From her early days in the kitchen to her refined skills today, Maria brings a unique warmth and vibrancy to every dish. Her culinary journey began with a simple risotto—her first attempt at cooking on her own—which ignited her lifelong love for the kitchen. Now living far from her Brazilian roots, Maria loves preparing traditional Brazilian dishes, a heartfelt way to bring the flavors of home to her friends. She also has a knack for making fricandó, a beloved Catalan dish that quickly became a crowd-pleaser.

With experience in high-energy kitchens like Enigma, she’s learned that patience and composure are as essential as technique. Her inspiration? Brazilian chef Helena Rizzo, whose culinary magic and fusion of Brazilian and Catalan influences she deeply admires.

FUN FACT: Ask her about her first time cooking lobster—it’s a story that will leave you laughing and appreciating her adventurous spirit in the kitchen!

Simón is a multi-dimensional force in the world of culinary arts and cultural exploration. Hailing from Chile but deeply rooted in French culture, Simón embodies a fusion of flavors and ideas that enrich every aspect of his work.

As a researcher, philosopher, and prolific writer of audiovisual content, Simón's intellectual curiosity knows no bounds. With a career spanning teaching, publishing, translation, and writing across academic, commercial, and creative realms, he brings a depth of knowledge and insight to his culinary pursuits.

Simón's passion for culture, particularly music, literature, and cinema, infuses his culinary creations with a richness that transcends taste. His classes are not just about cooking; they are a journey through the senses, a celebration of life's myriad delights.

Join Simón on a gastronomic and cultural odyssey unlike any other, where the art of cooking intertwines with human experience.

From a young age, Raquel was at the center of her family’s kitchen, helping prepare elaborate meals for birthdays and holidays. Cooking has always been the heart of her family, and today, she specializes in traditional Venezuelan dishes like asado negro, hallacas, and arepas. Her true passion, however, is baking—there’s nothing like a well-made dessert to sweeten the day!

Her cooking style is traditional and varied, with a touch of modern flair. Nutmeg is her secret ingredient, adding a warm depth to both savory and sweet dishes. One of her funniest memories involves sneaking her grandmother’s mixer as a child, only to accidentally break it—a family story that still brings laughter.

Her greatest inspiration? The women in her family, whose ingenuity in the kitchen taught her to create delicious meals from little. If she could cook for anyone, it would be her grandmother and mother, honoring them with a special paella.

INTERESTS: Listening to music, perfecting her dessert skills, taking long walks, enjoying theater, and reading—cooking is just one part of her world full of creativity and passion.

Hugo is a seasoned chef with a passion for sharing the art of Spanish cuisine with guests from around the world. Known for his warm personality and infectious enthusiasm, Hugo creates an easygoing ambiance that is both engaging and welcoming. With years of experience in traditional Spanish cooking, his knowledge extends from crafting the perfect paella to mixing a refreshing sangria. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned cook, Hugo’s classes promise valuable cooking tips, authentic flavors, great laughs, and a truly unforgettable experience.

FUN FACT: Hugo once helped cook a giant paella for over 100 people at a local festival—using a pan so big he needed a paddle to stir it!

PALOMA a.k.a. "Lola"

Meet PALOMA a.k.a. "Lola": A Culinary Artist with a Flair for Fusion

Lola discovered the magic of cooking as a child in her grandmother’s kitchen, where each recipe was like a spell. Today, her favorite dish to make is okonomiyaki, a Japanese pancake that’s all about flavor and creativity—like a party in a pan!

Her cooking style is all about fusion, modern techniques, and innovation. She admires chefs like René Redzepi for their creativity and connection to nature, and if she could cook for anyone, it would be her grandmother, to whom she’d serve homemade four-cheese ravioli.

A true adventurer in the kitchen, Lola has crafted some unusual creations, like miso panna cotta with caramelized white chocolate and kiwi crab with fermented coconut sauce. Her advice for new cooks? “Free your mind—embrace creativity and make each dish your own."

INTERESTS: Food, sports, travel, and music—life, to her, is a delicious blend of experiences waiting to be explored!

Alberto discovered the warmth of cooking with his father’s beans after school—a dish filled with love, flavor, and sometimes a bit of smoke! Now, he loves cooking anything with cheese, his “best friend” ingredient, because it makes everything better. His style is eclectic, quick, and light on salt, preferring instead to spice things up with his homemade hot oil—a fiery touch to any dish.

He finds inspiration in pastry chef Reynold Poernomo, whom he admires for turning even the simplest ingredients into spectacular desserts. If he could cook for anyone, it would be his brother, with a simple plate of slow-cooked black beans and fried plantains.

An adventurous spirit in the kitchen, he once made a pasta dish so unconventional it would get him banned from Italy! His advice to beginners? "Learn from family—parents and grandparents have culinary secrets that even Google can’t provide".

INTERESTS: Watching cooking reels on YouTube, listening to music while preparing meals, and enjoying tapas with friends—because cooking is about creating and sharing experiences with others!

Maria which is short for Mealtime Advice and Resource for Intelligent Assistance, is our in-house A.I. agent. Maria's first memory of cooking involves sneaking into her creator's kitchen to “help” with Sunday paella, which mostly meant spilling rice everywhere and claiming it was "for the ambiance." These days, Maria is known for her love of whipping up rich, comforting dishes like creamy mushroom risotto, which she calls her "therapy in a pot" because stirring is her form of meditation and she can stir for hours without a break.

Of course, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing in the kitchen. Maria once tried to flambé a dessert, only to accidentally singe her bangs. Lesson learned she says, "keep the fire in the pan, not in your hair". Despite the occasional disaster, she's a fast learner and her kitchen adventures are full of laughter and learning.

Maria draws inspiration from chefs like José Andrés, whose creativity and humanitarian spirit she admires. If she could cook for anyone, it would be Frida Kahlo—she imagines sharing mole and margaritas while talking about art and life.

Outside the kitchen, Maria enjoys gardening (she’s proud of her homegrown herbs), hiking, and curling up with a stack of mystery novels. She loves bringing people together with food and believes that the best recipes come with a pinch of humor and a dash of chaos.

Connect with Maria

Ryan’s culinary journey began in his grandmother Weeze’s (short for Louise) kitchen, where they made beignets together. With powdered sugar flying and laughter echoing through the air, Ryan discovered the joy of cooking and a lifelong love for bold flavors. Never one to shy away from trying something new, Ryan’s adventurous palate keeps things exciting in the kitchen.

His favorite dish to cook? His famous chocolate chip cookies—though, truth be told, the dough rarely makes it to the oven. When it comes to secret ingredients, Ryan swears by Guinness beer to give dishes a kick and a bit of bite.

Ryan’s inspirations are as colorful as his personality. Gordon Ramsay’s fiery passion resonates with Ryan’s occasionally spirited language in the kitchen, while Ferran Adrià inspires his creativity and playful experiments with molecular gastronomy. If given the chance, Ryan would love to cook for Walt Disney, imagining a magical dinner filled with wonder and whimsy.

A natural-born creator, Ryan started designing restaurants as a child, rallying the neighborhood kids to bring his imaginative concepts to life. His masterpiece? Café on the Bayou, where he transformed a swimming pool into a misty lagoon with dry ice, lily pads, Chinese lanterns, and jambalaya that left everyone in awe.

Outside of cooking, Ryan’s passions include tennis, roller coasters, scary movies, and electronic music. Whether whipping up a feast or dreaming of his next big idea, Ryan brings energy, creativity, and a touch of mischief to everything he does.

Karen’s culinary journey began in 1977 when, as an 11-year-old, she made gazpacho soup for a school talk about Spain—a twist of fate considering she’d eventually call Spain home. Her love of cooking has always been about exploring flavors, and nothing excites her more than experimenting with spices, especially in curries. Her fish curry, a lesser-seen delight, holds a special place in her repertoire.

Karen describes her cooking style as creative, experimental, and relaxed, and she believes the secret to great food lies in two things: a splash of lime and a generous helping of love.

Not every dish has been smooth sailing, though. Karen recalls cooking a batch of fried rice for a party, only to have it spoil in transit due to improper storage. Lesson learned: skip prepping rice in advance, no matter how tempting!

Karen finds inspiration in Keith Floyd, the iconic TV chef who cooked with flair and a glass of wine in hand—something she can fully appreciate. If given the chance, she’d cook for Maya Angelou, serving up spare ribs, stewed chicken, fried rice, plantains, and coleslaw, a feast worthy of poetry and wisdom.

Outside the kitchen, Karen is all about soulful experiences: immersing herself in soul, R&B, and jazz music, catching live concerts, exploring new restaurants, reading, and writing poetry. Her advice to budding cooks? “If you don’t love it, don’t do it—it always shows in the food.”