logo
  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class

855-997-4652LoginTry a Free Class

  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class
logo
  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class

855-997-4652LoginTry a Free Class

  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class
August 17, 2021 by Mar Z. Luna Our Top Picks 0 comments

8 World-Famous Hispanic Chefs & Their Innovative Cuisine

Behind all famous Hispanic chefs, there’s a fascinating origin story to share. These food innovators have a flavor of their own and people can’t get enough of their inventive cuisine.  

Food unites people, and Latin American and Spanish food is super popular in the United States. It’s fun to learn about Hispanic cultures through food. 

Read on to sample a selection of the top Hispanic chefs in the industry. Learn how they’re creating waves well beyond their countries of origin.

8 Awe-Inspiring Hispanic Chefs and their Innovative Cuisine

Each of these talented Hispanic chefs has made a name for themselves. The variety of dishes that they create is amazing. See for yourself!

1. Daniela Soto-Innes

Birthday: August 26, 1990 

Home country: Mexico

While male Hispanic chefs used to dominate the field, female Hispanic chefs are now taking the lead. Daniela Soto-Innes is an up-and-coming chef who currently works in New York City. 

After studying cooking as a child and teen, she attended the world-famous Pujol cooking school. When her teacher Enrique Olvera opened a restaurant in 2014, he made Soto-Innes the chef. 

At age 26, she was already working in one of the top restaurants in New York. High-end Mexican cuisine is Daniela’s specialty. 

Daniela Soto-Innes’ signature dish is the meringue. She makes it from pulverized corn husks and a corn mousse, adding mascarpone and corn purée to create a nourishing and decadent dessert. 

Soto-Innes doesn’t reveal all her secrets but loves to pay homage to Mexican cuisine by making traditional food, such as tacos—but there’s a twist! She often fuses cuisine from other countries, like Japan, for instance.

Hand-picked for you: Latin American Food: 15 Must-Try National Dishes of Latin America

2. José Mendín

Birthday: December 17, 1978

Home country: Puerto Rico

José Mendín is one of the best chefs in the southern U.S. His work at Pubbelly, a famous Asian restaurant in Miami Beach, earned him recognition.  

He opened Barceloneta Miami, as well as an all-American steakhouse in Miami. He’s known for mixing Latin and Asian flavors, and that’s why his food is so inventive. Even so, Mendín’s food will always have a Puerto Rican touch. 

Some of his signature dishes are the tomato salad with a nuoc cham dressing that gives it a unique texture. The beef cheek burger made with pimento cheese and brioche is a fan favorite as is his Italian classic, calzone made with shallots and hot peppers. 

He also makes a Korean fried chicken sandwich with gochujang glaze, pickles, and peanuts. Mendín enjoys giving traditional dishes an exotic flavor profile.

3. Paola Velez

Birth year: 1991 

Home country: Dominican Republic

Paola Velez opened the successful eatery Kith & Kin in Washington D.C. She’s a pastry chef who grew up in the Dominican Republic and the Bronx. 

She’s known not only as a chef for her inventive pastries but also as an activist. Velez and her staff lead bake sale programs for nonprofits including Bakers Against Racism. Velez has gained  global attention due to her impressive collection of accolades. 

Velez’s one-of-a-kind rum cake with hibiscus and passion fruit is a favorite. She also enjoys making different flavored doughnuts, pairing the pastries with roasted rhubarb, cinnamon chocolate ganache, and other Caribbean ingredients.

4. Gabriela Cámara

Birth year: 1976

Home country: Mexico

Gabriela grew up in Tepoztlán. In 1998, she opened a seafood restaurant in Mexico City called Contramar. She worked her way up the ladder and gained recognition. Then in 2015, she opened a popular restaurant in San Francisco called Cala. Gabriela helps other chefs by giving advice to them and helping them find their unique flavor.

Cámara combines Mexican cuisine with U.S. influences and creates unique dishes that people rave about. She published a cookbook called My Mexico City Kitchen in 2019. She was also the subject of a Netflix documentary called A Tale of Two Kitchens. Cámara was named one of Time Magazine’s most influential people in 2020. 

Gabriela Cámara’s pescado a la talla is a grilled red snapper served with corn tortillas that has become one of her signature dishes. She sticks more with traditional dishes but serves them with tortillas and unique side dishes. 

See also: 10 Spanish Dishes that Influenced Global Cuisine

5. Gastón Acurio

Birthday: October 30, 1967 

Home country: Peru

Gastón is one the most recognized Latin American chefs due to his involvement in the gastronomical revolution in Peru. His restaurants focus on various regions in Peru. 

Gastón is proud of his Peruvian roots, and ceviche is one of his signature dishes that you cannot miss. At La Mar (The Sea), there’s a buffet with typical dishes from several parts of Peru. His Chicago restaurant, Tanta, offers Peruvian-Asian fusion cuisine and amazing empanadas.

Gastón Acurio loves to give street food classics a twist, like grilled cow heart skewers or Andean stable cuy (guinea pig). 

Many say that Acurio’s cooking is an encyclopedia of Peruvian cuisine. His restaurants are considered a classroom for new chefs. 

6. Enrique Olvera

Birth year: 1976 

Home country: Mexico

Enrique Olvera was born in Mexico City. He moved to the U.S to enroll in the Culinary Institute of America in New York. 

He started working in one of Chicago’s most exclusive restaurants. But Olvera remained connected to his roots and opened a restaurant in Mexico City. Pujol is one of the most popular restaurants in the world. 

People from all over the world adore Olvera’s Mexican cuisine. Olvera’s unique dishes—like “smoked baby corn with coffee and ant powder”—incorporate unique indegenous ingredients. 

This Mexican chef loves to make the iconic Mexican mole madre but adds several spices to it. He doesn’t like to reveal his secrets but many of his followers say that his mole nuevo is just as good as his more traditional mole madre. His repertoire also includes puchero, which is a Mexican stew and many other delicious Mexican dishes.

7. Ana Garcia

Birth year: 1972 

Home country: Mexico

Chef Ana creates distinctive recipes such as flan, ceviche, and baked spicy salmon. In 2001, she founded La Villa Bonita Mexican Culinary Vacation, a high-end cooking school. 

She was part of a miniseries called Babble Eats and has been a  guest on television programs. She’s a restaurant consultant who trains chefs from all over the world. 

Chef Ana founded Café Cinco, an ecological café made from recycled products. She’s an activist who’s passionate about staying true to traditional Mexican cuisine. She encourages her followers to eat mindfully and be aware of the impact food has on the environment. 

Her dishes are inspired by her upbringing in Mexico. Her great grandmother was a well-known butcher at the local market, so Ana’s meat dishes are her best. She likes to prepare longaniza and chorizo from scratch. She also has her signature albóndigas (meatballs). She loves to cook and to teach. 

8. Zarela Martínez

Birth year: 1956

Home country: Mexico

Zarela Martínez is one of the most famous Hispanic chefs in America. Originally from Sonora, she lives in New York City and shares authentic Mexican food through her restaurants and writings. She gives cooking lessons, lectures, and sits on the board of directors for the Mexican Cultural Institute of New York.

Martínez organizes Mexican food festivals in New York City. Her NYC restaurant Zarela was a pioneer of Mexican cuisine in the U.S.

In 2001, she released a cookbook: Zarela’s Veracruz. Her podcast, Cooking in Mexican from A to Z, discusses food, flavors and the history of Mexico.

The first dish Zarela was known for was her poblanos rellenos (stuffed chili) appetizer. She also makes an epic seafood stew and a spicy dish she calls drunken chicken. Her recipes are mostly Mexican with some secret ingredients. 

Get Inspired to Travel and Eat

Hispanic chefs inspire people with their food. Cooking is an art and a wonderful way to learn. Using Latin American and Spanish ingredients is a wonderful way to further your Spanish knowledge. When you travel, what you eat is a huge part of the experience. And there’s nothing better than trying food prepared from locals.

Are you inspired to learn Spanish? Learning a new language has many proven benefits, including keeping your brain sharp and boosting your ability to absorb new concepts. Learning Spanish not only enhances your resume, but also empowers you to enhance your travel experiences, make new friends, and try different food from this warm culture. Sign up for a free class to improve your Spanish fluency in preparation for your foodie tour to Latin America today.

sign up for a free trial class
Sign up for your FREE TRIAL CLASS today!

Want to learn more about Latin American culture? Check out our latest posts!

  • 8 Essential Apps for Busy Homeschooling Moms
  • 14 Homeschool Apps Your Middle or High School Student Can Enjoy
  • 8 Best Online Homeschool Programs for High School
  • The Ultimate Homeschool Classroom Supplies List for Beginners
  • 21 Hilarious Homeschool Memes for Moms and Teachers
  • Our Top 10 Favorite Homeschool Planners for 2022
  • 11 Best Websites for Free Homeschooling Worksheets
  • Top 11 Websites for Free Homeschooling Materials
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Mar Z. Luna
Mar Z. Luna
Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy
Mar Z. Luna is a published writer and communicator who loves to explore and educate. She majored in Communications and strives to help others improve their lives. She recently published a book, Inside, and has contributed to different publications such as Que Pasa Magazine. Communicating comes naturally to her and she hopes to simplify what seems complex by using reliable sources and her teaching experience.
Mar Z. Luna
Latest posts by Mar Z. Luna (see all)
  • 6 Easy Beginner Spanish Courses for Seniors - February 4, 2022
  • 13 Fun Similarities between Italian and Spanish Culture - February 2, 2022
  • 14 Spanish Idioms With ‘Cuenta’ - January 30, 2022
curated list
0

Related Posts

Key Benefits of Learning Soanish

3 Key Benefits to Being Bilingual in the Workforce

March 1, 2018
Read More
Storybooks

6 Storybooks in Spanish Your Kids Will Love

March 29, 2018
Read More
common fears

4 Common Fears About Learning a Second Language and How to Overcome Them

April 16, 2018
Read More
Spanish Adaptations

4 of your Child’s Favorite Games that have Spanish Adaptations

May 6, 2018
Read More

Leave a Comment! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Culture in Prose: Books and Poems by Julia AlvarezPrevious Post
How to Learn Spanish in 6 MonthsNext Post

About Us

With over 10 years of experience, HSA is where your goals merge with our teachers’ passion: to improve your Spanish fluency. Custom-tailored to fit your needs, you choose your program, schedule, favorite teachers, pace of learning, and more.. Learn More

Resources

  • About
  • Get a Transcript
  • FAQs
  • How it Works
  • Partners

Recent Posts

  • What’s Hybrid Homeschooling and How’s It Changing Education?
    What’s Hybrid Homeschooling and How’s It Changing Education?
    July 19, 2022
    Hybrid homeschooling is the future of...
  • 8 Essential Apps for Busy Homeschooling Moms
    8 Essential Apps for Busy Homeschooling Moms
    July 18, 2022
    Homeschool apps for moms do exist, it's...

Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Contact Us© 2022 HSA. All rights reserved.