By Nancy Wood
Alma De La Luz, Chef de Cuisine
Marlow’s Tavern, Duluth
Alma De La Luz is a living example that tenacity, focus and hard work are the keys to success. And she’s never been shy about asking others to teach her everything they know about running a kitchen.
Since taking a job in 2009 as a dishwasher at Marlow’s Tavern in Duluth, De La Luz has made the most of every opportunity that has presented itself – for good reason. As a single mother then, she was intent on providing for her daughter and “being somebody” as she puts it.
After working the weekend evening shift, De La Luz asked to be trained to prep and soon revealed a talent for being organized, clean and quick. With those traits she proved she was an asset in the kitchen, helping the line cooks in her spare time. Determined to move up, she was soon on the line herself, shifting from station to station and soaking it all in.
Asking for training every step of the way, De La Luz’ mentors clearly saw a star in the making. “When you really want to do something,” she says, “you start asking questions. You start learning things and doing things that they don’t even ask you to do.”
Her career path soon included becoming a trainer for new kitchen hires and even helping train staff in five new locations. After being named sous chef in 2018, she was promoted to chef de cuisine in only a few years.
Today, De La Luz inspires her staff of 15 with her love of serving the freshest food with a beautiful presentation, and her philosophy has made the Duluth location achieve record-breaking sales.
“I tell my guys in the kitchen, you have to cook from the heart every time you put a plate in the window,” she says. “You have to put it out as if you were going to eat it or give it to one of your family members.”
Now, De La Luz is using her trademark determination with the goal of becoming a general manager for Marlow’s. “I just want to learn,” she says, “and keep moving up.”
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