Interview with Boston Rising Star Restaurateur Jason Bond of Bondir

Mary Choi: How did you first get into the industry?
Jason Bond: I first started cooking in college just to pay the rent. I was a musician and had no other real skills. Then I really got into it and just decided to go for it when I graduated.

MC: Who has been your most influential mentor throughout your career?
JB: When I first moved out east from Wyoming, I wanted to work for George [Germon] and Johanne [Killeen] at Al Forno. They always stressed that we should find the best way to prepare an ingredient. If there’s a better way to do it, then why aren’t we doing it?

MC: How did Bondir come about?
JB: After college I was pretty focused and made a life decision to open a restaurant. Everywhere I worked, I focused on building-up specific skills to achieve my goal. It took a few years, trying at different times, with financial difficulties, and other obstacles. As for Bondir in particular, I was just kind of lucky. I was on the way to a bar and there was a “for rent” sign on a space in the neighborhood with a fireplace and a little room and I thought, “why not?” It was a small enough space for me to build it up myself. It was a messy process.

MC: Tell me about your philosophy as a boss and business owner.
JB: I base my philosophy on my past work experiences under other people. I had these employers in Cambridge at Formaggio Kitchen, named Valerie and Ihsan Gurdal, and that’s where I learned how to treat people. I mean, they introduced me to their regular customers on my very first day. They took employees on trips out to eat, to try different things. One time, I said, “I can’t believe you bring in pâté when you can make it here.” So then Ihsan said, “You do it,” and he pushed me. I learned a lot about managing people from him and saw the kind of commitment it takes to follow through on something, especially when they were opening another location. They were really generous.

MC: What advice do you have for the next generation of restaurateurs?
JB: Believe in what you do. Stick to your beliefs and believe in yourself, even when it’s hard to.