Ronaldo Linares

New Jersey

Ronaldo Linares

New Jersey

For Booking contact management: Barbara Barna Abel Email: [email protected]

Click here to order my book---->Chef Ronaldo: Sabores de Cuba:Diabetes-Friendly Traditional and Nueva Cubano Cuisine

RONALDO LINARES is a Cuban/Colombian/American, salsa-dancing, MMA-fighting, former US Marine, classically trained chef and restaurateur living his dream.

Passion infuses everything Ronaldo does – as CEO of Ronaldo’s Cocina and Executive Chef of Martino’s Cuban Restaurant in Somerville, NJ to speaking to youth groups and corporations about his personal journey to stepping on to the mat to compete as a NAGA (grappling) fighter.

Born in Colombia during the Cartel wars of the 1980s, cooking has been both his journey and his salvation, leading him from young immigrant and rebellious teen to successful chef and media personality.

Ronaldo’s cuisine is Rustic/Refined drawing inspiration from the traditional dishes of his Colombian mother, an accomplished home cook, and his Cuban father, a French trained chef.

While he learned the hard work of the kitchen as a teen clocking long hours in his family’s restaurant, Ronaldo’s “food voice” began to take shape while he was a Sergeant and Food Service Specialist in the Marines, serving 6000 men daily. There he learned about regional American food and began to infuse it with Cuban flavors.

Following the Marines, Ronaldo enrolled in ICE (Institute for Culinary Education) in New York City, graduating with high honors. Between culinary school and military service, Ronaldo learned to open his mind, expand his palate and explore food variations, including studying wines.

Ronaldo’s recipes are naturally healthy and flavorful. While in training for NAGA he only cuts out refined carbohydrates (and his beloved arepas) and feasts on the nutrient dense, protein rich deliciousness of Ropa Vieja, Adobo-Rubbed Flank Steak, Pernil and Sancocho.

Ronaldo has showcased his Cuban-inspired, passion-infused culinary style on Food Network’s Chopped, BBC America’s cross-country chef competition “Chef Race,” and appearances on Better TV, Fox News and Telemundo. He is a popular featured chef at live events including the Food Network’s “Food & Wine Festival".

  • Work
    • Martinoscuba.com
  • Education
    • Chef
    • Restauranteur
    • Marine
    • ICE Culinary
    • Life