PRLA Restaurant & Lodging Matters Winter 2020

Winter 2020  •  PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters  • 19 National Restaurant Association Industry Awards Program PRLA also recognized state winners for two national awards programs: Restaurant Neighbor and Faces of Diversity awards. State winners went on to compete nationally. Faces of Diversity The Faces of Diversity Award recognizes champions of diversity and inclusions, as well as restaurateurs who have achieved their American Dream through the opportunities provided by the industry. AMINA ALIAKO Amina’s Foods Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia Amina Aliako and her family were displaced from their hometown of Aleppo, Syria after the outbreak of the civil war in 2011. For five years, they lived as refugees in Turkey, until they were able to re-settle in Philadelphia in January 2017. Amina, the sole breadwinner for her family of six, managed to get a part-time janitorial job at the Reading Terminal Market, and just one year later opened her own stand selling pickled vegetables and other traditional Syrian foods to market-goers five days a week. Restaurant Neighbor Award The Restaurant Neighbor Award recognizes the goodness of the industry by highlighting outstanding local and national charitable service and philanthropy. ANGELO’S RESTAURANT Washington Angelo’s Restaurant helps members in its community overcome unexpected financial burdens through its Spaghetti & Meatballs fundraisers. BEECHIE’S PLACE Meadowlands On any given day you may find Beechie’s Place’s co-owner/ executive chef Lane McFarland with either a chef’s knife in hand or a microphone—at the local high school where he volunteers as a vocal coach for the school’s music program. PRIORY HOSPITALITY GROUP Pittsburgh Over the last five years, PHG has helped raised over $260,000 in support of Work, an organization accompanying families in Haiti out of poverty through good, dignified jobs. Watch their stories at www.prla.org/awards.