Chef Jose Luis was born in Mexico City and has been cooking professionally for over 16 years. Coming from a family of professional chefs, Jose Luis trained in California, New Orleans, San Francisco and in Houston, where he worked with his brothers Hugo and Javier at the renowned Black Street Café and “Hugo’s” one of Houston’s premier upscale Mexican restaurants.

In October 2007, Jose Luis was presented with the opportunity to travel to Belize and appointed by the Lancaster Group as Executive Chef for the Victoria House on Ambergris Caye. Prior to calling San Pedro his new home, Jose Luis was the Sous Chef at Ikal del Mar, a Small Luxury Hotel on the Mayan Rivera.

The foundation of his cooking style is American Bistro Cuisine, with a heavy emphasis on the chili peppers of the Mexico and the American Southwest. This, along with the influence of the many diverse cooking styles, has resulted in the unique style he calls Mayan Bistro Cuisine. Mayan Bistro Cuisine involves the extensive use of the freshest local produce, seafood, wild and domestic meats, and spices. Jose Luis brings a touch of Old Mexico and New World influences to the outstanding fare offered at Victoria House.