Meet Chef Carla

Chef Carla has an abiding passion for the way New Orleanians use food to celebrate and communicate. She is a chef, educator, and entrepreneur with expertise in early childhood, special education, and food safety. Carla is effective at creating practical tools, resources, and curriculums that assist individuals and organizations in designing, implementing, and evaluating program success. She has a desire to strengthen community ties through food by honoring the contributions of unacknowledged black and brown people in the hospitality industry.

Since graduating from Johnson and Wales University in Baking and Pastry Arts, Carla has seen many talented Black peers struggle to find solid footing in a white male–dominated culinary industry despite their skills and experience. She has also struggled herself, fighting to keep her dream alive while contending with racial and gender bias, supply chain issues, and the daily challenges of operating a small business. She is the proud founder and owner of Viola Heritage Breads.

Despite it all, she continues growing personally and professionally while remaining rooted in authentic community, culinary traditions, and crafted cultural experiences. Where food and education meet, she thrives. In her free time, you can find her completing her latest Lego challenge or exploring history at a local museum.