“I’m from New Jersey, born and raised, but my parents are from Cuba and Puerto Rico, so I have a Spanish background and that meant I was always next to the kitchen! But I didn’t realize I wanted to cook until a couple of years working in security.

I realized I was wasting my time and the opportunity for growth was almost nonexistent. So, eventually, I said “screw it. I quit.” And got a job as a dishwasher, I eventually moved on to prep and then to working on the line, where the big boys play.

I love the adrenaline, it’s a rush that you can’t really get anywhere else – and it also gives you a lot of natural tattoos. My ultimate goal is to eventually open my own restaurant and make a name for myself.”