Alexandra Raij

Alex Raij is one of the country’s most acclaimed chefs and restaurateurs. Cooking with Basque chef and husband Eder Montero, the duo pioneered a new era of tapas and Basque cuisine in New York.

Their restaurants La Vara And Txikito are ideal enduring neighborhood restaurants. Saint Julivert Fisherie, their Paris-style Wine Bar is both a departure and a return that continues to inspire, charm and surprise.

Alex distinguishes herself by creating dishes that capture a sense of place without giving up a sense of personal intimacy and creativity. What emerges are stories of connection and intersection across landscapes and time. She believes that “food connects and brings understanding to everything. It’s an essential, sensual and tangible way to create community and a feeling of belonging and love. It expresses private ideas publicly.”

Watching Jacques Pépin on PBS is a cherished memory and probably why she cooks.