Shamil Velázquez – Puerto Rican Influences in the Lowcountry

Puerto Rico has a very food-centered culture. It's just there at every birthday party, quinceanera, and holiday. Everything is food. It's always about the food.

For career day, I always dressed up as a chef. I guess I've never really given much thought to doing any other career.

I actually started applying to the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) when I was in ninth grade.

Do I agree with going to culinary school? Yes, I think it's a great idea. I think it definitely is a good base and a good foundation.

As a chef, it is our due diligence to make sure that we are working with local farmers, local fishmongers, oyster farmers, and do our part in society rather than leaving the carbon footprint of getting stuff from the other side of the world, when it’s right here.

I think that's always very important as a chef to open up and learn from others rather than saying, “My food. My way, or the highway”. No way, it's always easier for you to understand other people and understand where they come from so that we can do something really cool together.