Adán Medrano
chef, food writer and filmmaker; Houston, TX
Adán Medrano ’10 is a chef, food writer and award-winning filmmaker who, in addition to his degree from the Culinary Institute of America, has Master of Arts degree in Radio, Television and Film from the University of Texas at Austin. He is the author of Truly Texas Mexican: A Native Culinary Heritage In Recipes, and his most recent book, Don’t Count the Tortillas—The Art of Texas Mexican Cooking, was touted by The Spruce Eats as one of the 8 Best Mexican cookbooks to read in 2021. His most recent documentary film, Truly Texas Mexican, won “Best Documentary” at the New York Independent Cinema Awards.
Medrano spent 23 years traveling and working throughout Latin America, Europe, and Asia, where he came to recognize the importance of food and culinary traditions in society. He returned to the US in 2010 to focus on the culinary traditions of the Mexican American community of Texas: its history, recipes, and how this singular cuisine is showing the way towards a better understanding of what it means to be “American.”
Medrano’s professional work includes both fine dining at Restaurant Ten Bogaerde in Belgium, and volunteering as the Chef of Houston’s Casa Juan Diego, a shelter for homeless individuals. He has lectured about food & culture at academic institutions, including Harvard University Co-Op, Colorado College, The Culinary Institute of America, and Northeastern University. He has showcased his recipes at national gatherings of the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, at Brennan’s restaurant in Houston, at Nao, the former restaurant at the CIA San Antonio, and at the American Book Center in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.