Alex Hemingway, CEO, Crown Restaurants

  • 20 Feb 2013 11:00 AM
Alex Hemingway, CEO, Crown Restaurants
1. What’s been happening at work and at home since your first Xpat Interview?


We successfully launched the Hooters brand in Budapest, we’re ready with the 2013 Hooters Girl calendar. Plus we’ve started on our strategic plan for expanding Hooters in Europe. Also I am now on the board of the American International School of Budapest.

2. On a scale of 1 to 10 how happy are you with your life in Hungary, and why?
9/10 - life in Hungary is fantastic, it helps a lot that I used to live here and speak the language.

3. What’s the best party you’ve been to while in Hungary, and why?
The Hooters Grand Opening Party, which our investor Mike Pruitt also attended.

4. What’s your favourite drink?
We came up with a bunch of pálinka based shots with Zwack….Baby Owl is my favourite.

5. What hidden talents do you have?
According to those who like me, I’m an extraordinarily funny man.

6. What was the most interesting travel trip you have ever taken?
In Binzhou, China, where I ate at the finest restaurant on the bank of a lake, it had no refrigerator, or electricity. This was quickly followed by my second most interesting trip, to a hospital in Beijing.

7. If you were given a wish that could come true, what would you ask for?
An Aston Martin Vantage convertible, and a beach to drive next to.

8. What’s the last book you read, and movie you watched?
Movie: Patton (1970), A film about US General George Patton's career. Book: Steve Job’s autobiography, and 1001 Arabian Nights.

9. If someone wrote a biography about you, what would the title be?
No one will write one about me, mostly because no one would buy it, other than me.

10. What is the perfect pizza toppings combination for you?
Pepperoni, goat cheese, and sundried tomatoes.

11. If you could trade places with any other person for a week, real or fictional, with whom would it be?
Bill Gates.

12. On a scale of 1 to 10 how unusual are you, and why?
I’m not unusual, I’m Vanilla, so 5.

13. What’s the best website you’ve ever visited, and why?
The Wall Street Journal, because it actually has news worth reading.

14. Who do you admire the most, and why?
My wife, because she raises our three kids, two of whom are like me.

15. What do you like best and least about living in Hungary?
Best: I love Hungarian food and wine.
Least: the weather can be rough, not a huge fan of the parking meters either.

16. What has made the biggest impact on your life so far, and why?
That I was born a man…

17. If you won USD 30 million, what would you do with the money?
Carefully invest it.

18. If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
My theme song would be “pick yourself up”by Diana Krall

19. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
I can live anywhere and I chose Budapest, Hungary

20. In ten years from now what will you be doing?
Opening more restaurants around Europe with Chanticleer Holdings.(Nasdaq: HOTR)

  • How does this interview make you feel?