Contents
Helena Rizzo
Co-founding São Paulo’s Maní and bringing a creative approach to Brazilian ingredients.
Maní · The Final Table
- Born
- 1978
- Birthplace
- Brazil
More people
Helena Rizzo
Helena Rizzo is a Brazilian chef who moved from modeling into restaurant kitchens. At Maní, she combined experience gained in Europe with ingredients and food memories from Brazil.
Early life
Creative household
Grew up in Porto Alegre with an artist mother and engineer father.
Architecture and modeling
Studied architecture before leaving college and moving into modeling.
Career
- 1997
Professional kitchens
Worked at Roanne in São Paulo.
- 2000s
European training
Gained experience at Sadler and El Celler de Can Roca.
- 2006
Maní
Opened the São Paulo restaurant with partners.
- 2021
MasterChef
Joined the Brazilian television programme as a judge.
Selected projects
Maní
Contemporary restaurant based around Brazilian ingredients.
The Final Table
Appeared as a judge on the Brazil episode.
MasterChef Brasil
Brought her restaurant experience to television judging.
Beyond work
Family
Her daughter Manoela was born in 2015.
Drawing
Shares an interest in drawing and outdoor activities with her daughter.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗The Best Chef biography ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.