Crafting Culinary Delights

Paul Rivera

As CEO of Van Buren Ventures LLC., Owner and Founder of RG Edibles and Rivera Gourmets LLC, Paul Rivera has enjoyed a career of business entrepreneurship and a wealth of artistic opportunities. 

As an award winning Bass trombonist, examples of where he has performed as featured soloist are at The Chautauqua Institution (Chautauqua, NY), The Wharton Center for Performing Arts (Lansing, Michigan), and at the Darmstadt Contemporary Music Festival (Darmstadt, Germany).

As a proponent of new music, Paul has collaborated and premiered performances including Pulitzer prize finalist composer Wadada Leo Smith,  Pulitzer prize winner Ellen Reid, and former Lou Reed guitarist Ulrich Krieger. He has enjoyed several performances with the Grammy Nominated LA-based modern music collective wild-UP. The Berlin-based Ensemble M.A.M. and several performances at Walt Disney Hall’s REDCAT center- Los Angeles. 

Paul’s experience in film scoring has led him to performing on recording sessions in Los Angeles with the Warner Brothers Studio Orchestra at the Eastwood Scoring Stage, at Sony Pictures Studios, the Bridge Recording Studios with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and at Capitol Records studios A and B. He has performed with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, and with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at the Detroit Jazz Festival.

He also enjoys an active career as an award winning Chef. Having learned from the culinary masters of Chicago, he currently enjoys being the owner of the gourmet candies businesses “Rivera gourmets LLC” and “RG Edibles”. Where he focuses his efforts on making imaginative food that is inspired by the seasons and local fair. Specializing in infusions, with a focus on health and natural remedies, he has an eye towards utilizing diet to combat diseases that target neurological function and inflammation issues.

Paul received a Bachelors of Music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Studied Improvisation and Contemporary Performance at California Institute of the Arts. Was the recipient of the prestigious University Enrichment Fellowship at Michigan State University. 

Paul currently lives in Chicago, Illinois. He loves spending time with his son Remy, his family, and friends. He also loves to compose, create, sing, and craft. He believes deeply in his mission to “Give best what you need most” and “to be the difference that you want to see in the world”. Paul anticipates a future of philanthropy, progress, and prosperity where he aims to “never retire” and pass on his family business responsibilities to the later generations. 

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“My focus is to endow the arts, and erase the stigma of “the starving artist”. It is the dawn of the new age, and a renaissance of renewal. It’s time to step up to the plate and stop trying, and do it”.

Paul Rivera-2025