Who Is Carolina Diaz?

Who Is Carolina Diaz?

Restaurant Supply content and product experts | Restaurant Supply Team |




Who is Carolina Diaz

Whether cooking meals for the family or learning mastery of balancing flavors, Diaz appreciated the art behind creating a culinary experience from a young age. Chef Carolina is a well-known Mexican-American chef. While she grew up in a large Mexican family outside of Chicago, Carolina Diaz always had a special relationship with food. Initially a psychology major, Diaz switched to the Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago, to follow her passion and focus on culinary management. After beginning her culinary career as a line cook, she worked in different positions. Learning new skills along the way.

Diaz joined the team at Terzo Piano at the Art Institute of Chicago in May 2016 as chef di Cucina under acclaimed chef Tony Mantuano. She was drawn to the dedication to supporting local, organic, and sustainable foods and purveyors and its focus on Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. It also allowed her to learn from Chef Mantuano. These skills and her passion helped her earn the title of the 2018 Barilla Pasta International Master of Pasta. In October 2018, Chef Carolina traveled to Milan, Italy, where she competed against some of the top pasta chefs around the globe. Her signature dish, Spaghetti al Pomodoro, impressed the judges and even earned her the crown.

Chef Carolina Diaz is now the Culinary Director of the Art Institute of Chicago. There she will lead large teams that operate two cafes, an American-inspired restaurant, and a banquet team. Diaz is also an instructor at Tuition College, a local community college and offers a cook training program for her students at the Art Institute of Chicago.






Vollrath Chef Series with Carolina Diaz




Carolina Diaz's Career

Carolina Diaz's Career

She was determined to be one of the best in the kitchen, she focused first on honing her skills. She started working at a Chinese restaurant, chopping duck after duck for service. After beginning her culinary career as a line cook and intern at Red Light Restaurant under Chef Jackie Shen, she assumed a role in Chef Bill Kim's empire. She was a line cook for two years at Urban Belly and Belly Shack, learning how to run a kitchen.

By January 2012, Diaz shifted to Italian cuisine and worked as a line cook at Filini Bar and Restaurant in Chicago's Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel under Chef Christian Fantoni, leading the restaurant's homemade pasta production. In July 2012, Diaz was asked to help open Chef Bill Kim's new restaurant, BellyQ. Diaz oversaw the menu planning, trained a staff of more than 30, and even developed a training program for the new cooks. Diaz returned to Filini Restaurant and Bar after the opening as a sous chef and was later promoted to head chef. In May 2016, Diaz joined the team at Terzo Piano at the Art Institute of Chicago as chef di Cucina. She teaches Food Prep Essentials, Italian Cooking and Butchery courses to students enrolled in Triton's renowned Culinary Program.







Carolina Diaz's Top Recipes

Carolina Diaz's Top Recipes

A world-famous chef, Carolina Diaz earned the title of the 2018 Barilla Pasta International Master of Pasta with her signature Spaghetti al Pomodoro. Her passion for pasta is shown in her recipes. These easy pasta dishes will become your new favorite meals. These Italian-inspired recipes are sure to please everyone at the dinner table. Whether you're craving something savory or sweet, you'll find a pasta recipe to suit your cravings



Chef Carolina's Orecchiette with Mushrooms, Parmesan Crema & Shaved Truffles

Chef Carolina's Orecchiette with Mushrooms, Parmesan Crema & Shaved Truffles

Orecchiette pasta, which translates to “little ears”, is a lovely, ridged pasta that holds onto sauces like nobody’s business. This recipe it's paired with a fresh Parmesan crema and a generous shaving of fresh truffles for an earthy, luxurious take on this beloved pasta. This recipe uses orecchiette pasta, but you can also make this with any other type of pasta, such as penne, spaghetti, or fusilli.

Chef Carolina's Orecchiette with Mushrooms, Parmesan Crema & Shaved Truffles Recipe
Summer Farfalle

Summer Farfalle

Summer farfalle is a type of pasta that has a curled shape. It is made with egg and semolina flour and is often served with seafood. The Italian word "farfalle" means "butterflies," and the pasta gets its name from its shape. It is usually served with a variety of sauces.

Summer Farfalle Recipe
Spaghetti al Pomodoro

Spaghetti al Pomodoro

Spaghetti al Pomodoro is a traditional Italian pasta dish. It is made with spaghetti pasta and tomato sauce. Crushed tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, and diced tomatoes are used for this recipe. You can add a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity. Fresh basil leaves are also used for garnishing.

Spaghetti al Pomodoro Recipe

Gnocchi with Braised Pork Cheek and Kale

Gnocchi with Braised Pork Cheek and Kale

Gnocchi is an Italian dumpling made with potato, semolina, or flour. In this recipe, the potato-based gnocchi is braised in a creamy vegetable soup with meltingly tender pork cheeks. The rich flavor of pork cheek goes well with the earthy flavor of kale, and dumplings serve as a great way to soak up the sauce. Braising kale is easy; chop it up and sauté it in olive oil and salt for about eight minutes. You can also add other veggies like carrots, mushrooms, or peppers.

Gnocchi with Braised Pork Cheek and Kale Recipe


Butternut Squash Risotto

Butternut Squash Risotto

Butternut squash risotto is a variation of traditional risotto. It is made with butternut squash instead of rice. The butternut squash adds a sweet and earthy flavor to this dish, making it a perfect option for a fall or winter menu. This risotto recipe is made with saffron, which adds a distinctive flavor and a gorgeous yellow hue to the finished dish. The texture of butternut squash risotto is quite different from traditional risotto because of the squash, and it's also slightly sweeter.

Butternut Squash Risotto Recipe





What type of cuisine is Carolina Diaz known for

What type of cuisine is Carolina Diaz known for?

She is well-known for her amazing Italian cooking. She brings a signature flair to traditional Italian cuisine using unexpected ingredients and creative twists on classic dishes. Carolina's Italian cooking has been recognized for its fresh ingredients and creative presentation. Her creative approach to Italian staples will delight even the pickiest eaters. She is known for making "Spaghetti al Pomodoro," which won her the 2018 Barilla Pasta International Master of Pasta. Her dishes are fresh, healthy, and flavorful - she has made it her mission to help others learn how to cook delicious Italian food.



What Restaurant does Carolina Diaz Work At

What Restaurant does Carolina Diaz Work At?

Carolina Diaz started her culinary journey at the Illinois Institute of Art after changing majors from philosophy to culinary management. After working as a line cook for a local Chinese restaurant, she rose through the kitchen ranks, taking notes from Bill Kim of Urbanbelly and Filini's opening chef, Christian Fantoni. Diaz became an instructor at Terzo Piano at the Art Institute of Chicago in May 2016 as chef di Cucina under acclaimed chef Tony Mantuano.

Currently, she is teaching Food Prep Essentials, Italian Cooking and Butchery courses to students enrolled in Triton's renowned Culinary Program. She leads and shapes her students into the next generation of head chefs. On top of those responsibilities, she is also the head chef at Terzo Piano Restaurant, located inside the Art Institute of Chicago.




Vollrath Kitchen Products

Vollrath Kitchen Products

Vollrath makes high-quality commercial kitchen equipment that lasts for years. Their equipment is durable and easy to clean. They offer various products to meet every commercial kitchen's needs. Vollrath is a trusted manufacturer of commercial kitchen equipment, and these serving spoons and skimmers will keep your food safe and sanitary for your customers. Vollrath makes some of the best and most durable hand tools. They are very well-made, and they should last you for years. Most of the hand tools offered by Vollrath are made from high-quality stainless steel. This type of steel is extremely durable, and it's also rust-resistant. Stainless steel hand tools will give you many years of reliable service. Moreover, these tools are ergonomically designed for maximum comfort.

Vollrath is a leading manufacturer of professional food service equipment, and they offer a variety of safety products that can help you keep your kitchen safe and sanitary. They also offer a variety of kitchen equipment with ergonomic features, such as non-slip knobs or handles. Vollrath kitchen equipment is easy to clean and maintain, and it's made with durable materials to last for years of daily use. And to ensure your kitchen stays safe, Vollrath offers a variety of safety products, such as anti-slip legs, splash guards, and more.




Vollrath Products Recommended By Carolina Diaz

These products are recommended by Carolina Diaz because they help you get the most out of your cooking experience. These products will make your life easier and help you produce the best possible results. Vollrath manufactures various products, including cookware, kitchen equipment, food steamers, induction sealing machines, melting pots, and other items. What sets Vollrath apart is the quality of its products. They are designed to last in even the harshest of commercial environments. Vollrath manufactures its products with the needs of its customers in mind. Vollrath's mission is to help its customers succeed, and this company works hard to achieve that goal.

Vollrath Colanders and Strainers

Strainers are designed to fit over a large pot to help collect water when rinsing vegetables or pasta. Colanders are designed to fit over a sink to rinse foods like pasta or broccoli. These pieces of equipment are used primarily in commercial kitchens to strain and rinse food of unwanted particles. Colanders are open-mesh strainers that are good for straining liquids or rinsing produce. They have a large bowl and a mesh bottom to let the liquid or produce through but keep the larger pieces of produce out. Strainers have a fine mesh bottom to catch the smallest pieces of food. They can also be used for straining liquids if you secure the strainer over the filling bowl. Vollrath offers a variety of colanders and strainers in a wide range of sizes and materials.


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Vollrath Cutlery

Vollrath cutlery refers to the variety of knives, forks, and spoons used in commercial kitchens and restaurants to prepare, serve, and eat food. Vollrath cutlery is typically made of high-quality stainless steel that is resistant to rust and corrosion, as well as other materials such as plastic and silicone. The most common types of Vollrath cutlery are chef's, paring, utility, carving, and knives with Santoprene or rubberized grips. The brand is known for its durability and long-lasting quality, and its products are often used in commercial settings such as restaurants, hotels, and schools. Vollrath cutlery is the best in the industry for resisting rust, corrosion, and stains.


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Vollrath Spatulas

Vollrath spatulas are cooking utensils designed to scrape the contents of a pan or other cooking vessel. They can be made from various materials, but most are made from heat-resistant plastic or silicone. To scrape the inside of a pan, they are usually angled, and they may also have a curved or slotted head to allow for scraping at different angles. Vollrath spatulas can be used to scrape cooked foods from the bottom of the pan to ensure nothing is wasted or to stir the contents of a pan while cooking to ensure everything is being cooked evenly.


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Vollrath Whisks, Whips and Beaters

Vollrath whisks, whips, and beaters are kitchen utensils used for mixing and blending food. Depending on the type of whisk, whisking can be used for various purposes, including the aeration of foods, puréeing, making stabilized whipped cream, and incorporating air into batters for a lighter texture. Made from various materials, such as silicone, nylon, or polycarbonate. Most Vollrath whisks are designed for commercial kitchens, as they are made of materials that can withstand high temperatures and are more durable than standard whisks.


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Vollrath Tongs

Vollrath tongs are long-handled kitchen and cooking utensils used to lift or grab foods while cooking or serving. Vollrath tongs are a type of kitchen tongs. They are made of stainless steel, which makes them strong and durable. They're rust-resistant and easy to clean, making them useful in commercial kitchens. These tongs are made with various materials, such as aluminum, copper, or silicone. They are typically available in different sizes and styles.


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Vollrath Kitchen Ladles

Vollrath kitchen ladles are long-handled spoons used to scoop liquids from deep pots and pans. Vollrath kitchen ladles are large spoons with long handles used to scoop and serve food. They are often larger than a regular serving spoon and made of materials like stainless steel that are easy to clean and durable. Many of them have a heat seal on the handle to prevent the transfer of germs when serving food. They are often made of stainless steel, but you can also find them in other materials, such as silicone.


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