In the ever-evolving world of hospitality, diversity is one of the cornerstones of successful businesses. Multicultural and LGBTQIA+ inclusive teams are increasingly common in kitchens worldwide, allowing for a unique blend of traditions, cooking techniques and fresh perspectives.
However, just like with any great recipe, building and leading a multicultural workplace asks for attention and patience. Today, we’re having a look at how to navigate the challenges of having a diverse and inclusive crew and reap the rewards of a cross-cultural team.
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Why Diversity in the Kitchen Matters
A multicultural workplace is vital to keep your business innovative, open and growing. “Diversity expands our minds and makes us better people.” says Michelle Trusselle, Chef and owner at Myristica. “Every person we interact with, who has a different culture to us, can teach us something new.”
Here are some of the benefits of multiculturalism in the workplace:
Innovative Dishes: Having diverse team members means having access to different cooking techniques, traditions and ingredients, that can be reflected into your menu with unique fusion recipes.
When you have people of diverse backgrounds on your staff and you treat them well, it translates onto the plate. When people are happy, they cook extremely well. - Chef Brandon Collins, Unilever Food Solutions NAM
Better Performance: A study by McKinsey & Co. Diversity wins: How inclusion matters reported that diverse teams perform better. In fact, 36% are more likely to be more profitable than the industry average. That’s because they ask more questions and have more creative problem-solving skills.
Enhancing Customer Experience: team that includes LGBTQIA+ and multicultural members can better understand a wider range of guests. In today’s globalised, socially aware world, representation matters more than ever.
More resilience: The richness of perspectives and backgrounds makes your team more resilient and ready to adapt to any situation.
The Challenges of Managing Multicultural Teams
While there are many advantages to multicultural teams, leading a team from various cultural backgrounds comes with its set of challenges.
Communication Barriers: In professional kitchens effective communication is crucial. Cultural differences in communication styles can lead to misunderstandings.
Different Work Styles and Expectations: Work ethics and hierarchical expectations can vary across cultures. These differences can create tension in teams, especially if team members are unfamiliar with or resistant to other work styles.
Integration of Culinary Traditions: Multicultural cooking is one of the many perks of having a diverse team, however, it may create friction if one team member feels their traditional methods are being overlooked or compromised.
Stereotyping and Bias: Stereotypes based on cultural backgrounds can lead to prejudice or exclusion. For instance, a kitchen leader may unconsciously favour team members from their own background or fail to recognize the strengths of individuals from different cultural groups.
Power Dynamics and Leadership Bias: It’s essential to evaluate who gets promoted, who receives creative control, and whether immigrant or junior staff are truly being heard. Unchecked leadership bias can quietly reinforce inequity within kitchen hierarchies.
When asked about the future of foodservice, one of Chef Mariyam Shaazy says that to “reach more racial, gender and religious diversity in teams, there needs to be more inclusive hiring, that is fair to all candidates and removes bias.” click here
What Does Equity Mean in the Kitchen?
While diversity and inclusion are essential, equity ensures fair treatment and access to opportunity for all team members. Equity addresses systemic imbalances by:
Providing transparent pay scales
Offering tailored mentorship to underrepresented groups
Ensuring fair access to leadership roles
Without equity, diversity efforts can feel surface-level. True equity in the kitchen means building pathways where everyone has a fair shot at success, not just a seat at the table.
Practical Strategies for Successfully Managing Multicultural Teams
All these challenges can be overcome by working together and implementing training for you and your team to understand the undeniable value of a multicultural workplace. Here are some ideas to help you move towards a more inclusive and diverse kitchen:
1. Encourage open and respectful communication
Managing multicultural teams means being open and receptive to different styles of communication.
2. Implement clear anti-discrimination policies
Having a clear and shared framework in place will help your team navigate multiculturalism more easily. “Having a strict workplace policy that doesn’t allow discrimination lays the foundation for a fair kitchen,” says Chef Zana Alvarado, Chair of SA Chef Association Women in Culinary “Diversity, equity, and inclusion must be communicated to all employees.” : watch here
3. Train for Cultural Sensitivity
Ongoing cultural sensitivity training helps team members understand each other's backgrounds, reducing conflicts and boosting empathy. This keeps the kitchen harmonious and ensures respect is built into daily interactions.
Don’t treat training as a one-off. Keep the conversation about diversity alive and make it part of the kitchen’s ongoing culture. Equip leaders and team members to handle multicultural dynamics with understanding and care.
Learn how to build an open space for your team to share their ideas and experiences with An Hour For Us.
4. Encourage Collaboration and Mentorship
Encourage mentorship and teamwork across cultures. Pairing diverse team members fosters shared learning and strengthens skills while promoting unity and respect.
Isabella Rodrigues, Chef at Unilever Food Solutions Brazil, believes that collaboration leads to a stronger, more cohesive kitchen: “The kitchen is an intense environment. We can support each other by exchanging knowledge and techniques. We have different skills that are all valuable.” check here
5. Celebrate Diversity:
Embrace and learn from the different cultures in your team by acknowledging and celebrating their holidays and traditions. This could also be a great chance to have team bonding time and experience traditional dishes linked to each occasion.
Chef Erika Durham, Restaurant Consultant and Project Lead at Urban Juncture observes: “People can downplay inclusivity, saying we’re all the same. We do have commonalities and those are important, but we come from different places and our cultures are different. Once we realize this, we can do the work to learn about each other and be able to appreciate those differences.”
Remember that many team members hold multiple identities and face overlapping challenges. Someone may be both queer and an immigrant, or a woman of colour navigating compound exclusions. These intersecting identities should inform how we build support systems.
You might also like: 7 Ingredients to Build a Thriving Team in Your Kitchen
6. Create a Safe and Affirming Environment for LGBTQIA+ Team Members
An inclusive kitchen is one where every team member feels safe to be their authentic self, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. That means respecting pronouns, addressing microaggressions when they arise, and ensuring all policies support LGBTQIA+ rights and protections.
“It takes ongoing effort to make kitchens safe for everyone,” says Chef Wendy Escobedo, World Central Kitchen. “Start with empathy and understanding to help people feel included.” check here
** Provide training on LGBTQIA+ inclusion, actively listen to feedback, and make it clear that your kitchen is a place where love, identity, and creativity are welcome.
Find more inspiration on how to build an LGBTQIA+ inclusive workplace: How to Be an Ally in the Kitchen.
7. Track Your Progress
True inclusion isn’t just felt; it can be measured.
Use anonymous surveys to monitor team satisfaction
Track diversity in hiring, promotions, and retention
Review compensation across roles and demographics
Collect and act on feedback from underrepresented voices
Having data on your DEI improvements will help you monitor what’s working, your employees’ satisfaction and what still needs to be done.
Diverse Kitchens are Successful Kitchens
Having an LGBTQIA+ Inclusive and multicultural workplace goes beyond blending culinary traditions; it’s about creating a space where every voice is heard and respected. When you promote and embrace diversity, you’re creating a more creative, more successful and more positive kitchen that thrives.
