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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Acclaimed chef Johnny Hernandez has made vital |
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contributions to the San Antonio community through his charitable |
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endeavors and his dedication to promoting the culinary vitality of |
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the Alamo City; and |
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WHEREAS, Chef Hernandez first rose to prominence with the |
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establishment of his flagship concept, La Gloria, in 2010, though |
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he began his career as a chef in 1994, when he opened True Flavors |
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Catering; he has continued to make a name for himself as the founder |
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and president of Grupo La Gloria, a portfolio of signature |
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restaurants and culinary projects that include several locations of |
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La Gloria as well as Botanero Lounge, Burgerteca, and Tortilleria |
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La Gloria; he has been featured in Texas Monthly, Bon Appétit, and |
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Food & Wine, among other publications, and on such popular |
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television shows as Top Chef, Simply Ming, and Beat Bobby Flay; he |
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was also invited to cook at the James Beard House in celebration of |
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San Antonio's tricentennial and to serve as a guest chef for the |
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White House Cinco de Mayo celebration in 2016; and |
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WHEREAS, An integral part of the San Antonio restaurant |
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scene, Chef Hernandez helped to establish the city's Culinary Task |
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Force in 2015 and to secure San Antonio's designation as a UNESCO |
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Creative City of Gastronomy in 2017; he is the founder of Kitchen |
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Campus, a nonprofit organization that encourages students to pursue |
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the culinary arts, and he gives generously of his time and talents |
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in support of the Culinary Institute of America, St. Philip's |
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College, and the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of |
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Global Hospitality Leadership; moreover, he played an instrumental |
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role in securing a $250,000 grant to fund improvements to La Villita |
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Arts Market, where he established the Market Days program; he also |
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commissioned a 38.5-foot-tall Catrina statue that was erected in |
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the market's Maverick Plaza, and the art piece is the tallest of its |
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kind in the United States; and |
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WHEREAS, Under Chef Hernandez's able leadership, Grupo La |
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Gloria helps to organize an annual Día de los Muertos festival and |
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river parade in San Antonio; established in 2019, the event has the |
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distinction of being the largest Day of the Dead celebration in the |
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country; in March 2025, Chef Hernandez hosted the 15th annual |
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Paella Challenge, a cooking competition that mentors students in |
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high school culinary programs across Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to elevating San Antonio's place on the |
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culinary map, Johnny Hernandez has benefited the community through |
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his varied civic endeavors, and he has earned the admiration and |
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appreciation of his fellow citizens; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Johnny Hernandez for his contributions |
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to San Antonio and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued |
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success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Hernandez as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Martinez Fischer |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1041 was adopted by the House on May |
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23, 2025, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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