“My parents used to take me to the market, especially the Asian one. I was drawn to different things, and that’s where it all began.”
Born in San Diego and raised in the vibrant culinary scene of Tijuana, Chef Adria Marina, head of Georgina, fuses Mexican, Asian, and Californian flavors into an inventive, colorful cuisine deeply rooted in her homeland.
After studying at culinary school and gaining experience in various kitchens, her participation in Top Chef in 2016 marked a turning point: she stepped into the world of television and, over the years, became a judge on several cooking shows, including MasterChef Celebrity Colombia in 2024.
Convinced that food can change lives, she takes part in charitable events such as the Day of the Dead fundraising dinner, rallying chefs and artists to support the fight against hunger at the border.
Thanks to her commitment, the Tijuana Sin Hambre foundation is able to distribute over one million meals each year to highly vulnerable communities.
Foundation
Tijuana sin Hambre
Born in April 2020, in the heart of the Covid pandemic, Tijuana sin Hambre has become a pillar in the fight against hunger in Tijuana in record time. Founded by Maru Riqué and her husband Fausto Vargas, the foundation embodies the spirit of solidarity and resilience of Mexican society.
With over 3,500 meals distributed to 30 shelters in Tijuana particularly homeless community, unaccompanied minors, orphanages and others, the foundation fights against food insecurity, with the extraordinary support and commitment with over 2,500 volunteers annually on both sides of the border.
“For me, it’s important to always get up with a purpose, and today it’s an honor and a privilege to be able to help people when they’re probably in the worst moment of their lives,” explains Maru Riqué.
The chef of Tijuana’s Oryx gourmet restaurant, Ruffo Ibarra, is also deeply committed to the initiative: “Our job is to feed people, we’re in the service business and I’ve always felt that my mission was to serve. Food is one of the tools of service. It changed my life.”
These visions perfectly embody the spirit of Tijuana Sin Hambre: to offer not just food, but dignity and hope to those who need it most.
