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A pink-tinged marg, a splash of ginger beer, and a truth bomb: hospitality is the art of making people feel held. We sit down with Adrian of Seared and Sacrum—our go-to catering partner—to unpack how a women-led team builds unforgettable events through craft, care, and clear boundaries. From proper shake technique and why texture matters to edible storytelling that turns grazing tables into tiny worlds, Adrian shows how customization beats cookie-cutter, every time.

Her journey runs from dive bars and distilleries to fine dining and craft cocktails, then into entrepreneurship sparked by a simple question: if mediocre men can launch businesses, why not us? We dive into the math and mindset of growth—hitting a 50-client cap on meal prep, deciding when to hire, and why culture outranks skill when you bring people aboard. Chef’s choice menus become a case study in saying yes wisely: lower costs, better quality, more magic. Not everyone will love it, and that’s the point—alignment over appeasement.

We also get personal. Adrian works with endometriosis and designs her schedule around her cycle, naming what many women feel but rarely say: consistency is not a moral virtue. We talk motherhood, rest, and how permission creates better work. Anthony’s story—three years sober, shifting from “Guinness Tony” to Chef Anthony—highlights quiet leadership and food as a voice. Then we zoom out: the patriarchy’s fingerprints on hospitality, from witches who pioneered brewing and distilling to the power of “gossip” as community care. Aging comes into focus as an asset, not a flaw—moving from producing to mentoring, from proving to guiding.

If you care about events that feel like you, about building a business without burning out, and about partnerships where values show up on the plate, you’ll feel at home here. Tap play, then tell us: what boundary are you claiming this year? If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation.

Meet Adrean:

Adrean Valerio has worked in the hospitality industry since she was 15 and is the owner of Seared & Saccharum Catering alongside her husband, Anthony. She built her career around the belief that good food and genuine hospitality can bring people together in meaningful ways.

She’s a mom to Leland, with a beloved dog named Walnut rounding out the household. When she’s not planning events, she’s usually reading or falling down the rabbit hole of a new hobby.

Adrean is a staunch feminist and human rights advocate who cares deeply about community, family, and doing what she can to make the world around her a little better.

If your’re anything like us, you’ll want to be friends with Adrean after this episode! You can follow her journey on Instagram: @searedandsaccharum

Website: searedandsaccharum.com

And if you're looking for delicious and healthy meal prep don't forget to our listeners get 50% off meal prep using code Margs50!

Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music