Founder & Chef Owner

Lily is the founder of Picado and author of the award winning book, TACOS by Blasta Books. Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, she has been living and cooking in Ireland for over 20 years with her Irish husband and business partner, Alan. When not busy with work, Lily can be found in her kitchen experimenting with recipes, writing on her kitchen table and learning to grow food in her tiny urban garden. She is a chef member of Euro-Toques Ireland, a member of The Irish Food Writers’ Guild and she passionately believes in the Slow Food ethos of good, clean and fair food. Lily is a regular face on Irish morning TV and a frequent radio contributor.

Retail Manager

Liz grew up in a multi-cultural family. Born in Mexico City to a Mexican mom and an English dad. She moved around the world a lot and grew up in The Netherlands. She has lived in Ireland since 2000. You can find her either reading, walking her two dogs, watching K-drama or in the kitchen bringing a fusion of flavours from around the world to the table. Her huge amount of cookbooks could fill a small library and her kids and American-Irish husband get to taste it all. She loves chatting to customers and giving them recipe ideas when they don’t know where to start.

Warehouse & Logistics Manager

Juan Pablo is a man of many talents. An accountant by trade, most of his professional experience was spent in large warehousing operations in Mexico, so Picado’s warehouse is a breeze since he joined the team. He is also a very accomplished cook and can talk about food as much as any of our chefs. Originally from Mexico City, his hobbies include exercising, gardening and traveling to learn about other cultures. His favourite greeting: - Hello my friend! - He is genuinely the friendliest person we know!

Kitchen & Sales Assistant

Ashanty was born and raised in Mexico and has a deep love for cooking, especially traditional Mexican food. She recently completed a Master's in Pharmaceutical Business and is always eager to learn more about the industry. Based in Dublin since 2019, she enjoys sharing her culture through food and conversation. You can find her in any corner of Picado, chatting with customers about the best way to use chilies or how to make the perfect salsa. Outside of work, Ashanty loves to travel—always seeking out new places, flavors, and experiences. Whether she’s experimenting with new recipes or exploring a new country, she embraces every opportunity to connect with the vibrant mix of cultures around her.

Retail Assistant

Elizabeth Duarte, originally from Mexico City, believes in the power of self-invention. She studied journalism and worked in media, marketing and advertising before moving to Ireland in 2017, where she has taken on various roles. Her true passion lies in creating community spaces through art, where people can express and understand their emotions. She organizes workshops for the migrant community. For Eli, teamwork and the strength of the collective are essential to building a better future.

She enjoys long walks with friends, the sound of the crackling snow on a winter day, and petting soft dogs at the park.

Teaching Kitchen Assistant

Anita, as she's affectionately known to us, is the duracell bunny of our team; whether is applying her legendary chopping skills in the kitchen, or showing us all how to dance 'la quebradita' at the staff Christmas party, Ana NEVER tires! Hailing from the beautiful estate of Tabasco in Mexico, she has a degree in Gastronomy from UTTAB in her native Villahermosa. Ana has a deep love for Mexican food and loves working with chocolate and pastries. She's a problem solver and her boundless energy keeps us all young and busy. The youngest member of our team, she's everyone's little sister at Picado.

Retail Sales Assistant

Jessica is the youngest member of the team. She’s in her second year of a BA in International Studies. Originally adopted from Mexico, she has lived in Ireland her entire life. She loves learning about her native culture every day. She has a passion for travel and enjoys trying new foods. One of her favorite treats is guacamole (to Lily’s horror) — she could eat it on just about anything!). She loves baking, watching movies and walking her two dogs. Her Spanish is improving tremendously since she started learning a ton of Mexican slang from other members of the team.

Warehouse Operator

Diego Guerrero hails from Aguascalientes with a degree in Business Management. His passion for exploration has taken him to exciting destinations worldwide. He is always eager to immerse himself in new cultures, meet people, and try local cuisines; his favorite Mexican dish is Barbacoa. He is a curious and adventurous individual with a heart full of wonder and a spirit that's always ready for the next journey.

Teaching Kitchen Assistant

As a mathematician, Fernanda will tell you that cooking and maths are very similar subjects because you need to follow rules and be patient with both! Originally from Estado de Mexico, she's the youngest of siblings, she has three cats and a dog at home and her favourite Mexican dish is Chilaquiles Verdes, but they come close second to Tacos. Fer seems quiet and shy, but once you get to know her well and make friends with her, she is as chatty as they come. She loves the colour pink and watches old cartoons, her favourite being Sailor Moon. She has a weirdly vintage taste in music as she takes over the bluetooth speaker in the kitchen and shows us all what 'good Mexican music' really is.