Eagle’s Nest lead cook Gloria Vazquez
Susan Knox Wilson
If you are a regular at Eagle’s Nest Sunday Brunch, you may know Gloria Vazquez as the “omelet lady.” Gloria loves manning the omelet station for Sunday brunch because she gets out of the kitchen and has a chance to meet with her customers face to face – or rather food to face.
Eagle’s Nest lead cook Gloria Vazquez has been working behind the scenes at Eagle’s Nest restaurant for an incredible 20 years and she says she’s loved every minute of it. “I, seriously, prefer working to taking vacation,” Gloria confided, “I need to be busy all the time or I am not happy.” Gloria first started as a dishwasher, then worked her way up to prep chef, cook and finally lead cook — a position she’s held for the last 10 years.
Gloria’s love of working at Eagle’s Nest inspired her three daughters to work here too. Over the years her daughter Vivianna worked in the kitchen, daughters Adrianna and Erika once ran the coffee shop in the fitness center and today, daughter Erika is the Assistant Manager at Toscana’s.
When asked how things have changed in the last 20 years at Eagle’s Nest, Gloria noted the many staff changes and how different head chefs have influenced the menus. “All the changes have been great for me,” Gloria revealed, “because I keep learning new dishes and different ways of food preparation.”
When she does take time off, Gloria can be found at her ranch in Tolleson, tending to the horses and chickens and cooking — of course! — for her family. And when she does sit still? She doesn’t, really — she’s doing a crossword!