José Vera grew up “in the kitchen” in the family restaurant opened by his grandfather in 1942. Under his mother’s guidance, and almost without realising it, he learnt a trade that soon became his vocation.
Little by little he faced challenges in new destinations under the coaching of professionals such as Salvador Gallego (El Cenador de Salvador) or Pablo González (La Cabaña). These influences, and mainly the participation in Ferran Adrià’s NUBE project (El Bulli), definitively developed his technical abilities and practical skills.

He began his career in some of the most traditional restaurants in Vejer and Conil, before moving on to the hotel industry, where he worked at several large hotels on the Spanish coast. In 2001 he joined Fuerte Conil and later moved to Fuerte El Rompido. He specialises in the best rice dishes to be found on the Costa de la Luz, as well as traditional cuisine from the Huelva region.