Chef Clara Hernandez

Chef Instructor, Culinary Arts

Instructor Clara Hernandez
Location: Online Programs
Favorite Dish: Arepas and Empanadas

"I do my best every day, and my heart burns for it. I just hope my students notice how much I love food, and how much I want them to fall in love with it as well."

Chef Clara Hernandez

About

Chef Clara owned a baking business called Antojitos when she lived in Venezuela, and later opened a catering business with her husband called Sumac Foods. She worked in food photography with the biggest McDonald’s location in the world in Orlando, FL. She also did recipe development for Tupperware and created a cookbook for one of their products.

Clara volunteered at The James Beard Foundation Awards in 2016 and won the Legacy Award 2020 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.

Her travel includes Panama, San Salvador, Venezuela, Argentina, Peru, Spain, and France, to experience the cuisine and absorb the culture of each country.

Honors & Awards

  • 2023 Team Influencer Award - Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts Academic Summit
  • 2020 Legacy Award - Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts

Professional EXPERIENCE

  • Owner/Chef - Antojitos, Venezuela
  • Owner/Chef - Spoonful Catering USA
  • Career Services Student/Worker - Le Cordon Bleu
  • Chef Assistant - Tupperware Brands
  • Digital Marketing Coordinator - McDonald's
  • Digital Marketing Coordinator - Cypress Cove Nudist Resort
  • Career Services Representative - Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts

Dish Examples

Pan de Jamon

Pan de Jamón is a traditional Venezuelan holiday bread filled with ham, green olives, and sweet raisins, all rolled into soft, golden dough. Each slice offers a perfect mix of savory and sweet flavors.

This dish is meaningful to me because it brings back memories of Christmas with family, the warmth of home, and the joy of sharing. It’s a delicious way to stay connected to my roots and traditions.

Sliced pan de jamón showing rolled ham, green olives, and raisins inside golden baked bread.

Crispy mini chocolate chip cookies

These are crispy mini chocolate chip cookies—bite-sized treats packed with rich chocolate chips and golden-brown crunch in every nibble.

These cookies bring me joy because they remind me that something small can bring big smiles. Whether baked for loved ones or sold with care, each batch carries a bit of comfort, nostalgia, and homemade love. They’re my go-to treat for sweet moments—simple, crispy, and full of heart.

Mini chocolate chip cookies in a yellow bowl and clear bag on a pink table with a teal towel

Poke Bowl

This vibrant poke bowl features creamy avocado, marinated tuna, seaweed salad, pickled onions, mango, crab sticks, carrots, and nori strips, all beautifully arranged and topped with sesame seeds. Each ingredient adds a unique flavor and texture, making it a colorful, balanced meal.

This dish is meaningful because poke bowls represent creativity, nourishment, and connection to culture. They’re a fresh, feel-good dish that brings joy through both taste and presentation—a simple yet meaningful way to eat with intention.

Colorful poke bowl with avocado, pickled onion, seaweed, tuna, and veggies on a red background

Education

  • Associate Degree in Culinary Arts, Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts
  • Bachelor's in Design & Business Administration, Universidad Nueva Esparta

Special Interests

Digital design, food photography, and cooking.

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