Hurricane Omar: Finding the Eye of the Storm in the Chaos of a Kitchen

Omar Morales-Hurtado

Omar Morales-Hurtado is one of the brightest up and coming stars in the culinary industry. Through his hard work and passion, he had the opportunity to participate in the SkillsUSA culinary competition . “Omar is hard working, ready to learn and an excellent student,” said Culinary instructor Chef Eva Niosi. As only a junior he would bring back the bronze medal, but that didn’t satisfy his ambition and this year he’s determined to come in 1st and prove just how good he is. 

Today I asked Omar some questions regarding not only his experiences in Skills but his passion for the industry and the food he makes. 

Question: “What’s your favorite part of working in a kitchen?”

Omar- “The chaos, the constant busyness, it distracts you from your thoughts no matter what you’re doing. You have your kitchen life and your separate life. The kitchen takes you away from your at home stress. It replaces your stress with positive stress. That’s the best way to describe it for me.”

Question: “You placed 3rd in the skills competition last year. How do you think you plan to improve and hopefully take home the gold this coming year?”

Omar- “One of the ways I can approve probably is taking it slower, not rushing everything but not going too slow. Last year I rushed things and it cost me in a couple ways. I wasn’t paying as much attention to plating. Flavor-wise, I think I did really well. But I did rush on the cooking techniques especially when it came to steering the chicken. There’s obviously a lot more stuff I could take into consideration just taking it back from square one and then going from there making sure that everything is perfect. I need to find a balance with my consistency, speed, and work volume. I think the progress I’ve made already speaks volumes to the work I’ve put in and hopefully this time I can come home with a first place medal. 

Question: What are 3 words to describe the competition? 

 Omar- “Fulfilling, stressful, peaceful.” 

It’s a true testament to his character and passion. Where most people would see a chaotic hot mess, Omar sees beauty and a sense of fulfillment from the tense working conditions of a kitchen. 

Omar is of Hispanic heritage and it’s something he’s very passionate and outspoken about. He takes great pride in his ethnicity and how it’s helped him develop as a person. I decided to ask him just how much of an impact his culture has made on his life and career. 

How do you think your Hispanic Upbringing has affected your passion for cooking?

Omar- “Being in a  Spanish household, especially younger, taught me a lot about flavors and a lot about my culture. It has taught me a lot about basic cooking techniques so when I cook, when I do anything, when I like to cook for anybody, I always like to bring my culture to life.  I  like to show them that this is where I come from whether it’s a spin on a classic dish from Europe or it’s just a nice family dish that you made for someone you love. 

As the interview came to an end I wanted to see what the future had in store for the young chef and when I would see his name in the headlines. 

Question:  “Where do you plan on taking your career outside of high school?”

Omar -”Plan A would be culinary school Johnson and Wales University or CIA (Culinary Institute of America). But if not, I might join the military and cook there. Ideally I’d like to save up and travel around Europe going from kitchen to kitchen learning and experiencing new things working to better my skills and achieve my goal. And in the end I’d like to end up in New York, but nothing is set in stone.”

This interview was in the Toll Gate library on Veterans Day where the school was holding a ceremony to honor the Veterans who defended this country. During this celebration just as he was leaving one of the Vets being honored overheard us and decided to give us some very sound advice. “You don’t settle for the brass, you want the gold.” At the time I didn’t know the Vet’s name, but I would later find out that it was Leon Rhule, a U.S Navy veteran. It was a touching and appropriate moment that perfectly encapsulated everything that this interview stood to explore. 

Omar Morales is an extraordinary young chef and an excellent young man. He’s both humble and ambitious and it shows through in his work. Chef Austin Irons described him as ”a talented and enthusiastic chef who with further practice and experience could certainly make an impact on this industry.” I think that perfectly describes him and his ideals. He’s more than willing to admit his faults but also strives to be the best. I think I speak for everyone at TG when I say: Good luck at Skills Omar. We’re all rooting for you!