“The grief never ends”: Tati Bassi recalls moments with her father and the challenges of carrying on his legacy on NXT Podcast
- The restaurateur shares how she earned the trust of the team built by Marcos Bassi, explains why she does not recommend rare burgers, and reveals a change in how flank steak is served at the restaurant
Taking over her father’s restaurant meant learning to lead a team while coping with a loss she still feels today. In the latest episode of NXT Podcast, hosted by Giancarlo Nicastro, Tati Bassi discusses the loss of Marcos Bassi, the challenges of continuing his work, and the decisions she has made at the helm of Templo da Carne.
Bassi describes what it was like to take charge of her father’s empire while grieving, particularly during encounters with Marcos Bassi’s customers and admirers. According to the restaurateur, their affection for her father remains evident in encounters both inside and outside the restaurant.
“To this day, these people come to the restaurant or run into me somewhere and hug me as if I were him,” she says. For Bassi, receiving these expressions of affection also brings comfort, reminding her of the importance he held in other people’s lives.
Earning the team’s trust
Alongside the responsibility of running the business, Bassi faced a challenge she had not fully anticipated: leading people who had learned directly from her father. Their initial welcome, she says, did not dispel doubts about her ability to run the operation.
“Some of them needed to see me in action to be sure I really knew what I was doing,” she says. According to Bassi, the restaurant still employs staff members who have worked there for 30 and 38 years.
The restaurateur says she had to establish herself as a leader, drawing on the knowledge she gained by working alongside Marcos Bassi day after day.
In practice, the succession involved managing conflicts, aligning procedures, and demonstrating that decisions needed to serve the business’s needs. Tati recalls that even deciding how thoroughly to cook the meat could spark disagreements among team members.
Watch the full interview with Tati Bassi on the latest episode of NXT Podcast.
