S7 Ep. 134 THE ART OF HOSPITALITY AND INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP: PAULO DE TARSO’S TAKE ON THE INDUSTRY

Mark McC interviews Paulo de Tarso, a renowned figure in the hospitality industry with a rich background working in top restaurants worldwide. Paulo shares his journey from working in New York to opening his own restaurant, Margot, in London. He emphasises the importance of hospitality, service, and creating a positive atmosphere for guests. Paulo reflects on his experiences serving famous actors like Al Pacino and the impact of genuine connections in the industry. He discusses the differences between the dining scenes in LA, New York, and London, highlighting the evolution and growth of the industry. Paulo also touches on the challenges of being a business owner, the pressures of leadership, and the importance of team morale. Paulo shares his passion for hospitality, his dedication to creating memorable experiences, and the valuable lessons he has learned throughout his career.

About Paulo De Tarso

Restaurateur and maître d’ by trade, Paulo de Tarso is passionate about hospitality, customer experience and the pursuit of excellence. A dynamic motivational speaker who uplifts through personal storytelling, Paulo took the stage at the inaugural Soho TedxTalk event to share his insights and knowledge. Paulo is the founder of Paulo de Tarso Hospitality and a member of The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts.

Paulo came to London in 2005. Born in Brazil of Italian descent, he spent his formative years in the United States. This is where he first fell in love with the industry and developed his warm service approach. He has a true love and appreciation of good food and good service and has found his calling in bringing people together and raising the bar on the shared experience of breaking bread.

Paulo’s commitment to the industry has resulted in accolades including personal recognition with AA Awards (Foodservice) and Tatler Restaurant Awards (Best Front of House 2011 & 2018), and nominations for The Cateys (Best Newcomer) and GQ (Best New Restaurant).Gambero Rosso Best Italian restaurant for 2 years in a row; Best Wine List for 2 years in a row. And Featured on Celebrity Master Chef in 2017. Feature on Foodnetwork Best Italian Restaurant outside Italy.

Paulo began work in the restaurant business at 16 years of age in New York, and later Los Angeles. He worked his way up through the ranks, gaining an in-depth knowledge of the inner workings of restaurants, all the while becoming enamoured with the industry. He began to build his reputation in London at The Wolseley, followed by three years as maître d’ at the iconic Scott’s in Mayfair. Paulo moved on to open Bar Boulud London under the tutelage of the inimitable Daniel Boulud, who became both mentor and friend. His Bar Boulud team won over 29 awards. During this time, Paulo also completed the excellent Senior Management Development Programme with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

In 2016, Paulo launched acclaimed Italian restaurant, Margot in Covent Garden, where he was director and co-proprietor. Always interested to share ideas, Paulo’s industry knowledge is sought after and has led him to take on some consulting and team building events. His training and service style is full of passion and professionalism. He is well regarded within the industry and frequently speaks at events, including Taste of London, and The Restaurant Association.

His passion for hospitality translates into many fields, he has conducted inspiring seminars for restaurant teams as well as the retail sector, including Hackett, Seven for Mankind, The Royal Naval Club and The Norton Motorcycle Company. Paulo has taken part in a number of charitable actions, most notably supporting Galvin’s Chance with Rumble in the Kitchen where he donned boxing gloves with the likes of Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing, and the Chefs with Altitude Farm Africa Climb where he and Ashley Palmer-Watts scaled Mount Kilimanjaro. As an ambassador for Action Against Hunger, Paulo trekked the Jordan Rift Valley alongside Nieves Barragan and Angela Hartnett in aid of Syrian refugees, which they followed up by taking on Machu Picchu to help raise funds to combat world hunger.

TedXSoho Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUmywITsbwk

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulo-de-tarso-65734527/

This podcast is sponsored by NFS Hospitality.

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