Sunny Arroyo - Gosh!, Lakeland

Sunny Arroyo, 23, started as a dishwasher five years ago at Gosh! Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar on South Florida Avenue, but within a year, he began to train as a sushi chef. A former art student, he believes that his sense of aesthetics contributed to his success. "It's all about presentation. If the dish looks nice, people will want to eat it," said Arroyo.

What's your favorite sushi roll? Jon Joo Dy. It has crab, cream cheese, and cucumber, topped with eel and yellow tail, and it has eel sauce and spicy sauce. It's sweet and spicy.

Are you picky about what knives you use? No, some people are crazy about their knives, but I don't care as long as it's sharp and easy to sharpen and feels comfortable in my hand.

Have you ever had any sushi mishaps? I cut myself wiping a 12-inch blade one time. We go through a lot of avocado, and the towel was getting slippery, and my thumb went along the blade. I had to go to the emergency room and get stitches. People said my face turned white when it happened.