Christian IrabienChristian Irabien

Chef Christian Irabién was born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico and is a long-time resident of the DC area. His cooking is inspired by his family’s traditions from Chihuahua, Distrito Federal (CDMX) and the coastal states of Veracruz, Yucatán and Guerrero.

Chef Christian is an award-winning chef and serves as a Culinary Ambassador with the US Department of State, in conjunction with the James Beard Foundation and currently as Founder, Executive Chef and Creative Director of Amparo Fondita, a chef-driven tortilleria and seasonal Mexican concept in Washington, DC, Hospitality Humans, a multi-disciplinary boutique consulting firm aiding F&B spaces become more diverse, inclusive and equitable through professional development and creating meaningful connection between leadership and staff, as well as ¡Muchas Gracias!, a Mexican-inspired restaurant which aimed to aid immigrant-workers through the COVID pandemic.

Chef Christian’s culinary journey is a deeply personal one and manifests beyond the plate. He strives to create and cultivate spaces which develop hospitality skills in the low-income, Latin American immigrant community. Chef Christian has been the recipient of many accolades and awards including the 2022 Culinary Rising Star Award from the Restaurant Association of Washington as well as the 2020 Keepers of the American Dream Award from the National Immigration Forum.