NYS Senator Lea Webb presented Lev Kitchen with a NYS Empire Award. The NYS Empire Award is the highest award a NYS Senator can bestow upon businesses and organizations in their district. 

Lev Kitchen was founded by Cornell alumni Ben Plotke and Jiayan Wu. Lev Kitchen was born out of resilience and vision during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. After experiencing job loss in the hospitality industry, the couple chose to reimagine their future by creating a restaurant concept that prioritizes people and environmental responsibility. 

The business actively partners with local organizations to employ refugees and recent immigrants, providing job training, fair wages, and opportunities for economic stability. In addition to its social mission, Lev Kitchen is dedicated to environmental responsibility through its science-based approach to menu design and sourcing. The restaurant seeks to reduce their environmental footprint by prioritizing local and high-quality ingredients.

“We are honored to accept the Empire State Award in recognition of our what we've tried to do over the past few years! We have really focused on building meaningful relationships in the community and with local producers, and it is incredibly exciting to be celebrated for our approach,” said Benjamin Plotke, co-founder of Lev Kitchen. “Hope we can serve as an inspiration for others by showing what is possible when community and sustainability come first.” 

“Lev Kitchen has set an example for business across the Southern Tier and New York State,” said Senator Lea Webb. “They bring their values of centering people, sustainability, and fairness into their business model. I am incredibly proud to be able to honor Lev Kitchen with this Empire Award.” 

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