How and where did Jon Favreau train for the movie Chef and did it change his outlook on the restaurant industry or food itself? originally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights.
Answer by Jon Favreau, Actor/Writer/Director, on Quora:
Chef Roy Choi oversaw my training for the role in the film. He had me go for intensive two week, one-on-one culinary training to get the basics and then he had me work prep in his various kitchens. After staging for many weeks and working the Kogi truck, Roy threw me on the hot line for Saturday night dinner rush at A Frame. My final lesson was working as part of his crew for a high end tasting menu with David Chang and Wolfgang Puck at the Bel Air. That was the highlight of my training. The other chefs put me through the paces and had fun laying into me, but I learned a tremendous amount and made some wonderful friends.
I have gained an appreciation for the food industry. The hours are long and the work is hard. Anyone going into this line of work must have passion to struggle through the many challenges they face in the long road to becoming a Chef. I tried to capture this passion in the movie. Roy was there every step of the way and was not afraid to call B.S. if it didn't ring true. He was a tough critic but I was grateful that he cared so much.
I miss this period of my life and continue to cook and learn. I love cooking with family and friends and getting to know people through cooking. I love feeding people and the connection it brings. This all came from my experience on the film. I am looking for opportunities to continue exploring this world and working with Roy.
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