We recently connected with Gino Pineda and have shared our conversation below.
Gino, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
My work ethic over time, developed through my life experiences and having good role models. My dad was the person I looked up to at home. From the stories he shared, I got the feeling he was a no nonsense guy who took pride in his work. I also followed a few basketball players growing up, particularly the late Kobe Bryant. In Kobe, I tried to emulate his relentless work ethic, best known for putting in the work while everyone is asleep.
At times life was a struggle. I remember going to Mcdonalds on Friday nights as a treat for my family and I to eat out. I was fortunate to have their love and support growing up but I always had big dreams and ambitions. I knew I had to make it in whatever career i chose. I knew to get there, I had to develop a strong work ethic.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a chef by day and an aspiring digital creator/videographer by night. I love the creative process of both cooking and filming. I’ve been cooking professionally for about 14 years now. Working in the hospitality industry is a grind. You have to love what you do because it will take your soul. Luckily for me, I don’t have to worry about that.
My focus at the moment is trying to help Dialog open up a second location and a third (down the road). Opening restaurants is fun and taxing at the same time. Whenever i get a chance, I try to work on my solo project called Kogee Proj. Kogee is centered around fermentation and koji, how we utilize these techniques and ingredients to reduce food waste. I’ve been working on a couple of ideas on how to make a yogurt based hot sauce. More on that in the future.
On top of that, I somehow manage to find time to film and edit videos (although lately, this has taken a back seat). I started off by making these cooking videos for my own pleasure but quickly grew into a side hustle. I’ve been blessed to have these new opportunities and experiences.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Fall down seven times, stand up eight is a Japanese proverb/phrase I’ve used to motivate and encourage myself in challenging times. In my case, I didn’t have an option but to be resilient in order for me to achieve my goals.
Having an organized lifestyle does not hurt either. Organization is everything, from your preparation, time management, and having a place for everything. Organization is something I learned working in different kitchens.
These type of skills can be learned and developed over time. For someone who is starting early in their careers, having a mentor helps. Mentors can help people reach their goals with their guidance and support. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a couple of mentors in my life that I still speak to this day.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
Moving my brother and I to United States had a huge impact for us. Despite the challenges we had to face, I don’t think I’ll be successful doing what I do back home in the Philippines.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefxgee
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chefxgee
- Other: https://bsky.app/profile/chefxgee.bsky.social
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