Houston Chef and Dreamer Victoria Elizondo will accompany Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia at the 2024 State of the Union

Washington D.C. — Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) is excited to announce that Victoria Elizondo of Houston, Texas, will be her guest for the State of the Union address on March 7, 2024. Elizondo owns the Houston-based restaurant Cochinita & Co., which serves authentic Mexican cuisine created with locally sourced fresh and flavorful ingredients.

Originally from Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Elizondo moved to the U.S. with her mother at 12 years old and became a DACA recipient. Not long after, at age 16, Elizondo began working as a restaurant hostess and server, where she was inspired to enroll in culinary school. Working in Houston’s top restaurants, State of Grace, Pax America, and Xochi, Elizondo excelled at her craft alongside Houston’s finest chefs.

With her passion for cooking and her culture, Elizondo felt the best way to promote Mexican culture was by opening Cochinita & Co. in 2016. What started as a table and a tent doing pop-ups to a food truck grew into a catering service and restaurant in the East End. 

Impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, Elizondo’s business was temporarily forced to shut down in November of that year, and her mother, Graciela, also lost her restaurant job. Together, they cooked and sold tamales out of Elizondo’s home, averaging about 600 packages a month. Elizondo owns and operates Cochinita & Co. restaurant in the East End.

“I feel extremely thankful for such a unique opportunity,” said Victoria Elizondo. “It is a blessing to be able to represent Dreamers and hopefully inspire them to dream big and make it happen.”

“Victoria is the definition of true grit and dedication. Dreamers deserve equal opportunities as everyone else,” said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. It's time to open doors and empower these talented individuals by granting them the American Dream. Americans support Dreamers, and Dreamers support America. This is why I’m leading the Dream and Promise Act by giving Dreamers like Victoria a roadmap to citizenship once and for all.”

Victoria Elizondo's journey to culinary success is a testament to her vision, hard work, and passion for nourishing her community. Her exceptional skills and dedication have earned her restaurant a spot among the top 25 Best Restaurants of 2022. Elizondo is also the creative mind behind the successful cookbook "Taco-tastic," further cementing her reputation in the culinary world. Moreover, her restaurant has earned nominations for the prestigious James Beard Award for two consecutive years, a testament to her culinary prowess and commitment to excellence.

Congresswoman Garcia proudly welcomes Victoria Elizondo to this year’s State of the Union to share her story.

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Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She is the Vice Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, the Vice Chair on Housing and Transportation of the House Democratic Caucus Poverty Task Force, and a member of the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government