Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa Montaño.
Teresa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My interest in Spanish food was sparked at a restaurant in DTLA called Ciudad where I worked at the beginning of my career as a line cook. We did two special Spanish nights a week, one was tapas night and the other was called “Paella on the Patio.” I was the cook for “Paella on the Patio” and fell in love with the Spanish flavors. During that time I traveled to Barcelona and that was it for me, I fell in love with the cuisine and the food culture. My first two restaurants have been based off my travels to Spain, I’m always so inspired when I travel to Spain, my restaurants are my travel journals.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Life is not a smooth road and add owning a restaurant to the mix and it’s going to always be a challenge, but I think passionate Chef/Owners can see past the bumps in the road and always keep their end goal in sight. I’m so fortunate to have a solid team and business partner and I think that is the difference between a Chef who can focus on the good days and let the bad days roll off your shoulder.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am the Chef/Owner of Otoño in Highland Park, Los Angeles. We are a modern Spanish restaurant highlighting the Catalan and Valencia Regions of Spain. We are known for our creative, inspired tapas and our lively Spanish inspired bar. I am proud of all of our accomplishments but I am most proud of the team that we have built and the service that we provide day in and day out at the restaurant. What sets us apart in Los Angeles is that we are one of very few Spanish restaurants. We offer classic dishes that bring Spaniards back home and we offer seasonal, creative dishes that bring out diners that are seeking an exciting dining experience.
What were you like growing up?
I was an athlete growing up, I played soccer since age 4. I have always been driven and hard-working because of that. I was always pretty shy but confident. I played soccer all the way through high school and played division 1 soccer in college. I always think of how the lessons from my soccer career can be applied to my current career, it’s all about teamwork, stamina, thinking on your toes and, of course, hard work.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5715 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
- Website: www.otonorestaurant.com
- Phone: (323) 474-6624
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @otonola
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/otonola/
Image Credit:
Krystal Thompson
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