649: Lisa Astorga-Watel on Taking Chances, Networking, and Presence.

Chef/Owner Lisa Astorga-Watel grew up in Santiago, Chile, before moving to Houston, Texas where she attended The Culinary Art Institute. Astorga-Watel's ambition started early wit the opening of her own catering business to cover her expenses while in school. Following her formal training, she served as a private chef for celebrity, Tommy Lee Jones. It was during this time in her career she was able to travel the world developing her pallet and culinary repertoire. It was also during this time she met her future husband and business partner Chef Damien Watel. Together the couple owns Bite and Bistr09

Show notes… Favorite success quote or mantra:

"Shoot for the moon. If you miss you'll hit a star." 

In this episode with Lisa Astorga-Watel, we discuss: 

• What took Lisa off the path of fashion and on a new culinary path. 
• Taking chances and risks early in your career to set yourself up with experience and opportunity
• How to deal with being a woman in a male-dominated industry. 
• The impact of a well-groomed, well-dressed staff. 
• Lisa's advice for progressing quicking within an organization. 
• How to become someone people want to network with. 
• The sacrifice that comes with being a personal chef for celebrities. 
• Other challenges of being a personal chef.
• What good communication with your business and life partner looks like. 
• Recognizing those who want it and giving them an opportunity. 
• Taking zoning into consideration when opening a restaurant. 
• Imprinting your personal identity onto your restaurant. 
• Maintaining your presence in a restaurant, even when you are absent. 
• Giving your staff a sense of ownership, and significance, especially in the eyes of your guest. 
• Always anticipate your opening taking longer than you think. 
• Opening restaurants in close proximity so you can compound on pre-established relationships. 

Today's sponsor:

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Knowledge bombs

1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
   • Patience
2. What is your biggest weakness?
   • Time away from her son.
3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
   • Honesty
4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
   • Showing up today a better version than herself, yesterday. 
5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
   • Be on time. 
6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
   • encourage your team to work together. 
7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
   GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM 
   • Kitchen Confidential
   • The Alchemist
8. What's the one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
   • Consistency 
9. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your four walls restaurant and how has it influence operations?
   • Toast POS
   • Yelp Reservations
10. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
    1. Be good.
    2. Be Kind.
    3. Be the best you can be. 

Contact info:

Websites:

Bite

Bistr09

Instagram: @lisa_astorga_watel

 

Thanks for listening!

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Huge thanks to Lisa Astorga-Watel for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

 

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