Restaurant Associates

Katherin Gomez Beltran was truly a ray of positivity throughout her 2025 APT Program training. Although she holds a degree in Media and Graphic design, she continued to be drawn to the world of culinary and credits the APT program with giving her the confidence needed to take the next steps in her culinary career. She wowed the tasting panel with her arepa crab salad appetizer, seared scallops main course, and Colombia torta Negra dessert, with Jim Russo, R/A’s President of Managed services saying, “You had me at ramp spaetzle.” Congratulations, Katherin — we’re excited to watch you progress in your journey! #mentorship #womeninculinary #womenchefs #startwithdelicious

The NYC Hospitality Alliance Awards recognize outstanding industry professionals and establishments who make the heartbeat of New York City’s hospitality world so special. The Big Apple Award goes to a person whose success and influence will leave a lasting impact on NYC's restaurant industry, and it's no surprise that our CEO, Ed Brown, was the honoree. A graduate of the The Culinary Institute of America, Ed has worked in some of the most celebrated kitchens in the world and has earned wide acclaim in the industry, including a Michelin star and 14 stars from The New York Times. Over the course of an extraordinary career with Restaurant Associates, Ed has helped shape not only our growth, but who we are at our core. Under his leadership as CEO, RA has grown; broadening our reach, elevating our culinary vision, and strengthening our impact. All while never losing sight of the ethos that defines us: a deep respect for craft, people, and purpose. Ed’s legacy is one of excellence, integrity, and inspiration, and his influence will continue to be felt across Restaurant Associates and the hospitality industry for years to come. Cheers to Ed on The Big Apple Award!

Restaurant Associates was proud to be represented at the Society For Hospitality and Foodservice Management (SHFM) WISE event in Boston, where an incredible group of R/A women joined industry peers for two days of thoughtful dialogue, learning, and connection. The sessions were both enlightening and energizing, leaving our team inspired and motivated to make an even greater impact in their careers and with their colleagues and teams. #SHFMWISE

APT Graduate Lydia Simers nodded to her Korean and Irish influences by preparing a comfort meal with a fun twist. Leaning into the current texture trend, her Sea Bass crudo appetizer offered a satisfying crunch with deep fried ginger, garlic and sesame seeds. Her braised short ribs were followed by a spectacular Yuzu lemon cheesecake with a ginger molasses crust. She credits the APT Program for its commitment to female culinarians saying, “It shows how dedicated women in this career can be when given the opportunity.” Lydia’s dedication to her craft is evident to all of us at R/A! #mentorship #womeninculinary #womenchefs #startwithdelicious

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we’re proud to spotlight three talented women behind one of our most exciting culinary partnerships: FAUCHON Paris, NYC. This pastry powerhouse team is helping to shape the future of hospitality by bringing creativity, precision, and heart to every detail of the guest experience. Their work reflects FAUCHON’s excellence in gastronomy, and their leadership journeys are deeply intertwined—rooted in mentorship and a shared commitment to elevating one another as they grow. At Restaurant Associates, we believe investing in women in culinary isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s essential to driving innovation, elevating our craft, and building the next generation of leaders. 👉 Join us in celebrating their impact: https://lnkd.in/e5kBvgEA #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenInCulinary #StartWithDelicious

Our next APT graduate, Lissy Espinosa, is ever curious about Japanese culture. She kicked things off with a Korroke appetizer, then expertly found the Yin and Yang in her pan-seared cod dish. Her sweet plantain empanada with rum ice cream transported Ken Warner, SVP at R/A, to a tropical destination. One of her favorite aspects of the APT program is that you can “spread your knowledge and help more people,” motivating them to learn more and immerse themselves in the industry. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, Lissy — congratulations! #mentorship #womeninculinary #womenchefs #startwithdelicious

Progress you can measure. Impact you can see. From food waste tracking and supplier integrity to emissions reductions and community support, Planet Promise continues to drive meaningful, data-backed action across Restaurant Associates and Compass Group. 📊 Over 10,000 sites recording food waste 🌱 11% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity 🤝 22,000+ suppliers monitored through due diligence 🍽️ 3.1 million meals donated in FY25 We’re proud of the momentum — and even more motivated by what’s next https://lnkd.in/dr-yiUa #PlanetPromise

R/A Sous Chef, La-Shawn Pereira, tapped into French and Asian cuisines for her APT Program tasting dishes. Pricilla Yeh, R/A Executive Chef, celebrated La-Shawn’s Jerk Tuna Tartare, slow-braised Ox Tail, and a stunning passion fruit Crème Brulé with Guava Sorbet as being both perfectly executed and deeply personal. She found great value in participating in our APT Program, telling us, “It doesn’t just help with the professional world, it also helps you to elevate to be a better person.” We’re so proud of your accomplishments, La-Shawn! Learn more about our APT Program: https://lnkd.in/gDXAYx6V #mentorship #womeninculinary #womenchefs #deib #startwithdelicious

Our next featured 2025 APT Program graduate, Alexis Napoli, combined bold flavors from her heritage into 3 show-stopping dishes. Her crispy empanada, porchetta with a limoncello mojo sauce, and coquito tiramisu all wowed our tasting panel. Alexis credits her coach, Kelly Aditi Faust, for offering strong mentorship throughout the program and says, “I’ve experienced more leadership determination in myself. It truly is a lifesaver that this has happened to me.” Congratulations, Alexis! Learn more about our APT Program: https://lnkd.in/gDXAYx6V #mentorship #womeninculinary #womenchefs #startwithdelicious

Meet Aminata Diallo, one of R/A’s 2025 Aptitude Potential Training (APT) graduates. The APT program provides women frontline associates with culinary knowledge to guide them to success in their career journey through mentorship and training. Aminata shined bright at the final tasting event, serving dishes that celebrated her heritage and flavors from home — shrimp shish kabob with cilantro rice, savory lamb chops, and a traditional dessert. We know Aminata is going places at R/A and in the world of culinary. Watch the video to see her in action and drop a comment below to congratulate her on her success! Learn more about our APT Program: https://lnkd.in/gDXAYx6V #mentorship #womeninculinary #womenchefs #deib #startwithdelicious