Farm to table
YARA HERRERA • Hellbender
CULTURE & LEISURE • Friday Routine
YARA HERRERA • executive chef / partner • Hellbender
Neighborhood you work & live in: Ridgewood, Queens
It’s Friday afternoon, how are you rolling into the weekend?
Friday is our busiest night at Hellbender. My morning starts with a big coffee. I open the doors for all the prep cooks, and it’s a day to stay on top of any prep. My sous chef will come in around 2p and we make sure we have a plan of attack for the rest of the night. I’ll usually try to have some type of new dish special for the weekend. This weekend I’m running a short rib barbacoa. Regulars get excited to try new things they haven’t seen before.
Between the hours of 5-11p, I’m usually at the pass, making sure the food is going out to standards. For expediting food, we use a KDS (kitchen display screen). Our style of service is unique in that way. We don’t have a chef verbally expediting orders, we have digital screens that display food tickets on each station. My job is to make sure everyone is following along, tickets aren’t dragging, and the food looks perfect.
Where are you drinking or dining this weekend?
On my days off I love to explore new restaurants and support other friends’ businesses and businesses in my neighborhood. Some of my favorite places to eat currently are Rolo’s, Wildair, Panzon, Dhamaka, Bushniwa, and Decades Pizza.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I’ve been very involved in yoga lately. I go to Everyone Yoga in Ridgewood. It’s hard to find peace and quiet in my day-to-day routine, but yoga helps shut off my brain for a little bit. It’s also nice to get a good stretch in — our bodies go through so much working in a kitchen. I love going to museums, too. New York is such a great place for it. There’s art everywhere.
Any weekend getaways?
Every now and then I drive out to Long Island and hang out with my friends at Hog Farm in Brookhaven. I’ll help pick weeds or wash vegetables whenever I can (above). It’s nice to be outside of the bustling city, and it helps me feel closer to produce and in tune with the seasons. On weekends they have a farmers market open to the public. Stop by!
What was your last great vacation?
Visiting Belize for the first time was amazing. We went to Punta Gorda. It was hard to get there — once you land at the airport you have to take a small jet to the island. There is so much history In Belize and so many butterflies! I believe they have over 700 species. It’s preserved land, the ocean was the most beautiful color blue, the jungle had plants I’ve never seen before. Plus, sugarcanes and rum galore!