Iliana de la Vega is a Mexican-born American chef and restaurateur who won the 2022 James Beard Best Chef in Texas Award.[1][2][3] In 2019, she was a semifinalist for the Best Chef Southwest award.[4]

The Mexican Government gave her the Ohtli Award in 2014.[1]

Biography

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De La Vega grew up in Mexico City.[3]

Career

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She moved to her mother's hometown of Oaxaca in 1997 where she opened El Naranjo. In 2012, she opened a location in Austin, Texas.[3]

De La Vega served as the Mexican/Latin Cuisines Specialist for the Culinary Institute of America[1] from 2007 until 2012.[4] At the San Antonio campus, “she conducted research, developed curricula and taught undergraduate, graduate and continuing education courses on Mexican and other Latin cuisines while creating and launching the Latin Cuisines Certificate Program.”[5]

With her daughter Isabel, she began Mexican Culinary Traditions which offers cooking classes and guided tours.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Iliana de La Vega". Milk Street. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  2. ^ "THE 2022 JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNERS". James Beard Foundation. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "CHEF ILIANA DE LA VEGA". Mexican Culinary Traditions. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b "ILIANA DE LA VEGA". HOLA!. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  5. ^ Alarcón, Claudia (September 28, 2019). "How A Mexican Couple Is Bringing The Culture Of Oaxaca To Texas". Forbes. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Chef on the Run". Tribeza. May 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2023.