Saborea Atlanta, an annual event to support metro Atlanta’s Hispanic community, drew more than 500 people to a fundraising event on Oct. 19.
The beneficiary of the event was Ser Familia, a metro Atlanta nonprofit that provides mental health services, family counseling, and domestic violence services.
Nearly 20 chefs prepared signature dishes such as paella with black squid ink, smoked pork with pickled red onion and sweet plantains, empanadas, and pastel tres leches.
Participating chefs included:
- Oscar Mendivil, chef of Influence Restaurant & Lounge
- Nagib Sued, a private chef of Latin cuisine
- Julio Delgado, chef of Fogon and Lion and Minnie Olivia Pizzeria
- Julio Viera, regional corporate chef for Flik Independent Schools
- Francis Sosa, traveling chef manager for the Westminster Schools
- Patricia Rivera, executive pastry chef at Hilton Atlanta
- Andre Gomez, former owner of Porch Light Latin Kitchen
- Jorge Yzaguirre, chef of Fidela’s Street Kitchen
- Belen De La Cruz, owner of Belén de la Cruz Empanadas and Pastries
- Christian Castillo, pastry chef for Cherokee Town & Country Club in Atlanta
- Hector Santiago, chef/owner of El Super Pan and El Burro Pollo
- Ken and Jeannette Katz of Buenos Dias Café y Pupuseria and La Bodega
- Arturo Yzaguirre, creative paella caterer
- Max Nava of the Omni Atlanta Hotel
“Food represents culture, and since we created Saborea more than a decade ago, it has brought together Hispanics and non-Hispanics to celebrate Latino cuisine and culture,” said Belisa Urbina, co-founder and CEO of Ser Familia. “Food brings families together, and this event supports our mission by raising funds to provide much-needed mental health services to the Hispanic community in metro Atlanta.”
The event was emceed by Los Angeles-based celebrity chef, author, and nutritionist Chef LaLa.
Ser Familia has impacted the lives of 70,000 individuals and families so far in 2024, purchased a new $10 million headquarters building and opened an office in Puerto Rico, among other accomplishments. Ser Familia’s life-changing programs help families deal with issues such as anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide and domestic violence, all worsened by the pandemic.
“Saborea was the culmination of a landmark year for Ser Familia,” Urbina said.