QDOBA Mexican Eats announced on July 16 it has named Katy Velazquez corporate executive chef of its culinary team. According to a press release, Velazquez most-recently worked as the creative executive chef of Puesto, a local modern Mexican restaurant chain, before joining QDOBA.
“I’m excited to join QDOBA and bring that passion for Mexican cuisine to this amazing team,” said Velazquez, originally from Irvine, via a statement. “I have so many ideas and can’t wait to begin testing out new concepts and to create a space that is the beating heart of the QDOBA flavor.”
Prior to working at Puesto, Velazquez lived in Chicago and worked with chef-restaurateur, Rick Bayless, including on his PBS series, “Mexico – One Plate at a Time,” his cookbook, “More Mexican Everyday,” and his podcast, “The Feed.”
QBODA Mexican Eats has more than 750 restaurants across the United States and in Canada.
Travel & Hospitality reporter Mariel Concepcion can be reached at mconcepcion@sdbj.com or 858-634-4625.