Chef Andres Moncayo

Executive Chef at Dean & Deluca SouthPark

- Anna Van Erven

You may know him from: Dean & Deluca (15 years), Toscana, Luce

Hometown: Guayaquil, Ecuador

Charlottean since: 2000

Relationship Status: Married with children

Favorite sports teams: Panthers, Hornets

Favorite place to eat: Capital Grille—“their service is outstanding”

I understand that you worked your way up from being a dishwasher, and that you are self-taught. Is this true?

It is true. I came to Charlotte in 2000. When I applied for a job at Dean & Deluca, at the time they offered me the job of dishwasher. I was very proud and humble to take the job. I was new in the country and it was my first job in the United States. From there, I started working with different executive chefs, started learning the language, and started learning the lifestyle. After a couple (of) years, I left to open Luce. Then I went to Toscana, and came back to Dean & Deluca in 2005 as executive sous chef. In 2006, up to today, I’ve been the executive chef—and proud to say the longest chef at the company.

Has your career path shaped your leadership style?