Lunch at COTOA
When Airbnb partnered with Chef’s Table to curate an exclusive dining experience at COTOA in North Miami, I was invited to document the story through a visual lens. The goal wasn’t just to photograph the space, it was to capture the spirit of a culinary journey, the textures of a space rooted in identity, and the presence of a chef redefining Ecuadorian cuisine.
COTOA is both restaurant and refuge. The design is intentional—terracotta walls, banana-shaped pendant lights, raffia textures, and earthy ceramics create a tactile, grounded setting for what happens on the plate. It’s a space where the food doesn’t just arrive, it belongs.
As a photographer, I was especially drawn to how the design echoed the menu: organic, playful, and richly textured. The lighting allowed for natural, warm captures highlighting not just food, but emotion.
This Airbnb Original experience, “Explore the Sweet and Savory Sides of Cacao,” was designed by Chef’s Table in close collaboration with Alejandra Espinoza, a visionary chef with a deep connection to the ancestral roots of cacao.
Recently she was named Culinary Tourism Ambassador by the U.N. World Tourism Organization, Espinoza brings an international perspective to Ecuadorian flavors. Her work at COTOA reflects deep respect for her roots while pushing culinary boundaries. With a culinary education from Lyon and a background that includes Ecuador’s acclaimed Somos, Espinoza represents a new generation of chefs reshaping Latin American gastronomy.
More than a meal, this was a ritual, a curated moment to explore Ecuadorian cacao in both its sweet and savory forms. Guests were invited to taste rare applications of cacao beyond chocolate: in sauces, glazes, and even in savory broths. These experimental pairings became a form of cultural translation, connecting the Amazon’s biodiversity to the plates of diners in Florida.
Photographing COTOA was more than a job, it was an invitation to interpret flavor, space, and heritage through composition. My goal was to create a narrative for Airbnb and Chef’s Table that reflected the depth of the experience, a balance between documentary photography and editorial elegance.
If you’re ever in North Miami, seeking a dining experience that educates and excites, COTOA should be on your list.
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