Dayanny De La Cruz

Dayanny De La Cruz (born ) is a Dominican American executive chef. She was responsible for managing food services during Super Bowl LIV, and was the first woman to hold that position.

Career She earned a master's degree in Culinary Arts from Grand Rapids Community College and holds a bachelor's degree in hospitality management from the Universidad Central del Este. She is the first female chef to host a Super Bowl, and on game day led about 2,500 culinary employees with a team of 250 chefs. Her team fed the players and staff of both competing teams, the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. It also incorporated cuisine inspired by the two teams playing, such as short ribs and lobster tails. She credits her interest in culinary arts to her grandmother, who cooked with her as a child. In 2011, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and underwent three months of chemotherapy. A surgery successfully removed what remained of the cancer in 2012.