Chef

Chef Tatiana Martinez was born in Ft Lauderdale and raised in Venezuela with her family.  She moved back to the US when she was 18 so she could learn the language of the country in which she was born.  Chef Tatiana attended Le Cordon Bleu Miami in 2005 for an Associates of Science in Culinary Arts.  She started her career at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa in Ft Lauderdale.  After a year, Chef Tatiana was transferred to the Ritz Carlton San Juan in Puerto Rico, where she worked for the restaurant Mares at the Ritz Carlton, and for the famous BLT Restaurant.  Chef Tatiana moved to Tampa in 2008 where she was part of the opening team for Ocean Prime.  She is currently working for Jackson’s Bistro and is head chef of a local personal chef service.  You can learn more about Chef Tatiana’s personal chef services at PersonalChefOfTampaBay.com.

Growing up in Venezuela exposed Chef Tatiana to classic Spanish and Italian dishes.  Cooking was very important in her family and was always taken very seriously.  “We always ate very healthy, natural, and fresh foods growing up and I learned to appreciate foods in their natural state and to not to cover up the natural flavors of food.”  Chef Tatiana started cooking at a young age by helping her grandparents and with family engagements.  “My grandmother always told me to follow my passions and to do what I love, even if I have to do it for free.  If I had all the money in the world right now, I would still be a chef.  I love to make people happy and to see their faces when I prepare their food.  That is the best compliment.”

In her spare time, Chef Tatiana enjoys spending time with her family.  She also loves to read – “anything that touches my hands!”  And of course, Chef Tatiana enjoys cooking for her family and friends as she feels that cooking brings families together.