We Are Dario And Amanda Gonzalez Zuniga

Dario:

I was born and raised in Lima, Perú. I grew up eating everything, from wholesome, home-cooked meals with fresh produce from the market to chicken butchered the same morning. Everything is cooked in the Peruvian tradition of embracing spices, chili, and using every part of the animal. I would visit my grandmother on Sundays and watch her make pasta, rolling the dough out with an empty wine bottle. I always loved food and the idea that it would bring families together.

When I was 17, I told my parents I wanted to study culinary and it was a shock for them. My mother was a businesswoman and hoped I would pursue something more traditional. That's the reason why I ended up studying and graduating from the University of Lima with a degree in Marketing. After graduation, I was hired for a 'dream job' in a renowned international company in Lima, but one afternoon I found myself sitting on the beach watching the waves, having one of those moments of deep introspection and I realized that if I didn't follow my passion now, years would pass by and I would always wonder 'What if...?' so I quit my job and decided to enroll in Le Cordon Bleu, where I acquired the skills of cuisine and patisserie. Before and after graduation I worked in pastry and savory in many places including Lima, Perú; Ottawa, Canada, and Atlanta, Georgia. In Georgia, I met my wife, Amanda.