A close-up of a pan, filled with a variety of stir-fry ingredients, including chopped vegetables and an egg being poured.

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Coqui the Chef's Story

Coqui the Chef, nestled in the heart of New York City, is a vibrant culinary haven owned by a dynamic minority woman entrepreneur. Our dedicated team is fueled by a profound passion for crafting genuine culinary experiences, rooted in our shared love for food, traditions, music, and history.

We take pride in our commitment to fostering connections within our communities while celebrating the rich tapestry of flavors that defines our city’s culinary landscape.

A kids cooking party led by Tania Lopez with children engaged in various cooking activities, learning, and having fun.
The culinary educator Tania Lopez, demonstrating cooking techniques in a kitchen, depicted in four overlaid circular images.

About Coqui the Chef

I’m Tania Lopez, the mastermind and culinary educator behind Coqui the Chef. As a culinary instructor, event planner, and all-around food enthusiast, I’ve made it my mission to bring a taste of cultural richness to our community. Drawing inspiration from my grandma’s cherished recipes, I’ve embarked on a delicious journey spanning from the sun-soaked shores of Spain to the vibrant flavors of Puerto Rico.

With over 16 years of experience under my apron strings as a culinary instructor, I’m constantly cooking up new ways to share the joy of cooking. Whether it’s delving into a new cuisine, shaking things up with mixology mastery, or uncorking the secrets of sommelier certification, I’m always hungry for knowledge.

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Our Mission

At Coqui the Chef, our mission since 2007 has been to revolutionize the culinary landscape in New York. Through our cooking classes, we offer authentic culinary experiences that transport participants on a flavorful journey through European and Latin cuisine and culture. We believe that food is a passport to diverse cultural cuisines!

Our goal is to provide immersive cooking classes that not only teach culinary skills but also ignite a passion for diverse cuisines and healthy eating practices. By offering hands-on sessions focused on regions like Spain, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, we aim to enrich lives and empower individuals with the knowledge and skills to make nutritious food choices.

As a company deeply rooted in our community, we take pride in making a positive impact on the lives of those in vulnerable regions of New York. Through our cooking classes and resources, we strive to enhance the well-being of individuals by promoting healthy eating habits and fostering a love for cooking. Join us on this culinary journey as we cook up flavorful experiences and make a difference, one dish at a time. 

We invite you to learn more about us by exploring our press page.

How do you play a part in our mission?

When you choose Coqui the Chef for a team-building or group cultural cooking class, you’re not just cooking – you’re helping us fulfill our mission. Your participation directly supports our goal of promoting cultural exploration and healthy eating. Thank you for joining us on this meaningful journey of culinary discovery and community impact.

Coqui the Chef's Team

Coqui the Chef's 3D Content Creator Miguel X. Diaz-Lopez formally dressed in an elegant suit, standing in front of a car.

Miguel X. Diaz-Lopez

Podcast Co-Host, 3D Content Creator and Financial Manager

Through our podcast, Miguel wants to share how food can bring communities together. This clever 3D content creator also loves learning how to cook. His favorite foods are ramen, tostones, steak, and of course, paella.

The Wine Expert of Coqui the Chef, Wil Edwards, elegantly dressed in vest and shirt, stirring a cocktail in a glass pitcher.

Wil Edwards

Food, Wine Expert and Business Development Manager

Wil is our cheerful “Wine Guy” and oftentimes our cooking class co-host. His +20 years of experience working in the culinary arts is highly reflected when collaborating. Wil loves all foods and will never stop tasting!

Coqui the Chef's Spanish Flamenco Guitar Composer, Santiago, dressed in an elegant dark suit, playing the classical guitar.

Santiago

Flamenco Guitar Composer
From Madrid, Spain

Creator of the music for our video, and podcast. Santi is a brilliant Flamenco Composer who wants to tell the history of Spain in relations with Flamenco and gastronomy. He enjoys eating rice and tapas with his friends on a sunny day.

Coqui the Chef's Creative Team

Monochromatic blue-toned portrait of the creative director of Coqui the Chef, Rs Luciano, wearing a black cap and t-shirt.

Rs Luciano

Creative Director

Rob joined Coqui the Chef in its early stages of development. He’s creative decisions are driven by Coqui’s idea of giving back to inner city communities. Rob’s favorite food is mofongo!

A close-up monochromatic portrait of Coqui the Chef's creative assistant, Violeta Encarnacion, smiling at the camera.

Violeta Encarnacion

Creative Assistant

Through graphic design and illustrations, Violeta ensures the company’s vision is clearly received by our audience in order to create a cooking experience filled with color! Like many of us, her favorite food is tostones rellenos.

Meet Our Partners

NYC-DOE-Vendor
MWBE-Coquithechef
bronxHealthR
Food Arts Center
Airbnb
Visit.org
healthfirst

Reviews! Amazing

We loved making Coquito with Tania! My coworkers loved her presentation on the culture and music of Puerto Rico, and her recipes are AMAZING- this is coming from someone who is also Puerto Rican! 100% recommend this experience to anyone looking to learn something new and make something easy and delicious.
Helen from Virginia
“What a fun experience! It was personable. The chef made everyone feel included and guided at a pace that we could keep up with! The results were fabulous. We thoroughly enjoyed the meal and the laughter! We will do another class anytime! Thank you Chef Tania”
~Debbie G., Oregon
What a fun class! Everything tasted delicious and Tania's tips made it all surprisingly easy to make, too. We will definitely be making tostones and pina coladas again. We highly recommend this class and hope to take other classes with Tania in the future!
Sarah from Poland
"If your palette prefers Spanish cuisine, Dan Pashman, the host of The Sporkful podcast, recommends taking this paella-making class led by chef Tania Lopez. He actually doesn’t call it a cooking class, “but more an interactive experience.” That’s because, in addition to the cooking lesson, you also get “a flamenco concert,” according to Pashman, who assures this entertainment does not dilute the lesson’s culinary wisdom. “She knows the cuisine inside and out and her passion for the food is contagious,” he says of Lopez. Like the Geffen Stayhouse’s Indian cooking class, you can pay a lower price of $55 to take the class and receive a list of required ingredients and equipment; or you can pay $120 and get all the ingredients you need — along with a bottle of wine and a paella pan — delivered to your door ahead of the class."
~New York Magazine’s The Strategist
“The Paella Class is the best date night event I have attended virtually or otherwise.  The Chef, the kit, and the entertainment were absolutely amazing!"
~ Dr. and Mr. McBride, Long Beach, CA
“A fun, high energy, entertaining night of culinary learning - coming from a guy whose cooking skills are very limited.  Talk about a confidence booster and delicious dinner! It is great for friends gathering, date night, or team building among colleagues”
~Rob Walsh
Former Commissioner of NYC Small Business Services
"Thank you for creating a memorable experience for my colleagues and me! I became worried when thinking about how we could observe Hispanic Heritage month during the pandemic since we were unable to be together. I am thrilled to have partnered with you and your team. You by far exceeded my expectations and helped to make this an amazing experience. You and your team made everything so convenient and easy for us. You truly created an event that allowed us to celebrate Hispanic culture through education, food, dance and drinks. Even though we were unable to physically be together for this event we all felt so connected."
~ La’Toya Foster
Diversity & Inclusion Leader Geller & Company
“My husband and I took a wonderful paella cooking class with Coqui the Chef around the Christmas holiday. The class was an immersive experience, bringing the food, culture and music of Spain right into our kitchen. The class was taught online with the engaging Chef Tania, who walked the class through the steps of making a delicious paella. We received a paella kit from Chef Tania that had everything we needed to get started. During the class, we took musical excursions to Spain and listened to live Spanish guitar. All in all, we had a great time and great food. And the best part, paella has become a regular meal in our home. Thank you, Chef Tania!”
~Akira Arroyo,
Director, Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project
This was an wonderful Airbnb Experience with Tania! She was a fantastic host and share so much of her Puerto Rican culture through food with us during this class. She has great pacing with her teaching and was great to check in with everyone as we prepared the food. The Pastelillos we made were delicious. The holiday cocktails - Coquito - were yummy too. I definitely recommend this online experience to others!!
Anne from Singapore
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