Meet Fabian Ocampo | Chef & Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Fabian Ocampo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Fabian, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born and raised in Colombia and was always surrounded by different family member’s who inspired my cooking to this day. I learned so many valuable tools and delectable flavors for the recipes that I implement in my cooking and repertoire today. My grandmother and my mother were the most influential person for me and my passion for wanting to cook for myself and others. I was also inspired by others who I met along the way from Brazil, Argentina and Peru. This was the overall reason that I originally started our first food truck in Saint Louis in 2014 and again here in AZ in 2017. These two wonderful and incredible experiences of pleasing others with our cuisine over the last years has been why I was excited and thrilled to have this opportunity to open our first brick and mortar.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have worked in many areas of the restaurant business. Overtime in cooking for myself, my family and others, I have always felt the importance of not only taking my time with ensuring the most delicious and flavorful meals but the presentation of the entire plate. I feel that when something not only tastes amazing it has to also look as fantastic! We feel that the Phoenix area has some amazing restaurants however South American cuisine is something that is missing and that is what sets us apart from others as well as our very unique flavors that we provide in our restaurant,

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
After they came to Heritage Square to try Que Sazon first, I wouldn’t have to take them too far of course introduce them to the best pizza in the USA Pizzeria Bianco and to try our dear friends African Diaspora Cuisine at Latha right next door! And Stemistry for coffee Then I would take them to for an authentic Mexican experience at Madrigal and/or Barrio Queen. Then we could go to SumoMaya in Scottsdale. For places to visit for entertainment would love to take them to the Az Science Center, possibly Sedona and Grand Canyon for some beautiful scenery and hiking experiences.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My most amazing and most supportive wife Julie who has been and is as much of a reason for our success in both of our food trucks and most recent brick and mortal. As well as my incredible and wonderful daughter and son Kaylee and Sebastian who has been working with us on both food trucks and brick and mortar learning such an invaluable lesson in owning your own business. In addition I am most grateful for my father in law Lenny who has been a part of Que Sazon in AZ helping out on the food truck and in our restaurant. As well as my sister Nathalia and mother Elizabeth who were most helpful and an enormous part of our food trucks in Saint Louis and here in Phoenix. My sister in law Terri and her husband Cameron who did and have done their part with supporting our business venture by helping and working with us.

Instagram: @Quesazon_az