Executive Chef & Business Owner Gabriel Garfio and Sous Chef, Alex Skelnik
I recently sat down with Executive Chef Gabriel Garfio to hear how his journey in the culinary arts began and what continues to inspire his work.
For Gabe, passion for food truly runs in the blood. His grandfather was a chef, and his uncle was a prestigious baker. Some of his earliest memories are of watching his father, a businessman, open his first restaurant when Gabe was just a little boy. Another defining moment came in junior high when representatives from the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) visited his school. Hearing about their high school culinary program sparked a drive in him early on. As a high school junior, Gabe enrolled at EVIT to build a solid foundation in cooking.
Knowing he wanted to master the craft, Gabe took his education further at Johnson & Wales University’s College of Food Innovation & Technology, earning his Associate’s Degree. Returning home to Arizona, he eagerly paid his dues across the industry, working in resorts, restaurants, and catering operations, and even co-owning Sunnyside Breakfast Lounge in Mesa with his parents. All that relentless work and dedication culminated on Mother’s Day in 2023, when he opened his very own restaurant, The Taqueria Factory, located right in our neighborhood at Alma School Rd. and Ocotillo Rd. in Chandler.
Gabe brings that same intense dedication and heart to Neighbors Who Care. Each month, he thoughtfully crafts a complete menu with a wide variety of dinner options. He shares that our clients especially love classic comfort dishes, his meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy remains one of the absolute most popular choices!
Preparing these meals with care is a true labor of love, especially amidst current economic challenges. To keep meals accessible and priced at just $9 each while food prices rise, Gabe gets incredibly creative. When the cost of beef rose significantly, rather than compromising quality, he adapted by developing vibrant new choices, like his widely praised eggplant parmesan.
What drives Gabe most is the deep personal reward of supporting local seniors. Working side by side with his close friend and talented Sous Chef, Alex Skelnik, the duo seamlessly manages the Neighbors Who Care dinner delivery program. Knowing that together they are providing hot, delicious meals to seniors who might otherwise go without brings Gabe and Alex genuine joy.
Gabe loves when volunteers, clients, and family members drop by his restaurant to say hello and offer a warm thank-you. It is a daily reminder of the impact he and Alex are making serving our community and making a difference, one meal at a time.
Written by Robin Wilson. Volunteer Manager