Chef Q&A: Maaemo’s Success Starts With Its Staff

Esben Holmboe Bang is in an enviable position. Bang was one of the youngest chefs to receive two Michelin stars back in 2012 when he first opened Oslo, Norway restaurant Maaemo and was just awarded three-star recognition for the second year in a row. Uninterested in expanding the restaurant from its current eight tables, or recreating similar concepts in other locations, Bang is instead focused on how to make Maaemo not only one of the premier dining institutions of today — but also one of the best places to work. Bang recently sparked a conversation in the culinary world about work-life balance when he limited his restaurant staff's working week of staff to just three days, totaling 40 to 50 hours, each week. His commitment to team culture expands beyond working hours and, in a recent conversation with Skift Table, shared that the initiatives he’s most excited for in 2018 revolve around team vitality. [caption id="attachment_2211" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Photo by Tu