Pastry Chef
Mateo Herrera
Pastry Chef/Baker
- Discipline
- Pastry Chef
- Based in
- El Paso, Texas, United States
i. Biography
He launched the project in fall 2022 to bring ancestral foods of the Chihuahuan Desert into people’s homes, grounding the work in border memory: “It’s the feeling of being a border town.”
At a Glance - Current role: chef, La Puerta del Sol, El Paso. - Origin point: launched in fall 2022 with a focus on ancestral foods of the Chihuahuan Desert. - Honor: James Beard Award semifinalist, 2025. - Craft note: Herrera connects the food to families crossing the border daily and across generations: “All these memories from all these families, people that cross over daily and for generations, are stored here and they permeate this area.”
Signature
Mateo's signature dishes include blue corn conchas and pozole verde with calabasitas.
In Their Words “All these memories from all these families, people that cross over daily and for generations, are stored here and they permeate this area.” “It’s the feeling of being a border town.”
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Mateo
Who is Mateo Herrera?
Mateo Herrera is a chef in El Paso.
What is Mateo Herrera known for?
He is known for bringing ancestral foods of the Chihuahuan Desert into people’s homes and for being named a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist.
Where does Mateo Herrera work?
He works at La Puerta del Sol.
