Leading the kitchen
This year, Durante felt it was time for another change — to lead his own kitchen and bring his visions to the table.
"I've always worked for others — amazing chefs, some of the best in the world — but I've never worked for myself," he says. "Now, I want to follow my ideas."
In August, he got an offer to be the chef de cuisine at Opus 388 on the 77th floor of Mandarin Oriental Shenzhen.