His grandparents fled Spain. His parents left Mexico. He grew up hiding it all.
Chef Alex Villar, co-founder of The Cooking Clubhouse, was once ashamed of everything that made his family different — pig roasts in the backyard, loud dinner parties, and a Spanish-speaking home. But those exact cultural roots later became the blueprint for his business.
In this episode, Alex shares how growing up between cultures shaped him as a chef, entrepreneur, and culturally fluid adult that he is today. Plus, stay for a special segment with Khadija Taylor, who breaks down the Spanish-inspired tablescape for this episode's Culturs Celebrations dinner.
Topics discussed:
00:00 - Introduction
04:13 - Alex’s experience as a third culture kid
08:10 - Why his family really left Mexico
10:46 - Advice for anyone that grew up differently
13:10 - How his parents’ risk became his own
18:10 - The Cooking Clubhouse: concept and inspiration
25:39 - Finding his business partner and fellow TCK
27:33 - How living between cultures built his career
29:17 - Challenges of growing The Cooking Clubhouse
32:46 - The history and culture of tapas
34:25 - Inside the Paella experience and what’s in the Paella Kit
38:06 - The Spanish Dinner Tablescape
🔗 CONNECT WITH ALEX VILLAR:
https://thecookingclubhouse.es/about-us/
🔗 CONNECT WITH KADIJA TAYLOR:
https://www.hosahomes.com/
https://www.instagram.com/homeandsanctuaryllc/
ABOUT CULTURS:
Reaching millions annually, Culturs champions unique cultural identity, transforming culturally fluid populations (multiethnic and/or geographically mobile people like Third Culture Kids) from being invisible outliers to originals. This includes people of culture in the rapidly growing DNA testing-fueled Not Parent Expected (NPE) community. Our world-class, veteran team of researchers and professionals spans five continents.
Get social with us:
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https://www.pinterest.com/cultursmag/
Join the Culturs community: https://shop.cultursmag.com/products/culturs-membership
Original Music by Tommy McMillion, McMillion Entertainment
Makeup by Sedrique Olsen
Styling by Sonja Henderson