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Hello Dear Reader:
Don't you love the clean slate feeling that comes with the start of a new year? I like even-numbered years, so I’m looking forward to what 2024 has in store. It's high time we all get a break from the long stretch of tough times we've been facing. At Chile Lindo I remain faithful to my vision and steadfast in my mission to bridging cultures. The arts and culinary traditions of a country transcend borders, and we're lucky that Chile and California both include wine.
The highlight of last year was meeting Chilean President Gabriel Boric. He met with a small group of Chileans over breakfast during the APEC 2023 conference in San Francisco on November 15. We each had the opportunity to address the room. When it was my turn to speak, I described the Chile Lindo mission, starting with empanadas and concluding as a brand ambassador, which surely left some attendees puzzled. That the owner of an empanada bakery may have the most diverse network and be familiar with key figures in fields spanning from government to biotech to hip-hop, in both the United States and Chile, is quite out of the ordinary.
Having lived in New York City and Chile, I have a unique perspective on the immigrant experience in the US and, also, I had the foresight to predict Chile's path 30 years ago, before networks were a tech phenomena. Since production is my main expertise, I undertook the challenge of building that network, one empanada at a time.
Moreover, I was honored to be the representative of Chile at the APEC 2023 opening ceremony, an event supported by CA State Treasurer Fiona Ma, a candidate for CA Lieutenant Governor in 2026, and Global:SF.
Shifting gears, I would like to express my deep appreciation to Marcus Gaetani and the Gaetani Real Estate Community Engagement Committee for their generous grant, which funded the New Year's Eve celebration hosted by Chile Lindo. The event featured outstanding performances by the Alexandra Rieloff Trio, alongside Rob Bassinette and Eduardo Corzo. Additionally, I would like to express my gratitude to Juan Gonzalez and Fátima Ramírez from Acción Latina who acted as my fiscal agents for this grant. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one who contributed to the success of the festivities.
Chile Lindo Kitchen Culture hosted the New Year's Eve celebration, conveniently located across from my original spot. The newly established cultural venue is now open, so come by and visit it. Private parties can enjoy a Chilean à la carte menu. My plan is to organize additional events and promote them through this newsletter. We are currently open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Once again, Chile Lindo is co-presenting Chilean films at the Roxie Theatre. The film "La memoria infinita" has been shortlisted for an Oscar in the Documentary Feature category and is back at the Roxie Theatre for another screening. Los colonos (The Settlers) is Chile's official Oscar submission and is also featured at the Roxie. Dates and times are listed ahead, so don’t stop reading yet — there’s more news ahead in this newsletter.
I'm happy to say that I could finally spend Christmas Eve in New York City with my mother. It felt great to recharge with the unmatched energy of NYC. The highlight of the trip was visiting Casa Cruz New York (they also have locations in London and Buenos Aires). Casa Cruz caught my attention when Vogue Magazine featured it in their September 2022 issue, right before its grand opening. The headline announced that Casa Cruz was on track to become New York’s most glamorous new restaurant. My keen radar on all-things-Chilean helped me trace the founder’s name back to Chile. As I predicted, the owner is Juan Santa Cruz, a Chilean interior designer and investment banker who values elegance. Stepping into the six-story townhouse on the Upper East Side, void of tasteless, plastic bathroom signs, felt like entering a different realm. Returning to a previous era. The staff’s commendable approach was both warm and professional. They gave us the royal treatment, and it helped that we speak Spanish and are Chilean. Latinos are responsible for overseeing the hospitality sector throughout the entire US. The pisco sour, expertly prepared by a Dominican bartender, was absolutely delicious.
Chao for now and ¡Feliz Año Nuevo!
Paula Tejeda
Chile Lindo
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