If it's true that cooking is an act of love, then Armando Trujillo spreads love with relish.
Trujillo, who has 17 years of experience in restaurants as a cook and manager, has been teaching cooking at Pima for five years.
His 12-week commercial food class at Pima's Northwest Campus is part of PCC's Hotel Management Program, a partnership with Northern Arizona University.
This year he moved his class to the commercial kitchen at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, 1288 W. River Road.
"For me to do a class like this is exciting and fun," he said.
Since the kitchen is geared for Asian food, he has been teaching Asian cooking this semester.
Trujillo emphasizes using good, fresh food and cooking from scratch.
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"It is important for our students to appreciate cooking from scratch because I want my students to feel they have a responsibility to offer good food," he said.
His passion for cooking, as well as his influence, seems to be spreading.
Student Robert Stinnett, 32, a line cook at a local Chili's who has been in the restaurant business for nine years, appreciates what he has learned in Trujillo's class.
"This class has helped me to understand the cooking process and it's all about putting out good, quality food," he said. "I have learned a lot from Mr. Trujillo - he is one of the best teachers I ever had."
Classmate Ayana Taylor, 24, who has worked in restaurants for eight years, eventually wants to own her own business. "At first, I didn't know what I wanted to do," she said. "But I like cooking and enjoy being in charge."
During the class she learned about cuts of meat, how to buy products for restaurants and how to do inventory.
More importantly, the class taught her teamwork in the kitchen, a concept fellow student Aaron Sanora also mentioned.
"As we came along in this class, we worked better as a team," he said. And as the semester progressed, "our cooking got better and better."
Sanora, 30, who has been in the hotel business for seven years, has worked as a front desk agent for the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa for more than a year and was named an Employee of the Year at the resort. He credits his classes at Pima for his success.
"I think Pima College has helped me find a career in the hotel and restaurant business and it has helped prepare me for what is ahead," he said. "I owe it all to Pima."
Contact photographer A.E. Araiza at araiza@azstarnet.com or 954-3154.
