5 years and counting

I don't really have anything scripted for this post, I'm just gonna shoot from the hip and the heart ;) so here goes. You know had you told me 6 years ago i would be doing what I'm doing now, and that i would travel to NY to further my education. i would have thought you were mental. I had been really banking on becoming some kind of inter networking administrator and sitting behind a desk taking it easy. But when i think back on it now, I'd say fuck that. being a chef is one the the hardest and most challenging (mentally, physically, and emotionally) things I've ever dreamed of doing but at the same time it has been the most fulfilling and rewarding experience i could ever hope to have.

It makes me think back to when i first decided to go into culinary school. I can remember the conversation like it was yesterday. I had just finished cooking lunch for my friends and I when Eliot (an old friend of mine) said to me "Man Johnny, you're good at this ... really good, you should go to culinary school" so really without even thinking I changed my major to culinary arts. I had such fun in that class. The instructor chef was named Cheryl Lewis she was a crazy Jewish woman, but she really taught me about the love and passion that going being cooking as well as laying some awesome fundamentals on me. I also made some really good friends in that class, one of which actually started her own business with her husband which is pretty awesome. if you're even in Galveston, TX you should check out a cafe named Speculous, it great, anyway.

things really didn't pick up for me until i started working at The Moody Gardens Hotel. never before had i seen such volumes and volumes of work being done for hundreds even thousands of people. my first year there i really was trying to find a place to fit in. I eventually made my way into the Garde Manger. Man talk about putting my patience to the test, when i first moved in there it was all about training my knife skills, that's IT for 6 months. All i did was cut veggies, peel fruit, and cut fruit. I use to hate it, but little did i realize how much it was improving my knife skills and how much i would eventually need that. years go by and I've become the assistant to the head Garde Manger of the hotel. and life was awesome.

Then one day i get a call from The Culinary Institute of America asking ME of all people if i wanted to go to their school. they offered to pay for pretty much everything. i had a tough make to make there. Go to NY and experience this once in a lifetime thing or stay at home where i had my best friends, an awesome apt and job, and an awesome life. So i said fuck it, i decided to sacrifice all that for this one chance. There was another reason i had behind wanting to go to NY, but that story is for another time and place

That school was fucking amazing, i couldn't have asked for anything more expect maybe more money so i could continue going to that school. I decided to come back to Galveston because i missed everyone back home a lot. Moody Gardens took me back in with open arms and a pretty serious position.

Its been a long and difficult road but these first few years of what I think promises to be an excellent career is just the start for me.

To all the loved one and friends who helped me along the way, I love you guys, thank you so much for standing by me and my choices.

A few shout outs that i think are necessary.

Omar, Mike, Matt, and Stephen - you all are fucking awesome and have been there with me from the start. thank you so so much for the support and love.

Mom & Carlos - I love you Mom! Thank you for standing by me in all of my life choices and for just plain being the best mom ever. And you're OK too Carlos :)

The Moody Gardens Crew - "We run this shit!" It's all about the A crew son :D

Jessica - thanks for always being there for me when i needed a familiar voice in NY, you'll always have a special place in my heart, I love you :D

Rene - I know you'll never read this but you have been one of the heaviest culinary influences on me. You were so hard on me in the beginning and I thank you for that from the bottom of my heart. I know we use to fight a lot when i first started because we saw things so differently (and we still do) but its awesome that we finally understand each other. Thank you for all the lessons you've taught me.

everyone else who feels they should be named here - thank you for being awesome, much love :D