Scottsdale Culinary Festival

Chef Douglas Rodriguez, the globally acclaimed Godfather of Nuevo Latino Cuisine, has been taking the nation by storm, opening award winning restaurants across the United States. His culinary creativity has changed the image of Latino food in America. Douglas Rodriguez, a son of Cuban immigrants, was raised in Miami. He grew up with the sights, smells and tastes of Cuban/American cuisine and developed a passion for food early on. By the age of 13, he had a collection of cookbooks, pots and pans, and was developing and preparing original concepts. Rodriguez earned his culinary degree at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, RI.

Returning to Miami, Rodriguez worked at the Sonesta Beach Hotel and Wet Paint Cafe. In 1989 he opened Yuca, an upscale Cuban style restaurant in Coral Gables. Yuca was a success, and at age 24, Douglas was a celebrated Miami chef, winning the "Chef of the Year, Miami" award from The Chefs of America and receiving his first and second "Rising Chef of the Year" nominations by The James Beard Foundation. While Yuca served distinctly Cuban cuisine, Douglas constantly studied new flavors, ingredients and ideas from his staff, which hails from United Nations of Latin American countries. Soon after that Douglas headed straight for New York City.

Rodriguez became the executive chef and co-owner of the phenomenally successful Patria, which opened in 1994 in New York City. It was the laboratory for his new cuisine, which he called "Nuevo Latino." After Patria, Mr. Rodriguez opened Chicama, a Peruvian ceviche bar, to 2 stars in the New York Times followed by Pipa, a Tapas bar that became one of the favorite spots for New Yorkers.

Rodriguez’ westward culinary venture landed him in Scottsdale at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in 2002. Chef Rodriguez is behind deseo’s concept and menu development. At deseo – which means “desire” in Spanish – Rodriguez brings an eclectic, fervent approach to Latin cooking. Cuban-born Rodriguez proudly presents the unique flavors of the heritage at deseo with uncompromised texture, passion and emotion.

Longing for his hometown, Rodriguez headed back to Miami Beach and opened OLA in 2004 followed by D. Rodriguez Cuba at The Astor Hotel in December 2009. Recently, D. Rodriguez Cuba was awarded with “The Best Ceviche” in The Miami New Times’s Best of Miami 2010. Next up, Rodriguez will take on an eclectic seafood venture with D. Rodriguez Ocean on Miami Beach, opening September 2010.