Chris Motto, 37
Executive Chef, Mansurs on the Boulevard
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Being named executive chef of Mansurs on the Boulevard in 2011.
- Competing on “Hell’s Kitchen,” chef Gordon Ramsay’s cooking competition series on Fox.
- Winning several cooking competitions, including being named a finalist in the 2018 Chefs Taste Challenge in New Orleans.
COMMUNITY:
Donating his time and food to charities and serving as vice president of Slow Food Baton Rouge, a nonprofit promoting farm-fresh ingredients, sourcing local organic food and educating children on farming.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY
Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
An attorney
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
My first job was at Lapeyrouse Motors in Jeanerette. I was 15 years old working in the body shop and washing cars. I learned that I needed to go to college before I ended up doing such hard work for the rest of my life.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
Mansurs on the Boulevard and whatever the special of day may be
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
Being able to showcase my talents on national television
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL “AHA” MOMENT?
When I had my first “scratch kitchen” job and realized this is what i wanted to do
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
Too many things to list
WHAT GIVES YOU PROFESSIONAL INSPIRATION?
Seeing younger cooks excel from the things I’ve been able to teach them and watching their growth
WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A COLLEAGUE OR BOSS?
Gordon Ramsay telling me that I can f***ing cook
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
Facebook and Instagram
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
50 texts, 20 emails
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
10
WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WISH WAS NEVER INVENTED?
Yelp
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
7:30
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
Coffee
THE SAYING GOES: “BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU “BEING” TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
Trying to educate Baton Rouge on using more local ingredients and raising their culinary expectations
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP?”
When I purchased my first home
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
Taking a two week road trip/national park tour with who would later become my wife
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
First go-kart
WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?
Motto
FAVORITE DRINK?
Bourbon or Hendricks and tonic
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
Too many to pick a favorite
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
“Princess Bride”
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
I live with no regrets. I wouldn’t change a thing. Everything I’ve done in the past has made me who I am today.
PETS?
Two dogs, one cat
HOBBIES?
Woodworking, fishing and traveling
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
Getting married Oct. 20 so that’s the next chapter in my life.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
Lack of common sense along with laziness of younger generations
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
Saints are looking good!!! Another Super Bowl perhaps
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Yes, I feel as though my work is not done here and Baton Rouge has great things in its future
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN BATON ROUGE; WHAT WORKS AND WHAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT?
I think overall the quality of life here is great. Like anything else it’s what you make of it. The city is on the rise and there are plenty of things to do in the area. Safety and traffic can both be improved.
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
Travel, travel and more travel. There is so much of this world that I have left to see.
See the entire 2017 Forty under 40 class
