Where did the name Chef Big Diesel come from? That’s been my e-mail address for 15 years. It was a nickname given to me when I worked at The Peninsula Country Club here in Cornelius. This is just kind of my stomping ground. This is where I’ve been my whole life.
What did you do at The Peninsula?
by Lori K. Tate photography by Candy Howard
hane Smith was studying sports medicine at Wingate University with the intent to pursue it as a career. But then fate intervened. He got a summer job cooking at a Mooresville restaurant and never looked back. Fifteen years later he’s an expert on the catering and restaurant business in the Lake Norman area at the young age of 34. The Mooresville native known as Chef Big Diesel is busy working on his latest project, opening Mojo’s Grill & Pub in Cornelius. We recently talked with him about the business of food and why it’s so important to give back.
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I was a rounds chef there. I did banquets, catering, fine dining and veranda dining. The head chef and I always did events together.
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Cooking Shane Smith, also known as Chef Big Diesel, says there’s more to the restaurant business than food
What was it about the restaurant business that drew you in? I’m an entertainer. I sing. I do music. I love food. I love the creative side of food. I’m a very spiritual person, very active in my church at Denver United Methodist. We’re very active in the community. We still do a lot with the Mooresville Christian Mission and the Mooresville Soup Kitchen. My goal for a business is to always be able to impact a community. Randy Marion taught me that a long time ago. I grew up with his children, Randy Jr. in church and Jennifer in choir. We’ve all been around this area a long time. Randy told me a long time ago, “to whom much is given, much is expected in return,” so we’ve worked hard to make sure that we’ve given back as much as we’re taking, to take care of our community. Continued on page 23
Mooresville native Shane Smith caught the restaurant bug in college and has never looked back.
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lake norman currents | February 2014 | www.lncurrents.com