Instructor

Chef Anthony Lopez’s family has been in Tampa for six generation dating back to 1870 when his Great-grandparents immigrated to Ybor City from Spain.  He was born in Ybor City on August 24, 1942 and has remained a resident as has most of his family ever since. 


His experience with Spanish Cuisine goes back to watching his grandmother and mother prepare the traditional foods of the cigar workers.  The Latin cuisine in Tampa was influenced by the three nationalities that made up the cigar industry in Tampa; Spanish, Italians and Cuban.  He has been cooking traditional dishes for many years using family recipe’s with his own expression.  “Learning to cook Ybor City Spanish Cuisine from my family over the years and testing my cooking skills at family gatherings has been challenging but fun given they are very good cooks and are my toughest critics”  He feels these family experiences and infusions of foods and flavors have significantly influenced his skills as a chef.  


Additionally, Chef Anthony has been involved with Barbeque since retiring from Honeywell.  He takes great pleasure in cooking BBQ for family and friends, as well as, judging Professional BBQ Contests as a Certified BBQ Judge and member of the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) for the past eight years. He has traveled around the Southeast judging at KCBS events and has become friends with some of the countries top BBQ Chef’s.