Acclaimed Chef Iliana de la Vega Comes to Stanford

Renowned Mexican chef Iliana de la Vega is bringing her innovative, yet traditional, Oaxacan cuisine to Cardinal Sage at Stern Dining in the New Year. As the new consulting chef for Cardinal Sage, Chef Iliana has been working with Stern Dining Executive Chef Anthony Gutierrez and the rest of the kitchen staff since November on the menu at the dining hall’s Latin-American concept, incorporating her style and authentic dishes. Menu items will include familiar Mexican specialties with Chef Iliana’s Oaxacan-inspired flavors.

Stanford students were first introduced to Chef Iliana’s food this past May when she was the guest chef at Stern Dining’s Cinco de Mayo celebration.

“Mexican Food is all about freshness, flavor, texture contrast, health and good taste,” she says.

Chef Iliana is an award-winning chef from Austin, TX and has been studying Mexican cuisine and culture for over 25 years. For five years, she was the Mexican Expert at the Culinary Institute of America where she launched the Latin Cuisines Certificate Program. Her restaurant, El Naranjo on Austin’s trendy Rainey Street, has been voted as one of the best restaurants in the City by Austin Eats.

Cardinal Sage is currently serving a limited selection of Chef Iliana’s dishes. The full menu will roll out mid-winter quarter so be sure and stop by and try her Oaxacan-inspired dishes!