Raul Rodriguez-Diaz

Generously Sponsored By: Sysco Natural
Age, at time of Internship: 20
CT Intern: Summer 2022
Restaurant Host: Cocina del Corazon, Chef Enrique
Wraparound Program: James Baldwin Academy – Seneca
Intern Story:
For as long as he can remember, Raul has loved cooking. He spent hours in the kitchen making meals with his family and learned new techniques from Gordon Ramsey’s cooking shows. While he struggled to find his place and passion at school, he always felt at home in the kitchen.
When he applied to Sprouts, Raul joked that he was, “no Chef Boyardee,” but expressed a strong desire to become a chef one day. Raul is starting his journey to a culinary career with the Cocina del Corazon crew where he is not only building out technical skills, but learning the entrepreneurial angle of starting a restaurant.
After his Sprouts Chef Training internship, he plans to attend culinary school at Laney College and create a community restaurant.