A Bobcat to Know: Cook listens to more than meal orders

Oct 28 2009 - 11:22pm | Elizabeth Barbee

Sara Strick/Star photo

Delores Torres, head cook of Marco Polo’s in The Den, is a self-proclaimed raconteur.

“Come get something from my kitchen,” Torres said. “I will tell you a story.”

Torres said she likes talking to students about their days and about her grandchildren.

“One time, a girl came to my counter and looked really sad, so I asked her, ‘Is everything OK?’” Torres said. “She told me her mother was having brain surgery in a couple of days, and it hit me — this is about more than handing someone food.”

Torres said she has connected with numerous other students.

“(When I began) two Japanese girls came to the counter and we started talking,” Torres said. “We developed a rapport and they became like daughters to me.”

Torres said she began working for the university in 2005 but has enjoyed cooking all of her life.

“I was 10 years old when I started cooking and it was out of survival,” Torres said. “My mom hardly ever cooked and I was the oldest child.”

Torres said she began making meals by mimicking what her grandmother did in the kitchen. “One of my brothers does catering,” Torres said.

“I guess you could say it’s in the genes.”

Leslie Bulkley, resident district manager, spoke fondly of Torres.

“Delores is a very caring person,” Bulkley said. “She truly cares about students and their well being.”

Jeania Brandon, food service director, described Torres as an exemplary Bobcat and worker.

“Delores is wonderful,” Brandon said. “She is an employee who cares a lot about our customers and staff.”

Brandon said she could see the passion Torres has for cooking and interacting with students.

“She thoroughly enjoys cooking and serving students the food they like,” Brandon said.

Torres said her life outside of work involves the culinary arts.

“On the side, my husband and I make cakes,” Torres said. “I think if I had been able to go to culinary school, I would have become a chef.”

Torres said this January marks her fifth year working at Texas State.

“I have a love for cooking,” Torres said. “It is like when little kids sit down at the piano and take to it right away. It is that same type of love.”

Torres said she likes her job and pointed to her black chef’s hat.

“I always tell students, ‘The worst part of the job is the uniform.,” Torres said.

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