Today we’d like to introduce you to Virgilio Trujillo.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Virgilio. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My story started as an imigrant looking for a better lifestyle in 1978. My father was working as a pastry chef when I was 16 years old. There is were as was accommodated preparing salads. After that, I worked in a country club as a line cook. I wasn’t really interested in the food industry yet, so was just looking for a way to survive in this country. Everything changed when in 1980 one of my dad’s friend recommended me with one of his friends who became my mentor from the very first moment., Francisco Sanchez.
Francisco Sanchez from was the person who introduced the Spanish cuisine to Chicago. “La Paella”, he saw the potential in me and he wanted me to learn as much as possible about this cuisine. He brought chefs from Spain and France. Between those chefs was Julio Sanchez from Barcelona, Oscar Eoscadi from Basque Country, Pachinko Quintana Basque Country and Cristian Drowin from Leon France. My “homework” was to follow their steps which I didn’t because I was adding my style.
In 1991 he decided to open a second restaurant/tapas bar “Arco de Cuchilleros” were I became responsible as a chef. Here is where everything began. This is what I wanted to do, this was/is my passion.
In 2001 I decided that I needed to move on, so I look other places to work, Park Avenue and Smith & Wollensky. It wasn’t until 2005 that I decided it was enough of working for someone else, I was going to open my business. In that year I open a restaurant that where I was for a couple years, didn’t work but, I wasn’t ready to give up. In 2007 I decided to open Cafe Marbella. I knew it was going to be hard to survive in this neighborhood because is a family neighborhood but decided to take the risk.
Well, I am glad to say I was wrong, I am always looking to bring to our customer’s different dishes which can have different regions influence. We have an incredible menu a special menu with is changed every Friday and we always have additional specials. The variation in our specials is what attracts more to our customers. I am always looking in the market for a new item to bring to my customer’s table.
Has it been a smooth road?
As everything or everyone who wants to open a business, we know it is a risk and is not easy. We (my wife Maria and I) lost a lot of capital when we decided we couldn’t continue with our first restaurant but it was the best decision.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Cafe Marbella – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Cafe Marbella is a name, behind this name is a whole team, a family. Here I am the head chef, I am here every day from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm always looking for something new to bring to our customers. My wife is at front and taking care of the office work, my children are here on weekend. I think this is what I am most proud of, looking at my family working together, supporting my dream.
I am known as a chef who takes a risk, always creating new dishes and that is what my customers love the most. Risk taker, I think this is what makes me different. You can go to any other Spanish cuisine restaurant and will find the same menu all the time.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Chicago in every aspect, including its weather.😃 This city is amazing, you can find all kind of people, all kind of adventures. But mostly diversity makes this city unique.
What I don’t like and I think most of the people don’t like are the high taxes. But, if everything was really to maintain the city in good condition even that will be just fine.
Pricing:
- $5-$12
Contact Info:
- Address: 5527 North Milwaukee Ave
Chicago IL 60630 - Website: www.cafemarbellatapas.com
- Phone: 773 853 0128
- Email: cafemarbella@att.net
- Instagram: @cafemarbella1
- Facebook: @cafemarbellatapas
- Twitter: @cafemarbella1
- Yelp: Cafe Marbella Tapas
Image Credit:
Maria Roman
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