By Christina Fernández-Morrow, Hola Iowa
Fifty years ago it was nearly impossible to find a Latino-owned restaurant in Iowa apart from a few taquerias or a Mexican restaurant in Des Moines. The food landscape has changed significantly with Latino-owned restaurants offering everything from roasted chicken cooked with Honduran spices, to an Equadoran restaurant in the middle of Central Iowa being featured on the Food Network.
That’s why Blanca Plascencia, owner of El Fogon and Guacamole Patio and Cantina, and Gloria Henriquez, owner of Tullpa Novo Andean Cuisine, joined forces to create Iowa’s Latino Hospitality Council. Their mission is to empower Latino-owned restaurateurs through a comprehensive network of resources, education and support by people who have faced the same language-based challenges and barriers and want to help alleviate that for others in the industry.
Meeting the Needs of Latino-owned Restaurants
This nonprofit has been busy since its inception in 2023. Members served as judges during the 2025 Iowa ProStart competition, organized by the Iowa Restaurant Association Education Foundation, interacting with high school students, teachers, instructors, and renowned Iowa chefs. They recruited a board of directors made up of experienced restaurateurs and created an informative website to attract and inform members. Most akin to their mission, they have trained more than 200 restaurant owners and employees through their Spanish-language educational programs. This has led to improved certification pass rates from 20 percent to nearly 60 percent by offering these classes in the language their members are most comfortable.
On Aug. 11, they honored those graduates at a special ceremony at the Sheraton Hotel in West Des Moines. Nearly 300 guests joined them to celebrate the participants who completed industry-recognized certifications in food safety, alcohol service and front-of-house hospitality.
Among the graduates:
- 123 earned ServSafe certification
- 41 received responsible alcohol service credentials
- 25 were certified as professional servers
- 15 earned the “Certified Front of House Professional” designation for completing all three core trainings
The graduation celebrates the future of Iowa’s hospitality workforce, bringing talent, training and culture to the table. Their achievements not only directly support Iowa’s hospitality economy, they help Latino workers access stable, well-paying jobs and empower local restaurants with highly trained staff.
Latino Restaurant Week Returns Sept. 5–14
Support the Latino Hospitality Council and try foods from North, Central and South America during their second annual Latino Restaurant Week. “It will be a culinary experience that will allow diners to “travel” through Latin America without leaving Iowa,” says Henriquez. “Showcasing flavors from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and other South American countries.” This exciting event is a way for the public to uplift Latino-owned businesses, recognize cultural diversity and support economic development through conscious dining.
Photo by Tar Macias / Hola Iowa
Upcoming Training Opportunities
The Latino Hospitality Council will offer low-cost professional development for hospitality workers starting in August in West Des Moines, with ServSafe Alcohol Certification as low as $10 and a two-day ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification at a discounted rate of $110 for members.
“We are actively looking for grants to help cover the costs even more,” says Plascencia.
To learn more or register for classes, visit www.latinohospitalitycouncil.org or contact Giovanna Rodriguez at 515-444-9298.
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