THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE CHEF SANTIAGO GOMEZ
EVER RECEIVED IS TO “COOK WITH LOVE”
The Mexico City native’s love is driving him to define a new line between traditional and modern Mexican cuisine.
Gomez’s interest for cooking sparked while he was working for a local seafood distributor. While making deliveries to various restaurants, he became curious about the kitchen and began observing chefs at work. This inspired him to go to culinary school and in 2007 he graduated from one of Mexico City’s top culinary academies – Centro Culinario Ambrosia. Gomez decided to further expand his knowledge and enrolled at the renowned Hofmann in Barcelona, Spain. There, Gomez honed his culinary skills.
He was then drawn to sunny South Florida where he took a position at NOBU in Miami under the auspice of executive chef Thomas Buckley.
A year later, Gomez was transferred back home to launch the opening of NOBU in Mexico City where he worked with renowned chef Nobu Matsushisa. His journey since then had the fortune to create and develop the kitchen of Cantina La 20 in Mexico City rescuing and positioning again the Cantina’s in Mexico, likewise he worked together with the renowned chef Edgar Nuñez in SUD777 (Latin America’s 50 best restaurants), in 2012 he went to New York City, where he did a stint at the critically-acclaimed, two-star Michelin restaurant, Daniel by renowned chef Daniel Boulud.
As a pioneer of modern Mexican cuisine in Miami, Santiago has positioned Cantina La Veinte among the best restaurants in Miami Named: “Best Mexican Restaurant in Miami New Times”, “Best Mexican Restaurant in Zagat”, “Best Latin Restaurant in Zagat”, “31 Best Mexican Restaurant in America by Thrillist”. After the great success of Cantina, early 2017 Gómez opened his most recent restaurant Tacology “One of the best restaurants in Miami 2017 by Zagat” in which he takes tacos as an inspiration and transforms a traditional Mexican Taqueria in a Restaurant.
In 2014 was recognized by Travel & Leisure as “An Ace Young Mexican Chef.” In 2017 he won the Iron Fork Miami title, He’s been a featured chef at the annual Food & Wine Festival (2016-2017), as well as various events at the American Airlines Arena, Marlins Stadium. Gomez regularly appears on Univison’s Despierta America, Telemundo’s Que Rico Con Kiko and Sabor Latino, NBC Six in the Mix and more. In 2017 he created the successful non-profit event “Recipes For Change” with renowned chefs from Latin America.
Gomez is a spokesperson for brands like Barilla, Tabasco, Don Julio, Hispanic Kitchen, and Florida Daily Council, always giving his Mexican touches.
