Karime López

Growing up in Querétaro, Karime López set her sights on accomplishing her dreams. The Mexican chef, who made history in the culinary industry, would embark on an incredible journey, moving to Paris to study, as her goal was to become an artist.

However, life had a different plan for the young 19-year-old Latina, after falling in love with the European restaurants and the gastronomic experience in France, which fueled a passion in her and made her start her career as a chef.

After turning 19 Karime packed her bags and traveled to Paris, the city that would awaken her passion for culinary, changing her life forever.

Coming from a family of restaurant owners, Karime continued the tradition and started her career at the school of hospitality in Sevilla, Spain, for three years, taking her first step into learning in different places around Europe, including in Sant Celoni learning from the world-renowned Chef Santi Santamaría, in Mugaritz from Andoni Luis Aduriz and in Mexico, where she became a part of the time in Pujol, joining Enrique Olvera.

She would later embark to Japan to work at RyuGin with Seiji Yamamoto and at Central with Virgilio Martínez en Lima, where she met her now-husband Chef Takahiko Kondo.

It would be in Italy where the talented Mexican met Massino Bottura, and wrote and perfect the recipes in the book ‘Bread is Gold’ from the famed restaurant owner of Osteria Francescana, a three-Michelin-star restaurant, named as one of the best restaurants in the world in 2018. Following her experience, Karime was named Chef de Cuisine at the Gucci Osteria Florence, the new restaurant of Bottura.

“This award pays homage to the team at Gucci Osteria and to every single personn that has supported us.” Karime proved that effort and dedication always come with a reward, as just two years later in November 2020 during the Michelin Guide presentation in Italy, she became the first Mexican woman to receive one Michelin star, which is the biggest and most important recognition for a chef.

This recognition is just part of her successful career at 36 years old. Karime has all the experience to merge different flavors and textures from different cultures, including her Mexican heritage, into delectable dishes.