Our culinary team
Meet the Team
Two chefs bringing professional experience, cultural heritage and a shared love of real food to our community in Wimbledon.
Founder & Culinary Lead
Dairo López, Colombian chef
Founder and Culinary Lead — The Foodie Explorers Club
After training at Westminster Kingsway College and working at Selfridges, he rose to prominence thanks to his outstanding performance on the 2024 UK series of MasterChef, where he sought to celebrate his country's heritage.
His cuisine pays homage to his rural roots and the Colombian Caribbean, featuring signature dishes that incorporate ingredients such as cassava, fresh fish and plantain, transformed using haute cuisine techniques.
He is currently the personal chef to a Premier League footballer and, from his catering business in Wimbledon, Dairo blends his passion for family and football with a clear mission: to put the richness of Colombian cuisine on the British cultural map.
Alongside his kitchen career, Dairo is trained in Sport Nutrition and Child Nutrition, so every recipe planned for The Foodie Explorers Club is balanced, age-appropriate and mindful of children's growth and energy needs.
All classes at The Foodie Explorers Club are designed and planned by Chef Dairo Lopez.
Values
- • Real ingredients — nothing from a packet.
- • Small groups so every child gets proper hands-on time.
- • Safeguarding, allergies and inclusion planned into every recipe.
- • Take-home portions where possible, so families can taste it too.
Mexican Pastry Chef
Diana Ogilvie-Forbes
Mexican Pastry Chef · Le Cordon Bleu, 2014
Originally from Mexico and now based in Wimbledon, Diana is a passionate Pastry Chef with a love for creating beautiful, delicious bakes that bring people together. She graduated as a Pastry Chef from Le Cordon Bleu in 2014, a formative year she describes as one of the happiest of her life. Shortly after graduating, she embraced another life-changing role: becoming a mother to her wonderful son.
Combining motherhood with her passion for pastry, Diana began selling her creations at monthly market stalls, where she shared an ever-changing selection of delicious bakes and bespoke cakes with her local community. These early experiences allowed her creativity to flourish while building meaningful connections through food.
Over time, Diana found her true speciality in bespoke biscuits, creating beautifully crafted pieces for special celebrations and memorable occasions. Each creation is made with care, attention to detail, and a belief that food can be both delicious and wonderfully personal.
Today, Diana is also passionate about sharing her knowledge with the next generation. She is thrilled to teach children at her son's former school, St Mary's, encouraging them to appreciate real ingredients, understand where their food comes from, and discover the joy of making and enjoying real food.
Diana works alongside Chef Dairo Lopez as part of The Foodie Explorers Club team and leads the new Mums' Baking Club.
Discover Mums' Baking Club