[About her experience with the Scholarship Foundation]... very positive, giving her an opportunity to meet and work with Foundation Board members and their pool of top professional mentors
Graduate School: Johnson & Wales University
Program: Associate’s in Culinary Arts, Graduated in 1999
Current Profession: Executive Chef at the Gran Melia Hotel in Rio Grande
Efrain began his culinary career in the small town of Murray Hill, New Jersey where he was a pot and dishwasher in the Peacock Room Restaurant. He returned to Puerto Rico in 1992 and worked as a chef at the Hotel El Faro in Aguadilla. Two years later, Efrain began working as a line cook at the Mayagüez Resort & Casino and three months later was promoted to sous chef. Efrain realized the need for culinary arts studies and graduated in 1999 from Johnson & Wales’ culinary arts program. He was consistently on the Dean’s list while at Johnson & Wales. After graduation, Efrain was named Executive Chef at the Mayagüez Resort & Casino, a position he held until February 2006 when he became Executive Chef at the Condado Plaza Hotel. Subsequently Efrain became the Executive Chef at the Gran Melia Hotel in Rio Grande, a position he holds today.
Efrain has always been active in culinary competitions and has won various awards with the Puerto Rico and Caribbean Hotel Associations. He was a member of the Equipo Nacional de Iron Chef in 2006 and won a silver medal. In December 2009, Efrain participated in Puerto Rico’s first Master Chef Competition and did very well earning second place.
Learn about our scholars in: Casino Management, Hotel Management and Culinary Arts
