From Oaxaca to the James Beard Stage: Bricia Lopez on Food, Family & Fearless Ambition

What does it take to leave your home, your friends, and everything familiar—at just 10 years old—and start over in a country where you don’t speak the language? In this powerful episode of Dishin’ Up Diaspora, Chef Emme sits down with the incomparable Bricia Lopez—James Beard Award–honored restaurateur, best-selling author, cultural ambassador of Oaxacan cuisine, and co-owner of the legendary Los Angeles restaurant Guelaguetza—to talk about immigration, cultural preservation, family, and the art of building a life that honors your roots while embracing new opportunities. 

Bricia was born in the small town of Mitla, Oaxaca, surrounded by the rich traditions, strong women, and vibrant community that define the region. At the heart of her childhood were the smells and flavors of her grandmother’s kitchen, the sound of rain on warm earth, and the communal spirit of Oaxacan life. But in the mid-1990s, her family made the courageous decision to immigrate to Los Angeles—a move that would change everything. 

Long before social media, smartphones, or instant messaging, immigration meant more than physical distance—it meant losing contact with your entire network overnight. Bricia shares what it was like to grow up in an era when the only way to hear her grandmother’s voice was to call the one central phone in town and hope someone could run to find her before the call dropped. She opens up about the loneliness of starting over, the culture shock of attending school in a predominantly white, affluent neighborhood, and the way she straddled two very different worlds every day. 

Inside the walls of Guelaguetza, however, it was as if she had never left Oaxaca. The restaurant became a sacred cultural sanctuary, a place where Oaxacan traditions, flavors, and community thrived. Bricia talks about the realities of working in the family business from a young age, the challenges and pressures that came with it, and the turning point when she realized this was more than “just a job”—it was an art form. 

Throughout the conversation, Bricia and Chef Emme explore themes that resonate far beyond the kitchen: 

• The immigrant experience before the internet—and the emotional resilience it required
• Growing up bicultural—navigating American education while preserving Oaxacan heritage at home
• Family, food, and identity—how the Lopez family built a restaurant that became a cultural hub for Oaxacans in Los Angeles
• Women in the restaurant industry—the double standards, the ambition gap, and creating spaces for women to lead
• Entrepreneurship with purpose—from authoring bestselling cookbooks (Oaxaca and Asada) to co-hosting the Super Mamas podcast and founding the nonprofit Regarding Her, which supports women restaurateurs

Bricia’s story is one of courage, creativity, and connection. It’s about honoring where you come from, turning challenges into fuel, and building a legacy that feeds both stomach and soul. Whether you’re an immigrant, a food lover, an entrepreneur, or someone who’s ever dreamed of creating something meaningful, you’ll walk away from this episode inspired and empowered.
 
🎧 The episode is out now—listen wherever you get your podcasts.
 
Follow Bricia Lopez on Instagram: @bricialopez
Follow Chef Emme: @chefemme_
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