a literary chef

A Story about Will Gonzalez

After talking for just a few minutes with Will Gonzalez, FC 2017, it’s hard not to notice he’s a literary chef….a love of cooking and poetry, all rolled up into one.
 
Will comes from a small town in El Salvador, immigrating to Everett, Massachusetts at five years old. He credits the inspiring literature, history, and culinary teachers who “taught me many wonderful lessons.” After a friend, also interested in food, introduced him to Future Chefs, Will says he felt he found a place that taught good values and important skills, and that the organization took the time to mentor each student, honing in on their unique abilities.
 
Will quickly learned that Future Chefs was the key to opening doors to a quality culinary career for him. He planned to work in the restaurant industry following high school, and says that Future Chefs expedited that process through a challenging apprenticeship. Pouring his hard-working principles into each shift, Will solidified a professional culinary career to become the youngest Junior Sous Chefs at the acclaimed restaurant, SRV in Boston. He knows that the restaurant industry is not an easy life but with his discipline, willpower, and determination, Will is learning how fulfilling and amazing it is for those whose talents are a good fit for the work. And the life skills he learned at Future Chefs help him weather the tough times. “One of the many things Future Chefs taught me is that it's ok to make mistakes and not let that crush you. You just have to be able to take a lesson from it and come out better on the other side,” Will says. 
 
The connections he made at Future Chefs played a key role for Will’s early success, but he also says that his time with the program molded his vision and passion for cooking. Will is eager to teach and pass on his knowledge to other up-and-coming young chefs. He takes on new challenges every day, and wants young people to find inner balance. “Face adversity to the best of your abilities. And most importantly, learn to have fun in the midst of all the chaos!”

In the next five years, Will would like to travel throughout the United States, gaining as much experience as possible before traveling overseas. And while becoming an author was a close second to his cooking dream, a future goal is combining his passion for cooking and writing into his career.
 
We asked Will what others might find inspiring in his story. “I think the most inspiring factor of my story is that I came out of high school with absolutely zero true restaurant experience and thanks to the discipline and foundation that Future Chefs instilled in me, I was able to work my way up to being a Junior Sous Chef at one of the best Italian restaurants in Boston,” he says.
 
We’re inspired!