Cooking From The Heart with Christian Gonzalez
Food
Christian Gonzalez distinctly remembers where his passion for food began: around a large family table, sharing delicious meals made by his grandmother. As the family would gather to eat, laughter and a deep sense of love filled the air. Gonzalez, who grew up in Mexico, fondly recalls the moments when his grandmother would visit. In return, he would cook for her — making pancakes with strawberry jam and hotdogs with scrambled eggs. “I am nurturing my grandma as she nurtured me,” he says.
However, it wasn’t until tragedy struck during his teenage years that Gonzalez’s true journey into the culinary arts began. At the age of 15, his mother died in a tragic car accident. In the wake of this loss, Gonzalez threw himself into his passion for food. He discovered that cooking was a way for him to connect with others and share something truly special. “If I make someone’s day by just being me, I feel accomplished,” he says. “This is me telling someone I love you. If people ate good food all the time, animosity would go down. It’s hard to stay pissed off when you have a good meal.”
“I look forward to growing my business and letting my work speak for itself,”
Over the years, Gonzalez has honed his craft by working at several restaurants around the Salt Lake City area. His relentless drive for perfection is one of the defining aspects of his work. “I am never satisfied. I am always figuring out how to be better. It’s a never-ending search for perfection,” he says. Gonzalez is grateful for the mentors he’s had along the way, and he takes pride in passing on the knowledge he’s gained. “I’ve been lucky enough to work with people who are better than me — people who have enlightened me. In return, I like to enlighten and nurture others. Working with talented people who’ve taken me under their wing has taught me how to be a better problem solver.”
Having lived in various places across Utah, Gonzalez eventually settled in Salt Lake City to immerse himself in the local culinary scene. He loves everything about Utah — the terrain and this close-knit community of friends who call it home. When it comes to food, Gonzalez has witnessed the Salt Lake food scene evolve over the years. “Before 10 years ago, people would say, ‘Go to Park City for good food,’ but now it’s kind of the opposite. I want to be part of making the food scene in Salt Lake better,” he shares.
“If people ate good food all the time, animosity would go down. It’s hard to stay pissed off when you have a good meal.”
After years of working in Salt Lake restaurants, Gonzalez took the leap to start his own catering business. While he handles most of the work on his own, he ensures that his clients feel personally cared for. “If I get double booked, people will help, but I mainly try to do things myself. I prep before I execute so I can do it on my own,” Gonzalez explains. “I break up my work week so I can prep ahead of time and not rush the food. It takes time to make good food. I also love spending time with my fiancée, so preparing in advance gives us time to enjoy each other’s company.”
Gonzalez’s culinary approach is based on technique rather than any specific cuisine. He enjoys experimenting with flavors, deconstructing them, and creating something new. “I like to deconstruct flavors I enjoy and create things from that,” he says. While he enjoys a variety of global flavors, his personal favorite is Asian cuisine. He loves the depth of spices and the creative freedom it offers, allowing him to experiment and explore new combinations.
Looking ahead, Gonzalez is focused on growing his catering business organically and continuing to offer exceptional food to the community. “I look forward to growing my business and letting my work speak for itself,” he says. To learn more or book his services, follow Christian Gonzalez on Instagram at @decadent_dishes_by_christian or visit his website at decadentdishescg.com.
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