Today we’d like to introduce you to Guillermo Santos.
Guillermo, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am originally from Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico where I began my culinary adventure. I started by prepping food for banquets through the hotel industry then moved on to an upscale Mediterranean inspired restaurant. After my parents relocated to Houston for business, I then started my studies at the Culinary Institute of LeNôtre. Here is where I completed my associates for cuisine specializing in the French technique. Through my studies, I had the great opportunity to go to the Pays de la Loire region of France where I worked for three months in a restaurant of a hotel. I graduated in July 2016 with honors and now help run the fine dining bistro hidden within the school with other alumni.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a pretty smooth road with a few minor challenges along the way. A major one was trying to keep up with my classmates without knowing English. I came to the states fluent in Spanish and after two years I can say I’m fluent in English with a taste of French. Another challenge would be having to figure out my first year alone. The day after I graduated, I had to say goodbye to my parents as they left back to Mexico. Being a young adult in a foreign country alone without family was pretty tough. Having to pay bills, rent, groceries, and any other surprises along the way with no family to lean on was a little stressful. However. I can say I have figured it out with a little help from my friend and a strong head on my shoulders, and it has truly made me stronger for the challenges to come.
Le Bistro at the Culinary Institute LeNôtre – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I work inside a small bistro located inside the Culinary Institute of LeNôtre. It is a fine dining French inspired bistro that is ran by four other alumni as well as myself. We all have a big part of making sure the machine can function. Beatris Torrez is our pastry graduate who runs the pastry department all by herself. Amanda Lee is our restaurant and management graduate who manages the bistro and all the events thrown our way. Amanda Bettis, Alexandra Pena, and I help run the cuisine side each of us having a different strength. I would say creativity and confidence is one of my strengths. We all come together to create a menu and I help out with painting it on a canvas and letting it come to life. I also have the great job of family meal on the weekends. I have joy in feeding and pleasing our team’s appetite by throwing out a variety of cuisine for us to enjoy. Having four young graduates running a kitchen in a fine dining establishment is a very proud identity that our bistro holds and I definitely believe that sets us apart from others. We are all very passionate about what we do and take our studies seriously and respect the French traditional techniques.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
One of my proudest moments of my career so far (although it just began) would have to be earning a scholarship while in school to work in France for three months. Only a select few are given this opportunity and for me to be one of hundreds really inspired me to do my best. Of course, I can’t leave out graduating with honors. I have never been one to flourish in school but cooking is my passion and me arriving to school every day with this fire and love of the culinary arts in my heart really worked out for me in the end. Passion really is the best ingredient.
Pricing:
- Starters $8-$16
- Entreés $23-$27
- Average bottle of wine $40
Contact Info:
- Address: 7070 Allensby st Houston Tx 77022
- Website: Lebistro-houston.com
- Phone: 713 358 5079
- Email: alee@ciaml.com
- Instagram: Lebistrohouston
- Facebook: Le Bistro Houston
- Yelp: Le bistro Houston
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