meet the chef

Diego Luis Feliciano López 

Diego Luis, the Executive Chef of the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, CA, was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  

After graduating with an A.S. in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University in Miami, Diego spent the next 4 years there pursuing his passion for food and hospitality at such distinguished venues as the Four Seasons Hotel and BLT Steak.  

Upon returning to Puerto Rico, he worked at the prestigious Mi Casa Restaurant in the Ritz Carlton Hotel and the 1919 Restaurant in the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel. 

 In 2015 he moved to NYC where, after 3 years working as a Sous Chef at Saks 5th Ave and moving up in rank, he became the Banquet Chef at the Javits Convention Center. 

After that, Diego took over as Executive Chef at two esteemed New York restaurants, Vineapple Café in Brooklyn and later, at The Surf Lodge in Montauk. 

In November 2021, he decided to go west and moved to Los Angeles where he joined the culinary team at the Pasadena Convention Center. 

Chef Diego is inspired by local and seasonal ingredients. He loves to cook Caribbean and Latin dishes with Spanish and Italian influences and favors unpretentious, yet complex dishes that stimulate the senses.

Chef Diego looks forward to hosting your next gathering.