From Gangbanger to Ex-Con to Celebrity Chef

How Cooking Saved Chef Fernando Ruiz’s Life

Fifteen years ago, Chef Fernando Ruiz was ready to give up cooking and jump back into the dope game. His life in New Mexico wasn’t working out as planned and Ruiz was ready to go home to Phoenix, pick up a couple of kilos, and make some cash. But his wife of two years, Michelle Romero, wasn’t having it. She told him, "You can't. You know exactly what's going to happen.” She was bummed that Fernando was ready to give up.