Chef Mark Sierra

This week on The Saddle Up Podcast, G Garza and Matt Palmquist welcome Chef Mark Sierra, Army veteran, restaurateur, and founder of the Purple Heart Project of Texas, for a conversation about food, service, sacrifice, and building something bigger than yourself.Chef Mark is the owner of Compadres Hill Country Cocina in Boerne, Texas, a restaurant rooted in family recipes, Texas hospitality, and deep respect for those who have served. His path into the kitchen began when he was just 10 years old, learning to cook from his grandmother after she lost her sight. Years later, that foundation helped shape a career in the culinary world and eventually led him to open Compadres.But Chef Mark’s impact stretches far beyond the restaurant.In 2020, Mark and his wife, Dalia, started what would become the Purple Heart Project with a simple idea: provide a steak dinner to honor local Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star families. That gesture of appreciation grew into an annual gala and a nonprofit dedicated to recognizing combat-wounded veterans, supporting their families, funding scholarships, organizing community service efforts, and ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten.Chef Mark has also helped spearhead efforts to recognize Boerne as a Purple Heart City and played a role in establishing a Purple Heart monument at Veterans Plaza, creating a permanent tribute to those wounded or killed in combat.In this episode, we talk about his military service, the journey from veteran to chef and business owner, the origins of Compadres, and why supporting veterans and Gold Star families has become such an important part of his life.We also explore the meaning of service after the uniform comes off, the responsibility of keeping the stories of America’s heroes alive, and how food, community, and gratitude can bring people together in powerful ways.Chef Mark’s story is a reminder that service does not end when military service does. Sometimes, it simply takes on a new form.