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Theo's Pizza owners Greg Dietz, Ted Neikirk, and James "Jammer" Orintas, Cafe Reconcile's mental health specialist Onassis Jones and My House NOLA founder Barrie Schwartz have made this years 40 Under 40 list from Gambit. The annual list features forty "accomplished people" who are all, well, under 40 years of age. Read on to find out why they've been honored, and what their favorite local restaurants are.
Della Hasselle reports that the Theo's bros opened the first location of their pizzeria on Magazine on 2004, and were also one of the first to reopen after Katrina. Today, they have two expansions and a food truck, but also "consistently give back to the community" holding monthly birthday parties for kids at the Salvation Army Center For Hope, along with other do-gooder work/support. Greg Dietz, Ted Neikirk, and James "Jammer" Orintas' favorite local restaurant is Sylvain.
Alex Woodward notes that Onassis Jones leads Cafe Reconcile's mental health support, offering at-risk youth counseling and mentorship that last year alone provided "a 90 percent reduction in substance abuse and 67 percent reduction in mental health issues" among the participants in his program. Jones' favorite local restaurant is Houston's.
Jeannie Riess reports that food truck wrangler/My House NOLA founder Barrie Schwartz has been a driving force behind bringing food truck lots and gatherings to New Orleans, including organizing the successful St. Claude Food Truck Park, and the Taste on Common. Schwartz's favorite local restaurant is Coquette.