Today we’d like to introduce you to Thiago Quir.
Thiago, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Back in 2007, I left my hometown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to move to Houston, and like many immigrants before me, the restaurant industry opened doors to new opportunities. I made my way up within the restaurant industry, from dishwasher to management in a few years by dedicating myself to the fullest in every experience.
For the last three years, I had to change career fields to an Energy Market Researcher, which helped me build on professional and personal skills. During this time, I realized cooking wasn’t always an important part of my life but with life’s changing moments, exploring culinary adventures became my therapy and happiness. Now cooking is who and what I am. Hence, I decided to seek a culinary degree at the Culinary Institute LeNôtre, where I hold the highest grade of my class and have been awarded as the Student of the Term.
In a little over one year of my culinary journey, I was able to conquer many triumphs I consider important. The creation of my website (www.ThiagoQuir.com) with thousands of website user clicks in over three months, Instagram page (@sousvide_thiago) with over 130 original recipes, 2,000+ organic followers, along with being published on 2019 MasterChef Digital Cookbook with four unique recipes (selected over hundreds of recipes) were just a few of those triumphs. Moreover, a successful internship at one of the best restaurants in the United States “Indigo” (listed in Time Magazine under a 100 World’s Greatest Places to visit) gave me incredible experience and knowledge to use moving forward.
Now, I am very happy to share my creations and help culinary lovers like myself with their own creations. I receive many messages a day by people from all over the globe through Instagram asking questions, telling me that they made my recipes or just motivating me to continue my journey. It’s truly a blessing to receive their support, and even more, motivate me to create new recipes. Moreover, for our local community of Houston, I’m planning to create a new project including cooking classes ranging from Sous Vide techniques, dry aging at home, French recipes, fresh pastas and my biggest passion, Brazilian American fusion.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Time management and my financial situation were my biggest struggles. It can be challenging to balance a full-time job and full-time school, however you must be passionate, dedicated and manage your time wisely because working and going to school is not enough to be successful. On weekends, I still manage to do internships in restaurants, butcher shops, take photography lessons, attend industry conferences & festivals, watch online classes, read cooking & history books, travel when possible, visit local farms, and much more to be ahead of the game. I also find practicing and cooking for myself as well as keeping up with my website and Instagram accounts with new food creations at least once a week incredibly important.
As I mentioned, my financial situation has also been a challenge. I’m currently paying my degree out of pocket and culinary school can be very expensive, however, it’s the cost to pursue my dreams.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Currently, my start-up business is my cooking page along with hosting private dinners and upcoming private cooking classes. I am proud of having people who give a try to my recipes and contact me to share their experiences. Most important, the feedback they provide to continue creating recipes, or what I like to call them “food experiences.” What currently sets me apart is the short journey I have as a cook and the connections I am making with the Houston community to make this city the next Michelin star location.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have focused more on myself to found out what my talent was early on. I was too busy trying to please people and that kept me distracted. But the moment I started focusing on myself, I found my purpose in life and goals. My advice for the readers is very simple, do what makes you happy but not only do it, try to be the best at it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thiagoquir.com
- Email: thiagocq@hotmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sousvide_thiago
Image Credit:
Valeria Llanos & Thiago Quir
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