Paula Navarrete

Based in New York City, Paula’s love for chocolate traces back to her childhood in Colombia. Her fondest memories include drinking traditional hot cocoa with lots of cheese. She views food as a powerful connector, and chocolate, in particular, as pure joy. Today, Paula channels this passion into her role at Cacao Latitudes, a specialty cocoa supplier dedicated to uniting passionate chocolate makers with extraordinary cacao that creates positive impact. Her path includes time as the Director of Chocolate Production at Dandelion Chocolate in San Francisco, where she refined her expertise in bean to bar chocolate. Paula’s culinary journey began in Canada, where she led teams in some of the country’s top restaurants, known for their innovation and high standards. In 2017, she played a critical role in the opening of Toronto’s Momofuku restaurants, which were soon celebrated among the city's top new dining spots. With over 20 years in the culinary industry, Paula brings a unique savory-meets-sweet perspective to chocolate-making, infusing each role with her dedication to quality and her belief in food as a shared experience. She’s passionate about working with teams that are committed to making a difference in the industry and in their communities. And, true to her roots, you can often catch her savoring a daily chocolate bar on the NYC ferry—her personal reminder of the simple joys that first sparked her culinary journey.