Dayanny De La Cruz facts for kids

Dayanny De La Cruz (born 1972/1973) is an amazing chef from the Dominican Republic and the United States. She is known for being the head chef, also called an executive chef, for a very big event: Super Bowl LIV. She made history as the first woman to be in charge of all the food services for a Super Bowl!

Dayanny's Journey to Becoming a Chef

Dayanny De La Cruz studied a lot to become a top chef. She earned a special degree in Culinary Arts, which is all about cooking and food. She also has a degree in hospitality management. This means she learned how to run hotels and other places that serve guests.

Her first big job as a chef was at the DoubleTree Hotel in Skokie, Illinois. She has worked at many exciting places, especially at big sports events.

Cooking for Big Events

Dayanny has cooked for many famous events and places. She worked at the Harley-Davidson Museum, making food for visitors. She also helped manage food at major sports tournaments. These include the US Open tennis championship and the famous Kentucky Derby horse race.

In 2012, Dayanny moved to Miami. There, she became an executive sous chef for the Miami Heat basketball team. She worked at their home, the American Airlines Arena. A "sous chef" is like the second-in-command in a kitchen.

Leading the Kitchen at Hard Rock Stadium

In 2017, Dayanny became the Executive Chef at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. This was a huge step! She was the first Latina woman to hold this important position at the stadium. She works for a company called Centerplate, which handles all the food at the stadium.

Her biggest challenge came when Hard Rock Stadium hosted Super Bowl LIV. Dayanny was the head chef for the entire event. She was the first woman ever to be the executive chef for a Super Bowl! On game day, she led a huge team. This team included about 2,500 food workers and 250 chefs.

Her team made sure everyone was fed, from the players of the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs to all the staff. Dayanny also decided what food would be served. This included food in the fancy suites, at concession stands, in restaurants, and in clubs. She made sure the menu featured local foods from south Florida. She also added special dishes inspired by the two teams playing, like delicious short ribs and lobster tails.

Dayanny's Life Outside the Kitchen

Dayanny De La Cruz was born in Nagua, in the Dominican Republic. She says her love for cooking started when she was a child. Her grandmother taught her how to cook, and they spent a lot of time in the kitchen together.

In 2011, Dayanny faced a big health challenge. She bravely went through treatment and surgery. By 2012, she had fully recovered. She is married and has three children.