My Culinary Journey
Get to know me
Where Creativity Meets the Kitchen
Hi, I’m Carolina Chinea — I believe creativity begins in the kitchen and spills into life. My roots are in the Canary Islands, and my journey has taken me across kitchens and cultures around the world. My tools? Passion, focus, and intuition. My mission? To help you unlock your creative voice through food.
For me, food is a canvas — for transformation, for storytelling, and for play. I blend my love for cooking with a unique approach to education and personal growth, combining hands-on practice with creative strategy.
I’m excited to share insights from my journey and connect with you through the universal language of food.
👇 Here’s my Culinary Journey: From Chaos to Creation.
I spark creativity, one dish at a time
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¡Hola!
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I spark creativity, one dish at a time 〰️ ¡Hola! 〰️
What's in a Name?
My surname, Chinea, holds the memory of my roots. It comes from La Gomera, one of the Canary Islands, and is said to be linked to the legend of Princess Echirea — a figure of strength, resilience, and connection to the land. In choosing to use Chinea as part of my personal brand, I honor that legacy. It reminds me that every creative path starts with where we come from — and grows through the stories we dare to tell.
Here’s my Culinary Journey: From Chaos to Creation.
𖣂 The Ordinary World – My Roots
Before food, there was art, photography, and education. I co-founded a rural hotel in the Canary Islands, ran creative studios in Madrid, and opened one of the first zero-waste stores in the city. It was meaningful, but something was missing...
ᨒ ོ ☼ The Call to Adventure – Restlessness
I closed everything. Moved to London. I didn’t speak the language. I just knew I needed a new path.
🚷 Refusal of the Call – The Fear
A weekend raw food course changed my life, revealing food as a creative language.
🎓 Meeting the Mentor – Awakening
Started my first kitchen job in a raw café-bar @Tanya’s Café. (London, 2014–2015)
Explored raw dining & events in London’s first 100% raw restaurant @Nama. (London, 2014–2015)
🚧 Crossing the Threshold – Commitment
Collaborated with David Bez on a salad-focused café concept @Salad Pride. (London, 2015–2016)
Helped launch Qatar’s first 100% vegan café @Evergreen Organics. (Doha, 2016–2017)
⏳ Tests, Allies, and Enemies – Challenges
Trained in raw cuisine & plant-based nutrition @Matthew Kenney Culinary. (California, 2017–2018)
Taught hands-on courses at a pop-up culinary school @PlantLab (Barcelona, 2017–2019)
Trained a team in wholesome plant-based cuisine @Backyard (Phnom Penh, 2017–2018)
Launched a cookbook & plant-based café franchise @Vibe Café (Phnom Penh, 2017–2019)
Consulted for a vegetarian café in a wellness gym @Alive Café (Hyderabad, 2018)
The Approach to the Inmost Cave - Mastery
Led gluten-free culinary programs as Creative Director @Plant Hub (London, 2019–2020)
Created a mindful dining concept for a wellness hotel @Hoy Hotel (Paris, 2019–2020
🔥 The Ordeal - Burnout
Developed recipes & supported plant-based innovation @Dates & Avocados (London & Barcelona, 2020–2022)
Created & taught online plant-based courses @Aurea Culinary School (Online, 2020–2022) Mentored a solo founder to open a raw café @FreRa. (Chicago, 2022–2023)
⭐ The Reward - Legacy
Designed and taught online programs in plant-based cuisine @Plant Academy (Online, 2021–Present)
Designed programs in plant-based cuisine and guide students to find their culinary voice through creativity @Alchemy Academy (Bali, 2022–Present)
🌅 The Resurrection - Reinvention
Launched my personal brand merging food, creativity & education @Carolina Chinea (Online, 2022–Present)
⚱ Return with the Elixir - Purpose
Empowering others through teaching, innovation, and storytelling. The journey doesn’t end—it evolves. Let’s create something extraordinary together.
✨ Want to Reflect on Your Own Culinary Path?
Download The Hero’s Journey: A Culinary Reflection Template — a free tool I created to help you map your personal journey through food, creativity, and change.
What I Do Now: This Is My Work
Today, I’m a mentor, educator, and creative strategist for chefs, entrepreneurs, and anyone ready to bring bold ideas to the plate. Whether you’re building a project or just looking for your spark, I’m here to guide your next step.
So, let me ask you: What story do you want your next dish to tell?
What Drives Me: My Values
Why I Do This?
Because cooking is a creative ritual.
Because play is serious business.
Because your story deserves a seat at the table.
And because transformation can start with a single ingredient.
Let’s Create Together
Whether you're looking to reinvent your approach to plant-based cooking, develop a culinary project, or simply find joy in the kitchen again, I'm here to guide you.
Learn – Move – Eat – PLAY!
Nos vemos en la cocina. ¡A crear!
Plan(t)s I have for 2025
Growth & Expansion
Develop The 12 Kitchen Archetypes Workbook
Develop The Culinary Journey Template
Develop The White Canvas Workbook
Design personalized 1:1 Culinary Training Sessions
Re-Launch The Plant Challenge Tarot Deck
Personal Development
Embrace creative rituals in the kitchen
Foster playful exploration through Mise en Place practices
Cultivate balance with mindful cooking weekends
Inspire & Educate
Launch Chronicles of a Kitchen Under Construction
Launch Cooking with Purpose Course
