Chef Jose Luis Rojas

Originally from Cali, Colombia, Chef Jose Luis Rojas has spent years building Historias en Bicicleta, a restaurant born from dedication, hard work, and the support of the community around him. But his journey has also been marked by moments that tested his ability to keep moving forward. Just four months ago, in April, Jose Luis lost his restaurant completely after a gas leak caused an explosion. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the experience gave him a deeply personal understanding of what it means to suddenly lose what you have built.

Then, on August 10, a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, affecting several cities, including Cali. In the aftermath, Jose Luis joined forces with people from his community to prepare meals for those who were affected and had lost everything. Since the first day, they have been using what they know best—not only as chefs, but as human beings—to serve, cook, and help. Together, they continue putting their grain of sand toward the recovery of their city, one meal at a time.

For Jose Luis, this response is deeply connected to his own experience of starting over. He understands that behind every loss there is a person trying to rebuild, and he believes in the power of coming together during difficult times.

In this conversation with Humans of the Kitchen, Jose Luis reflects on adversity, service, and the responsibility of hospitality to show up when communities need it most, and on how food can become a simple but powerful way to offer support, dignity, and hope.