ABOUT CHEF ALEJANDRO ARELLANO
About Our Chef
Alejandro Arellano
Executive Chef
It was in his mother’s kitchen that Chef Alejandro Arellano first embraced food and cooking, only the kitchen was not that of a typical setting, but a seafood market in Mexico. Beginning in his youth, Chef Arellano cooked with his mother; when he later moved to the United States, it seemed natural to continue his work in the kitchen.
Without the aid of formal culinary training, Chef Arellano prepared seafood in diverse restaurants and bistros throughout Chicago, from La Rioja to Francescas, in styles as varied as classical French to Italian, Spanish to steakhouse. It was under the tutelage of Chef Emilio at Emilio’s Tapas that Chef Arellano’s love of food became something more. For a decade, Chef Arellano found a mentor in Chef Emilio, learning not only to refine his art in the kitchen, but also to run an entire restaurant and satisfy customers. Chef Arellano has followed Emilio’s belief that a chef must interact with his customers, which is evident when dining at Nia.
Chef Arellano goes above and beyond to satisfy patrons. It is their happiness that motivates him. Chef Arellano finds cooking for himself ungratifying – he’s happy with a sandwich at home. Rather, his reward comes from the superb experience he creates for each table at Nia. When a customer informed him after a meal that she was not able to eat red meat, Chef Arellano presented her with chicken marinated in red wine for over 24 hours for her next meal so that it would resemble steak. Needless to say, she loved it.
The warm, personal touch is not limited to the clientele. Chef Arellano knows the key to running a successful kitchen is communication and calmness. With Chef Arellano at the helm, the kitchen team at Nia operates personably and positively.
At Nia, Chef Arellano is able to pull from his wide range of culinary experiences to create a Mediterranean menu that utilizes the flavors of Spanish, Italian, French, and Greek cuisines, incorporating them into distinct and delicious dishes.