2 minute read
Livin' la Vida Loca
Livin' la Vida Loca
Fanshawe graduate turns a passion for culinary arts into an award-winning business.
“Gonzalez,” as he is known, was raised in Venezuela and always had a passion for cooking. His specialty is putting a unique spin on traditional Latin American recipes.
After immigrating to Canada and opening a food truck, Gonzalez decided to pursue post-secondary education to take his business to the next level.
Jorge Gonzalez (Culinary Management alumni, 2019) describes himself as a "ribber for life"
He enrolled in Fanshawe’s Culinary Management diploma program where he learned the skills needed to run his business, as well as crucial language skills.
“We learned the history of the food we prepared, how to manage food costs and the discipline needed in the kitchen,” says Gonzalez. “I was concerned about English as my second language, but the teachers were a big help.”
Gonzalez opened his restaurant, Go Gonzalez BBQ, after he graduated. These days, he is a regular on Ontario’s rib fest circuit and has won several awards; in 2022, he took first place at both London Ribfest and at Canada’s first Halal rib fest in Toronto.
“It was incredible to be recognized for all that hard work,” recalls Gonzalez. “It felt like a win for the ‘little guy’.”
He credits his time at Fanshawe with giving him the edge to win those competitions.
“It’s not just about the ribs falling off the bone or the sauce we use,” he says. “It’s being able to speak about the food that makes a difference.”
Gonzalez takes immense pride in his accomplishments, and the lessons he learned along the way continue to guide him.
“To succeed in life, it takes time and knowledge,” he says. “You can’t hurry things—just like you can’t hurry a rack of ribs.”
