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Elena Reygadas is a proponent of that old saying “Love comes in through the stomach.” Her career over the past two decades has conquered the mouths and minds of some of the toughest critics all over the world, winning the title of best chef in the world in 2023.
Her relationship with cooking began from a young age, as she watched her grandmothers cook. Still, she didn’t always want to pursue cooking; Reygadas studied letters in the National Autonomous University of Mexico. As she studied, she also worked in restaurants, and came to the decision that the culinary arts were her true calling when her brother, Carlos Reygadas, asked her to do the food catering in a film shoot.
Reygadas culinary awakening occurred when her brother, the filmmaker Carlos Reygadas, asked her to help him with the catering in one of his film sets. She knew that preparing food was her calling and decided to drop her university career.”
Reygadas studied an eight month intensive course at the French Culinary Institute in New York, later on moving to London where she worked alongside the Italian chef Giorgio Locatelli in the restaurant Locanda Locatelli, which has a Michelin star.
Her return to Mexico was prompted by a family decision. After she had her daughter, it was important for Reygadas for her to be in contact with her family and with Mexican culture. In 2010, she opened her first restaurant: Rosetta. The place became known for her great pastas, which weren’t afraid to mix techniques and try new things, earning her acclaim in her country.
In 2012, she opened Rosetta Bakery, which now has two locations in Mexico City. The place is dedicated to making their own bread, having over 47 options of sweet and savory dishes. She’s also behind the success of beloved restaurants like Lardo, Café Nin, Salón Rosetta and Bella Aurora.
In 2019, Reygadas merged her love of letters and cooking, publishing her first book titled “Rosetta.” In it, she showcases her literary talent, her love of cooking, and some of her favorite recipes.
Recently, Reygadas has tried to spread her love of cooking through a scholarship granted to Mexican students enrolled in a culinary school. She was named as the best female chef in the world by the list The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023.