Before becoming a full-time teacher, Miguel worked in a variety of jobs covering many facets of the culinary industry. For over a decade, Chef Alfonso held various roles in busy establishments in New York City, Montreal, and St. Helena, CA eventually becoming head chef of a longstanding restaurant in downtown Manhattan.  Besides chef positions, Miguel was also involved in catering (private and corporate), food styling and media, and the co-founding of an ice cream company. In this teaching role,  Miguel is fulfilling a long-held dream of sharing his knowledge and diverse experiences in the food world.

Chef Alfonso is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and was the recipient of the Brillat-Savarin Medal of Merit for academic achievement. A native of the Philippines, he now lives in Northern NJ with his wife and two young children.