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Lorena Garcia

Lorena Garcia

Venezuelan-born Lorena Garcia left the legal world behind her and enrolled at Johnson & Wales University, graduating with a degree in culinary arts and more recently receiving an honorary doctorate degree. With a world of choices ahead, she set out on a working culinary tour of Europe and Asia. Garcia worked at the Ritz Paris in France, La Torre del Saracino in Italy with Gennaro Esposito, Armando Scannone for Venezuelan cuisine, and Pascal Oudin at the Grand Bay Hotel in Miami; she also worked her way through Japan, Korea, Thailand and China.

Garcia is well known for her accomplishments as a published author, TV series host for Emmy-nominated show El mejor de los peores for Fox Life, the co-creator, executive producer and host for Nickelodeon’s Food Hunters- Latin America, competitor on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, season 4 and judge on Tournament of Champions. Garcia has a successful chain of restaurants, Chica, in Las Vegas, NV, Miami, FL, and Aspen, CO. In addition to Garcia’s restaurants, the Lorena Garcia Culinary Loft located in Miami, FL is available for private events and television productions. Garcia has taken her love of cooking to the next level by creating the Lorena Bella Kitchen Collection for HSN. In Walmart nationwide, Garcia has released a frozen food line, Lorena Garcia Latin Delights. Garcia developed Big Chef, Little Chef as a comprehensive non-profit program to help children and their families take control of their eating habits and, ultimately, their lives.

 

Lorena Garcia - Manchego Caesar Salad with Chorizo Crumble

Manchego Caesar Salad with Chorizo Crumble

I know that Chef Pépin puts time and love into all that he does. One thing I like to watch him make are his croutons. For my Latin version of the classic Caesar salad, I use a different type of crunch with a crumble made with crispy chorizo and toasted panko breadcrumbs. The crumble and the dressing on this salad are already salty, so do as Chef Pépin does and always taste before seasoning.

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