CHRIS WADSWORTH, 36
Chef/Co-founder, Triumph Kitchen
In 2013, Chris Wadsworth made the tough decision to leave behind his prestigious position as executive chef at Restaurant IPO. The award-winning chef who has catered for the likes of Bruce Willis, Jason Aldean and other celebrities did so to open Triumph Kitchen, a nonprofit venture through which he and his wife, Sommer, teach at-risk youth ages 16 to 22 the skills needed to prepare for a career in the hospitality and culinary industries.
Inspiring book: Kitchen Confidential
It’s a real-life representation of this industry.
Major professional accomplishments: Chefs to Watch 2013; Top Chef, season 2; numerous culinary awards over 22 years; personal chef for several major celebrities.
Volunteer and community involvement: Sommer and I are actively involved in more than 20 nonprofits.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A custom car builder.
What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? I was a dishwasher at 14. I learned that it takes all positions in this industry to be successful as a whole.
What is your favorite place for a business lunch in Baton Rouge? Triumph Kitchen.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? Overcoming a rough start to my teenage years and being a great dad.
The old saying goes, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Specifically, what are you “being” to make Baton Rouge better? Focusing on the next generation, specifically those who no one else will.
What ritual do you do to get pumped up before a big meeting, presentation or pitch? Talk to Sommer, my wife.
What has been the most fulfilling moment in your career so far? Graduating nine students from the program.
What was your professional aha moment? Being turned down for an executive chef position at a casino because I didn’t have a degree.
How many times will you try something before admitting it doesn’t work? Until it works.
What is your best productivity hack? Prepping out the kitchen for events.
What did you learn the hard way? Speed is a byproduct of mechanical talent.
What does your job entail that would shock customers or clients if they knew about it? I mentor students with disabilities, addictions, criminal backgrounds, etc. It would all surprise you.
What’s a weird rule at your job that you know is only there because someone was dumb enough to do it in the first place? There is no dumb rule. Everyone will make a mistake at least once.
TECHNOLOGY
Mac or PC? PC desktop, Mac everything else.
What’s your preferred mode of communication: text or phone call? Text.
How low will you allow your remaining battery life to get (in %) before you have an anxiety attack? 3%
How many unread messages are in your inbox right now? Zero.
What app gets you through the day? Social media, square, Pandora.
Are you quick to adapt to new tech, or did you hang on to that flip phone way after it became obsolete? Quick.
PERSONALITY
How many times do you hit the snooze button? 6
Breakfast at home? Breakfast on the go? Breakfast at your desk? No breakfast at all? Coffee on the road.
Is the glass half empty or half full? What’s in the glass? Empty.
If you could build a statue downtown, who or what would it represent? A large cast iron pot to represent Baton Rouge as a melting pot. It’s time to celebrate it.
What’s your motto? I’ll sleep when I’m dead.
When did you realize you had grown up? Have I?
Which historical figure do you most identify with? Robin Hood.
Which living person do you most admire? My wife, Sommer.
What is your greatest extravagance? Triumph.
What trend do you really wish would come back? Cruising the soda shop with your lady friend on the weekend.
What is your favorite journey? New Orleans weekend getaway with Sommer.
What is your greatest regret? Working 80 hours a week during my kids’ baby years.
When and where were you happiest? On a trip with my wife, Sommer.
What’s your most treasured possession? My six kids.
If you could live anywhere on this planet and take everything that you love with you, where would you choose to live and why? I love Louisiana. I’d stay put.
What do you most value in your friends? Loyalty and honesty.
What do you miss most about the ’90s? The music in the early ’90s.
If you had to be a teacher of something, what would you teach? I’d teach at-risk teens culinary and survival skills.
What is your theme song? Motley Crue, “Smoking in the Boys’ Room”
Who would play you in a movie? Robin Williams, if he were still alive.
If you could go back in time 20 years, what advice would you give yourself? Stay focused on learning a trade.
What useless piece of information will you never forget? How many pounds of sugar cane Bellegrove Plantation used to produce.
What makes you laugh every time you think about it? When my oldest son got stuck in the seat at the movie theater.
Who’s the most famous celebrity you’ve ever met? Bill Gates.
LOOKING AHEAD
What’s the next challenge you have planned? Opening another restaurant around graduation time of class five at Triumph Kitchen.
Three things on your bucket list: Marry my best friend (done), have my own TV show, retire by the age of 50.
If you have children, what concerns you most about the future they will inherit? Overseas conflicts.
What would be your advice for future Forty Under 40 honorees? Do what you love and love what you do (Ruth Furtell).
Do you plan to be in the Capital Region five years from now? Yes.
Why have you chosen to make your home in the Capital Region? It’s a town that seems to take better to trend setters as opposed to trend followers.
Have you peaked, or do you think you’ll still have it when we launch our hypothetical “Forty Over 40” awards years from now? I am in the middle of the best 10 years of my career.
