El Paso, Texas, October 23, 2025 — El Paso Community College (EPCC) was proud to welcome back alumnus and James Beard Award nominee Chef Enrique Lozano for an exclusive sold-out Open Fire Roasting Dinner on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the EPCC Culinary Arts’ THIRTEENO9 Restaurant.
Chef Lozano prepared a seven-course meal, which included a Three Bean Charro Soup, Grilled Caesar Salad, Grilled Chicken Ballotine, Octopus and Chile Mole, Picanha, Strawberry and Crème Tar Tar, and lastly, Orange Glazed Hoe Cakes.
“It’s been excellent… I feel like Richy Rich right now!” exclaimed Brandon Hernandez. His mother, Crystal Hernandez, echoed her son’s statement. “The atmosphere has been great, and we actually follow the Chef, and we like to travel and enjoy his food.”
This special culinary experience highlights EPCC’s continued commitment to connecting education, creativity, and community through hands-on learning and events. Guests enjoyed a carefully curated multi-course meal prepared alongside EPCC’s culinary students, blending regional Borderland flavors with refined global techniques.
Chef Lozano, a proud Socorro native and EPCC graduate, has spent more than a decade redefining Borderland cuisine. As a Chopped Champion, James Beard Award nominee, and culinary director of projects such as Mija, Aguazul, and Benny Franks, Lozano continues to bridge the traditions of Northern Mexico with modern innovation. His work has been recognized by the City of El Paso, the Town of Socorro, and the U.S. Congress for his culinary excellence and community leadership.
Reflecting on the dinner, Chef Lozano shared, “This dinner for me means a few things—community and a full-circle moment where I’m coming back to my alma mater, EPCC, to showcase what over ten years of culinary experience have accomplished. Showing what I’ve learned with the next generation of chefs is important to me because it continues the process of evolving the community as a whole. I envision my city becoming a food mecca and a culinary sanctuary right up there with big cities like New York or Chicago. Beyond that, I hope we can provide diners with a meal that satisfies both the palate and the spirit.”
Beyond his restaurants, Lozano also serves as an instructor at the El Paso Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC), where he mentors aspiring chefs and empowers students to celebrate culture through cuisine.
For more information on the Culinary Arts program, please visit: https://www.epcc.edu/Academics/CulinaryArts
Chef Enrique Lozano Inspecting a Dish for his Sold Out Dinner Thursday Night
Ryan, Daniel, Crystal, and Brandon Hernandez Enjoying the Chef Lozano Dinner
Patrons Wait Outside EPCC’s THIRTEENO9 Restaurant
Chef Enrique Lozano Talks to Chef Jesus Lugo at the Exclusive Dinner Thursday Night
