Mathan’s restaurant story starts at just 16, greeting guests as a host, and quickly moves behind the pass—onto the line, into the kitchen, and up the ranks as a chef. By 21, he was behind the bar, shaking cocktails and managing the floor, eventually stepping into a general manager role, handling everything from truck orders to team leadership. After nearly a decade of wearing every hat the industry had to offer, Mathan traded late nights and ticket times for fatherhood and a new path as a contractor. In this episode, he reflects on the chaos, community, and lessons from a life spent in hospitality before pivoting to building something entirely new—at work and at home.