Sunday Sauce

Do you ever wish you had the secret recipe for entrepreneurship?

On today's episode, I'm joined by Rosana Rivera, a Tampa-based chef, restaurant owner and TV personality with over 16 years of experience. We chat about how she entered the food world, her biggest challenges and takeaways as a business owner, and how to manage the work that comes with multiple streams of income.

Tune in to hear her success story first-hand, including the time she won Beat Bobby Flay on the Food Network. The tea we spill on the behind the scenes process is not to be missed.

If you loved listening, reach out to Rosana on social media and say hello! Tap the follow button on the linked accounts below:

LinkedIn

Instagram

Chef and the Baker

Food and technology aren't an obvious pairing, but they're an actual power couple when it comes to restaurant operations. #inlove

On today's episode, I'm joined by serial entrepreneur, Chon Nguyen, the Founder & CEO of Newgentek, Co-Founder & CEO of Fusionprep and Partner of Proper House Restaurant Group, to share how he bridged the gap between hospitality and technology.

Our conversation is filled with insights like the key benefits of having a solid IT infrastructure at your restaurant, Chon's tips for starting a business and how to fight burnout when you're constantly on the grind.

Tune in for the sauce.

Connect with Chon on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter

Hit the follow button on his business accounts: Newgentek, Proper House Group

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a private chef? Prepare to be inspired by the colorful stories of Stacy Pearl.

On today's episode, Stacy talks about everything from being the in-house chef for Rolling Stones Magazine at 18 to what her day-to-day life entails today, cooking for a family on Long Island. We touch on the reality behind the restaurant grind, a secret product she's developing and how having a creative outlet outside of food can help inspire new recipes in the kitchen.

I love Stacy and I know you will too! Her journey through the culinary space is one you don't want to miss.

When you're done listening, you can:

Get access to Stacy's archive of delicious recipes!

Follow along with her art journey!

Hit the follow button on Instagram.

With every new year comes a new outlook for the restaurant and hospitality industry. On this week's episode, I'm joined by Michelin Guide recognized chef and restaurateur, Noel Cruz, to chat about what the category can expect in 2023. We cover topics like current and potential challenges for operators, upcoming trends and what guests will crave more of this year.

If you loved our conversation, check out any of Noel's Tampa Bay and Lakeland concepts, listed below. Trust me when I say, you want to experience Noel's culinary prowess first-hand:

Ichicoro

Gangchu Chicken + Beer

Super Duper Spot

c.1949 a Florida Beer Garden

3 Corners Pizza

Today's episode of Sunday Sauce is taking you straight to Italy. If you've ever wondered about the technique behind the perfect Napoletana pizza, Dean Medico, pizzaiolo and creative force behind Pizza Luca, is telling {almost all of} his secrets.

We talk about the moment Dean knew he wanted to pursue food as a profession, how he activated his pizza empire through a fleet of customized catering trucks and words to live by for every entrepreneur.

Tap the links below to see more of what Pizza Luca has to offer:

Instagram

Facebook

Website

Happy 2023, friends!

If your 2023 goals include: promoting your brand or restaurant on TV, securing a radio interview or landing press features in your local newspaper, this episode is for you.

I'm joined by Vice President of Broadcasting at Subject Matter, Sandra Torres (aka the PR QUEEN), who shares the behind the scenes process she uses when organizing media tours for clients like Google and the Ad Council. We talk about what a media tour consists of, the key steps you need to take if you want to get a producer's attention and the art of pitching campaigns to outlets.

Basically, you can think of this episode as your audible cheat sheet to being seen, heard and experienced through the eyes of a media expert. Time to press play on your restaurant glow up.

Interested in securing a spot on Sandra's 2023 client roster? Email Sandra Torres at [email protected], and tell her you listened to Sunday Sauce!

Ciao!

Welcome to my first personal, yet professionally relevant podcast episode featuring what I learned this year. In 12 minutes, I take you through 5 lessons to bring into 2023, while encouraging you to reflect on your current experiences and plan for the year ahead. From a little piece of my heart to yours -- I hope you enjoy it.

Links I mention along the way:

- Will Guidara's Book, Unreasonable Hospitality: Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect

- Jonah Hill's documentary, Stutz, on Netflix: Want to Change Your Life? Start with Stutz' Tools from Jonah Hill's Therapist

- Phil Stutz book, The Tools: The Tools: 5 Tools to Help You Find Courage, Creativity, and Willpower--and Inspire You to Live Life in Forward Motion

P.S. If after listening you feel inspired to share your personal takeaways from 2020, I'd love to hear them. Send me an email at [email protected] and let's chat!

Sunday Sauce cheers to you.

Whether you love them or love to hate them, social media influencers are here to stay. This podcast episode features social media strategist, content creator and Tampa Bay influencer, Kiera Andrews, who chats with me about how, where and when to use influencers in your restaurant marketing strategy. And more controversially, when to say "no" to influencers who slide into your DMs.

Our conversation highlights the perspective of the influencer and the brand, which makes for an interesting, multi-faceted take on how the two can co-exist. If you're hungry for more, follow Kiera on Instagram and check out her offerings at www.tasteofsocial.com.

See you next time!

Seasonal menus are something every restaurant guest lives for, myself included. On today's episode, Executive Chef of Tampa's Epicurean Hotel, Jon Atanacio, takes us behind the scenes of his recent "Fall Test Kitchen" tasting event. If you've ever wondered about the intimate details and creative prowess behind the menu development process, hit the play button immediately. You're going to love our conversation.

For the latest on Chef Jon's culinary journey, follow the Epicurean Hotel on Instagram or visit www.epicureanhotel.com to taste your way through Élevage or the Edge Rooftop Cocktail Lounge.

Ciao!

Have you ever wondered how a single idea evolves into a living, breathing brand? On today's episode of Sunday Sauce, I'm joined by 25-year restaurateur and mega entrepreneur, Jeff Gigante, to chat about how to build remarkable brands that make an impact. We discuss everything from where to find inspiration for concept development to how to assemble the right team of people that set your brand up for success. And of course, you'll learn about the art of creating unique brand moments, or as Jeff likes to call them, "easter eggs," that accentuate the personality of your business!

Check out his restaurants here:

Forbici: https://www.instagram.com/eatforbici/ Boulon Brasserie (opening soon): https://www.instagram.com/boulontampa/ Union New American (opening soon): https://www.instagram.com/uniontampa/

Don't forget to follow along with Jeff on Instagram to be part of his ever-evolving journey. If you pull up a seat at Forbici, you might even get to cheers with him in person.