Sam Rodriguez is usually hidden away in the kitchen working as the morning Sous Chef at Vue on 30a. Sam is a self-taught chef and has been with Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club for the last five years. When he’s not hard at work, he can most likely be found gaming or spending time with his five year old stepson, Elijah, and two year old son, Avery. Originally from Texas, Sam is an avid Dallas Cowboys fan and currently resides in Defuniak Springs, Florida.

What’s your favorite part of your job? Creating new dishes and using ingredients I’ve never had the pleasure of working with before

What’s the most challenging part of your job? The stress of trying to please everyone

Favorite movie? Return of the Living Dead

Favorite TV show? Game of Thrones

What’s the last book you read? A baby book on becoming a father

Favorite food? Sandwiches

If we cranked your car right now, what music would play? Something from the 80’s and 90’s or electrofunk

Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why? Corpus Christi, Texas. A lot of my family lives there and I haven’t seen them in years. It’s beautiful there.

Favorite place in the world? My bed or the beach

Who inspires you and why? My son inspires me. He drives me to provide a better life for him than I had.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why? My mother. She died of cancer when I was thirteen. I would love to meet her, as I am an adult now, to see what kind of person she was.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Jiu Jitsu