Arepa Mía

Lis Hernandez – Chef/Owner, Arepa Mía Lis Hernandez is the chef and founder of Arepa Mía, an award-winning Venezuelan restaurant in Atlanta that celebrates the rich culinary traditions of her homeland with heart, heritage, and bold, honest flavors. Born and raised in Venezuela, Lis learned to cook by her mother’s side in the markets and kitchens of her childhood. Her self-taught style reflects the soulful connection between memory, migration, and food — blending ancestral recipes with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Lis has been honored with the Michelin Bib Gourmand in both 2023 and 2024, and her work has been featured in cookbooks by Virginia Willis and Sandra Gutierrez. She has also presented with the Southern Foodways Alliance, sharing her voice and story as a proud Latina chef. Through her culinary travel project, Guayoyo Trips, she explores food as a living bridge between cultures, traditions, and nature. Her dishes, like her life, are rooted in love, resilience, and flavor.