Today, Candido Ortiz of new Jersey- the owner of his own restaurant and a priest in one of the local churches, but it was not always so. He has 27 years in prison, thousands of hours spent rethinking his life and spiritual quest.
Candido arrived in the U.S. from the Dominican Republic as an infant. From an early age, the boy dreamed of his own restaurant, but lack of education and funds forced him to curtail on a curve of the road he joined a criminal group involved in drug trafficking.
In 1991, the immigrant was arrested and sentenced to 49 years imprisonment. Sitting in prison, Ortiz did not waste time in vain — he began to read the Bible and learn the profession of chef.
Cooking has so carried away the prisoner, that he soon became the main prison chef — prepared daily meals in the 1500 — 2500 people, and managed a team of 20 helpers in the kitchen.
In August 2016, something happened that forever changed the future of Candido — along with 213 other prisoners of the American prison he came under the Amnesty, a decree which was signed by Barack Obama.
Upon his release, 56-year-old native of the Dominican Republic joined the rehabilitation program NJ Reentry corporation, and helped him to get a job as a cook in a Light Rail Café, Jersey city. At the same time, the former drug dealer has joined the religious community received a spiritual education and was soon ordained a priest.
Watching the amazing transformation of the ex-offender Reentry representatives of the NJ corporation headed by the former Governor of new Jersey James mcgreevy helped him to find $25 thousand at the start of the business.
On Tuesday, December 19, the doors opened El Sabor Del Café — restaurant Candido.
«Cooking is my life. I put love into every dish that I cook!», — says the owner of the new restaurant and part-time chef.
For your success and the chance to start a new life he thanked God, former President and mcgreevy, and in his spare time working in the Church helping the lost souls.
El Sabor Del Café is located in Jersey city at 31 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Jersey City. The proprietor recommends that future customers are sure to enjoy the chicken Alfredo and chicken shrimp with garlic sauce.
