Born and raised in Cartagena, Columbia, Chef Edgar Caro grew up in a culture deeply rooted in its cuisine. Family gatherings revolved around food—lunch at Grandma’s and traditional Sunday asados. Meat, directly from his grandfather’s (his abuelo’s) butcher shop, La Italiana, was at the center of every meal. Caro would spend each Sunday with his abuelo buying ingredients for the week’s meals—fresh produce directly from the farm and fresh-caught seafood and meat from the markets. Finding only the best and freshest ingredients was a delight for Caro as a child. He gained a deep passion for food and the foundation of entrepreneurship from his time with his abuelo.