×Cándido Cid Executive Chef

As one of the founders, our Executive Chef and Instructor Candido is the most visible face of Barcelona Cooking. With Galician roots but trained locally at the well respected cooking school of Mey Hofmann, he has valuable experience as a chef and as a cooking instructor. Chef Candido perfectly represents our school's philosophy - sharing his love for cooking and promoting Spain's unique gastronomy to the world. His passionate character is reflected not only in his dishes, but in the way he runs our everyday classes and market tours - making sure everyone is included and having the best time. Often described as "an unforgettable experience" by many of our visitors, he prides himself in everyone's satisfaction. 

×Emma Valcárcel Executive Director

Emma, a Galician living in Barcelona for the past 12 years, has embarked on this new culinary adventure as co-founding partner of Barcelona Cooking. She has been an integral part of our company since day one. Emma's language skills are invaluable - she is proficient in five languages: English, Spanish, Italian, German and Galician. She has a BA in English and has taken senior technical classes in Marketing & Tourism, as well as a Postgraduate Course in Business Managment; she is a lover of literature and languages. Emma manages all day-to-day aspects of the business, ensuring a smooth operation, and is a point person between both sides of the Atlantic. She is energetic, tireless, people person with constant desire for innovation and learning. 

×Juan CamposChef

Juan is originally from Venezuela and with roots from the Canary Islands.  With a strong passion for the culinary world, he began his career with his own restaurant in his hometown and after  that he took on the world of culinary and restaurant management.  In recent years, Juan has had experience as a chef and consultant to restaurants and completed a 2 year specialization in Mediterranean cuisine at the Hoffman School and currently works as a columnist in a digital magazine city writing about the culinary world and its trends. Juan is an enthusiastic lover of good food and his family.

×Renata AltamiranoChef & Nutritionist

As a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist and Health Coach, Renata has gained experience in sports nutrition, clinical nutrition and food service. She implements integrative education strategies including hadns-on nutrition education through cooking and gardening. She has found her passion connecting with people from different nationalities and backgrounds, teaching them about local culture and traditions so, what a better way to empower them to eat home-made, local and seasonal food.

Renata is a people person and when she is not at work, she enjoys cooking with friends, playing team sports, hiking in the mountains or practicing any other outdoor activity.