In Baja California, few artisans specialize in ice sculpture. Proudly, the legendary Rosartito Beach Hotel has a talented team member who, for the third consecutive year, has created stunning ice sculptures for its traditional New Year’s Eve celebration.

For the past five years, he has also been crafting intricate ice figures for the hotel’s gala events.

This talented individual is Jesús Sánchez Guerrero, who has been part of the Azteca Restaurant’s kitchen team for over a decade. Known for his dedication, perseverance, and enthusiasm for learning, Sánchez Guerrero has become a standout collaborator at the hotel.

Creating the most intricate ice figures can take up to an hour and a half and requires a thick block of ice, with the sculptures lasting approximately eight hours.

Before mastering ice carving, Sánchez Guerrero honed his skills with fruits, crafting figures such as swans, dragons, seahorses, fish, and dolphins, as well as more delicate creations like hearts and roses for romantic occasions like Valentine’s Day.

“I started carving sculptures in fruits and vegetables as practice. Later, the chef gave me the chance to work with ice because of my experience carving fruits and vegetables, which is similar but a bit more challenging,” shared Sánchez Guerrero.

Sánchez Guerrero’s journey at Azteca Restaurant began as a kitchen assistant. Over time, his hard work and passion for Mexican cuisine helped him grow professionally. He now specializes in creating traditional Mexican dishes alongside a variety of other culinary delights.

Gastronomy is such a vast discipline that we can never fully master it, but I love my work, and I’m always eager to learn and help in every way possible,” he said.

Originally from Rosarito, Sánchez Guerrero moved to the city in 2005. He attended Pedro Moreno Elementary School and Secondary School #37. One of his first jobs was at Hotel Calafia, where he started as a dishwasher. Motivated by his ambition to grow professionally, he asked for an opportunity to join the kitchen team, eventually becoming a kitchen assistant.

In 2012, eager to advance his career, Sánchez Guerrero joined Azteca Restaurant at Hotel Rosarito as a buffet assistant. Over the years, he has held various roles, including general assistant, cold-line cook, production cook, and currently, dinner service cook.

His standout contributions include preparing canapés, carving fruits and vegetables, and for the past five years, creating impressive ice sculptures for the hotel’s gala events. Sánchez Guerrero’s skill and dedication have made him an invaluable part of the Rosarito Beach Hotel’s team.