Well-known Odessa chef Alejandro Barrientos was recognized with his own day when the city of Odessa proclaimed October 11th “Chef Alejandro Day.” Barrientos is the owner of food truck-turned-brick and mortar Curb Side Bistro who has appeared on The Food Network. His love for Odessa and surrounding areas knows no bounds as reflected in his remarks about the recent tilt between Odessa Permian and Midland Legacy high schools.
"There were so many people traveling to Odessa to eat, and I have enough love for both towns,” Barrientos said in a city of Odessa October 11th Facebook post. "I see it as I have a community of friends; we are all here to support each other."
Per a report from Odessa NBC affiliate KWES News, Barrientos marked his special day by hosting an event that allows him to give back to the community.
"Last year was [the] first year I actually got honored and the chef proclaimed October 11th Chef Alejandro Day," he told KWES. "That day I was like, 'Man, we have to do something we have to put on for the city, [so we] went through like a food truck party, an event or something like that. So I reached out to Sister Dough and she plans these markets all the time. I said, 'Hey, let's do something for the community.'"
According to the station, Barrientos said the event not only brought the community together but gave small businesses some well-deserved time in the spotlight.
"Everybody that's out here, they're putting their passion into something, whether it be clothes or art, their cakes [or] cookies,” he said, KWES reported. “So it's really great to see that."
Last month, Barrientos’ eatery held two benefit brunches for the victims of the wildfires that struck the Hawaiian island of Maui in August. The disaster is the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over 100 years.