bio

Chef Mia Castro is a professional chef, cookbook author, food influencer, and television personality known for her bold flavors, fierce tenacity, and refreshing charm. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, she was deeply influenced by her Abuela, whose traditional Caribbean recipes and use of homegrown ingredients inspired Mia’s lifelong commitment to sustainability and culture-rich cooking.

She moved to Hyde Park, New York, to attend The Culinary Institute of America, earning both an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor’s in Hospitality and Management. Over the next decade, she trained in elite kitchens across Las Vegas, Miami, and New York, working under world-renowned chefs including Wolfgang Puck, Thomas Keller, and José Andrés. These experiences helped her refine her own Mediterribbean culinary style—drawing from Mediterranean techniques and philosophies while honoring her Caribbean roots through bold flavors and fresh ingredients.

Chef Mia gained national acclaim as a competitor on several major culinary television shows. She beat Bobby Flay on The Food Network with her Abuela’s Arroz con Pollo, was a finalist on Chopped, and earned the honorary titles “Pitbull in the Kitchen” and “Challenge Queen” as a standout on Hell’s Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay. Her ability to perform under pressure led Ramsay to invite her to host his hit YouTube series Ramsay in 10, where she cooked chef-quality meals in under 10 minutes, amassing millions of views.

Today, Mia is based in New York City, where she provides luxury private chef services, culinary consulting, and works as a food influencer, recipe developer, and brand ambassador for clients such as Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt, Del Monte Fresh, Peroni Italian Birra, and Rioja Wines.

Her debut cookbook, Cocina Puerto Rico, is a celebration of her heritage, her Abuela’s influence, and her culinary journey as a Latina chef in the U.S. It will be published by Union Square & Co. on February 10, 2026, and is now available for pre-order.