Chef Ana Castro

Born in Texas and raised in Mexico City, Ana Castro grew up in her grandmother’s kitchen. Her culinary curiosity led her to study at Le Cordon Bleu, where she trained in classic French cuisine. The early stages of Castro’s career took her to India, Europe, and New York before she settled in New Orleans. 

Lengua Madre, first opened in the summer of 2021, is a distinctive restaurant that blends modern Mexican cuisine with elements of her family’s past and utilizes locally sourced ingredients to tell a story through an ever-evolving, five-course tasting menu. This eatery was one of Bon Appetit's 2022 Best New Restaurants and named to New York Times' Restaurant List 2021. Castro went on to be named one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs 2022.  

Though Lengua Madre has since closed, there's plenty to look forward to from Chef Ana Castro, including the opening of her next restaurant concept: ACAMAYA (opening in 2024).