GERONIMO LOPEZ is the Executive Chef and creator of Botika, a new Peruvian-Asian restaurant. Featuring “Chifa” and “Nikkei” cuisine, as well as inventive takes on classic dishes from Asia and Latin America.

Chifa Chinese-Peruvian) and Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) were born during the waves of Chinese and Japanese immigration to Peru in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These two new cuisines combine Asian recipes with local ingredients and spices, creating entirely new and exciting flavor profiles. The restaurant also features a sushi-ceviche bar.

Chef Lopez was previously an instructor of Culinary Arts at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), San Antonio. He was the opening executive chef in the college’s NAO: New World Flavors restaurant, which also serves as a classroom for students in the culinary arts associate degree and Latin Cuisines Certificate Programs at the San Antonio campus.