Episode #172 - Rodolfo Cuadros of Amaru and Bloom

This week on Joiners, we’re talking to Chef Rodolfo Cuadros, the executive chef and owner of the critically acclaimed Chicago restaurants Amaru and Bloom. Growing up in Cali, Colombia, before moving back to Queens and then New Jersey, he’s known for his bold, Pan-Latin cooking at Amaru and his award-winning plant-based philosophy at Bloom. Amaru brings together the flavors, history, and passion of Latin America, while Bloom -- named one of the city's best plant-based restaurants -- earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its vibrant, vegetable-driven menu.

He joins us in the studio to talk about growing up amid both joy and conflict in Colombia, his journey from dishwasher to acclaimed chef-owner, why balance and sustainability shape his cooking today, and so much more!