Born in Venezuela with Italian-Venezuelan heritage, initially aspired to medicine but pivoted to culinary arts at 17, starting at a family friend's pizzeria before training at top establishments including three Michelin-starred Quique Dacosta in Spain and Mirazur in France (World's 50 Best No.1 in 2019), where he served as head chef. Relocating to Hong Kong in 2016 as executive chef at Michelin-starred Petrus, he launched Mono in 2019 in partnership with JIA Group's Yenn Wong, becoming Asia's first Michelin-starred Latin American chef and the first Venezuelan to earn a star; his philosophy blends European precision with Latin roots, focusing on seasonal, sustainable ingredients like Ecuadorian cacao pods (pod-to-bar chocolate) and innovative storytelling through dishes that honor cultural heritage while pushing boundaries.