My good friend and fellow Chef Arturo Lopez was quite suddenly and shamefully deported back to Mexico over a year ago. It was so sad the way it went down; one day he was there, the life of our kitchen, the backbone of it’s mise en place, the next he was gone. It was hard to shake the bottomless pit feeling of this for some time, hard to come to terms with an inconsiderate and fucked up system. In my mind it was the beginning of the end for my friend and mentor Jack Yoss at ten01. I know it just wasn’t the same for him anymore; this place that he and Arturo built together. Fortunately however, Arturo and Jack both still prosper on. Pictured below is some proof that my good Latino buddy is doing well. He sent me these pictures a few weeks ago and I just had to get them up here. This is him baking a cake for his new girlfriend. We miss you Arturo!!
so good to see arturo raging it up! I miss you bro, and it’s always good to see you focusing on food and making what looks like a rad cake for your novia! Anthony
@two fingers- I knew this post would make people feel good!
He looks like a really cool guy… is he trying to come back to the U.S.?
cool, thanks Jeff! Awesome to read something about Arturo. Miss you Arturo! This dude was an awesome sous under Jack and pushed me so fucking hard to be better. I will never forget him and how much he helped to make me a better cook. He was always making sure I was tasting everything, getting on my shit for doing shit the same and right way, and basically riding my ass. And I thank him for it. These are the dudes in the industry that turn assholes like me into better assholes. I hope he is doing well and wish him the best. Arturo if you read this; thank you. I miss you man.
@Scott I don’t think he can in any legit way right now. It’s too bad, we miss him dearly.
@buttas - thanks for posting that senior montequilla, I really hope Arturo reads this soon! C’mon ten01 cooks, give a shout out to our boy!!
Toro you’re looking great! I miss you, WE all miss you. Thanks for pushing me to be a better sous! If you read this here’s my email perezmike86@yahoo.com
-chepe
@The Perezident- He pushed us all to be better, he would accept no less…
Great post. I love that kid. He was so much more than my sous. He was my best friend and the hardest working and best sous I think I will ever have. The nicest and sweetest guy you will ever meet. It still breaks my heart the way he was treated. Butters, I agree with you as well. He pushed me to be better and would end up being able to do things I taught him better than myself. Arturo you are a class act and Meghan and I love and miss you.
@Jack Yoss- Thanks Chef! We know you and Meghan miss him the most…We love you Arturo!!
This was sent to me by my family who are into fine dining. I am an immigration lawyer and I have to wonder why Arturo was deported. He clearly is someone at the top of his game and there may have been ways to prevent his deportation. There may be some relief available to him to allow his return to the USA. If there is anyone out there who is close to Arturo and wants to talk about his situation, I am willing to take a look at case.