Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

In this episode, we're creating awareness about the Hospitality Sector Registered Apprenticeship Program Developed by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Whether you're looking to become an apprentice or you're a practitioner looking for an apprentice, after listening you'll know where to start. Enlightening us about this new program, we're joined by John Shortt. Shortt is the Director Of Program Development at the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and is heading the restaurant industry's first Hospitality Sector Registered Apprenticeship Program.

In this episode, I'm going to solo and sharing the books I most often recommend to learn about systems, culture, finances and more. People often ask me what books I have to suggest. So, in this episode, I'm sharing the biggest "aha moments" I've had since recording episode #1 along with the books I recommend to support said aha moments. Pretty straight forward, right?

In this episode, we discuss the value of getting work experience before attending hospitality or culinary school, getting experience working for others before opening your own restaurant, the definition of service, how to motivate your staff, overcoming the fear of failure, showing your staff you care with family meal, training your staff to the change you want to see in the industry, developing your brand and concept, and how dedication to success can be both a strength and weakness. Originating from upstate New York, since the age of six, Chef Christopher Bates knew he wanted a career the Hospitality Industry. He would go onto attend Cornell University School of Hotel Administration in NY. Today Chef Bates is the Co- of FLX Hospitality Family which includes of FLX Table and FLX Wienery, and Element Winery, all three located in upstate NY.

In this episode, we discuss how a "chip on the shoulder" can serve you, working in the industry before opening your own restaurant, how a partnership can work, starting lean and bootstrapping, leveraging your network and community for help, having a presence in your community before opening a restaurant, how to get your team to "buy in", continually improving operations, how to implement a "hybrid system", The pros and cons of said hybrid system, knowing your destination and finding your own path to get there. In 2006 University of New Hampshire Graduates,--SaraTebbetts and Jack O'Sullivan--took over ownership of the Big Bean Cafe, located in Downtown Newmarket, NH. 11 years later The Big Bean is still going strong and racking in accolades like New Hampshire "best of" Awards. As of the past year O'sullivan has opened his second restaurant, the Oak House, and from what I can tell it seems to be going pretty well!

In this episode, we discuss working with the best to become the best, profit sharing, how being small allows you to be unique, motivating and encouraging your people, being selective with who you allow on your team, having personal high-touch relationships with each of your guest, how your team is a reflection of who you are, and tieing good old fashioned manners and courtesy into your culture. It was over a half century ago when founders Jack and Linda Williams got hitched and began their lifetime dedication to the food industry. Along the way, they helped develop the concept for a well-known steakhouse chain and built 34 restaurants in two decades, becoming their largest and most successful franchisee. In 1989 Jack and Linda Williams would open the first Richie's Diner established in Temecula, California. Today there are a total of 3 Richies Diners and it continues to be a family owned and operated concept.

Alan Silverman hails from Brooklyn and has experienced a lifetime of loving and making a living from food. Alan comes from old school fine dining and has worked in some of the greatest restaurants in New York, Chicago, and LA. Today, Alan has settled in Seattle, where he serves as founder and CFO of Festivals, Inc. In this episode we will discuss: Avoiding mediocrity. Innovation. You're going to have to prove yourself to certain people. Making connections with your customers. You have to impress EVERYONE who comes into your restaurant. Start small and expand slowly. You have to be on a mission to learn. As an owner you need to be physically involved in your kitchen and food service.

Gabriela Vilar is the Chef Owner of Quintana Restaurant, located in Curitiba, Brazil. Vilar has found a way to create a business around her passion of respecting the environment, art, culture, tradition, and food. She isn't only surviving, she's thriving going into her 9th year of business. In this episode we will discuss: If you want to see change you need to enact change yourself. Finding your lane in the industry and sticking to it. The importance of serving others. Art, culture, traditions, food. Thew road that leads you to hospitality. Exhaustion in the restaurant industry. Seeing failures and successes that you learn from. The importance of educating your guests.

In this episode, we discuss the value of finding a mentor, creating system depending restaurants, putting great people in system dependent restaurants, staying lean when opening your first restaurant, being a good listener, living to serve others, and the meaning of hospitality. Kyle Itani spent most of his life around food being raised in a farming family. It wasn't until he was in college when trying to recreate what he was seeing on the food network channel, that he fell in love with cooking. Before long he would find his mentor, Showtaro Kamio and his interest in Japanese cuisine took off. Today He is the Chef/Owner of Hopscotch Restaurant, Itani Ramen, and Thistle Meats- all of which are located in CA.

Chef Trigg Brown is a graduate of the University of Virginia where he studied English Literature. It was while in college he met his mentor, Pei Jen Chang, who helped him develop his interest in Taiwanese food. Brown would go on to work for both the Crafted Hospitality and Starr Restaurants, where he further developed his skills. Today Brown is the Chef/Partner of Win Son, a Taiwanese American restaurant located in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. In this episode we will discuss: As a leader you need to do the right thing always. The importance of mentors. Finding the RIGHT mentor. Quiet leaders. Hold yourself to a high standard. Sacrifice your time, money, and energy to get what you want and need in this industry. You will get the knowledge you need from the great mind you surround yourself with. Partnerships. The importance of owning your property. Running a successful Kickstarter campaign. Attract good people with good systems.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Craig Hartman spent 37 years building his career around fine dining, hotels and educating others. In 2010 he deiced it was time to change it up and made a go at fulfilling a lifelong dream to open a BBQ Joint. Today he serves as the chef owner of The BBQ Exchange, located in Gordonville, VA. In this episode we will discuss: Learning from your mistakes. Make yourself better each and every day. Never being satisfied. Being a chef means making people happy. The best path for successfully open a restaurant. Don't lease: buy. Building equity with the building you buy. Very few chefs can do whatever they want in their restaurants and still make enough people happy. Service is key. Partnerships. Being married to your partner. Tell the truth. Catering.

In this episode, we discuss why we need to show up each day to live intentionally. Then we show you how to show up using the IEP Method (Intentional Energetic Presence). Anese Cavanaugh is devoted to helping people show up and bring their best selves to the table in order to create significant positive impact in their lives. She is the creator of the IEP Method®, an advisor and thinking partner to leaders and organizations around the world, and author of Contagious Culture: Show Up, Set the Tone, and Intentionally Create an Organization That Thrives

Xavier ("X") Mariezcurrena, aka Mr. FOH hospitality, and Chef Tony Aiazzi are restaurant dudes and longtime compatriots. Together they have over 32 years experience in hospitality and have worked under names such as Bobby Flay and Charlie Palmer. Today they serve as Co-Founders of ChouxBox, the industry's first web-based "point of purchase" service that helps everyone organize their paperwork, understand purchases, and save time. In this episode we will discuss: Helping people. Partnerships. Don't try to do too much too fast. Blame yourself if your staff can't succeed. You need to able to see yourself married to your potential partners. The restaurant industry as less effort and more reward. Work-life balance. The importance of time management.

Brett Schulman graduated from the Universtiy of Maryland College Park in 1995. He would go on to pursue a career in finance as an equity trader. After losing his passion for finance, Brett changed paths to help his wife run Snikiddy Snacks- a natural snack food company-as their COO. Brett found a new passion - changing the way people think about eating, the way they are eating, and their accessibility to fresh food. Not too long after, he discovered the full-service restaurant, Cava Mezzay. Fast forward almost a decade and Brett serves as CEO of Cava, which includes not only the full-service Cava Messay but also their rapidly growing fast format version of Cava Mezzay, and the line of consumer packaged goods. In this episode we will discuss: Making a big change in your career. Feeling unfulfilled in your work and how to adjust that. Passion is the key to success in your work. If you're not happy, it's up to you to change your life/situation. making BIG transitions. Grocery industry vs. restaurant industry. Numbers. Marketing. Staying true to who you are during growth. CULTURE! Keep it simple. Labor costs. Real-estate. Maintaining culture during expansion.

In this episode, we discuss why online reviews matter more today than ever before, The biggest mistakes restaurant owner make when it comes to online reviews, when the best times are to ask for a review, and the 5 step process to handling online reviews. Matt Hayman is a digital marketing expert based in the UK with over 8 years experience in Search Engine Optimisation and Paid Traffic. He's the founder of ReviewMiner.co and helps businesses large and small grow by harnessing the power of customer reviews.

Chef Brooks Tanner Studied at Cornell University. Brooks is known for his underlining team building abilities and fiscal awareness. His passion is building concrete infrastructures to support high-quality services and educate those on how to waste less, be sustainable and eat well while financially building for their future. Today Chef Tanners serves as Executive Chef at Rockhill located in Cherry Hill, NJ. In this episode we will discuss: You have to expect the unexpected in the kitchen. Going from the dishwasher to the manager/owner. The value of mentors. You need to just "jump in" to learn the most. You need to create the change you want to see. If you don't fail you're not growing. Create a strong support group around you and what you do. Tanner can't stress the importance of forming lasting social relationships with people in your industry. BIG emphasis on CULTURE. Foster the good in your staff and they will become amazing workings and great people. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Raised in Simsbury, CT, Jeff Lizotte is a Cornell graduate whose culinary résumé includes experience at David Bouley's Danube and Eric Ripert's Le Bernardin in New York City. During two years in France, he worked for Bordeaux's La Tupina and the Michelin-starred La Bastide St. Antoine in Grasse. This past year Chef Jeff Lizotte was a semifinalist nomini for James Beard Best Chef Northeast for his work as the Executive Chef and Partner at Present Company, CT In this episode we will discuss: It's OK to make mistakes. Culinary theory. Competitive spirit in the kitchen. Starting very young in the restaurant industry. Getting started in the restaurant industry in the heart of NYC. Doing your best to keep your staff happy and stress-free. Learning the culinary arts in France. The importance of mentoring with the right people. Stamina in the kitchen.

Want access to my network of consultants? Email or direct message me your Q's and I'll get an expert on the show to answer them! [email protected] or @ericcacciatore I've never claimed to have all the answer, but after 350 + interviews I guarantee you I know someone who does know the answer to your question. This episode is the first of many to come, where I lean on my network of experts to answer listener questions. Today, Rudy Miick, who first joined me in episode 181 is back to be the question answer-er. Miick began working in the restaurant industry at the age of 15, was a partner of a restaurant by the age of 24, and has been consulting for the last 40 years. Miick's work has pivoted to focus on successful start-ups, performance improvement, and the growth of restaurants, resorts, and other foodservice operations. You can learn more about rudy at Miick.com

Bryan Gibb is the founder of Bolt Coffee Co. Over 4 years ago Bolt Coffee Co. carved out a niche by starting as a mobile coffee catering cart which focused on weddings and other events. They have since scaled into their first brick and mortar location at The Dean Hotel in Providence, RI. Bolt Coffee Co. is A COFFEE COMPANY SEEKING TO CREATE MEANINGFUL IMPACT IN THE PLACE they find themselves. They BELIEVE THAT GOOD COFFEE IS BEST ENJOYED WITH FRIENDS. In this episode we will discuss: COFFEE. Bringing people together around a cup of coffee. Coffee catering. Moving from having a boss to being your boss. Start small and grow. Starting a restaurant with minimal capital. Growing while maintaining culture. Recognize what makes you special and retain it. Changing the normal interactions in the hospitality industry. Using body language to sell coffee. Changing the way you're greeted at a coffee shop. Defying expectations!

Today we're sitting at the Paddle Inn, Josh Childs, Beau Sturm, and Suzi Maitland's newest restaurant, located in Newburyport, MA. In addition to the Paddle Inn, the restaurant group also operates Trina's Starlite Lounge, Parlor Sports, and Audubon. This Restaurant Group is most well known for craft cocktails and high-quality comfort food. In this episode we will discuss: The power of good partnerships. Collaboration! Find your lane and stay in it. Atmosphere can be more impactful than food. Make the effort to take the next step. Going out of your way to make guests happy. Bartending culture. Opening on a shoestring budget. You HAVE TO believe in your restaurant to make it a success. Neighborhood bars.

Michael Krupp is an eclectic, impassioned businessman with a proven history of pushing Boston's restaurant and retail boundaries, he co-owns and oversees business development at Area Four's three locations including an Arcade plus a mobile wood fire catering business. He tackled the Area Four project with the same unrelenting drive to set trends that he has carried throughout his career. In this episode we will discuss: Boston pizza! Getting ahead in this business because people like what you do. Do ONE THING really well in your business! Opening a restaurant in the middle of a economic depression. Partnerships and how to best navigate them. Let the product ride the success, not the other way around. Evolution is a good thing! Know your lane and stay in it. Quality of product. You need sufficient capital to start a restaurant and sustain it. Reinvesting in your company. Surround yourself with the right people. Find mentors and learn everything you can from them!

In this episode we discuss: How experience helps you find your niche and clarity in your "why". Giving at least one year to each job you take. Building relationships and loyalty among other professionals. How to know when you're ready to go all in on opening your own restaurant. Having the right partner. The reality that things will get hard and when times do get hard, you need to take care of yourself, first. H0w establishing culture can help you transition from working in your business to working on your business. What started as a romantic pizza dinner on the floor of a college dorm room in RI, has blossemed into a what is probably one of the best known pizza and hamburger joints in NY City, Pizza Loves Emily. 3 years later they have a total of three locations: Emily Brooklyn, Emmy Squared, and most recently Emily West Village. They've garnered ton attention and have been featured in media outlets such as Vogue, Thrillist, Grub Street, and Travel and Leisure to name of a few.

It was in Boston, MA where David Kennedy got his start in the restaurant industry, as a part-time bartending while working towards his MBA. Today, David is the founder of The Holy Grail, located in Epping, NH, which has been nominated as NH's #1 Irish Pub 7 years running. In this episode we will discuss: Making guests feel special. The host and the dishwasher are the most important part of your restaurant. The importance of saying good-bye and thank you when guests leave. Make guests and team members feel like they matter. Turn your restaurant into a learning experience for your staff. The importance of passion. Looking for the perfect location for your concept. The importance of researching the market that you're trying to break into. Start small. Proper promotion. Creating a really creative loyalty program.

To Nandu's FREE "GET BACK YOUR TIME COURSE" -->https://www.myrpac.com/course/get-back-your-time-training/?ref=5 (limited time) To Nandu's "Profit Accelerator Master Course" ---> https://www.fandbbusinessschool.com/rpac-page Nandku Awatramani (Nandu) is back on the show for the 2nd time consecutively. We just interviewed him yesterday, but we ran out of time. There was still something we didn't get to discuss; why time management is the first step to taking back your restaurant and life. In this episode, Nandu teaches us WHY you need a STRATEGY to get back time in your life. It is not enough to just delegate, you need a proven system. Here is the link to the course Nandu created that teach you the same exact strategy he used to regain time in his life. HE'S GIVING IT TO YOU FOR FREE!

Nandu is a third generation Hospitality Entrepreneur with 18 years in the hospitality industry. He is based out of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA and helps restaurateurs and other F&B business owners make more money, get their time back, and grow their businesses beyond what they could have thought was possible. In this episode we will discuss: reach out and find the right education. Improving revenues by working less. Taking over managing a restaurant unexpectedly. Daily meetings with your staff are essential. Take a minute to say hello and ask how each member of your staff is doing every day. Cultural challenges. Learning another language on the job! Show your employees that you appreciate them. Bringing Italian food to India. Imprint your drive and passion on your employees. Bad business and how to avoid it. Making pizzas for a movie theater! High volume in a small space. Branding and messaging is so important! Knowing when to go for professional help and when not to. Growing your company. Learning to be strategic. Have a plan! Systems, processes, and procedures. Step outside the box. Getting the people who like your restaurant to come back more often rather than only trying to attract new customers. Leading a balanced life of profits and happiness. Hard work is important BUT SO IS SMART WORK!

David Mazur is considered the renaissance man of hospitality. I have had the pleasure of interacting with him as a hospitality professor, general manager, and mentor. His career has spanned over 25 years in hotels restaurants, clubs, consulting and coaching. He has been involved in a half-dozen startups and continues to grow his success. In this episode we will discuss: Teaching business in a college setting. Bartending in New England. Experience equals knowledge. The REAL YOU is not the FACEBOOK YOU! Communicating with the consumer. The conception of Restaurant Unstoppable. The importance of mentors in any aspect off life. Putting yourself out there and the benefits it earns you. Money will come with skills. Don't do it for the money. Restaurant consultancy.

Chef Johnny Ray Zone, an LA native, has worked professionally under some of the best chefs in the world, including Thomas Keller, Gordon Ramsay and Nobu Mat Sue He Sa. In 2014, during a stage at Sean Brock's Husk in Nashville, TN, a local chef introduced Johnny to Nashville Hot Chicken. It was instantaneous love. It is safe to say in the years to follow, Chef Johnny has dedicated is life to mastering the perfect piece of hot fried chicken. You can find his chicken at Howlin' Ray's Nashville Hot Chicken, located in Los Angeles, CA. In this episode we will discuss: Striving for perfection. Hiring customers. The decision to go or not go to culinary school. Mentors in the restaurant industry. The different mindset of someone leaving culinary school with massive debt. The cost of training an employee. Integrity in the restaurant industry. Transitioning from food truck to restaurant. Do one thing well instead of many things well enough. Making guests happy (and encouraging them to come back) is more important than watching the numbers.

A native of Detroit Michigan, Chef Kate Williams studied Food Science at Michigan State University and would later transfer to the French Culinary Institute in NYC. Kate has served under Wolfgang Puck as Sous Chef, and served Detroit's Republic Tavern as Executive Chef. She's received the title of "Top Chef" Detroit and Eater Detroit "Chef of the Year - Semi-finalist." This summer Kate is opening Lady of the House which has already stirred up talk including Eater National's "Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings 2017" and Tasting Table's "Most Anticipated Opening 2017." In this episode we will discuss: Creating a restaurant that emulates your guests dining room. Questioning why you got yourself into the restaurant industry. Making your restaurant more like a home dining room. Serving a community that you love. Finding the "right money" for investment in your restaurant. Creating a business plan for your restaurant concept. Molding your business to serve its surroundings. Making guests feel special.

The idea for The Holy Donut grew out of a craving. Leigh Kellis wanted a donut made with fresh ingredients that she could feel good about eating. Since she couldn't find what she was looking for, she decided to create it herself. Thus, The Holy Donut was born in 2011. Six years later Leigh has scaled The Holy Donut from an apartment kitchen wholesale shop to a 3 locations operation with 80 employees. In this episode we will discuss: creating what you think is missing in your community. The anti-Dunkin' Donuts come to life. Everything's better with potatoes. Making donuts with potatoes. Starting a business with no overhead. The importance of testing the market BEFORE you sink too much money into your idea. Taking the risk of quitting your job to devote yourself to your idea. Welcoming change while staying true to your mission. Take your time before you grow and expand. Working with family. Spreading happiness through food and drink. Food as more than calories to keep you alive.

In 2004, Moses Sabina joined his brother, Alec, and they embarked on a gastronomic tour, eating their way across America's finest diners, barbecue fests, soul food joints, and fish frys. Their goal was to learn how a good neighborhood restaurant becomes a food institution. Today, Moses and his brother have spent the past decade practicing what they've learned with their restaurant, Hot Suppa, located in Portland, ME. In this episode we will discuss: Always trying to make things better for guests and employees. Running a "neighborhood restaurant." The desire to work for the independent restaurants. Independent v. Corporate company mentality. People-dependant businesses v. Systems-dependant businesses. Working with family. Owning real estate is important for building equity. Taking the time to establish your concept before you put its in motion. The importance of choosing the right market for your concept. Not having financial room for error can help you take your time in establishing a business. You need to be at your restaurant, especially in the beginning. Finding your life-balence. Making people happy through hospitality everyday.

In 2008, After traveling the world learning how to brew and distil alcohol, Eric Michaud, opened Novare Res Bier Cafe, which has nestled itself comfortably on multiple national best beer bar list. In 2013 Eric Opened Liquid Riots Bottle Company to satisfy his need to create. Their spirits have been winning awards ever since. Today, Liquid Riots Bottle Company consist of a Brewery, Distillery, and Rest0-Bar. In this episode, we talk about living to embrace the work we do, following your passion and living intentionally from an early age, what Eric learned about hospitality from living with Buddhist Monks, learning the business on someone else's dollar, treating the business you work in like you own it, the steps Eric took in opening his first bar, how to take initiative, listening to the advice of your future customers and the locals when opening a restaurant or bar, the impact of being a hands-on owner who teaches his/her staff first hand, leading by example, stepping back and trusting your people, sharing your business's equity with your best employees, and how being interesting can help you attract great people.

In 1994 Mary Allen Lindemann and Allen Spear opened their first Coffee By Design coffeehouse in Portland, Maine. 23 years later, what started as a humble coffeehouse with a part-time barista has grown into a sustainable business that currently employs 60 individuals in its 5 coffeehouses and its sustainably sourced roastery. Their growth is attributed to their fantastic employees, exceptional coffee, and strong underlying belief that what we do can make a difference. In this episode we discuss: Doing what is right for YOU! Community. How do you define success? Making sure your job is right for you. Proving your doubters wrong. Choosing the right market for your concept. What it means to truly be an entrepreneur. How politics can come into play when opening a business. Honoring your mistakes. Staying true to who you are. Slow growth. Good communication with your team. Doing good for your community and getting your name out there in other ways. Don't be afraid to be you. Knowing your numbers.

Originally from Malden, MA Chef TJ LaRosa is a two-time transplant. He first moved to San Francisco where he got his start working in the kitchen of the historic Alioto's at Fisherman's Wharf. In 1998 he would relocate again, this time to Texas. In 2012 he opened Fulbelli's Restaurant, located in Sherman, Texas. In this episode we discuss: the joy of taking on a challenge. The importance of mentors. The importance of asking questions. Patience in the kitchen. The importance of being a hands-on owner. Passion in the industry. Saying yes to customers. Pitching restaurant ideas to get investor interest. Taking a leap of faith. The importance of saving money. Word-of-mouth marketing. Lead by example.

Tommaso Bunker has over 20 years of outstanding experience in operations, finance, human resources, marketing, & Corporate Officer-level management for both stable & turn-around corporations and independents. During his tenure as Director of Operations at Sushi Ran, the restaurant earned a Michelin Star. He would then go on to share his knowledge by helping restaurant operators turn things in their own business around. Today he is the Director of Business Development of Mr. Esspresso located in Oakland, CA. In this episode we will discuss: There's always a solution, you just have to find it. Taking the initiative and where that gets you. Getting involved with your team as much as possible. The business side of running a restaurant. Working in a vast array of restaurant styles and what you learn from that. Staying calm in stressful situations. The importance of mentors. Sympathy. Empathy. Culture-clashing in the kitchen. Conflict resolution. Repetition and communication are keys to success. Discipline. A smile costs nothing but means a lot. Being willing to learn.

Chris Schultz spent 15 years with the Starbucks Management and Leadership team before joininging MOD Pizza, aka the MOD Squad in 2009. Since then the MOD Pizza has gone from 1 location to 100 locations in 2016. Since the beginning the driving force behind MOD has their philosophy of putting their people first. Today Schultz holds the title of Senior Vice President of Operations. In this episode we will discuss: Team importance. Everyone on your team is equally important to getting the job done: no star players. Not worrying about who gets the credit and just focusing on getting the job done. You have to believe in your team. Culture-driven organizations. Failure is not an option. Growing big while remaining small. Move slowly. Make sure you have the confidence to go being before you try to grow. The customers need to want to go back to your restaurant. Customers need to feel comfortable. Being a part of a company that stands for more than just profits. Everyone deserves a second chance.

Tracy Chang is from Cambridge, MA where she first experienced the restaurant industry while observing her Grandmother, a multi-unit restaurant owner. She would go on to study finance at Boston College. After college and a short stint in a kitchen, she would continue on to travel the world learning about food, marketing, media, and public relations. Today, Tracy is the Chef, Owner at PAGU, in Cambridge, MA. In this episode we discuss: Living intentionally. Drive and determination and where it gets you. The early days of opening a restaurant. Being passionate about what you do for work. The importance of learning how every job is done properly under your management. Being self-made. Informal training is not a deal-breaker; we can learn the skills we need from anywhere. A willingness to do anything to get what you want. The willingness to contribute fully to your team. Looking at your situation and attempting to add value. The importance of family in your life no matter your profession. Serve your community and your community will serve you. Ramen. Starting small and scaling up. Staying local. You need to care and be intentional. Thew importance of having endurance in this industry. This is a "people" business as much as a "restaurant" business. The importance of treating your staff like family.

Chef Edward Mendoza comes from Augusta, GA and has a bachelor's degree in Business Management from Agusta State and a Culinary Degree he earned in Vail, CO. He would go on to cook all around the country and world and has garnered countless accolades along the way. Today he is the owner of Cucina 503 and serves as corporate chef at major events like the Masters, U.S. Open, Kentucky Derby, Super Bowl, and the Salt Lake City Olympics. In this episode we discuss: Tweaking the system to make it your own. Looking at cooking in a restaurant as hosting a party every single night. For every one dollar you spend, you need to make three dollars to make that dollar back. Standards are very important. Your partners can't follow your vision if you don't clearly lay it out for you. How to operate when failure is not an option. Location and dependable events near your restaurant are guaranteed money made and guests served. The importance of earning a good reputation in your community. The importance of being prepared. The importance and ease of having a payroll company. There's no room for error in catering. There is no such thing as being too prepared for a catering event.

Lisandra Pagan is the founder of Deliberate Plan Consulting LLC. She helps restaurant owners prepare for business interruptions such as natural events, day to day crisis, or anything that can prevent them from doing their job. Then she helps develop strategies to bounce back quickly and prevent permanent business closures. RJ Joyce, is a past guest of Restaurant Unstoppable, episode 299. In 2015 he partnered with James Woodhouse to open his second restaurant Louie's, located in Portsmouth, NH. Two months ago they were forced to close indefinitely. In this episode we discuss: The importance of planning. Planning for a catastrophe at your business. Planning for a fire in your building. The emotional response to tragedy. The strength of keeping things positive in the face of disaster. No matter how loved and successful your business is nobody is natural disaster-proof. Picking yourself up after tragedy. Planning during peace time. Contingency planning. Time is of the essence in disaster response. How insurance comes into play.

Originating from Boston MA area, Debi Saltzberg holds a degree in hotel and restaurant management from UMass Amherst and has spent the last 15 years working in the San Diego restaurant industry. Today, she is the founder and host of Just Forking Around: The podcast show for Restaurateurs, Creative Chefs, Kick-Ass Servers, Wicked Cool Winemakers, Fresh Farmers and frankly, anyone who plays a pivotal part in this beautifully insane sexy world of Food and Beverage. In this episode we discuss: Perspective and how it determines your outlook on what's positive. The importance of your team! The feeling of making your guests happy. The choice to move from bartender to manager. Wanting to be part of a team. Picking yourself up when you fall down. The important part of failing is the recovery. Viewing your restaurant in the "macro." The desire to be the best! The feeling of being worthy of rewards. Hard work and what it earns you. Being a mentor. The joy of inspiring your employees. LEADERSHIP! The importance of looking up. Your employees want to be great so it's YOUR JOB to foster that. Don't freak out; find the solution! Filling your mind with positivity through podcasts.

In this episode we discuss: The power of journaling. The power of positivity. Setting the stage at your restaurant. The history of food. The importance of having goals. the importance of mentors. Living intentionally! The importance of time management. Time delegation. Time-blocking. The nitty-gritty of opening a restaurant. Making sure your restaurant concept is good for it's geographical location. Making your brand known. getting your name out there with pre-opening marketing! Operating a business "lean." Do the research to get the best prices and quality. Negotiating with vendors. Increase your bottom line without just increasing prices for guests. Budgeting your work employee Labor management. Track your data. Rafe is an exceptional leader with more than 20 years in the restaurant business. With outstanding relationship building, training and presentation skills, Rafe is a results-orientated business professional with proven abilities in strategic planning, managing projects, improving the efficiency of operations and team building. With both Sommelier and Cicerone certifications, Rafe is a vital asset to the Puccini Group, where he serves as Vice President of Restaurant Operations.

Hailing from India, Chef Jehangir Mehta is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. After graduating in the mid-90's Chef Mehta got busy working in and opening some of the finest restaurants in New York City. Today Chef Mehta is an author and restaurateur at Graffiti, Graffiti Earth, and Me and You. In this episode we discuss: Not following the crowd. Sustainability. Sociology and how it applies to the restaurant environment. The right way to speak to guests. The importance of working under difficult managers early in your career.Taking something positive from bad experiences. The importance of maintaining integrity. The importance of teaching our youth the process of cooking and where their food comes from. The most important part of your endeavors is that you tried. The importance of carefully choosing your team! Mentors are key to success. Learn from your mentor's mistakes so that you don't have to make them. Sustainability and how easy it is to improve in your business.

In this episode, we discuss: Focusing on and enjoying the work you do, living purpose and intention, surrounding yourself with people who are better than you, the evolution of a good manager, treating others the way you would want your children to be treated, how to build a team, the importance of good communication, making yourself obsolete, storytelling, adding more to the world than you take out, and not being afraid to ask for help. Hailing from Montana, Chuck Samuelson is a high school dropout turned award-winning chef and restaurateur. In 2004 he sold his restaurant, the Bird Rock Café, to head food services for Stone Brewery. Today he is the Founder and President of Kitchens For Good, a social enterprise that is designed to break the cycles of food waste, poverty, and hunger in the San Diego community.

In this episode we discuss: Food as a central aspect of life. The science of food. The emotional response to food. The importance of choosing the proper location for your dream restaurant. Why do fancy restaurants have white table clothes? Anything is possible as long as it obeys the laws of physics. The struggles of building a restaurant. Bars should work like restaurants. Fixing inefficiency. The business side of owning and operating a restaurant. After graduating with a degree in philosophy and a successful 10-year stint as an independent derivatives trader, Nick Kokonas partnered with Chef Grant Achatz to open Alinea Restaurant in 2005. In the 123 years to follow, Nick would go on to co-find Next, The Aviary, and Roisters. In addition, Kokonas is the Founder and CEO of Tock, a cloud-based comprehensive booking system for restaurants, events, and pop-ups around the world.

Restaurant Unstoppable's first every LIVE episode! In this episode, we discuss what to do after you've accomplished what you set out to do, needing a symbiotic relationship with landlords, how to sell the dream to your investors, focusing on doing a few things really well, why opening a restaurant is an equation, attracting the right talent, why sharing the profit upfront pays in the long run, starting small and scaling up, the benefits of operating a fast-casual vs a full-service restaurant, and how to maintain your essence as you grow. We first had Chef Matthew Gaudet on the show over 2 years ago! That was episode 106. In that episode, we found out how Chef Gaudet came to be the chef and partner of one Boston's most well know restaurants, The West Bridge. Much has changed since then! Today, Chef Gaudet is a Partner at the fast-casual Superfine Food, located at Manchester by Sea, The Chef at Freepoint Hotel, plus he has numerous other projects in the works.

In this episode, we discuss why we live in a world dominated by a disengaged workforce, how to find your passion, why branding should be a reflection of culture, why there is a shift in people choosing to work for purpose over profit, how your passion comes from finding your purpose, the age of manipulation and decent coming to an end, how to create your product once you've found your purpose, and using story to deliver your brand. Adam Fridman is a seasoned entrepreneur who enjoys the challenges and excitement of startup companies. He founded AdvisorTV, a Chicago-based advice and mentorship community for entrepreneurs, and Mabbly, a digital marketing agency. In addition, Adam is a contributor at Inc. Magazine where he writes on topics related to storytelling from a place of purpose.

In this episode, we discuss what can happen once you understand your job as a restaurant owner is to make it about everyone BUT yourself, why you should view neighboring restaurants as comrades; not competitors, knowing your strengths, finding the right partner to offset your weaknesses, staying in your lane, the power of masterminding, The name, La Finca Chiquita- or The Little Farmhouse- has been a part of Oscar Cavazos's life since childhood, as it was the name of the family restaurant his parents opened decades prior in Gilmer, TX. Today, Along with his wife, Ashley, Oscar is the Owner and Operator of La Finca Chiquita in Allen, TX. The restaurant has become a staple in the community, and it is safe to say Oscar's making his parents proud. I met Oscar through the mastermind I'm hosting. I've just been so impressed with who Oscar is as a person. He shows up to every meeting with such positivity, He always hits his goals. He even lost 30 pounds last month! I just really like Oscar and felt the need to make an example of him. When I asked Oscar to join me as a guest on the podcast he said, "Eric, are you sure you want to dilute the quality of your guest?" HA! Oh yeah. He's also humble.

In this episode, we discuss growing your company by distributing loyalty and allegiance to your team, providing feedback to your team members, why you should have scorecard for all your managers and team members, how success comes from hiring good people then developing them into amazing coaches and leaders, surrounding yourself with specialist, why servant leaders make the best managers, why bad experiences can be learning opportunities too, the power of thinking outside the box and diversify your business, the role of market research during expansion, the benefits of the entrepreneurial approach VS the corporate approach, why fast-casual is the way of the future, and the benefits of fast-casual to an operator. With over approximately 40 years of experience in hospitality, Bill Post got his humbles start at Levy Restaurants back in 1978. Today and multiple businesses later, Bill is the founder and CEO of WJP Restaurant Group a multi-dimensional restaurant company with locations scattered about the country and Founder of WJPost Restaurant Advisors, offering consultancy to forward-thinking owners and entrepreneurs of small to medium sized restaurant companies.

In this episode, Nick Fosberg reveals new marketing strategies that are bringing him and his clients the highest ROI out of any marketing strategies they've used. Discover how they are using the e-mail address to NOT e-mail them, but connect with their customers in other platforms for pennies on the dollar and how they get them back in the door. Nick also reveals why he's giving away over $3,000 worth of new training that will help you take 10 hours a week off your plate and allow you to put automated new customer and existing customer marketing systems in place to keep sales coming in, even during traditionally slow times. Nick Fosberg has become a leading authority on restaurant and bar marketing and promotions. He has helped hundreds of bar owners all over the US and Canada take their business to the next level by applying radically different direct response marketing strategies.

In this episode, we discuss: how to scale from a dinner club to a brick and mortar operation, why they chose Tock to handle reservations with their dinner club, treating growth like a marathon, why you should invest in system and culture training before you open your restaurant, implementing bottom line change, managing work-life balance, and being clear about expectations. Joshua Kulp and Christine Cikowski are the chef partners behind Honey Butter Fried Chicken located in Chicago, IL. What started as a Sunday Night Dinner Club has evolved into something truly amazing. Since 2013, Honey Butter Fried Chicken has believed in awesome ingredients, stellar service, and strong community, They also believe that you should feel good about your food—where it comes from, how it's prepared, how it is served and by whom.

In this episode, we'll discuss: Marketing. Great food is not the only way to make money and be successful in the restaurant industry. Direct marketing. Direct response marketing. Small business marketing. Highly-targeted marketing. Royalty Rewards. Cost-effective marketing. You need to have a birthday club! The most important thing is a good online presence. Making it easy and encouraging to have customers leave positive reviews online. Constantly be in contact with your customers about incentives to come be your guest. The importance of taking action.

In this episode we discuss, being sincere, creating impacting relationships with both guest & team members, being genuine & authentic to yourself, starting small & scaling up, and getting experience before opening your own restaurant. Originally from the Northeast, Michael Pazdon started sinking his teeth into the hospitality industry after moving to New York City in 1999. It was his time in NYC when he fell in love with food and drink. After 11 years in New York, he moved to Napa Valley and ended up staying there for over 5 years. Around 2015, it was time to head back home to the Northeast where today, Michael is the Founder and Mixologist of the Wallingford Dram in Kittery, ME.