A celebrity chef made a special visit to the Emerson School of Hospitality in downtown Buffalo Wednesday. WBFO's Senior Reporter Eileen Buckley says the woman known as Chef Lizette spoke to ninth graders in hopes of offering some inspiration.
Lizette López De Arriaga delivered an inspirational speech to Emerson ninth graders. She is the founder and CEO of Chef Lizette Entertainment. Her interest in the city schools started through a Twitter conversation with Buffalo native Chris Sacca of Lowercase Capital, who conducted a 'flash funding' effort.
Chef Lizette wanted to participate in some way and that's when she was invited to Emerson. She told Emerson students as a Mexican-American, and a woman, she has overcome racism, sexism and was a victim of domestic violence.
The chef encouraged Emerson juniors and seniors working in the school kitchen as she judged them in an 'Iron Chef' competition.