In his customer's shoes

EVERY six weeks or so, Claude Bosi makes it a point to sit down and dine at the two-Michelin-starred Hibiscus Restaurant in London, and try all the new dishes. No, it's not because he's a loyal customer. In fact, he is the restaurant's chef-owner.

"The waiter says hello to me like I am a normal customer, I enter through the reception, they explain to me the dishes, choose for me a wine, and I will ask questions to see if they know what they are talking about," says the 43-year-old.

Why does he do it? Because "I want to have the same experience my customer has," he says. "It's easy to do a plate of food that's good in the kitchen, but you forget as a chef that the plate changes from the time it's in front of you to the time it's in front of the customer... Eating at your own restaurant is the best criticism you have to be ready for," adds chef Bosi.