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Chef at Scottsdale resort to partake in 'Girl Boss' pairing dinner

Posted at 7:04 AM, Aug 11, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-11 12:56:46-04

It's go time for Samantha Sanz!

Sanz is running the kitchen at Four Seasons Resort in Scottsdale; she says looking back at her childhood — cooking has always been an important part of her life.

"The first time I cooked it was an omelet and I was six years old," says Sanz. "So it's pretty crazy. It was there without me knowing it was there."

Once she realized she could actually make a living by cooking, she went for it. Except there were a couple problems. The young girl from Mexico didn't know English very well. However, that wasn't the only issue she ran into.

"No disrespect, but all the girls would be in the pastry department," says Sanz. "You would never see girls in a savory side because it's a little rough. It's different. It's boys. You have to deal with boys all day long." 

Sanz learned English but surviving in a male dominated industry was tough. One of her first jobs nearly destroyed her.

"It was a male dominated kitchen where they were rude. They were mean. They were not nice. They did not help me ever," she says.

Today she's one of the top chefs at the Four Seasons Resort. As she's moved up the ranks, she has watched the business change as well. Now more women are becoming well known for their exceptional skills. 

"It's not that you're female. It's not that you're male. You're this or you're that. You're just a chef. You're just a talented chef and I think that's what we all want at the end of the day," Sanz says. 

On Saturday, Sanz will join the chef from Fat Ox in Scottsdale for a "girl boss" pairing to celebrate women in the industry. The "Unwind, Revive and Ignite" event continues through the weekend with proceeds going to the local Girl Scouts. Click here for more information.