Reader Restaurant Awards' Big Personalities: Daniel Urdaneta

This year we initiated the "Restaurant Personality of the Year" category as a nod to some of the people who make Beijing's dining scene what it is. We thought it'd be fun to have these personalities "interview" each other, so we invited each of the 13 nominees to contribute questions, and tossed a few in ourselves for good measure. Here’s what Daniel Urdaneta of Modo/Mosto had to say.

What’s the greatest lesson a chef has ever taught you?
Teamwork creates the best meals.

Do you ever have a bad hair day?
Have you ever seen me wearing a cap?

What single value do you try to instill in your staff above all others?
Honesty. That will be reflected in many ways in a kitchen.

If you were going to evaluate another chef’s ability by examining their kitchen, what specific areas would you look at?
The cooler. You can see a lot from that – for example, if a chef is organized and hygienic.

Is there any aspect of your own personality you don’t like to see in your staff?
I wouldn’t want all of them to show up with the same hairstyle!

Check out the full list of who the readers chose in the Beijinger Reader Restaurant Awards here and here.

Modo 3/F, Sanlitun Village South(close to Element Fresh), 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6415 7207) 朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯Village南区3楼(近新元素)

Mosto 摸石头 3/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (5208 6030) 朝阳区三里屯路81号那里花园3层

Click here to see the April issue of the Beijinger in full.