Some restaurants do more than serve meals. They build systems of care.
What began as a taco-serving combi bus has grown into Tacombi, a restaurant group rooted in Mexican culture, hospitality, and community. Along the way, they’ve stayed close to a simple belief: food has the power to nourish more than just the body.
That belief took shape as The Tacombi Foundation—the organization’s philanthropic arm dedicated to advancing Mexican and underserved communities across the U.S. through food accessibility, education, and employment training.
Over the past five years, the Foundation provided food relief to low-income communities through the Community Kitchen program. More than 1.5 million meals were distributed to families and individuals in need across New York, Chicago, Miami, Arlington, Bethesda, and Westport.
But the work doesn’t stop at food relief. The Tacombi Foundation invests in workforce development that includes training, mentoring, and placing individuals into meaningful hospitality careers.
These programs are designed to create long-term opportunities, and participants gain hands-on kitchen experience, mentorship, and access to the tools they need, including proper culinary footwear. As part of their training cohorts, students are equipped with MISE shoes to wear during their programs and beyond. We feel honored to play a small part in their culinary journeys.
At a time when 48 million Americans face food insecurity, organizations like the Tacombi Foundation matter for what they make possible—consistent access to food, culturally rooted meals, and real pathways into meaningful work. It’s an honor for us to support Tacombi’s dedicated team and trainees in footwear that supports every step of their mission:
Martín’s Experience in MISE
Martín received his first pair of MISE shoes last November while participating in the Tacombi Foundation’s culinary program. Today, as a full-time restaurant employee, he still relies on them to navigate the heat of the kitchen.
"The shoes are a fundamental tool for me," Martín says. "In a kitchen, grease on the floor is the greatest danger we face, but these are incredibly resistant and waterproof. After 40 hours a week on my feet, I don’t have to worry about slipping. I’d recommend them to anyone entering the industry."
