Fellow Bay Area transplant and Kroft co-founder/co-owner Stephen Le teaches us the value of reading (and Excel?) in the second part of his interivew.
Read the first half of our interview with Stephen over here.
And now, on to part two . . .
Hardest lesson you've learned:
Don't let criticism break you down.
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What's your favorite childhood memory?
Once a month, my parents would treat us to a buffet. As a child with a Vietnamese mother who insists on cooking every single meal for you, this was surely a huge treat!
Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in the Bay Area. I moved down to Orange County in 2001 for school. Not many people may know this, but I had aspirations to become a chiropractor.
Last thing you looked up online:
Tickets to the Denver and 49er game.
Last book read; how was it?
The last book I read was The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom. I had a few hours to kill, and my girlfriend handed it to me as she was studying at some law library. I begrudgingly started to read it, and by the time I was finished I was happy I did. The story is a reminder that we are all somehow, someway connected. And we affect the lives of other people on Earth without truly knowing how much.
Last song playing on your radio:
Steve Aoki – Delirium.
When you're not working, what are you doing in your free time?
Eating with my girlfriend, eating with my family, eating with my friends and eating alone. Although my days are scheduled around eating, I also enjoy traveling (to eat), spending time with my loved ones, and, on the very rare occasion, I like to golf.
Do you have any skills that are not food-related?
I can make a mean Excel spreadsheet.
What would you like to be doing if you weren't in the industry?
This is an industry I have fought to be in, so there isn't anywhere else I would rather be.
Is there anything you'd like readers to know about your restaurant?
We are dedicated to creating dishes from scratch, and doing anything and everything we can, so that you leave a happy customer.
The Kroft will be located at The District, inside Union Market. Union Market is located at 2493 Park Avenue, Tustin; www.thekroft.com.
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A contributing writer for OC Weekly, Anne Marie freelances for multiple online and print publications, and guest judges for culinary competitions. A Bay Area transplant, she graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management from Cal Poly Pomona. Find her on Instagram as brekkiefan.