MARCUS MEDINA: From Cal-Mex to QMex

My guest today is Marcus Medina. Marcus is a chef from California by way of Mexico, Manhattan, and many stops in between. He’s also the food mastermind behind QMex and it’s sister restaurant here in Beijing, QMex Taqueria. If you’re a long-time listener to the show, you might swear I’m on the PR payroll for QMex, but it’s honestly my favorite restaurant in Beijing. I have always loved Mexican food, and being from California, where Marcus first developed his style, I especially love and relate to the flavors he brings to his dishes. There’s also the fun fact that my very first guest on the show, Loren Heinold, is a partner in the restaurant and gets some of the credit for me being able to enjoy it in the first place, so there’s that. 

This interview was recorded just before the lunch rush earlier today on the patio outside of QMex, so there’s a little street noise but it’s not obtrusive. I liked how alive it made it feel so much that this interview is very unedited, which is impressive considering just how much both Marcus and me like to talk! My average interview probably has about 150 edits, mostly to remove random noises or unproductive tangents, or to shorten pauses between thoughts and keep a consistent pace, but Marcus and I found a groove right off the bat that rocked along so well that the edits are mostly to wait for a passing delivery cart or loud conversation to pass. 

I have known Marcus just a little before doing this interview but when we sat down with no distractions and got into it, it felt like I'd really found a kindred spirit. At a surface level that makes sense, since we each have the gift of easy conversation and we both have California as a home in common - his my birth, mine by choice - and that goes a long way to explaining it. But as we talked, I realized that I related to Marcus’s story on a different, much more philosophical level too...

He talks about his love for New York, but how he probably stayed a little too long in NY. I can relate, since I feel like I stayed a little too long in LA. We both have lots of love for the places that helped redefine us, but if you’re driven by the spirit of adventure, staying in one place too long is about as close to death as you get with your eyes still open, and one thing you will never say about Beijing is that it’s stagnant.

Speaking of stagnation: I want the show to grow and expand as organically as possible, but to do this, I need YOUR help. Moral support is great, and is sincerely appreciated, but that doesn’t pay the bills. If you like the show, please subscribe to us in iTunes / Apple Podcasts, on Google Play or Castbox, and give us a good rating or even a review. And if you REALLY like it, please visit the SUPPORT page on the website, which is crazyinagoodway.com, and you can make a one-time donation as you see fit. There are links to both PayPal and WeChat Pay, and any amount truly makes a difference. THANK YOU as always for your comments and positive feedback and moral support, and if your support becomes material as well, then that’s amazing. 

QMex on WeChat: qmex_mexican_grill *** Marcus Medina interview on FM Lifestyle: 

http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/m1Fs0gSUAx7B5nZJPz_dDw *** Brendan Davis on WeChat: BrendanDavis *** Brendan Davis on Twitter: @VeritasInLux *** BFMK website: https://www.crazyinagoodway.com *** BFMK Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigFishMiddleKingdom/ *** Other links to LISTEN:

https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/ *** SUPPORT BFMK via PayPal or WeChat:

https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/donate/ *** BFMK PayPal direct DONATION link:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K5W6EANCYSQHU

JEFF POWELL: Chef de China

#017 - Chef de China  | Jeff Powell

This week’s guest is Jeff Powell: owner and chef of Frost here in Beijing, but that only scratches the surface of his impressive career. In addition to being a master chef and an executive consultant in his industry, Jeff is also a father, a family man, and a very nice guy. In the interview, he’s incredibly open about the challenges and the downsides of his time here as well as generous with sharing valuable business information that will be applicable to almost anyone trying to build or launch an endeavor of their own here, too, so there’s lots to enjoy and learn from. 

Jeff’s background includes a stint as Sous Chef at the world-famous Stars restaurant in San Francisco for Jeremiah Tower, who is widely acknowledged as the father of California & New American Cuisine and a man who Anthony Bourdain called “the first celebrity chef”. An interesting twist on the narrative is that while Jeff was cooking his way to glory in San Francisco, he also became a well-known rave DJ! But eventually he moved to China, and that’s where his life truly changed. During his time here, Jeff has had great successes, learned tough lessons, and learned loads to share that I found to be very moving as he told his story.

As they say in the restaurant business, we get seriously into the weeds a bit regarding the restaurant industry, but we jump around a lot too, from the professional to the personal, so I hope you enjoy the ride. 

Links to find out more about Jeff’s restaurant Frost or to learn more about me, the show, or to show your support in any way are included in the show notes below. Now, please enjoy my interview with Jeff Powell!

Jeff Powell’s Frost:
http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2017/06/26/xingfucun-thaw-frost-returns-comfort-food-troubled-neighborhood

Jeremiah Tower interview:
http://www.bonappetit.com/story/jeremiah-tower-last-magnificent-interview

SUPPORT BFMK via PayPal or WeChat:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/donate/

BFMK PayPal direct DONATION link:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K5W6EANCYSQHU

Brendan Davis on Twitter:
@VeritasInLux

BFMK website:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com

BFMK Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BigFishMiddleKingdom/

Other links to LISTEN:
https://www.crazyinagoodway.com/podcast-links/