Jose Bernal was born in Tecalitlan, Mexico, and is one of seven children. Mr. Bernal worked throughout his childhood in the corn fields with his father, meeting him immediately after school and working until sundown on a daily basis. Dreaming one day of living in the United States, Mr. Bernal and his brother left their small town at 17 years of age. They walked through San Ysidro, California to San Diego, among mountains and highways. They did not speak any English, and hid under the seats of a van while en route San Diego to Los Angeles.

Mr. Bernal traveled to Chicago to live with his two other brothers who previously made the long journey to the US. Both brothers were working at a fine dining restaurant, Nick’s Fishmarket, as cooks, where Mr. Bernal took a job as a dishwasher in 1983. Amazed by the action and activity of the kitchen, Mr. Bernal worked long shifts and tried to earn as much money as he could and learn about the kitchen. He studied the chefs and cooks, and became enamored with the art of cooking. Mr. Bernal carefully observed how the sauces were made and how the seafood was prepared. He was soon promoted to work in the pantry area, and then as a salad chef. Mr. Bernal realized his passion for cooking, and made it his goal to become the Executive Chef of the restaurant. Without ever taking any formal training courses, Mr. Bernal waited for the cooks to take a break so that he could get behind the hot line and create sauces and prepare the seafood.

Today, with a total of twenty one years at the restaurant, Mr. Bernal has been the Executive Chef at Nick’s Fishmarket for over eight years. The restaurant has been recognized with awards by DiRoNA and by Restaurant & Institutions. Wine Spectator has recognized the restaurant with an Award of Excellence. The Zagat Guide has written, “Dinner at Nick’s Fishmarket seems like an event.” Pat Bruno of the Chicago Sun-Times has recognized the restaurant for its outstanding seafood preparation.

As proud as he is of the accolades of the restaurant, by far Mr. Bernal counts his proudest moment when, as a family, the Chicago District Office of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services granted their applications for Adjustment of Status and made them Legal Permanent Residents of the US. Mr. Bernal exceeded every hope and dream he had as a young, poor child living in Mexico. Now fluent in English, a home owner, and managing two restaurants with over eighty employees, Mr. Bernal is truly living the American dream.

Additional Resources: Jose's  Video Remarks