ORIGINALLY FROM MEXICO CITY, CHEF KARINA RIVERA BRINGS OVER 13 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING IN RENOWNED HOTELS AND BAKERIES. AFTER STUDYING CULINARY ARTS, SHE QUICKLY DISCOVERED HER TRUE PASSION FOR PASTRY AND BEGAN HER CAREER AS A PASTRY CHEF WITH CELEBRITY CRUISES.

SHE LATER JOINED THE ST. REGIS BAL HARBOUR RESORT IN MIAMI, WHERE HER TECHNIQUE AND CREATIVITY EVOLVED TO A NEW LEVEL. SHE WENT ON TO BECOME HEAD PASTRY CHEF AT BACHOUR BAKERY & BISTRO AND BACHOUR MIAMI, AND LATER HELD THE SAME POSITION AT NOVIKOV MIAMI.

IN 2019, SHE WAS A FINALIST ON SPRING BAKING CHAMPIONSHIP ON FOOD NETWORK, AND IN 2022, SHE WON AGAINST IRON CHEF ALEX GUARNASCHELLI ON ALEX VS. AMERICA, FURTHER ESTABLISHING HER AS A LEADING VOICE IN MODERN PASTRY.

THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, SHE HAS COLLABORATED INTERNATIONALLY, INCLUDING ASSISTING MASSIMO BOTTURA AT VARIOUS EVENTS, AND FOUNDED WOMEN CHEFS 305 TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER WOMEN IN THE CULINARY INDUSTRY.

MACARONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AT THE HEART OF HER WORK. IN 2020, SHE FOUNDED HER OWN COMPANY, “SWEETS WITH LOVE” SPECIALIZING IN SEASONAL MACARONS, CONSULTING FOR BAKERIES AND RESTAURANTS, AND OFFERING BOTH IN-PERSON AND ONLINE CLASSES. SINCE THEN, SHE HAS TAUGHT MORE THAN 500 STUDENTS ACROSS LATIN AMERICA AND THE UNITED STATES, HELPING PROFESSIONALS AND ENTHUSIASTS REFINE THEIR PASTRY SKILLS.

CHEF KARINA IS ALSO A BRAND AMBASSADOR FOR PROVA GOURMET, COLLABORATING ON RECIPE DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNATIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS. IN ADDITION, SHE PROVIDES CONSULTING SERVICES FOR BAKERIES AND RESTAURANTS ACROSS LATIN AMERICA AND THE U.S., SHE HAS ALSO COLLABORATED WITH VENUES SUCH AS 1 HOTEL, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, LOANDEPOT PARK, AND RIVERSIDE HOTEL.

BEYOND THE KITCHEN, SHE HAS BUILT A STRONG DIGITAL PRESENCE, GROWING AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY OF OVER 160,000 FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM, WHERE SHE SHARES RECIPES, TECHNIQUES, AND INSIGHTS INTO THE WORLD OF PASTRY.

TODAY, CHEF KARINA CONTINUES TO INSPIRE A GLOBAL AUDIENCE OF PASTRY PROFESSIONALS AND ENTHUSIASTS THROUGH HER TEACHING, CONSULTING, AND CREATIVE WORK, BLENDING TECHNIQUE, INNOVATION, AND PASSION IN EVERY CREATION.