Dinner Conversation with Chef German

I had the amazing opportunity to have an informal interview with Chef Nelson German while he was filming in Los Angeles for a major network. Though the setting was casual, the conversation was multi-layered as I spoke with him about his Dominican-American upbringing in Washington Heights, New York. For those of you who aren’t familiar with that neighborhood, it has one of the largest Dominican communities in the US that dates back to the 1960s. Roughly 74% of the Latino population who reside in the neighborhood identifies as Dominican and they are proud of their heritage. “I mean when this is all you are taught how else do you expect them to think different” This pride is one sided as I learned from Chef German. “We are taught early on to identify as Dominican or Latino, but not Afro-Latino,” said Chef German when I asked him if he always identifies as Afro-Latino. He said this is something well known to be an issue in many Latin American countries. Because of colonialism, people are taught that identifying as something other than African in origin represents something high in class. He doesn’t agree with this idea, but, being raised in a complete Dominican household, he understands. 

“This is why the stereotype that darker skinned Dominicans don’t accept their African ancestry needs to stop,” said Chef German. They just aren’t taught to proclaim it with pride like African Americans. Chef German also said, “We know we are and we don’t deny it and that is something people need to understand.” This is a problem with stereotypes that aren’t fully understood. 

“Now it wasn’t until I got to the Bay until I knew what the culture was” 

Because Washington Heights has an enormous population of Dominicans, Chef German wasn’t exposed to much culture outside of it. It wasn’t until he moved to the Bay Area, where his wife May German is originally from. Chef German stated, “Mike, there is so much black culture and history in the Bay Area, you don’t understand.”

Now coming from a New York native, you know that was surprising to me. It was the sense of community and pride in blackness for him. He experienced the best parts of the black community and fell in love with it. The things he experienced aligned with his own values that he grew up with such as family, community, and assisting your fellow person. “I put in my work to get to where I am from the bottom to the top, but the Bay Area helped me grow,” Chef German stated. It was also the diversity in the Bay Area outside of just his black experience. “I mean you just have everyone there from Samoans to Tongans which is completely opposite to my upbringing that was purely Dominican,” said Chef German as he smiled and spoke highly of his affinity for the Bay Area. 

“I want to give back as much as I can” 

Nearing the end of our dinner conversation Chef German mentioned why he likes to give back and support causes: “It is because that’s what I’m taught and what I know to be the way for us to create change for the next generation.” Though he has been on television and is the owner of two restaurants, he wants to make sure he is a role model and example for people. “It’s amazing how much you can inspire others when you are giving back and they see someone who looks like them or has the same upbringing,” said Chef German. One thing I will say, he is very intentional in making sure he continues to give back. It’s probably on his calendar as a monthly reminder to give back. That is how serious he is about it.