Helena Rizzo is a Brazilian chef and restaurateur known for her innovative approach to Brazilian cuisine. She was born on May 18, 1978, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Rizzo began her culinary career as a model and actress in Sao Paulo, where she worked part-time in restaurants to make ends meet. She soon realized that her passion was cooking, and she enrolled in a culinary school in Sao Paulo.
In 2001, Rizzo moved to Europe to work in some of the world’s most renowned restaurants, including El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain, and Pierre Gagnaire in Paris, France. She returned to Brazil in 2005 and joined the team at Maní, a restaurant in Sao Paulo, as a pastry chef. In 2006, she became a partner in the restaurant, which was awarded a Michelin star in 2015.
Rizzo’s cooking style is heavily influenced by her travels and her upbringing in southern Brazil, where her family owned a farm. She is known for her use of local and seasonal ingredients, as well as her experimentation with traditional Brazilian dishes.
In 2013, Rizzo was named the world’s best female chef by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. She has also been recognized by the Brazilian magazine Veja as the country’s best chef.
In addition to her work at Maní, Rizzo has also opened a café and bakery in Sao Paulo called Padoca do Maní. She is also involved in various social and environmental projects, including a program that teaches underprivileged children how to cook.
Overall, Helena Rizzo is a trailblazer in the Brazilian culinary world, known for her innovative approach to cooking and her commitment to using local, sustainable ingredients.
