Brandon Fazio – unfiltered

Walking home from the bar and grill one afternoon, I noticed a brand new fancy looking restaurant being built on Beach Boulevard. “La Fogata” which means – the fire was the name of the place. A now hiring sign hung. While I was having fun with all the characters I was working with, I wasn’t making quite enough money to get my own place or wheels. I applied, and heard back from chef Thom the next day. After chatting with chef Thom, he offered me a position in his kitchen though I had zero experience with a wood fired rotisserie. He told me he liked me, and he would have me trained. Excited for the new opportunity, I gave my two weeks notice at H.T. Kane’s.

Chef Flavio, a behemoth of a man standing about 6’6 was flown from Brazil to train us grill cooks on the Brazilian churrasco grill. We started training a month before the restaurant’s opening. The company put him up at one of its boutique resorts, and rented a Ford Focus for him to drive to and from. It was quite the sight to see him get in and out of the small bright yellow Easter egg shaped car.

He taught us how to cut and clean steaks. We used these massive skewers that would fit into the rotisserie churrasco grill. We also skewered whole legs of lamb, pork tenderloin, chicken wings, and pineapple. He taught us some foul Portuguese, we helped him improve his English. I learned that in the kitchen, language isn’t entirely necessary to train someone how to do something. All you really need is focus, patience and a hunger to learn.

When we weren’t training with Flavio, Chef Thom taught us how to prepare items that would go on the “gourmet table” which is a large buffet style table filled with fresh salads, charcuterie, hand rolled sushi. Thom was from Thailand, and was extremely zen. During down time you would find him wielding a samurai sword on the back patio.

Before our grand opening, the investor flew into town from Germany his primary residence. His name was Frank, he stood about 5’8 and was a large man. He had striking blue eyes, and the biggest brightest smile I had ever seen. When he walked, he seemed to just float across the ground. He carried an energy with him that was extremely calming and peaceful. He would fly into town once a month or so with a different group of women, he held conferences in the meeting room above the restaurant is what I was told. Frank took a liking to me, he would have me take a break and join him for a smoke on the back patio. He told me that I had very kind eyes, and a very gentle soul. One day his zippo didn’t fire, he asked me to go upstairs to his office and grab the lighter refill. I went to the elevator very excited to see the upstairs. When the elevator doors opened on the second floor, there was a picture of the Dalai Lama, Jesus, and Frank with his bright smile right in the middle of them. It was a lot to take in, I had no idea what to think or make of it. I grabbed the fluid from on top his desk and went back downstairs. Frank filled his zippo and lit my cigarette he rolled for me with his Turkish tobacco. We sat there smiling, sipping our tea and enjoying our smoke without speaking a word for the rest of the visit. I was still a little shook by what I saw upstairs, but in his presence I was relaxed and comfortable. When I got back inside I explained to Chef Thom what I saw upstairs, he explained that Frank is worshipped in Germany and has his own religion. I didn’t even question it. Maybe the man is a god walking amongst us. Hell, Jesus walked amongst us so why not again.

The month of training put enough dough in my pocket to get my own place, and also a Vespa.

I was having the time of my life, cruising on my red Vespa and a job I was proud of and incredibly fun. I learned how to cut Picanha, clean filet mignon, roll sushi and other various things as well as expanded my knowledge of spices and techniques.

Unfortunately, the good times came to an end when the recession of ‘08 hit and the restaurant had to close down.

Chef Thom taught me that being a chef is much more than leading a kitchen. It also means being a father figure at times, a teacher and even occasional therapist. The lessons he taught me have stayed with me till this day. Wherever you are chef, thank you, and I hope you are well.