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For the past five years, Eater has put together a list of rising stars -- front- and back-of-house newcomers who "exhibit tenacity and desire to succeed through food, drink, and service." Young Guns are either under 30 or have less than five years of experience.
All, however, are "the best and brightest talent in the restaurant industry," and "deeply admired by their peers and guests." According to the website, they represent the future of dining in America.
This year, the website received over 1,000 nominations from 101 cities across the U.S. and Canada. This list of 50 will be whittled down to 20 finalists to be announced on June 22.
Hapa, for those who haven't tried it (yet), is known for its Pacific American-style street food.
According to his nomination, Gonzalez is known not only for his inventive cuisine but also for his willingness to give back.
In addition, his truck is currently working toward becoming a no-waste kitchen, meaning all food scraps are recycled and used in stocks or other dishes. Anything unusable is separated and brought to a local composting site to be turned into organic fertilizer.
Go HERE for more information about Hapa; go HERE for full Eater list.
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