CHEF JAEL LÓPEZ

Chef Jael López grew up in a Dominican household in Jersey City, where her mother’s cooking—dishes like mondongo with white rice, chicken hearts, and stewed cod—laid the foundation for her deep connection to bold, soulful flavors. Introduced to Julia Child by her sister, she was inspired early on to experiment in the kitchen and soon found herself drawn to the creativity of cooking. Her first job at a Dominican bakery confirmed that the kitchen was where she belonged. Determined to turn that passion into a profession, she pursued formal culinary training and has since worked in some of New York City’s most acclaimed restaurants. She served as sous chef at Cosme, junior sous chef at Eleven Madison Park, and chef de partie at Atomix. Chef Jael’s signature style is contemporary Caribbean cuisine layered with global influences—a reflection of both her cultural roots and the fine-dining environments that sharpened her technique and perspective.