Today we’d like to introduce you to Rafael Gonzalez.
Hi Rafael, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have been working as a professional chef for over 25 years. Most recently with the Four Seasons Hotel Houston as Executive Chef until the pandemic hit in 2020. After decades of enjoying a prestigious title and position in the industry, I was furloughed as a result of Covid19. My wife, who had already been working as an online educator, encouraged me to teach cooking classes online. I gave it a shot and to my surprise, they became a hit. I had the honor of teaching kids ages 8-13 from all over the world, virtual cooking classes and have earned close to 1000 five-star reviews within a span of 5 months. I have witnessed kids who were apprehensive, with zero to little knowledge in the kitchen gain confidence and become the chefs in their own kitchens. It became a new passion. I never thought of myself as a kids’ instructor, as I have only trained adult cooks throughout my career. Naturally, I taught the kids the same exact techniques and methods as I would with my professional cooks. It was all I knew. I was surprised how wildly capable kids are when they are curious, willing and you give them the encouragement and praise generously. None of my classes were watered down, which is one of the things the parents of my students really appreciated. Today, now back at “the 9-5”, back in the hotel industry, I continue to fuel my new found passion of sharing my expertise and knowledge to my online cooking students so that I can in turn fuel their fire and instill the joy of cooking in their lives.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have been lucky. It has been pretty smooth journey. I mean….what is better than teaching something you love while being able to stay home and cook for the family every single day. Covid had that silver lining for me. It opened my eyes to what my wife does on a daily basis. I was able to understand the struggle and burden of home education, working from home AND the need to cook fresh meals that everyone enjoyed. Since the pandemic, rose up the challenge and responsibility in the kitchen full time, since of course, cooking came naturally for me.
This change in my “house duties” also helped me relate to many other homemakers, especially working home cooks and stay at home moms, understand their struggles and challenges which in turn allowed me to cater my classes to help solve their problems in the kitchen.
I realized that all these years while I enjoyed an accomplished career, I had not been spending as much time as I wanted to. Covid was a turning point. I was able to work from home, cook for the family and be more present in their lives and activities whether it was baseball, gymnastics or Tae Kwon Do. It became my new normal, as opposed to my wife and kids expecting that I would miss yet another baseball game due to long hours at work.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Born and raised in Coral Gables, FL, I graduated with a culinary arts degree from Johnson and Wales University. From Miami I moved to New York to work with great chefs like Eric Ripert, David Bouley. I spent 6 months in Spain to work at Michelin-starred restaurants for more experience. When I went back to New York, I became Jean-Georges’ sous chef. Shortly after that, I started a long career with Four Seasons hotels and resorts lasting an amazing 16 years, taking me and my family around the world, from New York to Vancouver to Philadelphia to the Caribbean and now Houston.
I specialize in cooking with seasonal ingredients, learning from local vendors and their produce. Every place, every country or city is different. I’ve had to adapt my cooking to any city we currently live and work in.
I am known for my patience and calm personality. Quite the opposite of what the stereotype of the egotistical chef. Which by the way, not all chefs are. I have been known to develop my staff, my cooks, my sous chefs to further their careers. I never want my staff to stop growing and bettering themselves. Almost every cook will say that they want to become a chef one day. But a select few want to put the work in it. When I see that they are serious about their goals, I do everything I can to groom them into becoming one. Several all of my past sous chefs are now executive chefs or working their way up that ladder.
I am most proud of becoming an Executive Chef of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts (one of the biggest leaders in the hospitality industry) at 32 years of age.
What’s next?
I would like to continue to reach more families and teach them how to cook restaurant meals from home and become the chefs in their own kitchens.
I say “families” because I believe that cooking isn’t a one-man or one-woman show. Nor should it be a dreaded chore.
Cooking has become something to look forward to for a lot of my students. At the end of the week, it has become a family activity they happily anticipate. To gather around the kitchen counter, share tasks, share stories, share drinks and in the end they enjoy a home made meal together.
For this reason, I am in the middle of planning the launch of my membership program called THE HOME CHEF SOCIETY. It is a private membership for families of kids and teens who want to experience the joy of cooking together and become the chefs in their own kitchens.
Our rebranded website is also weeks from re-launching with a brand new look and fresh classes with global and seasonal recipes that will reinvigorate your tastebuds, refine your palate and sharpen your kitchen skills.
Pricing:
- A la carte cooking classes – $49 per family
- Founding member launch for THE HOME CHEF SOCIETY – currently by invitation (Contact me for an invite)
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@chefrafaelgonzalez.com
- Website: www.chefrafaelgonzalez.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chef.rafael.gonzalez/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rafaelgonzalezchef
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ochV09D0pYdh2FXZ0w_yg
- Other: https://outschool.com/teachers/Rafael-Gonzalez?usid=MCbQhooR&signup=true&authTrigger=follow_teacher&follow=true&utm_campaign=share_leader_link
Image Credits:
Toni Gonzalez
Dan Cortez
