Somos Hospitality
Somos is a hospitality and consultancy business sharing the food, culture, and experiences of Latin in America.
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Juan Placencia founded Somos Hospitality in 2020 to share the unique food, culture, and experiences of being Latin in America with hungry, curious customers and food service professionals. A renowned Chef, Juan grew up in the kitchen of his parent's Northern Jersey Peruvian restaurants. He later refined his craft at the Culinary Institute of America, breaking into the profession in kitchens and dining rooms of NYC fine-dining restaurants including Jean-Georges, Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park, Gotham Bar and Grill, and Del Posto. Juan opened his acclaimed Costanera restaurant in Montclair, NJ, followed by Somos in North Arlington, NJ. He now runs Brazas, a Peruvian-inspired BBQ chicken and Latin street food brand in Philadelphia, PA, with others in the works. Juan is the Monday guest chef at The People's Kitchen, the food security and employment survival project that runs out of El Compadre Restaurant, owned by Cristina Martinez of South Philly's acclaimed Barbacoa.
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Leah Caplan and Juan have been collaborating since 2017. As a partner in Somos Hospitality, Leah lends her 25+ years of experience in branding and design to Somos' food concepts and consulting work. She has extensive experience leading award-winning branding, design, and consulting projects for a diverse range of clients— including Delish.com, Fila, Target, Herman Miller, and Staples—and a deep belief in uncovering a project's Purpose and Heart. Her own heart has been in the food and foodservice industries since childhood. She grew up spending summers at her grandfather's wholesale food business outside of Pittsburg, dining out on weekends in her hometown of New York City, and refining her tastes and knowledge in what became her second home of Italy. In 2018 she started LC&CO to bring her passion for design, food, and retail together. She and Juan now further this shared passion in Somos Hospitality.
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Culinary Concepts
Brazas is a Slow Food, quick-service concept, serving up Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken, sides, and desserts that will satisfy any sweet tooth. Brazas's dishes, rubs, and sauces are made-from-scratch with authentic family recipes refined to perfection. All ingredients are carefully sourced from local farms, artisans, and specialty purveyors to bring the unique taste of Peru to your home.
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Consulting Services
SOMOS Hospitality consults with start-ups and established players in the foodservice and food retail industries to develop and refine their concepts, marketing, menus, business plans, and operational procedures.
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