Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Hailing from the island of Saint Lucia, Nina Compton is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park. She started her professional career working under the mentorship of Daniel Boulud at his namesake restaurant Daniel. Nina then moved on to Miami where she continued to work in leading restaurants and hotels including Scott Conant's Scarpetta where she served as chef de cuisine. After being runner up on Top Chef season 11, and voted fan favorite, Nina moved to New Orleans to open her own restaurant, Compère Lapin in 2015. In 2018, Compère Lapin was followed by Bywater American Bistro.

Go to www.saverestaurants.com as mentioned in today's episode to support restaurants.

Go to www.werbig.org to sign the petition to get insurance companies to pay their business interruption insurance claims.

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

Favorite success quote or mantra:

  • "Positive vibes all around."

In today's episode with Nina Compton we will discuss:

  • The feeling of hitting a ceiling
  • Being committed to your journey before taking the first step
  • Receiving industry accolades while operating in the red
  • Food cost management
  • Competing on top chef
  • Having so many things on your table and no time to look at them
  • Making sure you sign the right deal
  • Always get a lawyer on your side for establishing business deals
  • Restauranteurs overspend before opening and open in the red
  • The differences in hotel restaurant deals; which is best for you?
  • The effects of AirBnB on your restaurant's neighborhood and your business
  • The effects of COVID on NOLA specifically

Today's sponsor:

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

 

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
    • Focus
  2. What is your biggest weakness?
    • Impatience
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
    • Open-mindedness
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
    • The future
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
    • Be kind and empathetic
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
    • Recognition of your guest. SEE them
  7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
  8. What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
    • The focus on diversity in restaurants
  9. Name one service you've hired.
  10. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced operations?
  11. 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?
    • Use salt
    • Have fun when you're cooking and eating
    • Share with people you love

Contact info:

Instagram: @ninacompton

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 Nina Compton 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!
Direct download: 735_Nina_Compton_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

Saint-Germain was created by Drew Delaughter, Chef Blake Aguillard, and Trey Smith. Drew and Trey met in 2008 at culinary school in Hyde Park, NY. They both moved to New Orleans after school. Drew worked at Susan Spicer’s Bayona Restaurant working his way up to Captain, gaining valuable service experience, as well as, wine and spirit knowledge. Smith went to work for Chef Michael Gulotta at Restaurant August where he met and worked alongside Blake. After some European traveling, and working in other cities, the trio reunited and Saint-Germain was born.

Check out episode 733 with Michael Gulotta as mentioned in today's episode!

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

Favorite success quote or mantra:

  • "We wouldn't do anything out of fear or greed."

In today's episode with Drew Delaughter we will discuss:

  • Being a jack of all trades in the restaurant
  • Mentors
  • Learning professionalism
  • What is professionalism?
  • Realizing WHILE TRAINING to be a chef that a different vertical in the industry is your path
  • Humility
  • Working with brand new owners who are learning as they go
  • Bridging the gap between BOH and FOH
  • Delegation and how to balance setting a good example and handing out tasks

Today's sponsor:

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

 

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
    • Humility
  2. What is your biggest weakness?
    • "I don't know."
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
    • Team work, self-motivation
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
    • COVID-19
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
    • Be humble
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
    • Recognizing an opportunity for hospitality
  7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
  8. What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
    • Mentorship mentality
  9. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced operations?
  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?
    • Be humble
    • Show up to something that you want to show up to
    • Switch to Resy

Contact info:

Instagram: @saintgermainnola

website: www.saintgermainnola.com

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 Drew Delaughter 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!
Direct download: 734_Drew_Delaught_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

Ariane Daguin is the founder, owner and CEO of D’Artagnan, the renowned gourmet food purveyor. Famous for providing humanely-raised meats, from game and foie gras to organic chicken and prepared charcuterie, the name D’Artagnan is synonymous with top-quality food produced with care. Today we're here to discuss how the meat industry has been impacted by COVID-19, how Ariane has pivoted her company to keep quality meat on American tables, the issues of factory farming that have been brought to light by the pandemic, and why returning to sustainable methods is crucial to the environment and consumer health.

Check out Nourishment: What Animals Can Teach Us About Rediscovering Our Nutritional Wisdom by Fred Provenza as mentioned in today's episode!

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

Favorite success quote or mantra:

  • "Life is short. You might as well do the right thing."
  • "All for one and one for all."

In today's episode with arcane Daguin we will discuss:

  • The importance of doing the right thing
  • How COVID affects restaurant vendors
  • The value of education and not cutting corners
  • The silver-lining of COVID on our values
  • Why don't we demand to know where our food comes from in restaurants?

Today's sponsor:

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

 

Contact info:

D'Artagnan website

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 Ariane Daguin 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!
Direct download: 733Ariane_Daguin_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

Born and raised in New Orleans, Michael Gulotta began cooking in local restaurants at a young age. After graduating from the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, he joined the newly opened Restaurant August, where he was named Chef de Cuisine in 2007 and led the award-winning kitchen for 6 years. In 2014 Michael opened Mopho to rave reviews and accolades. Today, Michael has scaled the operation to include Maypop and a second Mopho located in the new Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

Check out The Last Days of Haute Cuisine by Patric Kuh as mentioned in today's episode.

Check out The Town That Food Saved: How One Community Found Vitality in Local Food by Ben Hewitt as mentioned in today's episode.

Check out The E-Myth: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What To Do About It by Michael E. Gerber as mentioned in today's episode.

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

Favorite success quote or mantra:

  • "Please and thank you restaurants."

In today's episode with Michael Gulotta we will discuss:

  • Respect and disrespect
  • The importance of saying please and thank you even when the situation is stressful
  • Knowing you wanted to be a chef at 8 years old
  • There are too many restaurants
  • Restaurants with awards on the walls and unable to pay the bills
  • People expect high quality for less money - it isn't sustainable for the provider
  • Cooking in Italy and Germany
  • The right way to scale
  • Employees-first culture
  • Investors/partners
  • Getting your staff to take ownership
  • Building a great team - it takes time
  • The unique challenges of NOLA restaurants
  • Crippling stress and learning how to deal with it

Today's sponsor:

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

 

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
    • Bull-headedness
  2. What is your biggest weakness?
    • Bull-headedness
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
    • The ability to hold a conversation. "I need to talk to my staff."
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
    • "Figure out what I still have and maintain it moving forward."
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
    • Please and thank you
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
    • Always put bullets in our staffs' guns, always have their back, especially if they've been with us for a long time.
  7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
  8. What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
    • Bigger is not better
  9. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced operations?
  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?
    • Take the time to stop and look at your business and see how everyone within is operating
    • Make time for yourself
    • Be ok with the fact that to provide fully for your staff you will need to make sacrifices

Contact info:

Mopho Instagram: @mophonola

Personal Instagram: @michaelgulotta

Mopho website

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 Michael Gulotta 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!
Direct download: 732_Michael_Gulotta_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:04pm EDT

Dr. Kara Farley is a veteran, wife, mother of two, and physician. The COVID-19 pandemic occurred during Dr. Farley's last tour as a Naval Flight Surgeon. During that time, Dr. Farley was a lead member of the public health emergency services team where she created and implemented protocol aimed at decreasing transmission between sailors and soldiers. During her transition out of the military, she realized that the civilian sector was in need of these same services she created. In June she started Blue Ocean Health Services, which aims to give your business the tools for success during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Today we're here to discuss COVID-19 best practices.

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

Favorite success quote or mantra:

  • Providing public health for the community

In today's episode with Dr. Kara Farley we will discuss:

How to Keep employees and guests safe.

  • What's the Restaurant Owner's Liability?
    • Record-keeping
      • Screening
      • Creating Safe Environment
      • Cleaning
      • Don't need to legally report to the public
      • within 6 feet for 15 minutes
  • Aside from liability, what is the restaurant owners ethical responsibility?
  • What can we do for our employees to make them feel and actually be safer? Whats the process?
    • Screening
      • before the come to work- do you feel sick
      • Temperature check
      • Creating a culture of a common away
      • What's the process look like?
    • Hand washing
    • Why is taking temperature not necessarily the best practice?
    • What if our employees do not want to participate.
  • What happens when one of your employees tests positive.
  •  What happens if a guest test positive?
  • What's the latest on what we KNOW about COVID19
  • What's the best PPE out there, and where can we get it?
  • What's the perfect-case scenario?

Today's sponsor:

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

MarginEdge is completely free for new customers until September. No setup fees. No integration fees. No commitment. Take your back office paperwork down to 2-3 minutes a day while creating real-time financial views to inform your path ahead.

QuickBooks for Restaurants a Bookkeeping and Accounting Guide. The back-office restaurant accounting guide you’ve been searching for! Zac covers the accounting fundamentals, including sales tracking, purchasing, bill paying, invoicing, managing day-to-day liabilities, gift certificate tracking, cash management, detailed reporting, and more. Ultimately, Zac show owners and operators how to create the accurate financials and reporting that will enable them to make better informed, data-driven decisions.

Zachary Weiner Quickbooks for Restaurants Ad

Contact info:

Email: drfarley@blueoceanhealthservices.com

Blue Ocean Health Services website

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 Dr. Kara Farley 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!
Direct download: 731_Dr._Kara_Farely__mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

Dr. Kara Farley is a veteran, wife, mother of two, and physician. The COVID-19 pandemic occurred during Dr. Farley's last tour as a Naval Flight Surgeon. During that time, Dr. Farley was a lead member of the public health emergency services team where she created and implemented protocol aimed at decreasing transmission between sailors and soldiers. During her transition out of the military, she realized that the civilian sector was in need of these same services she created. In June she started Blue Ocean Health Services, which aims to give your business the tools for success during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Today we're here to discuss COVID-19 best practices.

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

Favorite success quote or mantra:

  • Providing public health for the community

In today's episode with Dr. Kara Farley we will discuss:

How to Keep employees and guests safe.

  • What's the Restaurant Owner's Liability?
    • Record-keeping
      • Screening
      • Creating Safe Environment
      • Cleaning
      • Don't need to legally report to the public
      • within 6 feet for 15 minutes
  • Aside from liability, what is the restaurant owners ethical responsibility?
  • What can we do for our employees to make them feel and actually be safer? Whats the process?
    • Screening
      • before the come to work- do you feel sick
      • Temperature check
      • Creating a culture of a common away
      • What's the process look like?
    • Hand washing
    • Why is taking temperature not necessarily the best practice?
    • What if our employees do not want to participate.
  • What happens when one of your employees tests positive.
  •  What happens if a guest test positive?
  • What's the latest on what we KNOW about COVID19
  • What's the best PPE out there, and where can we get it?
  • What's the perfect-case scenario?

Today's sponsor:

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

MarginEdge is completely free for new customers until September. No setup fees. No integration fees. No commitment. Take your back office paperwork down to 2-3 minutes a day while creating real-time financial views to inform your path ahead.

QuickBooks for Restaurants a Bookkeeping and Accounting Guide. The back-office restaurant accounting guide you’ve been searching for! Zac covers the accounting fundamentals, including sales tracking, purchasing, bill paying, invoicing, managing day-to-day liabilities, gift certificate tracking, cash management, detailed reporting, and more. Ultimately, Zac show owners and operators how to create the accurate financials and reporting that will enable them to make better informed, data-driven decisions.

Zachary Weiner Quickbooks for Restaurants Ad

Contact info:

Email: drfarley@blueoceanhealthservices.com

Blue Ocean Health Services website

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 Dr. Kara Farley 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!
Direct download: 731_Dr._Kara_Farely__mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

In 2008, Janet Davas founded Liberty's Kitchen. Her vision was to create a place where young adults who had been neglected or criminalized could come for a hot meal, a job opportunity, and a support system. Fast forward 12 years since its inception, we're sitting with Liberty's Kitchen CEO, and longest standing employee, Dennis Bagneris. In that time Liberty's Kitchen has evolved into a workforce development training program, which functions as a social enterprise, dedicated to transforming the lives of the "Opportunity and Vulnerable Youth" population of New Orleans, LA., by providing them with the support to develop self-sustainability, through an intensive 1-year life skills curriculum and employability skills training program, set in a culinary environment.

Check out Sapiens: A Brief History of Human Kind by Yuval Noah Harari as mentioned in today's episode!

Check out OpenTable as mentioned in today's episode.

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

Favorite success quote or mantra:

"It takes a village."

In today's episode with Dennis Bagneris we will discuss:

  • Humans are naturally tribal; we seek the guidance of a group
  • Community
  • The importance of a strong family foundation
  • The banking world/understanding finances
  • Racism and activism
  • Existing to serve the people you employ
  • Applying non-profit operations and culture to a for-profit business
  • You have to know WHAT you're hiring for
  • What can you learn from your employees? Answer: a lot
  • Racism/sexism/ego in our industry
  • Break the mold; if you didn't like how you were trained then don't train your staff that way
  • The realization of how few people of color are CEO's
  • Before you fire someone find out the real reason behind their faults, it may be out of their control and there may be things you can do to help them
  • Advice for creating a non-profit organization
  • Cooking provides and can be a super power

Today's sponsor:

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

MarginEdge is completely free for new customers until September. No setup fees. No integration fees. No commitment. Take your back office paperwork down to 2-3 minutes a day while creating real-time financial views to inform your path ahead.

QuickBooks for Restaurants a Bookkeeping and Accounting Guide. The back-office restaurant accounting guide you’ve been searching for! Zac covers the accounting fundamentals, including sales tracking, purchasing, bill paying, invoicing, managing day-to-day liabilities, gift certificate tracking, cash management, detailed reporting, and more. Ultimately, Zac show owners and operators how to create the accurate financials and reporting that will enable them to make better informed, data-driven decisions.

Zachary Weiner Quickbooks for Restaurants Ad

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
    • Self-reflection
  2. What is your biggest weakness?
    • Delegation
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
    • What do they care most about?
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
    • Self-care
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
    • We want people to leave this place having had a good experience in everything including and beyond the food
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
    • Interdependence - you can't do it all by yourself
  7. What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
    • Investing their time instead of their money
  8. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced operations?
  9. 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?
    • Trust your gut - don't ignore it
    • I don't believe anyone is inherently evil - people can be approached correctly and minds can change
    • You have to find something you love in this world to exist in it

Contact info:

Liberty's Kitchen website

Facebook: @LibertysKitchen

Instagram: @libertyskitchen

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 Dennis Bagneris 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!
Direct download: 730_Dennis_Bagneris__mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

Page Pressley got his start in culinary where he grew up; Santa Fe, New Mexico. He continued on to The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Upon graduation, Pressley returned to the Southwest to manage kitchens at several highly acclaimed establishments. In 2011, he moved to Austin, Texas to join the Uchi team as sous chef,  and later becoming a corporate executive chef for Starr Restaurants. He returned to the line at Pujol in Mexico City until 2015, when he moved back to Austin to head up the opening team at Emmer & Rye as chef de cuisine and partner. Today Pressley serves as Founder & Chef  at Foxtail; a seasonally driven experiential at home dining concept.

Check out Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy as mentioned in today's episode!

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

Favorite success quote or mantra:

  • Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose."

In today's episode with Page Pressley we will discuss:

  • Working for free - the benefits
  • Breaking bad habits in the kitchen
  • NOT cooking with recipes
  • If you want something you have to go get it
  • Managing precision and volume
  • Incentive
  • Substance abuse in the industry
  • Emotional intelligence
  • How to teach culture
  • Achieving balance
  • The significance of networking in the industry
  • Opening 5 restaurants in 18 months
  • Opening vs. Operating an existing restaurant
  • Becoming investable
  • Dinner clubs!

Today's sponsor:

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

MarginEdge is completely free for new customers until September. No setup fees. No integration fees. No commitment. Take your back office paperwork down to 2-3 minutes a day while creating real-time financial views to inform your path ahead.

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
    • Clarity
  2. What is your biggest weakness?
    • Balance
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
    • What do you do outside work?
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
    • Time management
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
    • Approach everything with love
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
    • Approach everything with love
  7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
  8. What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
    • Ask what they can do for the people who are serving them
  9. Name one service you've hired.
  10. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced operations?
    • A general better understanding of how internet connections work
  11. 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?
    • Always show up for the people who show up for you
    • Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose
    • No amount of work or professional success is worth significant personal sacrifice

Contact info:

Check out the Fox Tales podcast hosted by Page.

Foxtails website

info@foxtailsupper.com

Social handles: Twitter: @pagepressley Instagram: @pagepressley

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 Page Pressley 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!
Direct download: 729_Page_Pressley_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

Hailing from Virginia, just outside Washington DC, Mike Rypka got his start in the restaurant industry as a fry cook at Popeyes. He found his passion for cooking during his time working at a country club in Springfield, VA. From there he attended Johnson and Wales University in North Miami, FL. This experience earned him a place with Marriott, which took him to CA, and eventually TX, where he worked in corporate settings until he left the corporate scene for Chuy's in the mid-2000s.

Two years later, at the age of 32, it was time for Rypka to do his own thing. In 2006 Torchy's was born. 14 years later Mike serves Torchy's as Founder and Chairman and the brand has scaled to 17 locations in the Austin Metroplex area and over 75 locations in all.

Check out The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey as mentioned in today's episode.

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

Favorite success quote or mantra:

"The Devil is in the details."

In today's episode with Mike Rypka we will discuss:

  • The details and why they're important
  • Why you should move on from a restaurant after 2 years
  • Working in different areas of hospitality
  • Letting your team be a part of the creative process
  • Gamifying work
  • Giving your people room to be creative and add value to your organization
  • How much better the culture is when the owners are fewer places removed from the bottom of the heigherarchy
  • Do something unique to stand out
  • Guerilla marketing give lots of food away- get it in their mouth
  • Know your lane and trusting others who are strong where you're weak
  • Ego - get rid of it
  • Catering for Disney and MTV

Today's sponsor:

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

 

MarginEdge is completely free for new customers until September. No setup fees. No integration fees. No commitment. Take your back office paperwork down to 2-3 minutes a day while creating real-time financial views to inform your path ahead.

QuickBooks for Restaurants a Bookkeeping and Accounting Guide. The back-office restaurant accounting guide you’ve been searching for! Zac covers the accounting fundamentals, including sales tracking, purchasing, bill paying, invoicing, managing day-to-day liabilities, gift certificate tracking, cash management, detailed reporting, and more. Ultimately, Zac show owners and operators how to create the accurate financials and reporting that will enable them to make better informed, data-driven decisions.

Zachary Weiner Quickbooks for Restaurants Ad

 

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
    • Tenacity
  2. What is your biggest weakness?
    • Impatience
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
    • "If I could drive to El Paso and back with the person and not want to throw them out of the car I think I could work with them on a daily basis."
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
    • Maintaining the integrity of the brand
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
    • Respect, honor, integrity
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
    • Treat customers like family
  7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
  8. What's one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
    • Don't focus enough on the food
  9. Name one service you've hired.
    • T3 for marketing
  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?
    • Treat people with respect
    • Be the best you can be
    • Follow your dreams and your passion

Contact info:

torchystacos.com

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 Mike Rypka 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!
Direct download: 728_Mike_Rypka_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

John Houghtaling is the owner at Gauthier Murphy and Houghtaling LLC Attorneys at Law where they specialize in first-party business insurance litigations. He is also leading the Business Interruption Group, a nonprofit advocacy group comprised of leaders in the industry, including Wolfgang Puck, Daniel Boulud, and Thomas Keller.

Today we are here, to tell the truth behind what insurers are doing to restaurant owners. From a legal standpoint, we'll also discuss what is important for restaurants reopening during the pandemic.

 

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

Favorite success quote or mantra:

  • "Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are alone omnipotent." -Calvin Coolidge

In today's episode with John W. Houghtaling we will discuss:

  • Taking on giants
  • Aligning your self interest with things that make a difference
  • What is capitalism at it's core and how can we utilize it to make a positive difference
  • Hurricane Katrina and what it did to NoLa and Houtaling's law firm
  • Do insurance companies forge documents to avoid helping their clients? The answer is yes.
  • "No exclusions" actually means there are exclusions - makes sense, right?
  • Successful restauranteurs become open restauranteurs to enrich their communities
  • Celebrity chefs have more pull than billionaires
  • The only way we come out of this in one piece is if we unite for a common cause

Today's sponsor:

Toast - A POS built for restaurants by restaurant people Adapt fast with Toast's cloud-based restaurant POS system that updates to evolve your POS along with changing industry trends and guest expectations. Toast is built exclusively for restaurants of all shapes and sizes, with over 2/3 of our employees having restaurant experience to serve you better. Online Ordering - Let guests easily order directly from your restaurant for pickup or contactless delivery to keep revenue flowing during these uncertain times. Toast Delivery Services Dispatch local drivers through an on-demand network to keep your community fed and revenue coming in.

MarginEdge is completely free for new customers until September. No setup fees. No integration fees. No commitment. Take your back office paperwork down to 2-3 minutes a day while creating real-time financial views to inform your path ahead.

QuickBooks for Restaurants a Bookkeeping and Accounting Guide. The back-office restaurant accounting guide you’ve been searching for! Zac covers the accounting fundamentals, including sales tracking, purchasing, bill paying, invoicing, managing day-to-day liabilities, gift certificate tracking, cash management, detailed reporting, and more. Ultimately, Zac show owners and operators how to create the accurate financials and reporting that will enable them to make better informed, data-driven decisions.

Zachary Weiner Quickbooks for Restaurants Ad

Contact info:

www.werbig.org

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 John W. Houghtaling 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!
Direct download: 727_John_Houghtaling_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30am EDT

1