For Chef Tamara Murphy, food was love.
Terra Plata, on the tip of that little triangle of land on Melrose & Pike, the world was safe, welcoming and nurturing because our dear Chef Tamara and her amazing life and business partner, Linda DiLello Morton were there to welcome us. It is unimaginable that we have to find a way to say goodbye to Chef Tamara Murphy, whose sudden and shocking passing leaves us all with an aching heart.
At Terra Plata, we came to celebrate our birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings; we gathered on that magical rooftop to commiserate about the state of the world; we fundraised for countless nonprofits and candidates running for office; from city council members to Presidential nominees. Intense conversations and belly laughing stories at Terra Plata always were shared over mouthwatering foods from Chef Tamara’s famous homemade potato chips, blistered shishito peppers, famous roasted pig and those indescribable churros.
Chef Tamara, our community icon and shero, never said no to a good cause or shied away from speaking her mind. She was an incredible chef, a past James Beard Award Recipient, the talent and creativity behind Burning Beast, GSBA’s top celebrity chef, and always a fierce defender of LGBTQ+ civil rights and small business.
We don’t know how to say goodbye to such a life force, but we do know that the greatest tribute to Tamara is to continue to fight like hell for justice, eat with gusto, gather as community and surround her beautiful soulmate and partner Linda DiLello Morton with love. We are there for you Linda.
With love and in sorrow,
Louise Chernin (Former GSBA President & CEO) and Ilona Lohrey (Current GSBA President & CEO)
