Toro Toro
TTFW 08 2024 - 3
Toro Toro’s new executive chef Julio Cartagena
Fort Worth’s Pan-Latin steakhouse, Toro Toro, just announced the appointment of Julio Cartagena as the restaurant’s new executive chef.
Cartagena brings an extensive background in innovative cuisine and a passion for authentic Latin recipes and food, which will be incorporated into some of the new creations he is currently working on.
His resume includes a tenure at both the Wyndham Palamas and Wyndham Rio Mar in Puerto Rico, where he played a pivotal role in each organization’s movements. Cartagena has experience managing culinary outlets and implementing dynamic dining experiences that leave lasting impressions on guests and his colleagues, according to a release.
Toro Toro itself, a restaurant concept created in Dubai by restaurateur Richard Sandoval, has been in Fort Worth since Sept. of 2019, within The Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel on 200 Main Street.
Out of the 60 restaurants Sandoval owns globally, Toro Toro is his only Cowtown concept. In fact, Fort Worth was the very first city in Texas to welcome the brand.
But Toro Toro’s menu is anything but localized. Guests who dine here come from all over the world, with picky palates and insatiable flavor curiosities. It’s for this reason that Toro Toro has a culinary team of seasoned chefs who have lived and worked in high-end restaurants from all over the world, especially throughout Latin America.
These experiences have allowed these culinary artists to master the subtle distinctions between the cuisines of Mexico, Peru, Chile, and all the parts in between. And with Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) fast approaching on November 2, Toro Toro will offer a limited-time menu in honor of this Hispanic holiday curated by Cartagena himself.
“His dedication to crafting exceptional gourmet experiences has undoubtedly elevated the Toro Toro’s culinary team’s approach in the kitchen,” a release states.
To add to the announcement of Cartagena joining the team, Toro Toro also just announced the launch of Sandoval’s annual “Old Ways, New Hands” community-first mentorship program, which opens on October 15. This Hands-on program was created to preserve and amplify Latin culture, by giving Hispanic gourmands complete access to exclusive tools and resources in interactive workshops. The selected applicants for this program are also given an all-expense paid international trip, where they can dine at chef Sandoval’s restaurants and explore local markets, cultures, and cuisines.
This workshop was created to help accelerate participants’ careers and sharpen their business skills while learning from culinary experts in the field. Any and all of the recipes created during this program will be featured on the menus in Sandoval’s restaurants around the globe during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Applications are open now through October 15, 2024. To apply, visit https://www.oldwaysnewhands.com/apply to review the qualifications and submit the form.
