Natalia L. Vallejo

Natalia Vallejo is a Puerto Rican chef who has worked in renowned restaurants around the world. She has immersed herself in various programs and courses, studying oenology, sensory analysis, nutrition, artisanal baking, molecular cuisine, and wine pairing, among others. She spent time researching the ancestral food of the Mapuche community in Chile, began her studies in Nutrition and Dietetics in Puerto Rico, and later went to Argentina to continue her education with the renowned chefs Gato Dumas and Mausi Sebess.

With experience working in kitchens throughout Latin America and South America, including Chile, Argentina, Spain, and Puerto Rico, Vallejo has spent most of the last two decades developing and researching unique flavor profiles and culinary arts through her work and travels. In 2019, Vallejo opened her restaurant, Cocina al Fondo, in the Santurce neighborhood of Puerto Rico. The restaurant offers a dynamic and ever-evolving menu that incorporates locally sourced ingredients with integrity. Vallejo’s entire philosophy is rooted in elevating the island and its people through her gastronomy.

Just a year after its opening, Cocina al Fondo was nominated for “Best New Restaurant”, and Natalia Vallejo was nominated for “Best Chef: South” by the James Beard Foundation. In 2023, she was nominated once again and this time won the “Best Chef: South” award, becoming the first Puerto Rican to take home a James Beard Award. She has been featured in Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure, The New York Times, Eater, Bon Appétit, BBC, Axios, NPR, USA Today, Broken Palate, Forbes, Lonny, Downtown Magazine, among others.