Meet Anthony Moses-Cossio | Chef

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anthony Moses-Cossio and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anthony, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
My balance has completely changed within the past 5 years. I used to be all about work, working 6 to 7 days a week. All I ever thought about was being in the kitchen and nothing else. I wanted to be the best at my job, and nothing was going to stand in my way— until I started to burn out. I realized that spending too much time at work wasn’t good for me. I lost sight of the other things in life that made made happy and that I enjoyed doing. Once I started to reprioritize things and really balancing work and my personal life, I started to not only become happier, but also more productive at work. I made more time to see family, to travel, and dedicated more time to hobbies that I loved doing since I was younger. You need be able to recognize the importance of a healthy work/life balance, and knowing when to step away and recharge to further your growth, productivity, and happiness.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Getting to where I am today was not easy. Being 24 years old, and always the youngest in the kitchens I always had to work harder than everyone else. I had to always outwork the person next to me. I learned that the only thing that could set me apart from everyone was my hard work and dedication to my craft.
If someone came in at 10am I was there at 9am. If someone left at midnight I left at 1 in the morning. There were people faster than me and who had more experience than me and being surrounded by all these talented chefs pushed me and motivated me every single day to become better. My story is a true testament that hard work really does pay off. Never become complacent, never think that you know it all. The moment you think you know it all is the moment you stop learning.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My best friend Matias and I have known each other almost 13 years now. He’s also a huge foodie, and both of us being of Peruvian background is a perfect match. We would start off by cooking at home, which always consists of a good steak and onions, and I can’t leave out our signature Peruvian Pisco Sours. He would definitely have to come to the restaurant I work at, Stage Kitchen and Bar so I can cook for him and give him his favorite, Grilled Street Corn and Wagyu Tenderloin with buttermilk Miso sauce. We’re both meat lovers so we would have to go to a steakhouse. Not just any steakhouse though, we’re fortunate enough to have Top Chef winner Jeremy Ford, who I’m proud to call my friend, Butcher’s Club Steakhouse, here in Palm Beach Gardens. The order is always the famous Patatas Bravas that comes with this beautiful Truffle emulsion, the Delmonico Steak with all the sides and to drink the Facundo, a whiskey based drink that comes topped with a sexy Passionfruit sabayon. Next, we would take the Brightline train down south to Miami. To enjoy some of Miami’s best restaurants such as Itamae, Peruvian Nikkei Cuisine. Casa Isola, Chef Jose Mendin’s Italian restaurant, and also Cote Korean Steakhouse for an unforgettable experience, because why not more meat? Also Miami has some of the best bars, Cafe La Trova, Sweet Liberty and the Champagne Bar at Surfside Four Seasons.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people to whom I owe my success, and who deserve a shoutout for helping me become who I am today. First and foremost, a shoutout to my parents, who have always been there to support me in everything I do. I’d also like to give a shoutout to so many incredible chefs I have worked for, and learned from, along the way these past 6 years: Brad Kilgore, Alex Smith, Raymond Li, Nando Chang, and Dean Max, to name a few. My biggest support has to be from my current chef and mentor, Pushkar Marathe— ever since the first time we worked together in Miami, and fast forwarding 4 years later to remaining working together and running one of the best restaurants in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. He’s always been there to push me and guide me to the next level, and to be the best I can possibly be in my career and industry.

Instagram: _tonymoses

Image Credits
Libby Volgyes is by far the best photographer I’ve ever worked with, her Instagram is @Libbyvision. She takes care of all our photography needs for our restaurants.