Host John Sandiford travels to Curaçao to meet with Justin Niessen, a culinary chef and entrepreneur behind Mondi, a Caribbean fine dining concept with two restaurants in the Netherlands and one in Curaçao. Born and raised in Curaçao, Justin is on a mission to put Caribbean cuisine on the map, inviting others to taste the richness of the culture, while giving his own community something to take pride in.

With a deep passion for food, culture, and storytelling, Justin fuses tradition with innovation to create memorable dining experiences. In this conversation, he reflects on his journey as a chef, father, and business owner, touching on the mentors, challenges, and purpose that shaped his path to success.

Welcome to SunSide Kingdom! The place where we highlight Dutch Caribbean role models making an impact in the world. 

Watch the podcast on these platforms: 
YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWsfc8_KyI6fXRMB4CQVTaduhECvp09gH&si=TUfwvFOAeeuRmx9T
Spotify: Coming soon 
Apple Podcasts: Coming soon

Watch the shorts of the podcast: 
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWsfc8_KyI6fhiFJhaL9UcO9WjrfTNNQ9&si=3dNoFxD_v9Kc6glp

More motivational content: 
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWsfc8_KyI6cijs6FM51B4M0PkAtjitER&si=JZWnJejrFKU5pfrO

Connect with us on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunsidekingdom
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sunsidekingdom

Follow Justin Niessen on: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justin.niessen/

Follow Mondi on:
Website: https://www.mondirestaurant.com/
Mondi Rotterdam: https://www.instagram.com/just.rotterdam/
Mondi Amsterdam: https://www.instagram.com/mondi.amsterdam/
Mondi Amsterdam Skybar: https://www.instagram.com/mondi.skybar/
Mondi Caribbean: https://www.instagram.com/mondi.caribbean/?hl=en

Follow John Sandiford on: 
Website: https://www.jamsandiford.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamsandiford
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamsandiford

Chapters of Justin's episode
00:00 -  Intro
01:22 - Who is Justin Niessen?
02:54 - The world of Mondi
07:39 - Growing up in Curaçao
09:31 - Why the chef life?
10:44 - Contesting in Masterchef
12:57 - Pausing the passion
14:41 - Becoming a dad
18:05 - Balancing work & life
22:14 - Expanding Mondi
23:55 - Shaped by Caribbean influences
28:13 - Mentors that shaped Justin
30:18 - The impact of networking
32:53 - Justin's Purpose
35:37 - Advice to my 18-year-old
40:03 - Business secrets to success
43:53 - Reflections and conclusions
45:39 - Credits

#podcast #black #creator