MexiQ – Aaron Stewart
#047 – Today we are talking to Aaron Stewart, the owner and Head Chef of MexiQ, an Oakland Mexican BBQ establishment that blends the flavors of his East Oakland Black and Hispanic childhood neighborhood. Chef Aaron’s career went somewhat in reverse. He just happened to get a job at a restaurant working for a fine dining chef where he got trained on see and repeat – 1) show you how to do something, 2) tell you what to do, and 3) repeat that process again.
He got his first break working at a fast-paced restaurant, under a highly trained celebrity chef and ultimately became Sous Chef. Then, Aaron decided to go to culinary school at Laney and that is where everything changed.
“I walked in being a little big headed because I had been cooking in restaurants for a couple years now. You know, I’m fine dining all these things and then to get in there and everything kind of slowed down. It kind of sucked in the beginning, but it kind of humbled me because I was a see and repeat chef at that time.”
Culinary school gave Aaron the idea to start his own business – he was tired of working for others. He worked on the menu for 2 years. But his fiance, Leida, gave him the courage. He may still be working on that menu had she not told him to stop BS’ing and just get out there.
“I don’t know what you’re waiting on? You got the menu, what are you waiting on? And she is a business owner herself, so it was like, you know, she’s coming from experience.”
He started doing pop-ups in his parents driveway. He was blown away by the reception – he was extremely proud of the mix of people from East Oakland to Walnut Creek sitting in his driveway enjoying his food and talking. He especially loves how those relationships have blossomed.
“this is somebody who just walked into my driveway to buy some food and now I’m at their kids’ birthday parties and stuff. Just things you wouldn’t imagine, the people you meet, that’s probably what I’m most proud of.”
Be sure to listen until the end to hear how one guy came to the popup and told him his rice was better than his grandma’s, then came back the following week with his grandma.
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