Yara Herrera - Hellbender

WHO: Yara Herrera is chef-partner of Hellbender, an award-winning Mexican-American restaurant in Queens. ABOUT: Yara is the chef/partner at Mexican-American restaurant Hellbender in Queens, NY. Born and raised in Los Angeles as a first-generation Mexican-American, she launched her culinary journey at just 20 years old, honing her skills at esteemed establishments such as Wolfgang Puck’s Spago and Providence, a celebrated two Michelin-starred sustainable seafood restaurant. In 2018, an invitation from David Chang to join the highly acclaimed Momofuku Ko brought her to NYC, where she would go on to join the team at Xilonen (the former sister restaurant from the Oxomoco team). She swiftly rose to chef de cuisine, pioneering a menu blending traditional Mexican techniques with seasonal, locally sourced produce. She continued to work with incredible restaurants, including with Zack Wangeman at Sobre Masa in Bushwick.  At Hellbender, Yara is embarking on her first chef-owner venture showcasi