Lorena Garcia

Lorena Garcia established her culinary prowess in 2002 with the opening of her first restaurant, Food Café, quickly followed by Elements Tierra in Miami’s vibrant Design District. Both establishments pioneered a unique blend of Latin and Asian fusion cuisine, laying the groundwork for her distinctive approach to modern Latin flavors. By 2008, Garcia strategically transitioned from these ventures, setting the stage for broader culinary innovation and expansion. In 2011, Garcia revolutionized airport dining by launching healthy Latin cuisine concepts, Lorena Garcia Tapas y Cocina, at major hubs including MIA, DFW, and ATL, successfully serving millions of travelers.

A second CHICA location successfully opened in Miami in late 2019, further solidifying her restaurant footprint. Beyond her acclaimed establishments, Garcia is a celebrated author of two best-selling cookbooks, Lorena Garcia’s New Latin Classics and Lorena Garcia’s New Taco Classics, published in 2015. Her captivating television presence has been showcased on popular series such as Top Chef Masters and America’s Next Great Restaurant, in addition to numerous programs across Telemundo and Univision, solidifying her status as a household name. Demonstrating her commitment to community, Garcia founded the non-profit organization ‘Big Chef, Little Chef,’ dedicated to educating children and families on healthy eating habits.

In recognition of her significant contributions to the culinary landscape and broader society, Lorena Garcia was honored with the Great Immigrant Award by the Carnegie Corporation of New York in 2022.