Exquisite Food Worth Following: Garzòn Latinx Street Food
This year has been a tumultuous year for just about every industry, with restaurants being hit particularly hard. When I heard about Garzòn Latinx Street Food, I thought their pop-up events sounded like a great way for a chef to stay in business: low overhead and outdoors, what's not to love? The day I reached out to chef Jose Garzon via Facebook happened to be the same day their GoFundMe to become a food truck launched.
Garzón High Roller Picadillo // photo courtesy Garzòn Latinx Street Food
How did you get started cooking? Any previous gigs or influences you want people to know about?
I started cooking at a very young age. You can say I grew up in a kitchen. My mom worked for the Ecuadorian government so the lady that took care of me also cooked for the whole family. We spent most of the day in the kitchen. That’s where most of my early memories of food come from. My background is fine dining but from the start, I knew that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I just needed the experience and to be honest, it made me fall in love with ingredients and technique but my heart wasn’t all in. My influences are chefs that don’t follow the rules. Chefs that changed the game and now we’re all playing it their way. I won’t name drop.
Chef Garzón feeding a crowd // photo courtesy Garzòn Latinx Street Food
Describe your food style.
I guess I cook what I like to eat. If I won’t eat it, I won’t serve it. Growing up in South America (Guayaquil, Ecuador) taught me that humble ingredients and impeccable technique can make a great dish. With Garzòn though, I’m trying to present these dishes the same way I ate them growing up. Preserving the culture and the amazing history.
Garzón Pan con chicharrón and yuca fritters // photo courtesy Garzòn Latinx Street Food
Where do you find inspiration for new menu items?
Most of the dishes I serve I grew up eating or I discover on my travels. I was a touring musician for 12 years and was fortunate enough to travel the world playing music and eating delicious food. Garzón menus really reflect that.
When your food truck opens, where would you love to park it in Everett?
Everett is a great city! We have many customers from the area. We’ve worked with breweries like Scuttlebutt and Toggle’s Bottle Shop here. Some of our best friends in the industry are here too, Narrative Coffee and Los Tamaahles to name a few. We would love to park somewhere on Wetmore maybe? Looks like that area is developing a ton.
Co-founder Stefanie Hieber at a recent event // photo courtesy Garzòn Latinx Street Food
Check out Garzon's menu and find them in person at an upcoming pop-up event. Check the calendar often as the next month's events are added toward the end of each month. Like what you see? Donate to their GoFundMe and help them become a food truck.
Christopher Bragg works from home in Everett and loves walking, swimming, and cats. You can find him all over town, but only if you keep weird hours and avoid crowds like he does.
