Natalia Mendez -

Méndez’s impact has been recognized by prestigious institutions:

Natalia Méndez is the co-owner and head chef of La Morada , a family-run Oaxacan restaurant in the South Bronx. Her work transcends culinary excellence, positioning food as a central tool for social justice, mutual aid, and cultural preservation. Culinary Heritage and Indigenous Wisdom natalia mendez

She received the Three Kings Medal from El Museo del Barrio (2017) and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Lehman College (2022). natalia mendez