It took us a while to find just the right person to honor with the first Service Props in Los Angeles. This person is after all, setting the tone for what will be a distinguished list of the best service industry professionals in the city. He or she has to represent the best of the best, be a shining example of great work ethic, creativity, persistence, motivation and of course an unrelenting commitment to service.
We found all those qualities and more in Jose Mocetezuma, General Manager at Bar Celona in Pasadena CA.
We sat down with Jose, well actually we stood while he simultaneously, answered our questions, prepared the restaurant for service, and resolved a major plumbing issue; we told you he was good.
Jose struck me as someone who achieves anything he sets his mind to do – an aggressive go-getter, he inspires confidence. The kind of guy you want by your side on a Saturday night with a new hostess, short a bartender, with broken dishwasher and a cook who’s just cut a finger; calm under pressure.
When asked how he got into the restaurant industry:
Jose’s restaurant career began as a busboy in the nightclubs of Cancun. By 1994 he was ready for college, so he moved to Los Angeles and immediately began looking for a job in the restaurant industry.
One of the stops on his job hunt was a Pasadena restaurant; he grabbed an application and asked when he could talk to a manager. The next day he was back, app in hand and ready for a meeting.
During the interview when asked, “Why should I hire you” Jose responded, “Give me one chance, I’ll be good for the company.” he was hired on the spot.
That restaurant was Smith Brothers’ Crocodile Café and that manager was David Ficklen. Years later David would call on Jose again to head up the brand new Bar Celona in Pasadena.
Jose credits his expertise and success to some of the best owners, chefs and managers in the industry. It’s a pretty impressive list, Bob and Gregg Smith from Smith Brothers Restaurants, Mary Sue, Susan Feniger owners of Cuidad, and Border Grill, Hugo Molina, previously Spanish Kitchen and Parkway Grill, now Seta, Jack & Karen Huang owners of Wok N Roll, Bar Celona, Sorriso, IX Tapa Cantina, Josef Centeno, creator of the new Bar Celona menu, now owner of Lazy Ox Canteen, and of course his first mentor David Ficklen, now GM at Sushi Roku, Pasadena.
He has great respect for each of his mentors. Heck we have lots of respect and admiration and we don’t know them like he does.
When asked what he likes most about the industry:
Jose likes that the industry offers many opportunities to learn and there is no limit to what you can achieve. He also mentioned to us what sounded like a super power; the ability to make people smile. He says “One smile, one drink, one complimentary word may be all it takes to make someone smile and feel special.” What a guy!
In his position as GM, Jose also enjoys the opportunity to give back to the community. He freely offers a fully staffed bar each month for the Pink Slip Mixer networking event. The Bar Celona held event is a welcome break for job seekers looking for work in a down economy. The participants can network, trade ideas and share experiences. He’s happy to help them get through a tough time and to do all he can to make them smile.
Bar Celona also participates in the annual Parkway Grill Food and Wine Festival to benefit the Center for Trauma Care at Huntington Hospital.
When asked for his best service tip:
Jose believes that service industry people should strive for perfection and provide consistent reliable service that customers can depend on. That’s a foundation any successful business can build upon.
Thanks again to Jose for taking the time to chat with us.
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Do you know someone great that deserves Service Props? Just send their name, place of work, a pic and why they rock in an email message to “trevor at table20 dot com”. Inspired by Chef Crush. Spread the love!
