Elia Herrera, ColibrÍ & LosCo Vegan talented Executive Chef and owner. Born in Cordoba, Veracruz-Mexico, she was exposed to the fascinating world of cookery from a very young age. Growing up, culinary exploration was encouraged in her home, since her grandmother initiated a catering business at the young age of 16th, a pioneer in the industry that reached all levels of clientele from Mexican society, celebrities, Presidents, Ambassadors and Governors of Mexico to the Kings of Spain passing the business through generations, sharing her expertise, knowledge and passion for not only traditional Mexican cuisine but International as well. Elia has followed her roots and has brought the tradition of authentic Mexican cuisine to Canada.
Naturally, then, her family wholeheartedly supported her choice to delve into the culinary industry, and enthusiastically supported her studies at The Culinary Institute of Mexico. Elia graduated as an Executive Chef with specialization in Pastry.
Taking bits and pieces from her training abroad, having perfected her culinary techniques in countries like Spain, France, Belgium, Italy and Canada, Elia puts a little bit of herself in every dish she creates. She has been fortunate enough to work with some of Barcelona’s top Pastry Chefs, including Jordi Butron, Xano Saguer, Walter Volt, and Ricardo Martinez.
Chef Elia came to Canada in 2003, and immediately put her skills to work. Like any good recipe, success is a product of good ingredients. Passion, dedication and extensive knowledge have led her to where she is today.
She is inspired by her grandmother Luz Del Carmen Dominguez de Herrera and mother Elia Del Carmen Herrera Dominguez as well as Pastry Chef Paco Torre Blanca.
Former Top Chef Canada and Top Chef Mexico star Elia Herrera is known for her upscale Mexican delicacies. Herrera has been featured in several TV Shows such as Breakfast Television, Morning Live, and magazines like Toronto Life, Post City, Blog TO, Toronto SUN, she also has appeared as judge on Master Chef Canada as well as Post City Toronto’s Best Tacos Al Pastor along side Chef Mark McEwan
Chef Herrera is a Gold Medal Winner for Canada’s Great Kitchen Party 2018, previously known as Gold Metal Plates. It’s a social enterprise that’s dedicated to building community regionally and nationally to celebrate Canadian excellence in food, sport and music. She has participated in multiple Food and Wine festivals national and internationally.
Herrera has extended her passion and love for food to the vegan community, with the newest addition to the “Los Colibris” family. LosCo Vegan is a promising restaurant full of Mexican flavours to vegan and non-vegan palates.
Herrera’s strong sense of community and giving back is present in Canada and Mexico. She has worked with Second Harvest Canada’s largest food rescue charity, Eat to the Beat. It’s the only event in Canada of women supporting women through the challenges that come with a breast cancer diagnosis. She also created “Salut for Mexico” to support people affected by earthquake in Mexico on September 2017.
