Arepas and a New Beginning: The Baltimore Restauranteur Introducing America to Venezuelan Food—and Its Next Generation of Talented Chefs

Irena Stein, founder of Alma Cocina Latina, has turned her restaurant into a cultural ambassador for her native country, and a landing pad for fellow immigrants in search of a better life

Irena Stein (L), founder and co-owner of Alma Cocina Latina in Baltimore, with co-owner and executive chef David Zamudio, a fellow Venezuelan she helped immigrate to the United States. Courtesy of Alma Cocina Latina

The most important ingredient Irena Stein has brought to Baltimore’s dining scene isn’t found in her Venezuelan food. It’s her team.

As the proud founder of the country’s first contemporary Venezuelan restaurant, Alma Cocina Latina, and a Venezuelan immigrant herself, Stein is supporting the next generation of Venezuelan chefs in America—which begins with helping them immigrate and secure legal paths to citizenship. Her efforts include sponsoring five chefs for O-1 visas, granted only to individuals with exceptional talent.