Emilio was familiar with his mom's response if someone in his family didn't like what she'd prepared for dinner: "If you don't like it, make something yourself." Emilio put this advice into practice and soon discovered a love of cooking. He also realized that cooking with friends made the experience even better, and began creating new recipes with their help. It was this enjoyment that eventually led Emilio to intern with Sprouts Chef Training, working at both alaMar and Sobre Mesa, under mentor Chef Nelson German.One aspect Emilio most enjoyed about his internship was getting to know his coworkers. "I've never gotten along with coworkers [so well]" he remarked. He especially liked working with Chef Miguel, who always took the time to demonstrate new skills to Emilio, and could answer any questions he had. During his internship, Emilio got to try plating, mise en place, kitchen storage and organization, and improve his knife skills. As Emilio became more familiar with the recipes at both restaurants, he began to memorize them, and was able to tell if a dish was ready just by how it looked!A lesson that helped Emilio while trying new skills in the kitchen was that failure wasn't always a bad thing, and could help you in the long run. This persistence helped him pick up kitchen skills quickly. Emilio is interested in becoming a chef at his own restaurant one day. He likes the idea of being able to create his own menu and that he can cater to flavors he enjoys. When Emilio isn't inventing new dishes, he can be found building things, such as a kit his friend gave him that allowed him to build a model of the Millenium Falcon. Emilio is grateful for his internship. We at Sprouts know that Emilio's dedication, determination, and passion for cooking will take him far in life.