his parents were deployed, Barreto and his sister lived with their grandparents during the summer. “I didn’t really realize how important food was until I got older,” he said. “Politics has all the time surrounded me, but I really like food. Family and food have all the time been key pillars of my life.

Barreto’s grandmother, the daughter of sharecroppers and the last person in her family to physically pick cotton, owned a farm in Florida. He said it was a privilege to live there along with her. “For me, Florida was like the wild, wild west.” There were strawberries, banana and fig trees, and a sugarcane field there. Every morning, Barreto’s grandmother prepared him breakfast from her garden. There were alligators and turtles throughout the property, and there was turtle soup. Watching his grandmother do it’s something he said he’ll always remember. “She grabs a stick, a snapping turtle bites a stick, my grandma has a machete, she cuts the turtle’s head off and she makes soup,” he said, following a practice Barreto says she learned from her mother, who was half-Cherokee, half-Black. “It had an impact on my life,” he said of his experiences on the farm.

In Chicago, Barreto and his sister were embraced by their father’s large Puerto Rican family, which met weekly for Sunday dinner. “Overall, one of the greatest love languages ​​of Puerto Ricans is food,” he said. Whether they were in Chicago or visiting relatives living on the island, “every family member cooked for us,” Barreto recalled.

As the family settled on the Fort Belvoir military base in Virginia, after his father received a everlasting position in the White House under Clinton and again under Obama, food remained a central theme in Barreto’s life. Barreto remembers going shopping with his mother in the base’s canteen during his senior yr of elementary school to purchase basic supplies for the Korean dishes she was preparing for the family for dinner. This was the genesis of his love for Korean cuisine. “My mother was very inquisitive,” he said, noting that she was stationed in Korea before he was born. “She always loved looking at recipes and trying new things and dishes.”

Black Sesame Tres Leches is made with yakult-soaked chiffon cake, berries, and black sesame whipped cream.

Leading DC

Gwanja has seared scallops, gyeoja veloute, soy caramel carrots and seared chard.

Leading DC

Still unaware of the impact food was having on his life, Barreto took an office job when it got here time to work out the right way to make a living. “I quickly realized it wasn’t for me. And that wasn’t what I wanted to do.” When he told his family he would do it Cooking Academy in Maryland to grow to be a chef, “they weren’t thrilled,” he said. “We worked so hard to get to a certain place. Taking this job in the ministry is a step backwards for you,” he said he was told. “They didn’t understand it for a long time.” However, he needed to take up cooking because “that’s who I am as a person.”

When Barreto entered culinary school in 2009, DC was not yet the food city it had grow to be lately. “It was ‘steak town,'” Barreto said, and classes taught by French chefs focused on cooking with jelly, butter and cream. While it was a practice he desired to learn, “I was already thinking about Korean food,” he said. In 2011, he made his first trip to Korea after which spent the next six years at The Source, finding ways to introduce Korean elements into the kitchen, serving Korean-inspired dishes to the taste of executive chef Scott Drewno. Two years after Drewno left the restaurant to launch Fried Rice Collective with chef Danny Lee in 2019, they tapped Barreto to be the executive chef of their newest concept, Anju.

Jjampong is a Chinese-style Korean noodle soup made with various vegetables and seafood. Anju’s is ready with crayfish, mussels, crabs, tiger prawns, wok-roasted vegetables and spicy broth.

Leading DC

Five years later, Barreto’s creations like Jjampong – crayfish, clams, crabs and tiger prawns served in a spicy broth with wok-roasted vegetables and wheat noodles – are keeping diners coming back and winning acclaim. The stuffing for his yache mandu, an unimaginable meat dumpling, marinated all day; it’s then rolled into wrappers, crisped and sprinkled with crispy chili confetti. But how crispy and light-weight his gochujang-glazed fried chicken is continues to amaze diners and food critics alike. Barreto brines the meat with Korean long peppers, garlic, onion, salt and sugar. Before frying, he dredges it twice, first in all-purpose flour after which in a mixture of roasted soy powder, potato starch and cornstarch. The whole thing is topped off with a bit of white Alabama barbecue sauce.

As Barreto developed his recipes, refined Anju’s menu and developed a “humanistic approach” to life in the kitchen, “to break the cycle,” he said, he also rooted himself in Buddhism. Unlike his parents’ religion – his father is Roman Catholic and his mother is Baptist – “Buddhism was something that grounded me (and) what worked for me,” he said. So does his love of nature, which pulls him to the climbing trails around DC and his home garden, stuffed with summer strawberries, peppers, herbs and more. Even though he doesn’t have a banana or a fig tree, he believes his maternal grandmother is all the time there for him – as are his father’s parents.

“My grandparents on both sides have always been my biggest supporters,” Barreto said. They were also the ones who gave him the best advice. “Just be happy. Life is short. Enjoy the moments. You don’t want to live in regret.”

It’s an approach I work on daily.

Cari Shane is a DC-based freelance journalist writing about topics that fascinate her, from human interest stories to scientific breakthroughs. Her work could be present in a wide selection of publications, from National Geographic to Scientific American to Fortune.


This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit

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5 days ago

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December 9, 2024

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Lauren Sánchez has apparently gained a popularity for her fashion hits and misses as social media users began following her every move.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ current fiancée stepped into the highlight long before she met the Amazon co-founder, after years spent as co-host of “Good Day LA,” a reporter for “Extra” and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he even starred in a number of movies like “Ted 2.”

She faced criticism for posting a sultry selfie in November in a negligee-inspired gown by designer Laura Basca. In October, the 54-year-old again faced backlash when she showed off her latex Halloween costume as Catwoman.

Now, weeks after being deemed “cheap” and tasteless, the founder of Black Ops Aviation has turn out to be a subject of discussion.

Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez shows off a “winter white” look, weeks after critics slammed her busty latex outfit. (Photos: @laurenwsanchez/Instagram, Theimagedirect.com via Page Six)

On December 5, Sánchez and the business mogul attended The New York Times’ DealBook event in New York City. For the occasion, she wore a white Alexander McQueen suit and a white lace corset. The beaming bride-to-be sent two mirror selfies of her outfit, which she signed: “winter white.”

One follower particularly was stunned by the whole look he ejaculated that she was “very attractive and beautiful, gorgeous and stunning, charming and fantastic young lady, sexy, charming, charming and elegant” in the photos that Sánchez took.

Two other people swooned over the photos and wrote: “So chic and elegant!” and “You look great.” But as you would possibly expect from online viewers, not everyone was impressed.

When Page six published paparazzi photos from the trip, the critic commented: “It’s 30 degrees in New York and she gets out of the limo in a white Miami smock, her bra visible to everyone. No taste. Nothing. A cashmere turtleneck, flannel trousers and a wool jacket can be classy.

Someone else sharply asked: “Who can be the first to tell her that she looks tacky and not elegant and refined? Does she even know what sophistication means? A 3rd person noted: “She looks more like she’s wearing a bathrobe.”

Another person wrote in a comment from a licensed pilot: “White means…” possibly referring to rumors that Sánchez and Bezos are scheduled to exchange vows over Christmas. At least one person doubted the couple would have the opportunity to say “I do.” This person said: “This will be the longest engagement ever. They will NEVER get married and we all know why!!!!”

Sánchez told the “Today” show hosts that she was in the process of planning the big day last month. She didn’t comment on speculation about exchanging Christmas vows.

Renewed interest and scrutiny of Sánchez has increased as the pair have been spotted in various locations in recent months. The couple reportedly began dating in 2018. Their engagement was announced five years later, in May 2023. Their upcoming wedding can be a second journey for each of them.

Sánchez was previously married to celebrity agent Patric Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She can be the mother of a son, whom she shares with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Bezos was married to the mother of his three children, Mackenzie Scott, for 25 years once they divorced in 2019.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Apart from the song with singer-songwriter India Shawn – Andscape

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5 days ago

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December 9, 2024

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India Shawn is a contemporary muse with a chilled nature, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales in smooth, charming songs. With over a decade of experience in the music industry as a singer-songwriter, Shawn has incredible strength. She was born in Los Angeles, and her musical roots reach throughout the country. Beginning her profession in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep-rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.

“I transferred to ATL, I was in 10th grade, and that’s when my music journey really started,” Shawn told Andscape. “I met people who were trying to get by, so I ended up recording and learned what songwriting was really early on.”

Before releasing her debut EP in 2012, Shawn wrote songs and collaborated with artists similar to Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson and Monica. In 2013, she gained much more notoriety when Solange Knowles published her song “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilationmarking her as an artist value watching.

Following the release of the single “There Must Be a God” from the Andscape soundtrack, she caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.

Singer India Shawn grew up singing in church with her family. “I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” she said.

India Shawn

Name:
India Shawn

Hometown:

Los Angeles

Artistic soundscape

Airy, soft, telling a story, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, atmospheric

The oldest musical memory

Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences drawn from her childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time, and I also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the leader of praise and worship. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I had these little solos in church, and I believe what made me consider in it was that after the service people got here as much as me with tears of their eyes and said, ‘You really moved me while you sang.’ “These early moments of connection with music and audiences laid the foundation for conveying depth and sensitivity through her music.

Influences

For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has all the time held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister are harmonizing in the living room, just picking some of our favorite songs, including for me Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men and (and) Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.

Creative process

Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships that influence her music. She weaves this into the authenticity and atmosphere of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration got here from. “It’s funny that it took me so long to make that connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and presenting my business through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m giving people a lot to understand here… these aren’t just songs. This is truly the life I live.”

Challenges and development

As Shawn’s profession grows, so do his moments of appreciation and reflection. “I literally just thought about a very gradual progression of my career. It’s like step by step, but there are more breakthrough moments. My first tour, which was so beautiful, I just knew I could pack a room and people knew my lyrics and sang my songs to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”

Shawn has plenty of recommendation for up-and-coming singer-songwriters. Her biggest sacrifice? Collaboration is essential. “I think (cooperation) is really why I’m still here. So find your people… you’ll know when it feels right, you’ll have that freedom and fluidity, and you’ll be able to really create things and create without having to think too much.” He also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient during the journey. This has been a theme throughout my profession. Let it develop. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present reasonably than forcing all of it.

Current project

“There should be a God”, the lead single from Andscape , now streaming on Hulu, also serves as a teaser for Shawn’s solo album. “(This song) is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you find yourself in a place of waiting, you can feel very hopeless. So when you see glimpses of God’s love again, or the fact that you know there is a higher power, there is a source that is thinking about you, has you in mind, has a perfect plan for you, it’s just like the clouds parting. And this is the moment, I understand. I understand that I had to go through all this to get here. And that’s exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”

Sheila Matthews is a digital producer at Andscape and a proud HBCU graduate. She believes “Return of the Mack” must have won a Grammy, and her Twitter mentions are open to all debate.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence

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5 days ago

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December 9, 2024

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With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is anticipated to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.

Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.

From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.

In case you missed it, take a take a look at 17 of the very best celebrity beauty moments from the week below.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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