Today we’d like to introduce you to Zuri Resendiz.
Hi Zuri, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My name is Zuri Resendiz I am from Mexico City. Moved to Denver in 2002 with my family for a better future Ans better education. Growing up I was always around amazing and talented women, my grandmother, mom, and aunts were cooking amazing and delicious food always claiming their dishes were the best of the best.
But I think one of the memories that impulse my career was when we all sat down and share food, the smiles on my family’s when we ate from that moment I knew I wanted to do something to make people happy, and nothing better than amazing food to create memories and unforgettable moments. One of my first jobs was as a barista and sandwich maker.
I remember my English wasn’t great so I memorized all the spreads, meats, and vegetables to take and order. I loved the moment of making their food and looking at them from my line enjoying and smiling. Growing up I was always super hyper. So after some time, I moved to a bigger corporate kitchen cheesecake factory and Carrabba’s, but even there I was bored sometimes because it was the same menu all time and I wanted to do more.
I remember watching the food network. Iron chef Chopped, chef competitions and that’s what I wanted to do, So I learned all the good stuff from those corporations and it was Finalized in 2012 when I got a stage at Panzano winning award Italian restaurant with chef Elise Wiggin. I remember waking in the kitchen and seeing the fire, and nice knives. The sound of a busy and well groom line cooks. I was amazed it was like music with fire and knives instead of instruments.
I remember I went to the restroom to memorize the menú for my stage and I worked the whole service. When I asked, do you think they will hire me? The line cooks smiled and said brother you are hired man let’s start cleaning. I started as a grill line cook slowly learning all the stations, and little by little I started helping chef Elise with special events. It was at that moment I decided to go to culinary school.
So I had to go part-time for me to be a chef. When I told the chef about my plan, She offer me the sous chef position, the only condition was for me to make sure I hit her standards and go to culinary schools at the same time. So for one year and a half, I was cooking almost 24/7 it was amazing adrenaline, because the chef also will give classes on mushrooms, fish, butchering, and pasta making, it was and never stop learning process.
In 2015 I had the opportunity of being sort of 30 under 30 by Zagat. Working with an award-winning chef, of course, I felt great but that was just the start of many other accomplishments. In 2017 I got offered the position of executive sous chef at cattivella wood fire Italian next to my mentor Elise. We were making amazing wood fire Italian food. I worked there till 2020 and we achieved the best Italian, best dessert, and most iconic dishes, best 25 by 5280 3 years in a roll. With all of this, I had I new opportunity with the food network.
I was invited to grocery guys’ games, for a Halloween episode, I could believe I was in one of the shows I watched growing up. I won the competition it was an amazing experience, 2 years later I was invited to chop for a fire tournament. I won as well but from the moment I knew I was going to chop, I knew I wanted to win with Mexican food. I wanted to leave my signature on the show Chef Z’s signature.
In 2021 I started to build My baby that’s how I called it My baby Luchador. People start asking about the food I made is the show and also starts doing private events. So I decided to open the Luchador food truck by chef Z. Luchador is a strong name. They leave everything on the ring and that is what we have to do in life no matter what we do we need to give our everything and leave it on the ring. Luchador is a street and authentic inspired Mexico City food. We have been open for 5 months now.
We received lots of love from our customers. We had 4 articles and reviews by Westword and 5280 Best Asada taco how to eat like a Mexico City-born chef. Chef z and Luchador is a fighter, I can proudly say this is the start of a new journey I, MAKE IT HAPPEN is my saying, and go by that is even printed on the back of my truck. No matter how hard the situation is or the problem always makes it happen and remember we all are luchadores let’s make it happen.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has t been easy it’s dedication decision and discipline, plus long hours of work both are worth it in the end.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about the Luchador food truck by chef z?
The luchador food truck is a chef on wheels. We do amazing Mexican food with a little twist to make sure we make people happy. We focus on breweries, but we do build fried ships with our customers making sure they feel confident when they order.
We educate our customers about our product. We offer not only food for private we provide with best customer service and accommodate any allergies or special requests. Luchador canters wedding graduations and any special moments chef z and Luchador can assist.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
They can call us at 7209873332 Or message us on Instagram Luchador. food truck
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Luchador.foodtruck
