TAMPA, Fla. — According to the U.S. Census, 1 in 4 chefs are Hispanic and restaurants employ more Hispanic managers than any other industry.

What You Need To Know

  •  In Florida, there are more than 70,000 Hispanic-owned food businesses, according to the latest U.S. Census

  •  Chef Christian Nieves opened Chef Nieves, a catering business after moving to Wimauma in 2016

  •  Nieves shares his culture through the food he makes

Practice makes perfect, and that’s certainty the case for chef Christian Nieves.

“The first time it wasn’t so good but if you keep practicing every day, you can be a little professional by then,” Nieves said.

That’s how the chef describes the first meal he ever made at 13 years old. Fast forward 25 years, and he’s now opened his own catering business in the heart of Wimauma.

Nieves is busy making a shrimp alfredo pasta, a specialty on his menu.

“I’m Latino. We have Latin food, Spanish food, but I always try to do something different with other cultures like American, Italian, Mexican,” he said. “We try to incorporate that in my menu.”

Nieves moved to Wimauma from Puerto Rico in 2016. He says his first job after moving was in the kitchen, making food and sometimes having to wash the dishes.

“It’s not my favorite part, but I have to do it,” he said.

But it’s a profession he does with pride, because the art of cooking has run in his family for many years.

“My grandparents they had a restaurant before so I grew up in those businesses. That’s why I love cooking,” he said.

That passion helped him build a life in Florida. And like many chefs do, he shares his love for his heritage through food. With every meal, you’ll find a little flag representing his Puerto Rican roots.

“We bring some different type of food, different taste, different seasoning, so now they can try another type of food,” he said.

Nieves built his business from scratch. It’s a common theme for immigrants coming to the U.S., and research has shown that they account for nearly a tenth of all U.S. workers in the food industries.

“If they like the kitchen businesses or the kitchen career, if they feel comfortable to do it, just do it. Whatever dreams you have, you can do it,” he said.

Nieves determined to carry on his family’s legacy through his food. Being a chef is important to him. And he, of course, appreciates the smiles a dish can bring to those he serves.

“I feel great because I love what I do. I come every day and thank God every day I can continue to do what I love,” he said.

As Nieves makes his mark in the culinary world, he’s doing it with a twist in hopes of bringing people together one meal at a time.

In Florida alone, there are more than 70,000 Hispanic owned food businesses, that’s according to the latest U.S. Census.