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.
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