MEET OUR CHEFS
Montserrat Roselló
Chef Montserrat Roselló is the heart and soul of La Catalana. Her Catalan heritage flows through her veins, shaping her deep connection to the traditions, culture, and cuisine of her native region of Spain. A true expert in paellas and fideuà, Montserrat has spent a lifetime mastering the techniques, flavors, and discipline behind these iconic dishes earning her the reputation of being, in every sense, La Catalana.
After moving to the United States, Montserrat and her son, David Xavier Roselló, made it their mission to introduce diners to the authenticity and artistry of Catalan and Spanish cuisine. From an early age, Montserrat was taught the importance of integrity, hard work, and consistency values that continue to define her approach both in and out of the kitchen.
Today, with Head Chef Nicole Freitas leading the kitchen, Montserrat brings her passion directly to the dining room welcoming guests on the main floor alongside her son, David Xavier Roselló running the restaurant, and ensuring that every experience reflects the spirit of Catalonia. Beyond the restaurant, Montserrat and David Xavier frequently travel back and forth to Spain, working closely with importers to discover exceptional boutique wineries and bring those wines to La Catalana, allowing guests to enjoy rare and thoughtfully selected bottles that stay true to their origins.
Nicole Freitas
Award-winning Chef Nicole Freitas leads the kitchen at La Catalana alongside Chef Montserrat Roselló, where together they bring tradition, creativity, and soul to every dish. Under Chef Montserrat’s mentorship, Nicole developed a deep passion for Catalan and Spanish cuisine learning not only the techniques, but the cultural meaning and respect behind each recipe. Her culinary journey also includes experience in high-level restaurants and formative training in Valencia, Spain, under Toni Montoliu, a master of paella and rice cookery, where she refined her understanding of precision, balance, and authenticity.
From a Portuguese family, Chef Nicole grew up immersed in diverse cultures and cuisines, learning to appreciate both the richness of her heritage and the beauty of others. She spent her summers in Pico, in Portugal’s Azores Islands, where she was surrounded by traditional matanças, spear fishing, and harvesting lapas from ocean rocks experiences that deeply shaped her connection to food and community. She began working in restaurants at just seventeen and quickly fell in love with life in the kitchen. Her path eventually led her to La Catalana, where she found a natural connection between Catalan cuisine and her own roots, and later to the International Culinary Center, where she trained under master chefs.
Today, Chef Nicole works side by side with Chef Montserrat while setting the culinary vision and leading the kitchen at La Catalana. As a young female chef, she is driven by creativity, craftsmanship, and authenticity continually developing her own unique tapas and pastries while honoring the traditions that inspire them.
“It takes more skill to create your own exceptional dish than to simply recreate what others expect perfection to be.”
- NF
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