The top chef who gave away his restaurant ...to a kitchen porter
Extraordinary gift sees ex-homeless migrant become star restaurateur
ARRIVING in Scotland as a homeless migrant with £200 to his name, Modou Diagne’s main aim was to forage for his daily bread rather than forge a career baking it.
But having struggled for a year to find a job, he stumbled across an advert seeking a kitchen porter for an award-winning restaurant – an appeal that would change his life.
The owner of Glasgow’s 111 by Nico, Nico Simeone, was so impressed with his hard work and attitude he eventually promoted Mr Diagne to the post of assistant head chef – before giving him the restaurant.
Mr Simeone surprised his friend with the extraordinary act of generosity at a board meeting this week, when he announced the name of the restaurant in the city’s Kelvinside would now become 111 by Modou.
Mr Diagne, 25, said: ‘This opportunity is completely life-changing for myself and my family back home. Having moved here in 2013, I would never have dreamed that I would be in this position seven years later.
‘My hard work has paid off, but this is really special to me as Nico is like a brother.
‘I am more than ready for this next chapter at 111 and I look forward to showing everyone in the industry what myself and my team can do.’
Originally from Senegal, Mr Diagne spent much of his childhood in Spain. At 18, he came to Glasgow alone to try his luck. He slept rough for ten days until he found refuge in a Shelter charity church that helps the homeless.
After a year applying for jobs with no success due to his poor English, Mr Diagne spotted an online advert for a kitchen porter at 111 by Nico. He applied within three minutes of the post going live and was hired in June 2014.
Mr Simeone said he noticed within two months that the young porter displayed an ‘unbelievable’ work ethic. He began to teach him the fundamentals of kitchen hygiene, food ingredients, how to hold a knife and more complex skills before introducing him to the basics of cooking.
During this time, Mr Diagne was able to save enough to move into a hostel and get off the streets.
He kept working his way up and is credited as playing an intrinsic role in the success of 111 by Nico. Mr Simeone said 111 by Nico will close on March 23 for refurbishment and open as 111 by Modou on April 3.
He said he was confident his protégé would shine as his own boss, adding: ‘This is Modou’s time to write his own story in the industry, and I will always be there to offer guidance and support.’
Born in Glasgow to Italian parents, Mr Simeone was raised in a family of foodies. His career has included stints at Michelin-starred Number One at The Balmoral in Edinburgh, where he worked with Craig Sandle and was named Young Scottish Seafood Chef of the Year.
He opened 111 as his debut restaurant in 2015. His original Six by Nico launched in Finnieston, Glasgow, in 2017, followed by a venue in Edinburgh in 2018 and then in Belfast, Manchester and Liverpool last year.
His decision to hand over his first restaurant comes as he prepares to open his sixth in the Six by Nico franchise in London’s Fitzrovia at the end of the month.
Mr Simeone said: ‘The time feels right, for both myself and Modou.
‘This has been a personal dream of mine since meeting Modou in 2014 – not only getting to know him as a close colleague, but he has become like family to me.’