3 chefs from beloved Omaha sandwich restaurants joined me to discuss why sandwiches are so universally loved. Paul Urban (Block 16), Chloe Tran-Thompson (The Banh Mi Shop), and Andrew Novak (All In Thyme Bakery & Cafe) discuss why sandwiches are so closely tied to memory, the art of sandwich construction, choosing the right bread for a particular sandwich, the craziest sandwiches they've created, and more!

References

All In Thyme – https://www.allintimerestaurant.com

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Intro & Teaser

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If Omaha had a hospitality Mount Rushmore, Matt Brown's face would be chiseled onto it. The GM of V. Mertz joined me to discuss how he and his team customize the restaurant experience for each individual guest, how he's helped keep a beloved, classic Omaha restaurant modern and current without alienating original customers, what an advanced sommelier wine exam entails, and so much more.

If you want to understand what goes into a restaurant experience beyond the food (we talk plenty of food, too!), this is a must-listen episode.

Learn more about V. Mertz:
https://www.vmertz.com/

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Intro & Teaser

00:00:57 – Welcome to the Show, Matt!

00:03:57 – “Reading the Guests”

00:11:15 – V. Mertz, Then & Now

00:17:45 – Restaurant Collaboration

00:23:49 – Turnover Learning Curve

00:23:49 – Wine Exams

00:31:57 – Kitchen & Front of House Communication

00:44:15 – General Manager at 21

00:50:24 – Tips to Become a Better Diner

00:53:51 – Wrap-Up

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Candy may seem simple, but nailing the textures and flavors of your favorite gummies and chews is actually a deeply scientific process. That's where people like Tessa come in, as her company, Sprinkk, not only helps brands bring their candy dreams to life, but has also started producing its own gummy products. The knowledge she drops in this conversation will blow your mind; you'll never look at candy the same way again!

🌐 Learn more about Sprink:
https://www.sprinkk.com/

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Intro & Teaser

00:00:58 – Candy Science!

00:08:02 – Two Sides to Sprink

00:15:56 – Success Stories in Candy

00:23:49 – Sprink’s Show & Tell

00:31:56 – Find the Product!

00:36:51 – Working at Hershey

00:39:37 – Coming Back to Omaha

00:47:20 – Husker Gummies & the Future

00:51:53 – Wrap-Up

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Ken Ota has a goal of bringing traditional Japanese ramen to America and, after years of teaching ramen school and consulting, he's opened his own shop in Omaha. Everything from the soups to the noodles and oils is made in house, and Omaha can't get enough of this new restaurant! Ken & Aki describe what those first few weeks in Omaha were like and what makes them so passionate about spreading legit ramen in America.

Learn more about Mi So La Do:
https://www.facebook.com/p/Misolado-61584155314599/

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Intro & Teaser

00:01:07 – Welcome to the Show

00:05:54 – Homemade Everything & Stellar Hospitality

00:13:38 – A Menu Focused on Flavor

00:22:26 – Pop-Ups & Special Events

00:30:11 – Coming to America

00:44:16 – Coming to Omaha

00:51:28 – The Future of Crafted Ramen

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Just a few years out of culinary school and already the sous chef at one of Omaha's most beloved fine dining restaurants, Witney has a passion for cooking, hospitality, and mentoring that few can match. We talked about cooking competitions and how they shaped Witney's career, how a dish comes together at V. Mertz's, how Witney found her culinary voice, and so much more!

📍 V. Mertz

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Intro & Teaser

00:00:57 – Welcome to the Show, Witney!

00:08:51 – Special Dishes

00:13:47 – What Does a Sous Chef Do?

00:23:15 – Culinary Arts Championships

00:35:30 – Dandelion Project

00:44:42 – The Supper Club Dinner

00:49:54 – Final Questions & Wrap-Up

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Omaha's culinary landscape has changed drastically in the last 15-20 years. Jenny Coco, Glenn Wheeler, and Paul Kulik have managed Omaha restaurants through it all, and they joined me to discuss the pain points when they got into the industry, how they helped guests get out of their comfort zones, and how Omaha's restaurants have evolved. 

References

Paul Kulik – https://www.libuyan.com

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠! 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Intro & Teaser

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Table Grace Cafe doesn't exist solely to feed people; it exists to empower them and nourish their souls. That's why there are no prices on the menu. Matt & Simone encourage guests to pay whatever they can or volunteer at the cafe. We talked through the whole journey and how the Webers created this unique concept, how music is intertwined with the cafe's DNA, and the relationships and community that have formed inside its walls.

📍 Table Grace Cafe

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠! 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Intro & Teaser

00:01:15 – What Is Table Grace’s Mission?

00:09:45 – Community Impact

00:21:04 – The Gospel Brunch

00:25:20 – The Menu

00:35:22 – The Leap of Faith

00:44:05 – Table Grace’s Legacy

00:49:07 – Table Grace, the Musical

01:01:01 – Wrap-Up

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One of Omaha's newest sensations is part small market, part sandwich shop, and as the massive following indicates, Omaha can't get enough of J. Gorat's Deli + Market. Owner Jeff Gorat joined the show to talk about the art of building sandwiches, how his upbringing at Omaha's famous Gorat's Steakhouse influences him now, and how he sources great local products for the market.

J. Gorat’s Deli & Market
https://www.facebook.com/people/JGorats-Deli-Market/61580831277359/

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠ or visit ⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠! 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Intro & Teaser

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Joe has cooked in three-star Michelin kitchens, competed on two seasons of Top Chef, is a social media star with nearly 500K followers on Instagram, has created two delicious consumer packaged goods, and is a regular as both a competitor and a judge on Food Network... and he came on the podcast to discuss it all! I've been a massive fan of Joe for years, and the mustachioed pasta savant gave me one of the best food conversations I've ever had. You can't miss this episode!

Find Joe Sasto:

Joe’s Brands:

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠! 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Intro & Teaser

00:00:58 – Welcome to the Show, Joe!

00:03:15 – Ranch as a Dipper

00:06:43 – Evolution of the Term “Chef”

00:15:23 – Overcoming Doubts

00:17:29 – Being a Celebrity Chef

00:23:44 – Joe Sasto’s Culinary POV

00:29:35 – “Breaking the Rules”

00:39:55 – Joe’s Early Career

00:46:40 – Current Pursuits

00:48:53 – Tantos!

00:56:44 – Final Questions & Wrap-Up

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So often we talk about restaurants in terms of food, but so much of your experience at a restaurant has nothing to do with what you eat. It's all about how a restaurant makes you feel, and that's what Matthew Brown (V. Mertz), Melissa Barnett (Semo Pasta + Wine), and Ron Mettler (Dante) discussed with me on this panel. We talked about ways to go above and beyond to delight guests, the magic of delivering above expectations, whether the customer is "always right", and so much more!

This was one of the most eye-opening conversations I've had on the podcast. As much as I love food, talking about the experience was truly special and helped me understand restaurants on a whole new level.

Featured Restaurants:

V. Mertz – https://www.vmertz.com/

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to Hurrdat ONE Website or visit Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel! 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro & Teaser

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