WACO, Texas (KWTX) - With a long, sharp knife slicing through a huge Hamachi, also known as yellowtail fish, like butter, 35-year-old Waco native, Joel Garza, feels right at home.

He is the Chef de Cuisine at the Red Herring Restaurant and Bar in downtown.

It’s the only upscale Mediterranean-inspired spot in town with its seasonal, shareable small plates that can transport any tasters beyond the city’s limits and into a place far away.

Garza said his love of cooking was there from the start.

He grew up around food.

He said his mother is a chef.

His family hosted large holiday gatherings, with large spreads of food in which he played a small role in its preparation.

“You know, they’re like, ‘You can bring sweet potatoes. That’s what you can bring for the next ten years.’ Okay. So,

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