Yibin Zhu is a dedicated and hardworking individual with a strong interest in cooking, though his main goal is to become a firefighter. He views the culinary skills he’s learned through his internship as a valuable way to support himself and his future career. Yibin is currently working as a line prep cook at Oracle Park, where he gained initial exposure to the food industry. Yibin’s strengths lie in his responsibility, honesty, and time management. . When he first immigrated, he struggled with the language barrier, but through perseverance and connecting with native friends, his English significantly improved. Despite this, he consistently finds ways to get the job done well. Yibin’s ultimate goal is to become a firefighter, but his interest in the culinary world has lead him to Sprouts where he was able to explore this interest with chef Francois Audier 

At Atelier Crenn Yibin got to focus on prep work, including chopping vegetables like cabbage, kale, and cucumbers. He also had the opportunity to prepare family meals, opening oysters, cleaning lobsters, and making hand rolls with fresh crab. He values the consistent support from the chefs and has enjoyed hands-on experience with the team. Chef Josh has been a significant mentor, teaching him step-by-step and then allowing him to work independently. The internship has allowed Yibin to improve his knife skills, as he can now chop twice as fast as when he started. The coolest skill he’s learned is how to make mayo, which he plans to try at home.

Through the internship, he has gained a new appreciation for the importance of timing and multitasking in the kitchen, which will be valuable both for cooking and in his firefighting career. Outside of the kitchen, Yibin enjoys running track, staying fit for firefighting school, and working out. He’s considering extending his internship to continue learning and growing in the culinary field while balancing his focus on his firefighter training.

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