Defining Hospitality & Following Restaurant Trends w/ Daniel Bello (Koji)

Daniel worked in some of America's most well-known restaurants in San Francisco and now brings those unique experiences and what he learned to Koji. We talk through his career and unpack the different levels of service he's overseen. From Michelin stars to mismatched forks, personalized tasting menus, and more, Daniel's had a fascinating career, and I learned a lot from retracing his steps. If you've ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at great restaurants, this episode offers a fascinating look into the mindset, philosophy, and passion that drive exceptional dining experiences. References Restaurant Hoppen – Hosted by Dan Hoppen Koji Omaha – Koji Omaha This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Daniel Bello & Koji 01:15 – How Daniel describes Koji 03:10 – Falling in love with wine 05:00 – Mentorship, hospitality & wine education 07:15 – What wine certification exams are really like 10:05 – Moving from California to Omaha 11:45 – Working at Town Hall in San Francisco 14:15 – Michael Mina & the Michelin-star experience 18:00 – State Bird Provisions and redefining hospitality 21:15 – Creating approachable tasting menu experiences 25:00 – Adapting to new restaurants and leadership roles 29:00 – What made Omaha's food scene stand out 34:30 – Michelin stars, awards, and staying grounded 38:00 – Why Daniel moved to Omaha 40:10 – Omaha's restaurant scene exceeds expectations 42:20 – Why restaurants are competing with fast food 46:00 – Hospitality vs. service 49:00 – Leading Koji without changing its identity 52:00 – What Daniel wishes every diner understood 54:15 – His favorite part of the restaurant industry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices