feature STORY
MARK KANTARAS HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN
too many cooks
A CHEF? 11 years. WHAT OR WHO INSPIRED YOU TO BE A CHEF? The type of work inspired me to be a chef. It is generally fun and everyday is an adventure! I am a results oriented person, so it is a really good feeling when you leave work with a perfect, successful day. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING A CHEF? I love constantly having something going on. I can’t imagine having an office job and sitting at a desk all day. WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST? The hours. You are on the clock even when it’s your day off. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO COOK? Asian Foods. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE WANTING TO PURSUE A CAREER AS A CHEF? Start in the business itself and gain experience. Don’t just wake up one day and want to become a chef and go to school and expect to succeed when you get out of school. I see a lot of times people get out of Culinary school and don’t succeed without the hands on experience.
KONAGRILL LE VOLTAIRE CEDRIC FICHEPAIN
Omaha Restaurant Association
ROCKY ROCHA HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN A CHEF? 15 years. WHAT OR WHO INSPIRED YOU TO BE A CHEF? Since I was 3, I was running around professional kitchens with my father helping out by peeling asparagus, making kabobs, peeling potatoes, etc… I just enjoyed it so much that I knew I wanted to do it when I got older. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING A CHEF? Pressure! It’s almost like being in the middle of the biggest game in sports (just without millions of people watching you) coming together with your staff as a team to pull off dinner service. WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST? Probably the money because you have people demanding a lot out of you, but chefs aren’t really paid as well as they should be. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO COOK? Anything that involves fish. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE WANTING TO PURSUE A CAREER AS A CHEF? Work under the direction of talented, professional chefs. Always give 100 percent effort and attention. Make sure you pay attention, ask questions and most important BE INVOLVED.
MAGNOLIAHOTEL 14
metroMAGAZINE • AUG 2010
HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN A CHEF? 12 years. WHAT OR WHO INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A CHEF? Grandmother’s and mother’s cooking. I was the chef/ party organizer at every dinner event with my friends in my teenage years and after. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING A CHEF? Organization skills, leadership, innovation. WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE LEAST? No weekend with my kids and friends. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO COOK? Fish. There are so many different species and so many ways to cook them. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE WANTING TO PURSUE A CAREER AS A CHEF? Be ready for long and hot hours for a ridiculous pay. You must have it in you or you will not succeed.