dLeña Celebrates the Next Generation of Latin Chefs this National Hispanic Heritage Month
Old Ways, New Hands features innovative menu specials from chef mentorship program winners
Washington, DC—dLeña by Chef Richard Sandoval is excited to announce its Old Ways, New Hands menu, featuring items specifically crafted by Latin and Hispanic chef winners of Chef Sandoval’s mentorship program. Guests are invited to enjoy a few of these menu items at the modern Mexican concept from Tuesday, September 3, through Monday, September 30, in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Last year, Chef Sandoval unveiled an initiative celebrating the next generation of Latin and Hispanic chefs, creators, and restaurateurs with the goal of teaching culinary and entrepreneurial skills. The mentorship program and goal accelerator spotlights the next generation of chefs and creators who use their platforms to authentically preserve their cultures through cuisine and culinary talents. Under Chef Sandoval’s guidance, the program connects members to the toolkits, people, and channels necessary to help those in the Latin and Hispanic communities achieve their dream. The mentorship culminated in Cabo for a hands-on, all expenses paid workshop with Chef Sandoval to sharpen business and culinary skills from the world-renowned chef with a footprint on four continents and 12 countries with 60+ locations.
Out of hundreds of applicants from across the country, two of last year’s five mentorship program winners were from the DMV region: Chef Giancarlo Ramirez and Chef Jona Won, both of Silver Spring, Maryland. A current student at The Culinary Institute of America, Chef Ramirez switched up a career in education to pursue his passion for cooking. His love of cooking came from his parents, Guatemalan and Salvadoran immigrants, and he hopes to one day be an executive chef and owner of a restaurant. A chef and content creator, Chef Won shares his personal connection to food with stories of growing up in a Peruvian-Chinese-Columbian household. Chef Won’s cooking inspiration is apparent through his family recipes and adventures abroad.
Embark on a culinary journey at dLeña with the inspirational National Hispanic Heritage Month menu items featuring Chef Won’s ají hamachi tiradito ($19) with hamachi loin, chorizo oil, mango amarillo sauce, and lime, and Colorado program winner Chef Gemma Aguayo-Murphy’s pork coloradito tacos ($19) with adobo pork, nopalitos, and crema fresca, atop a blue tortilla.
Chef Richard Sandoval is excited to announce the Old Ways, New Hands mentorship program will return for another year. This initiative is a cornerstone of Chef Sandoval’s vision to honor and elevate Latin and Hispanic culture by mentoring the next generation of talented chefs, creators, and restaurateurs. New this year, the program is accepting applicants worldwide from Sunday, September 1, through Tuesday, October 15, 2024. To learn more about Old Ways, New Hands, its 2024 mentees, and how to apply for the 2025 mentorship program, visit oldwaysnewhands.com.
dLeña and dLeña ROJA are located at 476 K Street NW, Suite D, Washington, DC 20001. Lunch hours are 11am to 3pm Monday through Friday. Dinner hours are 5pm to 10pm Sunday through Thursday, and 5pm to 11pm Friday and Saturday. Bottomless brunch is offered at dLeña from 10am to 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations are available until 30 minutes before the restaurant closes. Visit dLeña ROJA Wednesdays through Saturdays for an additional hour of beverage service. For more information on dLeña’s Old Ways, New Hands menu items or to make reservations, visit dlenadc.com.
About dLeña
dLeña by Chef Richard Sandoval is a modern Mexican restaurant located in the heart of Washington D.C’s Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood. Featured in the 2023 and 2022 editions of the MICHELIN Guide DC and a Best of Modern Luxury DC Award Winner in 2023 and 2022, the chef-driven concept celebrates “leña” or firewood, and the nuanced flavors smoke imparts on both its wood-fired food and smoky mezcal and tequila-centric menus. For more information on dLeña, visit dlenadc.com. For additional updates, follow dLeña on Instagram and Facebook.
About Richard Sandoval Hospitality
Richard Sandoval Hospitality is a leading restaurant group founded by Mexican-born chef, restaurateur, television personality and philanthropist Richard Sandoval. Known for offering guests an unparalleled culinary experience, this internationally recognized contemporary Latin restaurant group successfully owns and operates over 60 restaurant concepts around the globe. US restaurant locations span 10 states and the District of Columbia – as well as internationally in 11 countries including Canada, Costa Rica, Greece, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Qatar, Serbia, St Kitts, Turkey and the UAE. For a complete list of restaurants and more information, please visit www.richardsandoval.com.
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