Fidel Caballero
Lower East Side, Manhattan
There are a few occasions that make us realize our heads our pretty buried in the NYC food scene. Chatting with Corima Executive Chef & Owner (and Contra alumnus <3) Fidel Caballero was one of these occasions. From El Paso, to Juarez, Shanghai, and San Sebastián, New York is only one of many cities Caballero has made a culinary impact on. And we’re lucky for it. Corima is the lively and fresh face of Northern Mexican cuisine making a name for itself in NYC. You will likely find us there saddled up with an after-work Chocoflan.
Full name, age, where are you from?
Fidel Caballero, 34, El Paso, TX / Cuidad de Juarez, CH, Mexico.
What is your title and where do you work?
Executive Chef & Owner of Corima in Lower East Side/Chinatown NYC.
What inspired you to work in the food industry?
It was a way of traveling and seeing the world. It was something that I knew I could do that would help get me out and see and experience things I wouldn't otherwise.
What is your biggest customer pet peeve?
Late reservation arrivals & no-shows. The two biggest things to affect a small business.
What is your most blissful food moment?
Living in Shanghai was what really opened my eyes and gave me my first culinary culture shock. It definitely helped kick me in high gear in the kitchen and get me thinking outside the box from what I was used to.
What dish do you want to perfect in the kitchen?
The flour tortilla. It's been an obsession and I've run so many variations working to perfect it. From pork fat to chicken shmaltz, to now butter so we can accommodate vegetarians. It's the perfect representation of my region and I want to highlight it to the best of my ability. Also, something about it being so simple but so delicate helps drive that obsession.
If you could shout out a colleague or friend in the industry who would it be and why?
Francisco Pedemonte who runs the kitchen over at Fulgarance's Laundromat. One of the most talented chefs I've ever worked with and his brain works in such a scientific and precise way that continues to educate me.
What is the best food city?
New York City. There's every single type of cuisine represented here. It's the world's melting pot for a reason. From regional cuisines to fine dining establishments, nothing quite compares.
How do you relax outside of work?
I don't. Never been able to. I'm always on the go even when not at Corima and don't see that changing any time soon.
What is your astrology sign (including moon and rising)?
Virgo, the rest is beyond me.
