Chef Roger
Chef Roger
Chef Roger is a native of León, Nicaragua, where he developed a passion for food from an early age. While other children played in the streets and patios of the historic city, Roger spent his time in the kitchen, learning from his great aunt, parents, and other family members how dishes were prepared. He enjoyed helping cook for family gatherings and political events.
Due to the Nicaraguan Civil War, his family moved to Los Angeles, California, where he was introduced to a wide variety of international cuisines. This exposure deepened his appreciation for global flavors, and he began experimenting with dishes from different cultures.
Chef Roger earned a Bachelor’s degree in Latin American Studies from UC Berkeley, where he developed a love for Iberian cuisine. He later pursued a culinary education at Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena, California, graduating with top honors. In addition to his classical French culinary training, he expanded his expertise in various international cuisines, including Thai, Ethiopian, Middle Eastern, Spanish, French, Peruvian, Cuban, Nicaraguan, and Mexican. He further refined his pastry skills at the Los Angeles-West Valley Occupational Center’s Culinary Program and completed postgraduate studies in Spanish cuisine at the prestigious Basque Culinary Center in San Sebastián, Spain.
Roger and his partner co-own Split Bean Coffee, a micro coffee roaster specializing in single-origin coffees and artisan gourmet sweets. Their company has been featured in major publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Gourmet Magazine, Westways Magazine, and numerous international newspapers.
In addition to running his business, Chef Roger dedicates time to local charities in Los Angeles and is an active member of La Peña Andaluza en California. A passionate Flamenco enthusiast, he is often accompanied by the sounds of Spanish guitar in his kitchen. His travel interests include Latin America, France, England, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. When he’s away from the kitchen, he enjoys biking and rollerblading along the Southern California coast or taking weekend trips to Arizona, Northern California, Florida, and North Carolina to experience regional foods.
In May 2015, Chef Roger was selected from over 2,000 applicants to participate in the Spanish television hit Los Descendientes de Andalucía. During filming, he traveled throughout southern Spain, reconnecting with his Spanish heritage, learning local recipes, and cooking with grandmothers from the region. The show became the highest-rated summer program in Andalusia.
Chef Roger frequently appears on Telemundo’s Acceso Total, sharing his recipes with a national audience. He has also made guest appearances on KTLA, NBC, Univision, Canal Sur (Spain), and other media outlets.