Today we’d like to introduce you to Arturo Leighton.
Hi Arturo, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My parents are immigrants from Chile. They came here looking for opportunity. Hardworking, honest, and taxpaying. I was born in Florida, that’s my home state. I spent my entire young life there.
At 15 I got my first job in the industry at a Boston Market working the register and taking out the trash. I got fired quickly. Then I went to bus tables at a local italian joint called Sal’s Pizza. When I was 18 I moved to Tallahassee where I went to college and got seasoned in kitchens. I worked on the line until my first big jump to Sous Chef at Paisley Cafe. Shortly after I got my first executive chef position at 23 years old. I held that for sometime and decided to leave Tallahassee to see what the world could offer my cooking.
I saved up and traveled to numerous countries including Lesotho, Swaziland, Germany, France, China, Thailand, Korea, Chile, Mexico. I learned everything I could about cooking. I took on one of the most intense jobs working at Hyatt Regency in Orlando. That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I had never see that kind of volume out of a food and beverage program. Probably the busiest place I will ever work in my life.
That said I had taken a fresh perspective from all the places I had been. I met Sarah and together we decided we wanted to do a fresh take on a restaurant. Something that was people first. Something that wasn’t motivated by profits. By creating an welcoming inclusive space we started on our dream project. Through our experiences working every possible restaurant job we could we distilled those experiences and tried to tie together everything we love about cooking and people.
Lately I’ve been focusing on competing. Diners Drive In’s and Dives, Guys Grocery Games. and 24 in 24 Last Chef standing. Some others are currently in the works as well but I cannot discuss those.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I like to look at the positives in most cases. I don’t like to focus on the bad. Bad things happen to everyone. Hopefully our bad experiences can shape us to be better people. I’m blessed to be where I’m at.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a Cook. My job is to feed hungry people. I specialize in international cuisine. I love learning about foods from around the world. I’m very proud of my work ethic. I think it sets me apart from other people. I try to work as hard as I can so others can have an easier life. Still working on that but it’s one of my strengths for sure.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up they used to call me a “rebel without a cause”. I was always the class clown. I liked causing trouble very much. I still do if I’m being honest, it’s just harder to get away with these days. We would pull pranks on our neighbors, steal fruit from peoples yards, go on crazy adventures. My friend Jake Verkerk and I would ride our bikes seven miles with a surfboard and snacks to the beach. We would go during tropical depressions because Florida rarely has big swells. We would buy fireworks from the local delivery people and explode broken washing machines and microwaves. Our group of friends was pretty confident loved to flirt with girls. We would go to the mall or arcade in large groups and have a blast. I got very good a Dance Dance Revolution and Piano. Back then that was enough to score a baddie.
I got so bored of school that I decided to drop out of high school. Something about the structure of school didn’t sit well with me. I just loved people and in school talking to your peers in class wasn’t allowed. Seemed odd to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.goodfortuneco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turotomas/
