I’m Paola Velez, and I’m here to help you bake the world a better place.
An Award Winning Afro-Dominican Chef, Activist and Author, born in the Bronx, N.Y and currently based in Washington, DC
Photo by Farrah Skeiky for Food and Wine Magazine
ABOUT
Paola Velez
CHEF-OWNER OF PROVIDENCIA, DŌEKÏ DŌEKÏ , FOOD MEDIA PERSONALITY, FOUNDER SMALL ORCHIDS INC, BAKERS AGAINST RACISM, COOKBOOK AUTHOR
Paola Velez is a dynamic force in the culinary world—an award-winning chef, celebrated author, and community leader whose work spans the kitchen, screen, and international advocacy. As chef-owner of Providencia, DŌEKÏ DŌEKÏ, and founder of Small Orchids Inc., Velez has captured the hearts of both local diners and global audiences with her innovative approach to cuisine and community-building.
Raised between the Bronx and the Dominican Republic, Velez brings a fresh perspective to the culinary landscape by weaving the vibrant flavors of her heritage into refined, memorable dishes. Her now-famous pecan-plantain sticky buns have cemented her status as a creative powerhouse, earning her a spot in *Food & Wine*’s Best New Chefs and titles like “Pastry Chef of the Year” by *Esquire*. She has also received a James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef nomination, underscoring her role as a visionary in modern cuisine.
Beyond her culinary creations, Velez is a social justice advocate and the founder of Bakers Against Racism, a grassroots movement that’s rallied tens of thousands of bakers worldwide in support of crucial social causes. Her energetic online presence, characterized by playful videos and social activism, has made her a favorite on platforms like HBO Max’s *Selena + Chef* and *What Am I Eating?* with Zooey Deschanel.
With her husband, Velez currently resides in the D.C. area, where she serves as a U.S. culinary diplomat, representing the United States’ diverse culinary heritage to audiences around the world. A Le Cordon Bleu graduate who trained under renowned chocolatier Jacques Torres, Velez is as much a storyteller as she is a chef, bringing joy, connection, and purpose to everything she creates.
Photo by Jennifer Causey for Food & Wine Magazine
As Seen In
☀
As Seen In ☀
-
Food & Wine Best New Chef - 2021
Hola USA Top 100 Latina Powerhouse - Culinary Excellence - 2021
The Art of Plating Rising Talent Finalist - 2021
InStyle 50 Women Making the World a Better Place - 2021
Cherry Bombe Person of the Year - 2021
FSR Rising Star Chef - 2021
Time Out Magazine Woman of the Year - 2021
Washington Business Journal Diversity In Business Award Winner - 2021
Webby Nomination - Bakers Against Racism & AJ+ - 2021
Emmy Nomination - Bakers Against Racism & AJ+ - 2021
Taste Of the South Taste 50 - 2021
Washingtonian Magazine Heroes of the Crisis - 2021
Ayuda DC Champion of Change - 2021
RAMWDC Double Finalist Nomination - 2021
James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef Finalist - 2020
Esquire Pastry Chef of the Year Winner - 2020
RAMWDC Pastry Chef of the Year Winner - 2020
Thrillist Local Heroes - 2020
Food 52 Quarantine Awards Winner - 2020
Washingtonian Magazine 100 Best Winner - 2020
Dine & Diaspora 31 Black Women in Food Winner - 2020
RAMWDC Pastry Chef of the Year Finalist - 2019
-
Crate & Barrel
Haagen Dazs
Madewell
Wrey & Nephew
CITI Taste of Tennis
Butter of Europe
Levain Bakery
Rachel Antonoff
Presidente Beer
Capital One
Boursin
Tilit NYC
American Family Insurance
Dolcezza
Great Jones -
InStyle
The Daily Show
The Washington Post
FOOD52
Food & Wine
Esquire
People Magazine
People en Espanol
Washingtonian
Dwell
Men’s Journal
Star Chefs
Time Out
The List Are You On It
Yale University
NPR
Inside Hook
WTOP
DC Refined
Wall Street Journal
WAMU
TODAY show
Thrillist
Vice
Richmond Magazine
The New Yorker
Black Food Folks
Culinary Institute of America
ICC
AJ+
Smithsonian
Cherry Bombe
The New York Times
Zagat
Forbes
Cheddar
District Fray
Here & Now
BizJournal
Huff Post
Washington City Paper
The Daily Beast
Good Food KCRW
Eater National
The Tamara Hall Show
The Washington Post
Bake From Scratch
MOFAD
ADWEEK
DCist
WBUR
Robb Report
Refinery 29
Remezcla
The Cut
New York Magazine
Share Our Strength NKH
James Beard
Food Network - Chopped Sweets
Eater DC
Kennedy Center
