Alex Raij is the co-owner and co-chef, along with Eder Montero, of Txikito (pronounced Chic-kee-toe), the acclaimed Basque restaurant in Chelsea.

Cuisine from the Basque region is distinguished by simplicity and excellence in both ingredients and techniques, and humble ingredients like beans and peppers share the same value at the table as aged farmhouse cheeses, pristine fish and seafood, and unique breeds of lamb and cattle.

At Txikito, Raij aims to capture the way food is enjoyed throughout the Basque country, from its simple bar foods to its more sophisticated signature dishes. She also runs El Quito Pino, a tapas bar around the corner from Txikito. Several of her recipes are featured in The Book of Tapas by Simone and Inés Ortega.