William Del Valle shares his story of how kitchen curiosity led to a career in cooking.

When people talk about William Del Valle, one of the first things they mention is his singing!

“His singing keeps us smiling and livens up the kitchen,” shared Dana Swanson, UDC Chef. “Most of his songs are in Spanish. Sometimes they are sad. Sometimes they are happy. Sometimes they are TikTok trends!"

But William Del Valle brings more than just music to the kitchen of the Union Dining Center, he brings a love for cooking and a constant curiosity that allows him to learn every day.

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Del Valle said cooking was a big part of his family and he was always very curious about what was happening in the kitchen.

“When I was little, I would try to look into the pots to see what my grandma was cooking. But every time I opened the top of a pot, she would hit my hand with a spoon. She never missed!” Del Valle shared with a big laugh.

“My grandma told me, ‘When you cook, you cook with love.’ And I love cooking. It’s not a job to me. I could be in the kitchen all day. I like making people happy with my food,” he said.

Del Valle says the kitchen has been his best school because over the years he’s been able to learn by observing other cooks.

He shared, “I’ve always worked in kitchens, for 17 years. When I’m in the kitchen, I’m always looking at everyone, learning. I used to clean and do dishes, but I wanted to be at the flame!”

One thing De Valle struggles with is choosing a favorite food item because, “I love all Puerto Rican food.” Puerto Rican food is not only what he grew up eating, but is a food tradition he continues with his own family at home in Fargo. Now, he is excited to share some of his favorite recipes with the NDSU community for the upcoming A Taste of Puerto Rico event in the Union Dining Center.

At A Taste of Puerto Rico, you will find traditional items like monfongo (fried green plantains, mashed with seasoning), tostones (fried plantains, served with a traditional dipping sauce), and tembleque (coconut pudding), just to name a few.

When asked what is the major difference between American and Puerto Rican food, Del Valle very quickly blurted out, “SEASONING!” Puerto Rican food is full of flavor and commonly seasoned with adobo—a combination of spices including garlic powder, oregano, onion powder, salt, pepper and more. But some things are kept close at heart. With a grin, Del Valle said, “But I’m not sharing my bread recipe, that one I’m keeping a secret.”