It’s been an exciting 2024 for Animae’s talented executive chef, Tara Monsod. In April, she was named a James Beard Best Chef West finalist, and this spring, she’ll help open Puffer Malarkey Collective’s new modern French steakhouse, Le Coq, as its executive chef. Here, Monsod steps out of the kitchen and into the spotlight.
PHOTO BY JAMES TRAN
WAKE-UP TIME: 7:30 a.m.
BREAKFAST: Coffee with bread and butter or cereal
WORKOUT: Strength and conditioning workouts at Performance360
BEAUTY ESSENTIAL: SPF moisturizer
CURRENTLY WATCHING: F*ck, That’s Delicious on YouTube and Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix
CURRENTLY LISTENING TO: “Saturn” by SZA
FAVORITE FOLLOW: @bretmanrock
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire
BIGGEST INSPIRATION: Anthony Bourdain
UNIFORM: Black shirt, black pants, black Birkenstocks
ZODIAC SIGN: Aries
NEMESIS: Time
WEAKNESS: Good food
ESCAPE: Traveling
HOTEL: Conrad Koh Samui in Thailand
DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS: LifeStraw, a pan and a pocket knife
LOCAL HAUNT: Bica, a coffee shop in Normal Heights
LAST MEAL ON EARTH: Sinigang
MENTOR: Chef Anthony Sinsay
PET: Mya, my dachshund
BEST ADVICE: Work hard in silence and let success be your noise.
PHILANTHROPY: Asian, female and LGBTQ nonprofits
MANTRA: Never above, never below, always beside.
SOULMATE: Biggie, my potbelly pig
COCKTAIL: A margarita or tequila with soda
DINNER: Steak and rice
BEDTIME: 2 a.m.
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