Happy Mouth

By Philip Camino & Nyesha ArringtonArts Food

Happy Mouth episodes

June 02, 2021June 2, 2021: McDonald’s Fighting With Franchisees Over Tech Fees
While big chains have been recovering better than independent restaurants, not everything is smooth sailing. McDonald’s could have a fight on their hands as franchisees are pushing back against the fast-food corporation trying to collect technology fees. With stores closed due to the coronavirus pandemic and millions on the line, this battle might not be quick to end.
Join restaurateur Philip Camino and chef Nyesha Arrington as they discuss the rising franchise fees from restaurants like McDonald’s and Subway, and what could be coming next in the battle with franchisees.
Listen to Philip and Nyesha discuss McDonald’s franchise fees:
McDonald’s sales were up 9% in the first quarter compared to the same time in 2019

Same-store sales in March increased 13.6% from the previous year

McDonald’s has ordered franchisees to pay $423 a month on uncollected past technology fees, which total $70 million

Franchisees are saying McDonald’s has not proven the fee is owed and have experienced previous fee increases without a reason why

The National Owners Association saw almost 75% of the 225 members surveyed support owner leadership filing an injunction to stop the collection of the fees

While KPMG is conducting an independent audit to settle the matter, the conflict has been going on since December

Subway has also raised fees franchisees must pay, increasing the royalty payment by 25%
Links:
Happy Mouth Podcast Instagram
Restaurant Business - Subway wants to increase franchisees’ payments by 25%
CNBC - McDonald’s franchisee fight over tech fees could wind up in court
Restaurant Business - McDonald’s chairman gets re-elected despite shareholder opposition
We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other shows:
Full Comp
The Happy Mouth Morning Show
Restaurant Marketing School
The Playbook
12 min
June 01, 2021June 1, 2021: Hospitality Trends That Could Stick Around Post-COVID
As the country begins to lift coronavirus restrictions and people feel more comfortable with going out, some of the things the hospitality industry did to survive appear to be sticking around. But what trends will make the cut in this post-COVID world?
Join restaurateur Philip Camino and chef Nyesha Arrington as they take a look back at some of the hurdles restaurants and bars had to overcome over the last year and what trends could stick around as the United States comes out the other side of the coronavirus pandemic.
Listen to Philip and Nyesha discuss COVID-19 trends:
Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently signed House Bill 1024, which allows restaurants to serve to-go alcohol permanently following the coronavirus pandemic.

Bars and restaurants have relied on the previously temporary to-go alcohol measures.

Bars and restaurants turned to outdoor dining during COVID-19 restrictions and are still utilizing that space as restrictions on capacity are being lifted.

The L.A. Al Fresco Program provides grants for restaurants in low-income neighborhoods to create permanent outdoor dining

The hospitality industry embraced technology like QR codes to make ordering easier and safer during the coronavirus pandemic.

Some restaurants turned to remote workers for some tasks and robots for others as they battled a shortage of workers

According to the National Restaurant Association, over 84% of operators are struggling to staff their restaurants

A significant amount of restaurant workers reported steep drops in tips while seeing an increase in hostility during the coronavirus pandemic
Links:
Happy Mouth Podcast Instagram
Happy Mouth’s May 4 episode on QR codes
Happy Mouth’s May 10 episode on restaurant robots
Happy Mouth’s May 18 episode on restaurant workers not wanting to return
Happy Mouth’s April 19 episode on worker shortages
We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other shows:
Full Comp
The Happy Mouth Morning Show
Restaurant Marketing School
The Playbook
22 min
May 31, 2021May 31, 2021: Restaurant Closures Not As Bad As Expected
Predictions at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic were doom and gloom with some believing a third of all U.S. restaurants would close. But with the pandemic winding down, thankfully, those predictions appear to have been far more alarmist than reality.
Restaurateur Philip Camino and chef Nyesha Arrington break down the latest restaurant closure numbers from the National Restaurant Association and how they fall quite short of expectations. Nyesha and Philip provide a little insight on what might have saved some restaurants from closing and what might be in store for the future of the industry’s recovery.
Listen to Philip and Nyesha talk about restaurant closures:
The USB predicted 1-in-5 restaurants would close, while Aaron Allen and Associates believed 1-in-3 restaurants would permanently close due to the coronavirus pandemic

The National Restaurant Association polled thousands of restaurants in the first half of April.

They found that about 90,000 restaurants are either permanently or long-term closed, which is down from the 110,000 reported in December. That’s less than 14% of the country’s restaurants.

Sales have been trending upward with a month-to-month increase.

44% of operators expect their April-June sales to surpass March’s sales

90% of operators said they will continue to maintain their expanded outdoor dining.

This surge in business could be due to the start of Summer, easing tensions as more people get vaccinated, and because of restrictions loosening after the long lockdown.

Still, April 2021 sales are down about 2% from pre-pandemic, which accounts to about $1.3 billion across the entire hospitality industry
Links:
Happy Mouth Podcast Instagram
Bloomberg - One-third of U.S. restaurants face permanent closure this year
Bloomberg - Restaurant closures now at 14% despite apocalyptic predictions
Insider - One in 5 restaurants in the US could permanently close
National Restaurant Association - COVID-19 operator survey
U.S. Travel - Monthly travel recovery data report
We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other shows:
Full Comp
The Happy Mouth Morning Show
Restaurant Marketing School
The Playbook
14 min
May 28, 2021May 28, 2021: How Chef Eric Sze Of 886 Survived The Pandemic And Highlighted His Heritage
Eric Sze is one of the hottest young chefs out there right now. Not only is he a member of Eater’s New Guard for 2021, Chef Eric has been going above and beyond for his community and his heritage.
On this Fun Friday episode of the Happy Mouth podcast, chef Nyesha Arrington and restaurateur Philip Camino sit down with chef Eric to talk about how he reconnected with his Taiwanese heritage to launch his restaurant, 886, and how it’s not only survived the pandemic but found a way to give back to those most in need.
Listen to Philip and Nyesha talk with chef Eric Sze:
Chef Eric Sze is a member of the 2021 Eater New Guard

Chef Eric’s new restaurant, 886, had to pivot during the pandemic. He changed the menu to be more deliverable and lowered prices to make meals more affordable while improving the outdoor experience.

Eric founded a grassroots initiative called “Enough is Enough” which brings awareness to the hate crimes against Asian Americans.

Chef Eric is opening up a new restaurant in Brooklyn called WenWen, named after his wife and mother.

WenWen will be celebrating and embracing chef Eric’s Taiwanese heritage with unique dishes

When the pandemic hit, chef Eric and his business partner decided every penny would go to the employees, even over the landlord and vendors
Links:
Happy Mouth Podcast Instagram
We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other shows:
Full Comp
The Happy Mouth Morning Show
Restaurant Marketing School
The Playbook
33 min
May 27, 2021May 27, 2021: Grubhub Launches Platform For Independents
Independents are getting another big boost as we come out of the coronavirus pandemic. Grubhub, one of the top food delivery apps, announced they’re launching a commission-free platform for independent restaurants and bars.
On this episode of the Happy Mouth podcast, restaurateur Philip Camino and chef Nyesha Arrington discuss Grubhub’s new platform, Grubhub Direct. Nyesha and Philip break down what benefits the new platform will bring and what other solutions exist for independents. They also share their insight on just how helpful this service might actually be for smaller restaurants that need a web presence.
Listen to Philip and Nyesha discuss Grubhub Direct:
90% of restaurant sales were off-premise at one point during the pandemic

Over 50% of adults have used a delivery app in the past year

Grubhub Direct allows independents to create customizable ordering websites and provides access to customer data

To sign up, there will be a $99 set-up fee and $49 monthly hosting fee for Grubhub Direct, plus standard credit card processing fees

However, all fees are being waived through May 2022 if you join the waitlist now

UberEats and DoorDash have been offering a similar service
Links:
Happy Mouth Podcast Instagram
Happy Mouth’s May 12 episode on restaurant recovery
Restaurant Dive - Grubhub launches commission-free platform
Restaurant Business - Sysco says that independents have recovered in some markets
We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other shows:
Full Comp
The Happy Mouth Morning Show
Restaurant Marketing School
The Playbook
12 min
May 26, 2021May 26, 2021: Stimulus Checks Put A Big Dent In Food Insecurity
Due to the tightening of personal budgets, the lack of reliable public transportation, and the restrictions put in place during the coronavirus pandemic, food insecurity rose significantly in the United States. But thanks to stimulus checks and other programs, hunger rates dropped almost immediately.
On this episode of the Happy Mouth podcast, chef Nyesha Arrington and restaurateur Philip Camino discuss the hidden issues of food insecurity and how the government’s stimulus checks, the increase of SNAP benefits, and federal waivers for free school lunches have helped to turn the tide during a worldwide crisis.
Listen to Philip and Nyesha discuss food insecurity:
What is food insecurity?

38 million Americans lived on food stamps prior to the coronavirus pandemic

The price of groceries grew 2.6% in April 2020 -- the biggest month-to-month increase since 1974

1-in-9 people experience food insecurity while that rate goes up to 1-in-5 for Black individuals

During the pandemic, over 42 million people have experienced food insecurity

80% of households spent their first stimulus check on food and continue to do so

Adults that reported not having enough to eat dropped by 18% after March’s stimulus check
Links:
Happy Mouth Podcast Instagram
Happy Mouth’s April 26 episode on food deserts
Eater - Hunger rates drop as people spend stimulus money on groceries
CNBC - The U.S. is facing unprecedented levels of child hunger
Healthy People - Food insecurity
Feeding America - Understand food insecurity
Feeding America
We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other shows:
Full Comp
The Happy Mouth Morning Show
Restaurant Marketing School
The Playbook
8 min
May 25, 2021May 25, 2021: Making Cow Burps Better For The Environment With Seaweed
As the world looks to combat global warming, some scientists are taking a closer look at cow burps. While that might sound funny, livestock account for a significant percentage of global greenhouse gases thanks, in large part, to cattle burping methane. Scientists might have found the ideal solution in seaweed though.
On this episode of the Happy Mouth podcast, chef Nyesha Arrington and restaurateur Philip Camino dive into the UC Davis study that is turning heads and stopping burps. Philip and Nyesha talk with one of the scientists behind the study, Breanna Roque, to hear the details about how one type of seaweed is cutting greenhouse gas emissions from cattle by up to 82%.
Listen to Philip and Nyesha discuss cow methane:
The emission of greenhouse gases accelerate global warming drastically

Livestock accounts for 14.5% of global greenhouse gases

A cow will belch about 220 pounds of methane a year, which is 28-times more potent than carbon dioxide in warming the atmosphere

Ermias Kebreab -- a professor at UC Davis -- and his Ph.D. candidate Breanna Roque conducted a study that supplemented a portion of cattle’s feed with high-fiber alternatives like seaweed and found a 60% reduction in cow methane

Seaweed inhibits an enzyme in the digestive system that produces methane

In a blind study, there was no difference in the flavor of beef and milk produced from cattle fed seaweed

The active component in seaweed that combats methane production in cattle is bromoform
Links:
Happy Mouth Podcast Instagram
UC Davis - Feeding cattle seaweed reduces their greenhouse gas emissions 82 percent
UC Davis - Cows and climate change
We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other shows:
Full Comp
The Happy Mouth Morning Show
Restaurant Marketing School
The Playbook
26 min
May 24, 2021May 24, 2021: How Asante Microfarm is combatting LA’s food deserts
Food deserts are a serious issue, especially in urban areas like Los Angeles. For Jamiah Hargins, he wasn’t going to let the lack of grocery stores near his neighborhood stop him from feeding his family fresh produce. After starting a garden and swapping crops with neighbors, Jamiah started a full-fledged micro farm in his front yard, feeding around 50 families high-quality fruits and vegetables.
On this episode of the Happy Mouth podcast, chef Nyesha Arrington and restaurateur Philip Camino take a look at Jamiah’s journey. From small beginnings and starting Asante Microfarm to his mission to fill Los Angeles with micro farms, this is a great story addressing a major problem.
Listen to Philip and Nyesha discuss micro farms:
Jamiah Hargins found it difficult to find fresh produce in his West Adams neighborhood.

After swapping fruits and vegetables with neighbors, Jamiah started Crop Swap LA, centered on growing food in unused spaces

Food deserts aren’t just for poor areas, with neighborhoods like View Park -- where the median household earnings are more than $92,000 a year -- not having a grocery store within a mile.

Jamiah’s micro farm -- Asante Microfarm -- is just 970 square feet but grows over 600 plants and feeds around 50 families.

Jamiah and other volunteers set aside 10% of every harvest for local families in need

Asante Microfarm uses an irrigation system that recycles water, using just 8% of the water needed to maintain a front lawn of grass.

Jamiah has a goal to set up 400 micro farms across Los Angeles
Links:
Happy Mouth Podcast Instagram
Happy Mouth’s April 26 episode on food deserts
LA Times - ‘Microfarms’ come to South L.A. frontyards, bringing fresh produce to food deserts
Poverty USA - Homelessness and food deserts in Los Angeles
We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other shows:
Full Comp
The Happy Mouth Morning Show
Restaurant Marketing School
The Playbook
12 min
May 21, 2021May 21, 2021: Famous Fund Helping Baltimore Restaurants
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, one restaurant has been going above and beyond to help Baltimore. On today’s episode of the Happy Mouth podcast, restaurateur Philip Camino and chef Nyesha Arrington talk about the Famous Fund.
What started as a bet between a Baltimore restaurant owner and Barstool founder Dave Portnoy turned into nearly $500,000 raised to help local restaurants during a time of crisis. With major donations from people like Baltimore Ravens football players and a ton of small donations coming from individuals, the Famous Fund has helped nearly 20 restaurants so far.
Listen to Philip and Nyesha discuss the Famous Fund:
The Famous Fund started as a bet between Jimmy’s Famous Seafood co-owner John Minadakis and Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports

The Famous Fund surpassed their $100,000 goal, getting to just shy of $500,000 thanks to massive donations from people like Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey and left tackle Ronnie Stanley

The fund has already helped several local restaurants
Links:
Happy Mouth Podcast Instagram
Jimmy’s Famous Seafood - The Famous Fund shirt
Famous Fund website
CBS Baltimore - The ‘Famous Fund’ is now a nonprofit organization
We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other shows:
Full Comp
The Happy Mouth Morning Show
Restaurant Marketing School
The Playbook
8 min
May 20, 2021May 20, 2021: RRF Gets 186K Applicants In First 2 Days
The long-awaited Restaurant Revitalization Fund was flooded with applications immediately, showing just how many businesses were in need. On this episode of the Happy Mouth podcast, restaurateur Philip Camino and chef Nyesha Arrington take a look at the early days of the RRF and the ending of the PPP.
Nyesha and Philip dive into where initial RRF applications came from, how much they’ve already helped small businesses, and whether they believe the fund will need to be re-upped. They also take a look at the PPP as it begins to wrap up, including how it’s running out of funds early for the second time.
Listen to Philip and Nyesha discuss the RRF and PPP:
186,000 eligible businesses applied for the RRF in the first 2 days

RRF applications came from all 50 states

RRF funds are starting to be dispersed

Roughly 61,700 applications came from restaurants and bars with revenues of $500,000 or less

More than 50% of total applicants came from places owned by women, veterans and the socio-economically disadvantaged, which were priority groups for the RRF

26% of operators are predicting a return to normal operations within the next 6 months, up from 17%

The PPP has run out of funds for most lenders

The SBA will continue funding outstanding approved PPP applications
Links:
Happy Mouth Podcast Instagram
Restaurant Dive - PPP runs out of funds for most lenders
Restaurant Dive - RRF brings 186K applicants in first 2 days
We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other shows:
Full Comp
The Happy Mouth Morning Show
Restaurant Marketing School
The Playbook
13 min

About Happy Mouth

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Hosted by acclaimed restaurateur Philip Camino and star chef Nyesha Arrington, the Happy Mouth podcast is your source for the daily news about the hospitality industry. From bite-sized news stories…

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