Natalia Mendez Official

In Minneapolis, Natalia Mendez (they/them) is recognized as a queer, Chicanx writer, photographer, and instructor whose work focuses on equity and experiences on the margins . Storytelling and Visual Media

Méndez is celebrated for her dedication to traditional Oaxacan flavors, particularly her renowned moles. Her cooking is an act of reclamation, utilizing transgenerational information about Indigenous foodways to honor her heritage. She views food not just as sustenance, but as "good food as medicine"—a source for both physical health and communal healing. La Morada and Mutual Aid natalia mendez

Natalia Méndez is the co-owner and head chef of La Morada , a family-run Oaxacan restaurant in the South Bronx. Her work transcends culinary excellence, positioning food as a central tool for social justice, mutual aid, and cultural preservation. Culinary Heritage and Indigenous Wisdom In Minneapolis, Natalia Mendez (they/them) is recognized as

She received the Three Kings Medal from El Museo del Barrio (2017) and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Lehman College (2022). She views food not just as sustenance, but