Evan Cruz, an aspiring young chef who was born in the Philippines and raised in San Diego California. At a young age, Evan recalls learning how to cook in his grandmother’s kitchen cooking rice, rolling Lumpia (Filipino spring rolls), cutting fish and cleaning vegetables. He discovered his fascination with the culinary arts starting as a prep cook and dishwasher at the age of 15, and eventually working his way up to a sous chef by 19.

Wanting to educate himself further, in 2000, Evan enrolled and graduated from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. Evan has gone on to have a succesfful career with the Marriott hotel group as a Chef and Director of Food and Beverage, as well as an Area Executive Chef for the San Diego Marriott Del Mar and Double Tree Del Mar.

“To me a chef is just like any artist, you want them to leave you with an impression of their soul”