Lorena Garcia, chef: ‘I would really like to see a pathway to legalization for immigrant workers’

For Lorena García, 53, the most important thing is dialogue, making use of one’s own voice. And for her, sharing a meal is the best setting for this. The Venezuela-born chef, who has been living and working in the United States for more than 30 years, is one of the most recognizable faces in the country’s culinary world. She’s a TV star thanks to her numerous appearances on reality shows and other programs; a well-established businesswoman with restaurants in different cities and in some of the most important airports in the country, and an activist against obesity and childhood malnutrition in the United States. In short, García is difficult to pigeonhole.

Politically independent, she does not reveal who she will vote for on November 5, which will be the fourth time she has participated in a U.S. presidential election. She is concerned about taxes and unequivocally condemns the Venezuelan regime — “for me, they are the fascists,” she tells EL PAÍS — but she also advocates for greater gun controls, is concerned about restrictions on reproductive rights and believes in providing free and healthy meals in all public schools. What she is clear on is her commitment to mobilizing people to vote and ensuring Latinos make themselves heard. “It doesn’t matter who you vote for, the important thing is to vote,” she says.

Question. As a woman, chef, businesswoman and member of the Latino community, what worries you most when you see the current political landscape in the United States?

Answer: One of the things that worries me most is that the decisions made by governments are now felt much more on a personal level. Perhaps before, whether the Democrats or the Republicans won, it was not felt as much in daily life as it is today. And I am independent, so I think it is important to vote to make your voice and what you think heard, to educate yourself and to know who the candidates are and what their policies are.

Q. And how did you decide to be independent?

A. Idealistically, I’m a Republican, but I’m very liberal, so I’m a Democrat, too. In the end, for me, it’s really about what the candidates have the opportunity to do and who I identify with the most. In fact, I’ve been involved with several campaigns to get out voters. So, I think it’s super important to make ourselves heard. It doesn’t matter who you vote for. The important thing is to vote.

Q. In these elections, specifically, what is your main personal motivation?

A. There are two issues that are extremely important. The first is the economy, because it is my family’s livelihood, it is my business. I am an entrepreneur, and so that directly affects my livelihood. And second, and this something that has been increasingly important to me over time, is gun control in the United States. I have an eight-year-old son and every time I take him to school it is a source of anxiety. The idea that a child can enter a school with a gun and kill five people, that is something that for me... While it is true that I support all the commandments of the Constitution of the United States, I also feel that there must be very important regulation for accessing weapons.

Q. Do you hope to impact the elections, and if so, how?

A. Of course, I do. I hope to make an impact by joining campaigns that promote the importance of voting. It’s essential not to stay at home thinking that it doesn’t matter or that it doesn’t affect us — because it does; every decision impacts us personally. Voting is a privilege in the United States, a country that opens its doors to us and embraces our diverse cultures. However, this privilege comes with a significant responsibility to contribute positively to our communities. You don’t have to identify as a Republican or a Democrat to exercise your right to vote; what matters is that you exercise your right to vote.

Q. Venezuela is currently at the center of the immigration debate in the U.S. How does it feel to see your country viewed so negatively?

A. In a way, I feel a great sense of responsibility as a Venezuelan migrant to show that we are workers and that we can contribute a lot to this community. You can’t generalize immigrants when this country is made up of immigrants. As a chef, everyone in my kitchen is an immigrant. When you go to the fields and see the hard work, it’s the immigrants who are doing it.

Q. What would you like on immigration, both in terms of policy and rhetoric?

A. I feel a discrepancy. How can you explain the presence of a terrorist gang, like the Tren de Aragua? How did those people get in? I have friends and workers with degrees who could thrive here but cannot come. They have no way to get here; they have no means to obtain a work permit. So, I would really like to see these candidates discuss a pathway to legalization for hard-working immigrants. And I want all these criminal gangs to be expelled.

Q. What role can gastronomy play in building bridges in such a polarized society?

A. There’s something profound that happens at the table, which is why I am a chef. It transforms the dining experience into a means of connection. At the table, barriers come down, allowing for honest conversations. Miracles can happen in that space. And everything related to those kitchens and the dishes we create serve to connect us with cultures. I believe that the culinary and hospitality worlds play a fundamental role in fostering these connections, and they should be leveraged more.

Q. And on a more social level, how have you seen the Latino culinary cultural presence in the United States change since you arrived 30 years ago?

A. The change has been profound. When I was younger, having an accent was a significant barrier for me. I struggled to find work in communications and television, fields I love. Today, my accent is what makes me special; it adds to my appeal in programs where I represent Latino culture. American society has seen and recognized this. And that’s why I think that today you see much more Latino representation in every field.

Q. One of the causes you have taken up is the fight against obesity. What is lacking in the debate on this issue?

A. I think it is very important to raise awareness that the people who are going to feed us are our children. Through my organization Big Chef, Little Chef, what we do is give classes to children in low-income public schools to teach them how to eat healthily. I am also linked to another organization dedicated to eradicating childhood hunger: I think that all children in the United States have the right to have a free meal, even in the summer, when there is no school. If these organization-led programs reach state, decision-making and policy levels, that would give me great satisfaction. It is about doing my bit. Education is needed, so that they know that natural foods are better, healthier, and cheaper than ultra-processed foods. There is much more to do.

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