Carving His Own Way: Dinner with Acclaimed Chef Francis Mallmann

Francis Mallmann is a famous Argentine chef, restauranteur, author, and media personality. With ten restaurants currently in operation around the world, and a dedicated episode on Netflix’s beloved Chef’s Table series, Francis is a larger than life persona known for his artistic flair and eccentric lifestyle.

This article will be helpful for anyone looking to ignite their creative passions, embrace unconventional paths, and be inspired to rethink their approach to life, love, and business by exploring the impact of living authentically and challenging the status quo.

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Francis Mallmann is a globally recognized Argentine chef who was featured in season one of Chef's Table on Netflix.

He owns ten restaurants, including Los Fuegos at the Faena in Miami, where he joined a friend and I for dinner.

What we anticipated to be a brief conversation, evolved into an enthralling four-hour discussion about life, love, loss, business, passion, art, and everything in between.

Without exaggeration, that dinner changed our lives.

We didn’t challenge Francs to change our perspectives, or prompt him in any way.

Rather, it was his presence, his commentary, and consistent questioning of the status quo that unintentionally caused the effect.

It became clear to us the need for more art, creativity, passion, beauty, whimsy, and flexibility in our lives.

As a result, my friend is considering a career change to gain more personal time and foster joy.

As for me, I spent the following weeks revisiting my old writings and reigniting my interest in fiction books. I realized that my achiever-mentality had stifled my creativity over the years.

While my work traditionally focuses on how leaders have used power, influence, and networking to get ahead, our conversation barely touched on these topics.

Instead, it was Francis’s story and his rebellious, passion-fueled approach to life that painted an alternate path for becoming an iconic and impactful leader.

Carving His Way

At age 13, Francis decided to leave school. By the time he was 16, he was living independently in California. By 18, he became a chef when a restaurant partnership fell apart, and the financial backer asked him, "can you open this restaurant on your own?"

Rather than reacting with fear, Francis embraced the challenge.

Looking back, he acknowledged he wouldn’t be where he is today without that unexpected opportunity.

Francis is a man who carves his own path. He expressed his fondness for the song ‘Duncan’ by Paul Simon, which resonates with him due to its themes of restlessness, ambition, and the search for meaning - all mirrored in the journey of a young man leaving his hometown.?

"I think that our worst enemies are fear and routine. They make you freeze,” Francis told us.

For many years he has evaded continuity by oscillating between two contrasting worlds.

One world is of freedom and uninhibitedness on his private island in Patagonia.

In the other world, he manages ten businesses and is obliged to attend to the mundane. There he addresses demanding investors and marketers who always want to make him the focal point of a project, when instead he prefers the work itself, his artwork, to shine.

Regardless of which world Francis finds himself in, his free spirit is always present.

He revealed that he always keeps his passport within reach, ready to travel whenever the mood strikes or an opportunity presents itself.

Francis has accepted that he does not conform to certain traditional roles in relationships, business, and systems. I highly recommend watching his engaging and exquisitely produced episode on Chef's Table. Make sure to note all the ways he deviates from social norms and discusses it openly.

The Art of Business

“We’re not McDonald’s yet,” Francis joked when I asked him about what kind of standardization he had across his restaurants.

Love, romance, and passion are undercurrents in everything that captivates Francis’s eye, and he believes a restaurant should have similar excitement.

“There are two parts in a restaurant. First you have the heart, which is the romance of what you believe in. The other part is the business. Sometimes they go very well together, and sometimes you have to decide between the two. And I, without saying it, always teach our staff to protect more of the romance than the business. Because if you deliver the romance, it will attract the business.”

Francis explained that if you lose the romance, then a dream dies, and it’s not just the dream of a restaurant but a dream held by the whole staff.

“The staff has to believe in something. They're not only there for the check. They're there because there's something they believe in that you share with them. So you have to defend that.”

A Candid Leader

Since Francis values freedom and flexibility in his own life, he extends the same philosophy of openness and individuality to his staff.

Despite his eccentric style and unique celebrity persona, Francis doesn't expect his staff to emulate him. Instead, he sets his ego aside and empowers his chefs and managers, encouraging them to carve their own path.

"The key is telling the manager and the chef. You have the right to decide whatever you want. If you make a mistake, whatever it is, I will back you. But don't call me regarding the problem. Decide it, do it, and then we will talk about it,” Francis said.

He added, “That's my way with all my restaurants. I give them the power to decide whatever they have to decide.”

Changing Lives Through Experiences

Beyond cooking, Francis craves changing the way people feel, think, experience, or live.

He shared with us,

"What I most like doing are things that touch people in a way they will never forget - where they wake up in the morning and they say, what the hell was that?" and "Why don't I live my life like that every day?"

Francis believes that many people desire to be inspired to change their lives, and he sees his work as a catalyst for this transformation.

For example, he often hosts guests at his home in Patagonia, teaching them to cook every meal with appreciation and infatuation.

During walks in the forest he encourages them to remain silent, akin to being in a church mass. This practice allows them to hear the birds, feel the wind, and to become comfortable with silence without feeling the need to fill it with words.

Contrasts and Opposites

The most apparent, paradoxical, and appealing aspect of Francis’s persona is his love for contrasts and opposites.

He emphasizes the beauty and necessity of contrasts in life, such as romance versus business, or Patagonia versus the modern world.

Whether in textures of food or emotions in relationships, throughout our conversation he highlighted his appreciation for the interplay of different elements to create a rich, dynamic experience not just on the plate, but in life.

"One of the most beautiful things in life are the contrasts, the opposites. I really believe in living a life that has many opposites in everything. The mouth, soft, cold, or crunchy. In love too, you need opposites. Things happen, and then when you get together again, it’s very beautiful, and it's part of life. I think the same about sadness and happiness. They are intimate friends, and they sleep with us every night, and some days you wake up with one, and some days you wake up with the other."

The Art of Living

Francis Mallmann is an embodiment of the unorthodox and a testament to the power of embracing one's individuality.?

A fascinating study in contrast, Francis’s life and career showcase where art meets business, freedom meets responsibility, and tradition meets rebellion.

His story serves as a reminder that success can be achieved by carving out your own path and staying true to your passions, regardless of societal norms.?

Whether through his culinary creations or his unique lifestyle, Francis inspires us all to embrace the beauty of contrasts, to prioritize romance and passion, and above all, to live authentically.

Want to know more about Francis?

• Watch his trailer for Chef’s Table on Netflix
• Read one of his favorite poems: The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe
• Listen to one of his favorite songs: Duncan by Paul Simon
• Buy one of his 11 published books

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This article first appeared on the Momentum By Design book website at:

https://www.momentumbydesign.org/articles/francis-mallmann