Chef Michael Alvarez

Chef Michael Alvarez began his culinary career at the celebrated Cascabel restaurant in San Antonio, Texas. There he received his formal training under the guide of Jay McCarthy, cookbook author and chef celebrity. During this time he staged for many celebrity chefs, including Paul Prudhomme, Stephen Pyles, Susan Spicer and Rick Bayless. He has had the esteem honor of cooking dinner for Julia Child.

Since then, he has worked at top level restaurants in San Antonio, including Executive Sous at Cappy’s and Cappycinnos’ Inc., Chef de Cuisine of the plush American Orient Express Luxury Train, Executive Chef of Boardwalk Bistro, Corporate Chef for Hill Country Properties, were he ran Flying L Guest Ranch Resort and Woodlake Country Club, Executive Chef for Valero Energy Corporation.

He then going on to create the menu and kitchen design for Old Englands’ Lion and Rose Pub, which featured Authentic English pub cuisine. Currently he is Executive Chef of The Gruene Onion Grill and Gruene Onion Martini Bar, in New Braunfels, Texas, which features Continental Cuisine and highlights his visions of fusion cuisine.

Chef Michael also has a passion for music, winning Best Acoustic Guitarist in San Antonio in 1995 and 1997 and Best Electric Guitarist. It isn’t unusual to have dinner at The Gruene Onion then after 9 pm go to the Martini Bar and find him being the musical entertainer!