Restaurant Legends

We’re now mid-November 2020, smack dab in the middle of the second surge we were warned about over the summer. We have unfortunately suffered through the misgivings of government that saw the importance of politics to be greater than the importance of human life. Two drug companies have announced they have proved through trials they each have a vaccine ready for quick approval from the FDA. And restaurant dining rooms in Illinois, and other states, have closed again to try to contain and mitigate the virus.

As the days stretched further and further into the year of the Pandemic, restauranteurs of all stripes started using words and phrases like, pivot, community, PPP and “The New Normal”. Carmen Rossi of Chicago’s 8 - A Hospitality Company, was no different. However, he had the terrifying and not so unique experience of contracting the Corona Virus early on when little was known about transmission and treatment. Fortunately, he survived with a perspective of how real this disease is and how it can affect anyone. He is now trying to steer, with the help of a dedicated management team, the dozen bars and restaurants employing nearly 1,000 people under his banner survive and remain a viable business as society returns to the new normal. The current state of the restaurant industry is nearer to collapse than when the lockdowns started in March. What will it look like when we come out the other side? Carmen Rossi may not have the right answer, but he’s willing to try anything.

Music;   Busted – John Deley, Sunday Stroll – Huma-Huma

Photo; BizCastHq.com

As an example of the fluidity of government directives during this period of the pandemic. When this was recorded in early October, Illinois was moving towards allowing restaurants to seat a higher percentage of the dining capacity. The fact that a cold Chicago winter was right around the corner was not lost on the Governor or Mayor. So they were anxious to give the restaurants of the state an opportunity to accommodate those still willing to dine inside. (That number had been steadily growing since the modest 25% capacity started in late summer.) This is now the end of October and starting at Midnight this coming Friday all restaurants in Chicago will be completely closed for indoor dining…again.

Lindsey Andersen owns and operates a small neighborhood restaurant in Chicago called “Uvae Kitchen and Wine Bar”. I talked with her a few weeks ago what she’s been able to do to keep her business afloat. Her solutions so far have been creative extensions of her brand as a neighborhood source for reasonable slightly upscale dining with a unique but approachable emphasis on wine. Hence the use of the Latin word for grape, “Uvae” as the name of the restaurant.

Music;

“Hedge Your Bets” – Track Tribe

“Sunday Stroll” – Huma-Huma

The family affair based on the power of plants and giving back to the community. Un·cooked is a concept with an eye to the future and strong roots in the past. Founders Carole, Jeremy, and Kaitlyn Jones have combined their unique journeys, diverse skill sets, passion for our planet, and sense of adventure to create un·cooked where they live their mission to transform the world through plants.

Episode Highlights;

Vegan Food Movement

Fulton Market Chicago

Un-Cooked

Music;

Sunday Stroll, Huma Huma

The conversations we have with others every day form our view of the world. If all we do is ever talk with people like us, our world becomes or stays small. You start getting the idea that these narrow subjects and solutions are the only way to act and think…whatever that may look like.

The MFHA or Multi-Racial Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance has been having eye-opening conversations with major chains, vendors, franchisees, and others for 20 years. Their mission stated on the front of their web site clearly lays it out. “Since 1996, MFHA has been making the business case for diversity and inclusion in the foodservice & hospitality industry. Over the years, MFHA has evolved its mission from advocating for career opportunities for people of color, to building Cultural Intelligence.”

Andre Howell’s job is not as simple. As he put it, he manages the back of house making things happen while Gerry Fernandez, President and Founder, creates the opportunities for change. 

Episode Notes;

MFHA – Multi Racial Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance, Building Culturally Intelligent Brands & Leaders

Andre’s Bio

White Fragility, Robin DiAngelo

Music;

Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Somehow, as a little girl growing up on the Westside of Chicago, Dominique Leach knew that her future was in food. But when she looked at the best Chefs around, Dominique didn’t see anyone who looked like her. Kitchens have been led and dominated by white men for centuries. Only recently has a small group of Women mostly white and a handful of African American or Hispanic men managed to break that ceiling. But the sight of a young black woman in charge is as rare as a morel mushroom in winter.

Episode Highlights;

Spiaggia

Sarah Gruneberg

Tony Montuano

Four Seasons Chicago

Lexington Betty’s Smokehouse

WGN Cooking Segment with Dominique

https://wgntv.com/midday-news/lunchbreak/lunchbreak-quick-side-dishes-to-serve-with-your-bbq/

Music;

Five Shades of Blue

Johnny Mayer

The transformation of a well meant life of economics study can change in a heartbeat to a hedonistic debauched existence when exposed to the ways of the restaurant industry. As a teen, Pat Weber was lured into the business with the siren’s song of shiny stainless steel, dangerous exposure to open flames and the chance to use extremely sharp tools. Once immersed, he wound his way through fine dining kitchens seeking the knowledge and experience to be the best.

The restaurant business has not only greatly changed in the last few months, but is in the throws a re-birth of sorts. Pat intends to rely on his experience to help guide the industry to a new normal that works better than the old one.

Episode Highlights;

Mis En Place Consulting

C.I.A.

David Bouley- NYC

Gunter Seeger - Atlanta

Music;

Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

When the chicken crossed the road…Max Sheets followed it to his latest fast casual restaurant Chicken Max. A unique concept blending fried chicken tenders, on a menu with almond wood smoked chicken and healthy options not usually found in a fried chicken joint.

The pandemic brought with it the specter of closed restaurants. But Max and his team weren’t ready to accept the path to permanent closure that seemed to plague so many other small chains. They quickly learned that this was the time to be nimble and attentive to not only the business of chicken but also to the community they served.

Episode Highlights:

Chicken Max

Pizza Hut

Ted’s Montana Grill

Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers

Smashburger

Music;

Who'll Play the Blues? by Admiral Bob (c) copyright 2016 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license.

http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/admiralbob77/55309  Ft: unreal_dm

An update of the condition the restaurant industry is in on August 13th, 2020. The pandemic is quiet in some states and surging in others. The political process has hijacked the health system so that we have lost control on the right things to do to get back to normal. Wearing a mask is a badge of courage to some and abject slavery to others.

Music;

Knock on My Door by texasradiofish (c) copyright 2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license.

http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/texasradiofish/56243

Ft: Carrol, unreal_dm, ElRon XChile, Admiral Bob, Snake Davis

When word of the pandemic started to spread around the world in February 2020. It was Northern Italy that became the epicenter of what was then thought of as a bad cold. Then Italians started dying in great numbers and the country shut down completely. People were not allowed out of their homes without written approval and a good reason, 

In mid March 2020 the United States started it's own piece meal plan to stop the virus that as of August 2020 has not worked the way stronger more coordinated plans did in Europe and Asia. 

Michael Cortelleti's observations are essential for all to hear what was good and what was bad about the Italian process back to normal and hopefully learn a lesson or two along the way.

Music:

“Bluesy Mood” by Uncleboris

https://icons8.com/music/author/uncleboris">Uncleboris 

"Modern Jazz Samba" by Kevin MacLeod

https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4063-modern-jazz-samba

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The commanding of a restaurant kitchen requires confidence. And it’s not always a confidence built on what you know. But it’s always built on the confidence that your brigade’s training will give them the ability to express your vision through their work. Whether they’re making edible sea foam or a chocolate shake. Many younger Chefs either forget that fact or were tapped for command too soon to have learned the lessons of leadership. However, you’ll know that Adam Randall is a real leader right from the start. Telling these stories of the racism he’s witnessed in the restaurant business and his life are told from the perspective of a man who has the confidence of leadership.

This was recorded the week Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights giant, left us.  So, it’s in his memory I’ve chosen the title of this podcast.

Chef Adam Randall on Facebook

Episode Highlights:

• Being bi-racial has it’s surprises…mostly to those who perceived him only as white.
• Taking the lessons and meaning of recovery personally
• Covert racism or Midwestern Racism, a subtle sophisticated bigotry and racism

"I dunno" by grapes 2008 - Licensed under CC By 3.0

“SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR”by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States Link: https://audionautix.com/ 

Creative Commons Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com