In this session of Rising Tides Live, the community gathered for a special Ask Shawn Anything, where host Shawn Walchef took questions from the group and encouraged everyone to do the same. From a former dishwasher turned GM sharing leadership lessons, to a barbecue pitmaster navigating burnout and balance, the conversation was honest, practical, and […]

For years, food shows have followed the same formula: booths, samples, vendor brochures. But US Foods is flipping that script with Food Fanatics 2025, an immersive event designed to inform, inspire, and recharge restaurant operators. At the center of this transformation are two people who know the grind of the industry inside and out. Chef […]

Ted Courtney grew up on Martha’s Vineyard, the son of retailers who taught him how to hustle and how to make a business work in a seasonal market. Today, Ted and his brother run two of the island’s most popular restaurants, The Port Hunter and The Covington, both located in Edgartown. It is a demanding […]

In this session of Rising Tides Live, hosted by Shawn Walchef, the community gathered around a powerful idea: how can creators build an authentic audience from anywhere in the world? The guest was David Lissah, a UK-born entrepreneur and creator who moved to Bulgaria in 2024—and whose candid content about life abroad turned into a viral storytelling […]

When Shawn Walchef connected with David Lissah in Sofia, Bulgaria, it wasn’t part of a grand plan. Shawn had simply followed David on Instagram, impressed by his honest storytelling and creator journey. A direct message turned into a podcast invite, and before long, two creators from opposite sides of the world sat down for a […]

In restaurants across America, tipping is a way of life. It’s how servers, bartenders, and back-of-house staff make ends meet. But until now, those tips have always come with a tax bill. That’s starting to change. On July 4, 2025, a new federal law went into effect as part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill […]

In this session of Rising Tides Live, hosted by Shawn Walchef, the community rallied around a clear challenge: how can content teams move faster without sacrificing purpose? The guest was Scot Turner, a London-based hospitality consultant and creative thinker, who recently joined Shawn and their families on a vacation in Bulgaria. What started as a transatlantic DM […]

In the hospitality industry, laws don’t often make headlines. But a new California law is about to change how thousands of restaurants and bars handle alcohol payments. The good news is that there’s already a solution. AB 2991, signed in 2024, takes effect on January 1, 2026. It requires that all payments for beer, wine, […]

Shawn Walchef didn’t just dream of interviewing Shaquille O’Neal—he made it happen. The founder of Cali BBQ Media and host of Restaurant Influencers spent years laying the groundwork: building a show, investing in relationships, and telling the kind of stories that make big brands pay attention. Eventually, that work led him to a conference room […]

In this session of Rising Tides Live, hosted by Shawn Walchef, the community rallied around a powerful idea: technology should serve those who serve us. The guest was Grant Vermeer, a former Navy cryptologic warfare officer turned tech founder, who is now building Valor—a military discount app designed to eliminate the awkwardness of asking for appreciation. What […]