Indigenous chef celebrates culture through cuisine while educating others
9News | September 26, 2024 | Angeline McCall
ARVADA, Colo. — A business venture quickly turned into a form of self discovery for one Indigenous chef.
"I'm a transracial adoptee from Caracas, Venezuela. We believe my indigeneity is from the western side, San Cristobal region of the country," said Andrea Condes, owner of the Arvada-based Four Directions Cuisine. "I really set out on very much a personal journey, and I was utilizing food to explore that."
Condes' parents were in the military and adopted her while they were stationed in Caracas. She has limited information about her background, other than a birth certificate in Spanish.
"My parents got me the good old fashion way, from an orphanage," said Condes.
She grew up in Ohio before later relocating to the Denver area.
"Growing up, I had minimal exposure to Latin American cuisine," said Condes. "Of course, it was always through the lens of what my parents saw while they were in the army. So most of what I learned came later in life, particularly as an adult, like even after culinary school and all of that, a lot of self curiosity and research."
From a result of her self-exploration about her background from the Andes region, Condes launched The Rooted Andina, a series that includes either dinner or brunch out of her home in Arvada. 'Andina' refers to someone from the Andes in Spanish. (continued)