Manolo López is a chef, cultural ambassador, and community builder who uses food as a lens to share Puerto Rican culture and history. Born in Aguada, Puerto Rico, López's journey from running a popular food stand in Brooklyn to becoming an international speaker and activist reflects his commitment to celebrating and preserving Puerto Rican heritage.
Cafe Colmado
Located at 286 Broome Street in Loisaida, Café Colmado is more than just a coffee shop. It is a community cornerstone that brings Latino culture into the daily life of New York City. With 2,400 square feet of thoughtfully designed space, including a 1,000 square foot private backyard patio and a 20 foot coffee bar, it is a space built for genuine connections. Since opening in October 2024, we have hosted events for brands like Nike, Buchanan's, and Kids of Immigrants, each one an opportunity to celebrate and strengthen our heritage and the need for more inclusive spaces.
Storytelling
These two short series, which I executive produced and hosted, dive deep into the lives of Puerto Ricans who have inspired my culinary career and way of being. From wooden shacks in the mountains of Yauco serving Bacalaítos to conversations with some of the biggest food entrepreneurs on the island, the goal is to connect the world to Puerto Rico through episodic storytelling.
Primos Lejanos
A collaboration with Chef César Pérez from Food52 and MofonGO, Primos Lejanos is a pop up dinner series that explores what it means to be Puerto Rican from both the island and New York's perspective. These gatherings bring people together through whole pig roasts, sit down dinners, and music driven tapas experiences, blending tradition with a contemporary lens.
Mofon•GO
Nestled in the outskirts of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Mofon•GO brought Puerto Rican cuisine to one of America's largest outdoor food markets. The concept was simple but powerful: mofongo (a smashed plantain bowl filled with meat) served in an innovative, on-the-go format. The stand quickly became one of Smorgasburg's most popular vendors, serving over 60,000 visitors every weekend.
Speaking
From university auditoriums to international festivals, Manolo López shares Puerto Rico's story through powerful presentations that blend personal narrative with cultural history, with speaking engagements that have taken him from UCLA to the Unfinished Festival in Bucharest, Romania, where he delivered a keynote address to 2,000 attendees. Drawing from his experiences running Mofon•GO, organizing relief efforts, and building cultural bridges, López's talks focus on entrepreneurship, cultural preservation, and community resilience, often incorporating multimedia elements and culinary demonstrations to create immersive experiences. His work has expanded to include hosting "Identity at Play," a Spotify podcastfeaturing conversations with Latinx creators about cultural identity, through which he continues to advocate for Puerto Rico while highlighting the broader stories of migration, resilience, and cultural preservation that resonate across communities.
Press
El Diario NY
Un "Café Colmado" puertorriqueño que apuesta al junte latinoamericano en Loisaida, Nueva York
October 2024
Telemundo
La serie "Mi Puerto Rico" busca enamorarnos de los encantos culinarios de la isla del canto
January 2024
El Nuevo Día
El chef Manolo López regresa para deleitar a los boricuas con su serie de recetas navideñas
December 2023
El Nuevo Día
Mi Puerto Rico: El Café: documental sobre la mano de obra del cafetal llega a festivales de cine
November 2023
Excelencias Gourmet
Manolo López y Cosa Nuestra, asociación cultural Puertorriqueña que fusiona gastronomía, coctelería, música y cultura
July 2023
Thirsty Magazine
In celebration of Latin American & Hispanic Culture Jim Beam presents Lechón a la Varita
February 2023
Variety
LA3C Festival announces food vendors Including Gogo's Tacos, Prince Street Pizza and Ramen Hood
December 2022
Insider
How Spotify's Identity at Play' podcast deconstructs what it means to be Latinx today
May 2022
A pie forzao'
Chef Xavier Pacheco y chef Raúl Correo entrevistan a Manolo sobre su trayectoria
October 2021
Mundos Paralelos
Identity at Play cuenta las historias de figuras Latinas en Estados Unidos
September 2021
The New York Times
Shrimp mofongo recipe
People
One year after deadly hurricane Maria, the best way to help Puerto Rico is to vacation there
September 2018
Univision: Despierta America
El chef que rediseñó el tradicional mofongo boricua para triunfar a lo grande en Japón
December 2017
Noticel
Mofon GO creator and Mark E. Curry Family Foundation kick off the Cosa Nuestra Relief Fund
December 2017
Center for Puerto Rican Studies-CPRS
Meet Manolo López; designer, innovator and creator of Mofon.GO NY.
January 2017