World Best Female Chef is in Mexico
Meet Elena Reygadas, the thoughtful Mexican chef pushing gastronomy into the next era. As the mastermind behind Rosetta, one of Mexico City’s most celebrated restaurants, Reygadas has spent years pondering the role of a chef in the 21st century. Her introspection has inspired her to create menus that reflect Mexico’s biodiversity and rich cultures, as well as initiatives that push the boundaries of what a restaurant can be in today’s world. She has been acclaimed World Best Female Chef of 2023.
World Best Female Chef : early life and career
Born in Mexico City in 1976, Reygadas initially pursued English literature at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. However, her passion for food and her memories of large, bustling family meals as a child ultimately led her to the French Culinary Institute (now the International Culinary Centre) in New York. After graduation, she honed her craft in London at the Michelin-starred Locanda Locatelli under the tutelage of Italian chef Giorgio Locatelli.
Returning to Mexico City after the birth of her first daughter, Reygadas opened Rosetta in 2010. The restaurant is located in an old mansion in the historic neighbourhood of Roma, decorated with furniture she hand-picked at markets and second-hand sales. One of the first chefs in Mexico City to recognize the importance of bread in a refined meal, Reygadas studied ancient artisanal baking traditions. She developed her own recipe for the perfect loaf using the technique of slow fermentation. This proved so popular that in 2012, she opened La Panadería de Rosetta, a bakery where diners and the public can buy her creations directly.
Innovative menus and accolades
Rosetta has been voted into eight editions of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list. It made its first appearance in the extended list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2022 at No. 60. At her boho-chic flagship, Reygadas channels her research into Mexico’s biodiversity and seasons into an evolving à la carte menu. Her creations include savoy cabbage tacos with pistachio pipián sauce, sweet potato ravioli with matcha, and corn tamales with smoked cream.
World Best Female Chef : expansion and initiative
As her popularity grew, Reygadas expanded her work beyond Rosetta. She opened several other places in Mexico City, including the more casual Lardo, Café Nin, and Bella Aurora. In recent years, she has also been curating and publishing a series of short texts she calls cuadernos, or notebooks. They feature extracts of academic texts she considers important to the conversation around modern gastronomy. Through them, she hopes to raise awareness and encourage conversations about the ways in which health, culture, and the environment converge in gastronomy.
In 2022, Reygadas launched the Beca Elena Reygadas scholarship. The shcolarship gives young women in the Mexican countryside the means to pursue a career in cooking. Through this initiative, she hopes to create more opportunities for women in the culinary field.
Elena Reygadas is more than just a chef; she is a trailblazer pushing gastronomy into a positive direction. She makes it a crucial part of the conversation about modern culture. Her thoughtful menus, innovative initiatives, and dedication to creating opportunities for women in the culinary field have earned her the title of The World’s Best Female Chef 2023. With her eyes on the future and her heart in the past, Reygadas is a chef to watch in the years to come.
