Nicolás Urrutia (he/she/they)

My name is Nicolás (Nico), I am a Colombian-born, New York City–based food experience designer and culinary educator.

 

My work explores the intersections of food, culture, and the systems that shape how we eat. It understands that food is a language through which culture takes place, and it intends to bring us closer to the soil and the hands that feed us. Through acknowledgment of ingredients, techniques, tools, and rituals, I aim to understand and communicate how communities express their identity, the land they inhabit, their customs and belief systems, and the historical movements—such as migration and colonization—that have transformed the way they live and eat.

​

I spend part of my time in classrooms transformed into pop-up kitchens, where I teach about food, culture, and a bit of sustainability and nutrition. Outside the classroom, I design immersive food experiences such as pop-ups and dinners, create written and audiovisual material about food and its relationship with people (including my own), and travel in search of culinary and cultural knowledge—whether across the globe, or within the diverse neighborhoods of New York City. I also collaborate with chefs, artists, and researchers worldwide to craft experiences, artworks, and educational projects that convey powerful messages about food and culture.