Humble roots and a strong drive. At 11, Janaína Rueda sold her mother's clothes door-to-door and now holds the titles of American Express Icon 2020 and Best Female Chef in Latin America from World’s 50Best 2023.
Janaína Torres Rueda, born and raised in the center of São Paulo, began selling her mother's clothes door-to-door at the age of 11 and left school at 14, serving food at a street stall during her teenage years. She also worked in various nightclubs, as a sommelier, and as an ambassador for a beverage brand, but her first entrepreneurial venture was “O Bar da Dona Onça,” opened in 2008, which led the revival movement of the area.
In 2015, Janaína and Jefferson Rueda, then her husband, father of their children, and consultant of “O Bar da Dona Onça,” combined their careers and passions in "Casa do Porco," a tribute to pork, a staple in Janaína’s life since childhood that became her research and dedication focus. Located in the heart of São Paulo, this restaurant aimed to be a democratic space with high-end cuisine at affordable prices and quickly became a success. Their culinary philosophy debunked myths and prejudices about pork, attracting a diverse clientele.
"Casa do Porco" has become a symbol of central São Paulo, transforming it into a hub of creativity, culture, and tourism. In 2022, the restaurant reached the seventh position in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants of Latin America rankings.
From 2015 to 2019, Janaína collaborated with the São Paulo State government on the "Cozinheiros pela Educação" project, promoting the use of natural ingredients in state school cafeterias. This commitment earned her the American Express Icon Award 2020.
In 2018, Janaína opened "Hot Pork" and "Sorveteria do Centro," further expanding her culinary influence. During the pandemic, she managed a delivery service that included the menus of these venues and other specialties. She plans to open a grocery store with artisanal products, a dream she hopes to realize between 2023 and 2024. Janaína has also been a judge on the "Top Chef Brasil" program and was named Best Female Chef in Latin America by World’s 50Best in 2023.
