Philanthropic restaurateur, businessman and comedian by Wendy Waren
Reggio puts the finishing touches on Zea’s famous Thai Ribs.
Observing Greg Reggio in action is hard to describe. When he puts his mind to something — a new restaurant, a fundraiser, emceeing an event or just participating in a committee meeting — his ability to look at any given situation from different perspectives is something by which we can all learn. When it’s time to work and get into the meat of a challenge, Reggio is all business. To see him in the kitchen or working with his staff in the restaurant reveals his true love of the culinary arts. He’s the first one to pitch in and make it (whatever it is) a huge spectacle of a success — and he possesses an amazing sense of humor, truly funny, really hilarious. His performance at past LRA Chair Tony Abadie’s retirement party is one that the attendees will not soon forget. And now Reggio takes the helm as the 2017 Louisiana Restaurant Association Chair — the organization’s highest volunteer position. In this role, Reggio will serve as the ambassador of Louisiana’s world-renowned restaurant industry. He will travel the state attending chapter meetings and philanthropic events throughout the year and foster
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the engagement of one of the state’s largest business trade associations.
“I am truly honored by this opportunity,” said Reggio. “I’m excited to engage with as many of our LRA members across the state that I can and I consider it a privilege to further the restaurant industry’s position of importance in the culture and economy of our state.” Reggio, along with his partners Gary Darling and Hans Limburg, formed the Taste Buds after a cooking event brought them together in Hawaii in the late 1980s. They opened Semolina in 1990 and few years later, created the innovative and popular restaurant concept Zea Rotisserie &
Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Winter 2017