In this session of Rising Tides Live, hosted by Shawn Walchef,  the community gathered to explore the art of summer travel storytelling—how to capture the sights, sounds, and experiences that make a journey unforgettable. From London orchestral raves to Tokyo food tours, the conversation illuminated the creative ways hospitality pros and business leaders are documenting their trips. […]

At this year’s Catersource conference, Shawn Walchef and Duce Raymond took the stage to talk about something every business owner needs to hear: the power of content. In the world of barbecue and catering, Duce Raymond had already built his name. Sweet Baby Ray’s, True Cuisine, Duce’s Wild—the brands were solid. But on stage, Raymond […]

Cory Yates knows what it takes to keep a restaurant running—and it’s not just about fixing broken equipment. It’s about showing up fast, doing the job right, and making life easier for chefs and owners who are already doing everything they can to stay afloat. As Managing Partner at Alpha & Omega Restaurant Equipment & […]

In this session of Rising Tides Live, hosted by Shawn Walchef, the community gathered to unpack what’s next in restaurant technology following the 2025 National Restaurant Show. From AI-powered phone systems to precision ramen robots, the conversation explored how operators can embrace innovation without losing the human touch. Guests Dan Dickerson of F3 and Maria Zhang of […]

Five years into running a successful barbecue restaurant in San Diego, the team behind Cali BBQ did what every business owner was told to do: they wrote a press release. A good one. It was for their five-year anniversary. They had stayed open through a recession. They had served their community. And they figured—surely someone […]

In this session of Rising Tides Live, hosted by Shawn Walchef, the community reunited to reflect on the stories, lessons, and breakthroughs from the 2025 National Restaurant Show. Attendees shared tips on balancing content creation with human connection, leaning into both high-tech tools and handwritten takeaways. Whether filming with drones or just showing up with a phone, […]

In the world of food and media, Duce Raymond stands out not just for his barbecue but for his belief in the power of content. As the face behind Sweet Baby Ray’s Catering, True Cuisine, and Duce’s Wild, Duce has spent the past few years transforming his business by doing one thing most restaurant operators […]

Everyone loves a packed house on fight night. The energy, the crowd, the sales. But for Shawn Walchef, owner of Cali BBQ, one of those early nights nearly cost him everything. “We were young, hungry, and broke,” Shawn said. “And we made a choice we thought was smart business—but it almost shut us down.” The […]

In this session of Rising Tides Live, hosted by Shawn Walchef, the community gathered to reflect on the power of hospitality through the lens of Mother’s Day. From honoring the women who raised us to reimagining family-friendly experiences in restaurants, the conversation highlighted how thoughtful details—like personalized kids’ menus, surprise gifts for working moms, or simply easing the […]

At a lively Rising Tides happy hour during the Bar and Restaurant Show in Las Vegas, Jim Taylor found himself explaining labor costs to some incredible kids. But for Jim, that’s nothing unusual. Whether he’s helping restaurant owners tackle complex financial issues or guiding kids through the economics of a lemonade stand, his goal is […]