“Every person deserves great food”
I want everyone’s last meal to be as special as possible. I believe whole heartedly, especially for those nearing death, that every person deserves great food. When Inhora opens, my mission will be to make this true, one person at a time.
I grew up here in the heart of Albuquerque: Martinez Town. I went to Longfellow Elementary, Jefferson Middle School, and then Albuquerque High. I dropped out of high school at the age of fifteen when I lost my dream of getting a baseball scholarship. After that, I wasn’t passing my classes and pretty much just gave up academically.
I always felt like I was a decent cook and started working in kitchens at that time. I began as a dishwasher, then a fast-food grill cook. At age seventeen I was working for the movie industry, cooking for Mel Gibson, Johnny Depp, and John Travolta. In that setting, I mastered several different cooking styles and adopted many tools that set the foundation for the rest of my culinary career.
Since then, I have worked in French restaurants as Executive Chef, Cajun restaurants as the Su Chef, and have had several other culinary experiences. I ran adult and child food programs for the state of New Mexico. I was the head cook of St. Mark’s In the Valley Days School, running their federally funded food program. I helped YDI set a new menu goal for child nutrition that met state requirements and guidelines.
With 18 years of cooking experience under my belt, I now want to serve the dying, their families, and the staff & volunteers of Inhora.
The reason that I am so drawn to Inhora is because one time when I was a chef at Morada Senior Living, I had a grand conversation with one of the residents. The next day I was super eager to see her again after breakfast so we could have another nice conversation. When I walked through the dining room after making them a meal, it was my habit to check in with the residents to ensure that they were happy with their food. When I got to this resident’s table, I learned that she had passed away. I walked back to the kitchen and was so sad. I realized that my food was the last food she ate.
I want everyone’s last meal to be as special as possible. I believe whole heartedly, especially for those nearing death, that every person deserves great food. When Inhora opens, my mission will be to make this true, one person at a time.