Spruill sears and slices at family business
The English translation for the Spanish word “amante” is “lover or loving.” Originating in Latin, Italian and Spanish cultures, the word was used to describe affection or devotion. That is exactly what junior Santino Spruill feels for his family as he works under his stepdad, Brandon Qualls, at Amante Tacos and Spirits.
Spruill has been working with Qualls since he was 12, starting at Qualls’s other restaurant, Ford + Shep located in downtown Greenville. Currently, Spruill is the sous chef at Amante and prepares over half of the items on the menu.
“I usually go in [and] start prepping the food,” Spruill said. “Cutting chicken is actually a big part of what I do [but also] cooking the rice [and] just getting things ready to go.”
Originally, holding the position of sous chef was awkward for Spruill, as he was having to work with individuals older than him and give them directions in order to get the job done.
graphic by lorian mcgillicudy
“I struggled at first because I won’t lie, it was my first time ever running [a kitchen],” Spruill said. “At the ripe age of 16 years old, I was telling people what to do, so that was a little bit of a hiccup in the process.”
After a while, Spruill was able to get used to the position of leadership he obtained. Working at Amante has helped him grow and work successfully with many different groups of people.
“It teaches you how to mesh with everybody,” Spruill said. “You’re [going to] have some really strange people, and you’re gonna have some really cool people, but you’re all going to work together [because you] are all kind of doing the same thing.”
Having a strong support system outside of the kitchen is a key factor that contributes to Spruill’s achievement at Amante. Social studies teacher Liza Knight had Spruill as a student and helped him manage his work schedule while maintaining a thriving education.
“Mrs. Knight made it very easy for me,” Spruill said. “When I had late work nights, she was very accepting; she understood what I had to go do after I was done with school.”
Spruill continues to have this support system in the kitchen and around his family as they keep him motivated and cheer him on in all areas of his life.
“[Family means] a lot, it’s who I come home to, it’s who I confide in; they’re the first people I go to when I don’t understand [something],” Spruill said. “I would say they’re my base in a way… they’re people I always fall back on.”
Some may say that working with a family business is difficult, creates strife and may even be seen as a chore. Spruill, however, feels quite the opposite, believing that working with his family has brought them closer together. His relationship with Qualls is especially important to him as Qualls has been able to teach him many valuable lessons.
“He’s one of my best friends, honestly; he’s just taught me so much,” Spruill said. “Everybody in that kitchen has, because [it’s] people from all walks of life.”
Working at Amante has taught Spruill many lessons that he is able to apply to his everyday life. He feels that he has been able to connect with people on a personal level and learned to respect everyone he comes into contact with.
“You’re not going to be surrounded by the same people your whole life, and that’s a good thing,” Spruill said.
Spruill continues to think about his own walk of life as he hopes to have a career in dentistry one day, as well as owning his own restaurant. In doing this, he hopes to uphold the legacy that Qualls has built and invest in the future of Amante and Ford + Shep. He advises other children of business owners to work at their family businesses.