COMMUNITY : Busboys’ Night Out : Top Latino Restaurant Workers to Be Feted at Ceremony Jan. 17

Latinos make up a huge proportion of the work force in Los Angeles’ finest restaurants, up to 70% in many cases. But rarely are they given credit for their role in making this one of the most exciting restaurant cities in the United States.

In the coming week, however, nominations are being accepted for the 1993 Hispanic Employees of Restaurants Outstanding Service--or HEROS--awards, honoring Latino busboys deemed the finest in the region. Nominations close on Nov. 15, and the 20 winners, to be chosen by Dec. 15, will be feted at a dinner at the Biltmore Hotel on Jan. 17.

Serving as the winners’ waiters will be many of the finest chefs in the Los Angeles area, including Wolfgang Puck of Spago, Granita and Chinois restaurants, and Michel Richard of Citrus and the Broadway Deli.

All this is the brainchild of restaurant writer Paul Wallach, who was spurred to action this year after hearing a radio talk show caller complain about the presence of Latinos in Southern California. Later that day, he dined at a neighborhood Italian restaurant where the Latino busboy’s professionalism added to his pleasant dining experience.

He decided that something had to be done to give Southern California’s Latino restaurant work force its due respect.

“We felt that support was long overdue for hard-working and dedicated Hispanic employees,” said Wallach, host of a radio show on KIEV-AM and editor of an annual guide to Los Angeles restaurants.

In addition to Puck and Richard, the committee of chefs and restaurateurs includes: Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken of the Border Grill, Ken Frank of La Toque, Michael Franks of Chez Melange, Hugo Molina of the Parkway Grill, Bob Morris of Gladstone’s 4 Fish, Roger Pigozzi of the Biltmore Hotel, and Piero Selvaggio of Valentino, Primi and Posto.

The image of such restaurateurs waiting on busboys so charmed French artist Guy Buffet--himself a former busboy--that he volunteered to create a painting depicting the scene to be auctioned off as part of a fund-raising drive by the nonprofit HEROS organization.

Wallach estimates that the work by Buffet, who created the French bicentennial posters, may go for as much as $75,000, with an additional 250 limited-edition lithographs adding to the coffers. The 20 winners will receive cash prizes, perhaps as much as $2,500 each, depending on the success of fund-raising efforts.

Although this year’s nominations are limited to busboys, entry-level kitchen workers may be included in the future.

“Without Latinos, we’d have a hard time,” Richard said. “They’re nice guys doing a good job without ever complaining. It’s nice to give them a reward, because you have a tendency to forget them.”

Asked why he’s supporting these awards, Puck said: “I don’t know why not to support them. Latinos are such a big part of our business. Some jobs that many people don’t want are the most important ones--and we don’t realize it unless they’re not there.”

Restaurateur Selvaggio agreed. “Usually it’s the celebrities who get the attention. Now it’s time to shine the spotlight on our unsung heroes.”

Nominations for the HEROS awards are welcome from Los Angeles area restaurant management personnel. Nomination letters must include: the name, address and phone number of the restaurant; the name and title of the person submitting the nomination, and reasons why nominators believe their candidate should be considered. Nominees must be of Latino origin and work in the position of busboy at least 25 hours a week.

For further details, contact Larry Levine of the Levine Group, (310) 394-1854, or write: HEROS Awards, P.O. Box 17840, Encino, CA 91416.