Chef is a SHERO
Lisa Lombo-Padilla, a chef at Continental Mid-town, is being honored at Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School.
Fifteen years ago, Lisa Lombo-Padilla found her purpose in the kitchen.
Lombo-Padilla, a longtime cook and now a sous chef with Starr Restaurant Organization, has made it her mission to help other young, inner-city Latinos follow the same path.
Several years ago, she trained young people informally at El Cafeito in Kensington, a short-lived but well-received Puerto Rican restaurant. After El Cafeito closed, Lombo-Padilla has mentored young people and trained them wherever she could - even at Continental Mid-town, where she now works.
Today, she is part of Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School's SHERO Day, where she addressed 20 teen girls to share her story and make yogurt and granola.
"It's amazing," she said of the response. The girls started with their guard up and ended in a series of hugs.
Lombo-Padilla wants a permanent location for her work, and is seeking sponsors to help work with the North Philly arts group Taller Puertorriqueño on a cafe in its new building.
As she did at El Cafeito, she wants this cafe to serve as an introduction and training facility for high school students.