With a smile often described as blinding, Haitian-born Cynthia “Chef Thia” Verna has a larger than life personality that lights up a room. She is a personal chef, accomplished author, and cooking show host who specializes in gourmet, Caribbean-fusion cuisine. 

Verna is known for infusing Caribbean, African, Latin, Asian, French and Mediterranean flavors into her Haitian fine dining repertoire. Her professional culinary life started in her mother’s restaurant in Haiti when she was 17 years old. Not long after, she opened her own restaurant – Atelier Les Bamboos. She studied under Haitian top chef Reginald Koury and worked at the prestigious Club Med, before moving to the United States at 21.