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What a Refugee Chef Wants You to Know About the 'Day Without Immigrants'

Ryan McCaskey, the chef and proprietor at Chicago’s Michelin-starred Acadia restaurant, was evacuated from Vietnam as a toddler. Here’s why he shut down his restaurant in support of immigrant workers.
A restaurant on Georgia Avenue in Washington, D.C. closed up for the "day without immigrants" protest on February 16, 2017.
A restaurant on Georgia Avenue in Washington, D.C. closed up for the "day without immigrants" protest on February 16, 2017.Jim Bourg/Reuters
Jessica Hester

On Thursday, restaurants in at least a dozen U.S. cities halted service for a “day without immigrants” demonstration.  

Among them were mom-and-pop counters and far-flung franchises. Sweetgreen, the salad spot that sates lunchtime crowds, zipped up all of its D.C. locations. The swanky Italian joint Eataly didn’t shutter, but broadcast a message of support to employees who opted to participate, tweeting a photo of wavy lasagna noodles, marbled meats, and olive oil, underneath the message #WeWereAllImported.