During National Hispanic Heritage Month Comptroller Susana Mendoza, the first Latina elected to state wide office is proud to celebrate her heritage and that of many others. Her office recognized Chef Gabriela Morin who grew up in Venezuela and now lives in Peoria where she started a small business called Eat and Evolve, she now delivers 500 meals a week to people’s homes and operates a restaurant.

Mendoza says recognizing a chef makes sense when you think of the communal nature of food.

Another chef from Springfield was honored along with the State Senate Sergeant at Arms.