Hello Borja, it is a pleasure to interview you today. Besides work, please tell me about yourself.

I am a father of three children and I am married to the woman of my life, Patricia. Since I was very young, and thanks to my grandfather, I have always been passionate about gastronomy. I also like to be surrounded by good friends, always with the will of looking for new things that I can be passionate about, and to enjoy life.

I believe I am a nonconformist guy. I love trying, never stop learning, traveling... And my fundamental pillars are my family, my friends and my job -which for me it really is not just “a job”- since I dedicate my life to something that I am passionate about.

Please, tell me a confessable secret:

Someday I will retire in Menorca with a restaurant and a small hotel.

For those who do not know you yet... What do you do for a living?

I am dedicated to the gastronomy sector and at the age of 25, together with my two brothers (Juan, Alexandra) and my brother-in-law (Ramón), we set up a restaurant group that we called Grupo Nomo, specialised in Japanese food.

Please tell me how you started in the hospitality and gastronomy sector?

When I was little my grandfather always used to tell me: “people eat to live and I live to eat”. I believe the same.

Around the age of 14 or 15 I was already saving all my money to go out to eat at the best restaurants at that time and, since I liked it so much, all my friends started to ask me recommendations of where to go to eat.

After a few years, my aunt set up a restaurant in Mojácar (Almería) and I decided to go there to work as a waiter and earn money during the summer. At that time I was a very bad student but while working in my aunt's restaurant I discovered that I love this world, I got good money and I realized that I wanted to dedicate my life to it.

What has been your career until today?

After the experience at my aunt’s in Mojácar I decided to return to Barcelona to study Finance and Business Administration and, as a final project, a few friends and I we created an advertising tablecloth company called Mantelaria.

Although it went very well in the beginning and we managed that more than 500 restaurants in Barcelona use our tablecloths, the company did not turn out as we expected, so we closed it and then I started working in consulting.

At that time, my little brother (Juan) was living in London and he told me about a Japanese food group called Wasabi. So I traveled to London to see it in person.

Being very honest, consulting was not real my thing because “every 5 minutes. I used to look at the clock” until one day I told myself that I couldn't live a whole life like this, I talked to my brothers, I also talked to my father - who borrow the money for us- and we decided to create “our own Wasabi”, that we named Grupo Nomo.

17 years later we have now 10 restaurants in total spread in Barcelona, ​​Costa Brava, Gerona, Madrid and all our establishments reflect our PLQR values: (Passion. constant Learning. Quality, always thinking about the medium/long term and Results oriented).

What would you say is your greatest professional contribution to a city like Barcelona?

Democratising Japanese food, without breaking the wallet and without losing quality.

By the way, since you are dedicated to Japanese gastronomy... When was the last time you visited the Japanese country?

March 2023.

Going back to Barcelona… According to your personal experience… What is the best thing about living in the Catalan capital?

I am truly in love with my city so I would highlight its size (perfect for walking anywhere), its cultural offering, its craftmanship, its restaurants and gastronomic offering and the luck of having the sea and also the mountains and in the same city.

What is your favorite corner of the city?

The “Carretera de les aigües”. I love going there alone for runs and walks.

In your opinion, what is the most curious thing about Barcelona?

Definitely Gracia neighborhood. I love it and it seems like a micro world inside Barcelona.

As a good connoisseur of gastronomy... Please tell us what are your 3 favorite restaurants or bars in Barcelona and why?

Coure: for the food they serve, good product, exceptional service and for being one of those places that have and offer soul.

La Xarxa: for the product, the staff who are like a family and the location.

Ipartxoco: it has now closed since its owner, Miguel, a great friend, passed away. I loved going there to eat meat. They always had great products and it was like being in the Basque country. I also loved that they didn't have a menu and it was Miguel who would sing the dishes to you. Truly, a great loss.

If someone who has never been to Barcelona asks you, what can I not miss, do, or not visit?

Going for a walk through Gracia neighborhood. Of course, going to have lunch or dinner at Grupo Nomo (laughs) and also get lost in the Barceloneta neighborhood.

What is your favorite plan in the city?

Going for a run or walk to the “la carretera de les aigües” road. Then going down to the Borne or Barceloneta neighborhood to have some rice and finish with a Gin-tonic with views of the sea.

If you wouldn’t live in Barcelona... Where would you live?

Minorca.

And if Barcelona were a person... Who would it be?

My brother Juan Molina. He loves Barcelona and never allows anyone to say negative things about his beloved city.

Last but not least... Please mention someone I should do this interview with:

To my brother Juan Molina. He loves Barcelona, ​​he is very committed to culture in an altruistic way, he is part of the Círculo del Liceo and he represents the values ​​of this city like no one else.

Thank you very much, Borja. Good luck and I take note of all your recommendations.

Text and translation by Clara de Nadal Trias
More plans and people from Barcelona here