It hasn't been easy for Byron Gomez. His family relocated from Costa Rica to the United States when he was 8-years old, and he grew up under a cloud of uncertainty due to their immigration status. Nevertheless, he discovered and succeeded in professional kitchens, thanks in part to a first job in Burger King, of all places, and went on to work in Atera, Eleven Madison Park, and a handful of Daniel Boulud's restaurants. He's currently chef of 7908, a combination restaurant, bar, and club in Aspen, Colorado, where he's thriving, and also recently competed on Top Chef. During a visit to New York City, Byron sat down with Andrew to discuss his unique path, his goals, and his life as a "Dreamer," in multiple senses of the word.

Andrew Talks to Chefs is a fully independent podcast and no longer affiliated with our former host network; please visit and bookmark our official website for all show updates, blog posts, personal and virtual appearances, and related information.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Andrew is a writer by trade. If you'd like to support him, there's no better way than by purchasing his most recent book, The Dish: The Lives and Labor Behind One Plate of Food (October 2023), about all the key people (in the restaurant, on farms, in delivery trucks, etc.) whose stories and work come together in a single restaurant dish.

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