Born in 1993 in Cali, Colombia, Andrés felt a love for the art of good cooking from a young age during a childhood of frequent family gatherings in which food took centre stage. At 12 he moved to El Puerto de Santa Maria in Cádiz, Spain and a conventional education followed – he enrolled in electronics at university, however he quickly realised that his true calling lay in the world of food.
Andrés side-stepped into the Higher School of Gastronomy and found inspiration in the cultural blend of this Columbian heritage and Spanish home. On graduation he set off across the country, soaking up the culinary traditions of Spain and building on his experience and knowledge, ending up in Madrid where he worked on a range of hospitality projects.
He arrived in London in 2018 and then followed a stint travelling through Europe and the Middle East where he worked on several ad hoc creative projects, honing his skills and leading him to his first head chef role at Rayuela which he helped launch in Ealing Broadway in 2022.
By 2024, Andrés had earned the restaurant two AA Rosettes and according to The Times Critic, Giles Coren who reviewed in January 2024 ‘there is genius at work’ at Rayuela.
Andrés’ refined Spanish fare with a nod to his Colombian heritage through South American influences have earned him a loyal following. Not keen to lose momentum, Andés continues to work on his experience and knowledge by obtaining qualifications and he is generous with his time, acting as a mentor to other young chefs, guiding them into the professional world of hospitality.