924: Susan Spicer Chef/Owner of Bayona, Mondo, and Rosedale

Susan Spicer is the Chef/Owner of Bayona, Mondo, and Rosedale in New Orleans. She is a highly respected figure and chef in NOLA, and nationwide. Susan got her start in 1979 at the age of 26 as a cook, and soon after that, she was staging in Paris. In 1982, back in NOLA, she opened Savoire Faire inside a hotel as the Chef De Cuisine. In 1986 she was a part of the opening team at Bistro at Madison de Ville, also in NOLA. After a trip out west to California where she worked mostly catering and events, she returned to NOLA and opened Bayona in 1990. Mondo came later, in 2010. Her most recent restaurant, Rosedale, is a casual concept, again...in NOLA!

Today’s feature affiliate: Bentobox. In need of a restaurant website? Click this link to find out why so many of my guests use Bentobox!

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

• Join Restaurant Unstoppable Network and get your first 30 days on me!  Connect with my past guest and a community of superfans.
• Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel
• Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group
• Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!)

Favorite success quote or mantra:

• "Love what you do and begin with the end in mind."

In this episode with Susan Spicer we will discuss:

• Dining outside
• Finding a mentor
• How and where to learn about cooking
• Being a woman in the industry in the 1980s
• How to manage people
• Standards
• The grind of fine dining
• Partnerships
• Turn key operations
• Food cost, waste, managing numbers
• Hosting events
• Closing a business

Today's sponsor:

Join the 60-day Restaurant Systems Pro FREE TRAINING. This is something that has never been done before. This 60-day event is at no cost to you, but it is not for everyone. Fred Langley, CEO of Restaurant Systems Pro, will lead a group of restaurateurs through the Restaurant Systems Pro software and set up the systems for your restaurant. During the 60 days, Fred will walk you through the Restaurant Systems Pro Process and help you crush the following goals: Recipe Costing Cards; Guidance in your books for accounting; Cash controls; Sales Forecasting(With Accuracy); Checklists; Budgeting for the entire year; Scheduling for profit; More butts in seats and more… Click Here to learn more.

7shifts is a modern labor management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. Effectively labor management is more important than ever to ensure profitability and restaurant success. Trusted by over 400,000 restaurant professionals, 7shifts gives you the tools you need to streamline labor operations, communicate with your team, and retain your talent. Best of all 7shifts integrates with the POS and Payroll systems you already use and trust (like Toast!) turning labor into a competitive advantage for your business. Restaurant Unstoppable members get 3 months, absolutely free.

Knowledge bombs

1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
   • Sincerity
2. What is your biggest weakness?
   • Judgemental
3. What's one thing you ask or look for when interviewing/growing your team?
   • Looking for a spark when food is mentioned or discussed
4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
   • Labor
5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
   • Invested
6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
   • Trying to connect with guests
7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
   • Setting The Table by Danny Meyer
   • GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM 
8. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations?
   • Resy
   • Toast
9. What is one thing you feel restaurateurs don't do well enough or often enough?
   • Recognize their regulars
10. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
    • Have animals in your life
    • Be engaged with what you do
    • Read books

Contact:

Rosedale website: https://rosedalerestaurant.com/

Email: [e-mail]

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.

Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates.

Huge thanks to Susan Spicer for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!