Dine & Dish

Can an artist build a successful business without sacrificing creativity? And when does an artist become an entrepreneur? On this episode of Dine & Dish with Restaurant Diva , Michele DiMeo sits down with Wanda of Wanda Tattoo , a Fine Arts-trained artist, entrepreneur and founder of a distinctive tattoo studio and art gallery in central London. This isn't just a conversation about tattoos. We...

Can someone legally take your business name? And what happens if you build an entire brand around a name you don't actually own? In this episode of Dine & Dish with Restaurant Diva , Michele DiMeo sits down with longtime friend and intellectual property attorney Andrew Price, Partner at Venable LLP , to DISH about trademarks, protecting your business name, intellectual property, and the costly...

Can AI replace hospitality—or will human connection become even MORE valuable as restaurants embrace technology? On this episode of  Dine & Dish with Restaurant Diva , Michele DiMeo sits down with  Mike Mudrey, co-founder of Michigan-based The 601 Group , to talk about the future of restaurants, hospitality, leadership, technology and the one thing AI can't easily replicate:  genuine human con...

What does it really mean to WIN as a woman—and are we chasing our own definition of success or someone else’s? On this episode of Dine & Dish with Restaurant Diva , Michele DiMeo sits down with D’London , entrepreneur and founder of Million Dollar Thrift StyleHouse , for a conversation about style, confidence, entrepreneurship, women supporting women and reinventing yourself at ANY age. D’Lond...

What happens when you mix country music, Las Vegas, Italian roots, great food, and a whole lot of personality? You get one seriously fun episode of Dine & Dish with Restaurant Diva! This week, Michele DiMeo — The Restaurant Diva — sits down with country music artist Dave McElroy for a conversation that goes way beyond the music. Dave dishes on his journey as a country artist, the realities of...

On this episode of Dine & Dish with Restaurant Diva , host Michele DiMeo, The Restaurant Diva , sits down with Justin Sanger for a fascinating conversation about his experience as a Disney character performer , the changing restaurant and bar industry, and his personal journey into health, fitness and wellness . Justin takes us behind the magic at Disney to reveal what guests don't see: the pr...

On this episode of Dine & Dish with Restaurant Diva , host Michele DiMeo, The Restaurant Diva , sits down with Erin Field Fudge , content creator, entrepreneur and hair influencer, for an honest conversation about what it really means to reinvent yourself in midlife. Erin shares her journey from teacher to entrepreneur and online content creator , how her experience with MONAT became part of h...

Welcome to Restaurant Diva Dine & Dish , hosted by restaurant executive, entrepreneur and hospitality expert Michele DiMeo, The Restaurant Diva . This week, Michele sits down with fellow podcast host Melissa Reagan of The Food For ThoughtCast for a lively conversation about food, restaurants, beverages, hospitality, restaurant trends, technology, AI and the future of dining. What happens when...

The conversation between Melissa Reagan and Michele DiMeo covers various topics related to the restaurant industry, including experiences, culinary perspectives, and the challenges of running a restaurant business. Michele shares insights into the importance of the overall dining experience, the impact of atmosphere and service on food, and the value of independent restaurateurs. She also discusse...

Welcome to Restaurant Diva's Dine & Dish Podcast , where visionary leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, and hospitality innovators share the ideas shaping the future of business and creativity. After two technology-filled attempts that never made it to air, internationally acclaimed artist and designer Jimmie Martin finally joins host Michele DiMeo for a conversation that was truly worth the wait....

Welcome to Restaurant Diva’s Dine & Dish Podcast , hosted by Michele DiMeo, The Restaurant Diva . In this episode, Michele sits down with Maria Valetta, Maria The Wine Blonde , for a fun and approachable conversation about wine, food pairing, restaurants, travel and the stories behind the bottle . Wine doesn’t have to be intimidating—and Maria is here to prove it. We’re breaking down tradition...

Welcome to Restaurant Diva’s Dine & Dish Podcast , hosted by Michele DiMeo, The Restaurant Diva , featuring leaders and experts shaping the restaurant and hospitality industry. In this episode, Michele sits down with Doug Plass , an employment law attorney, former chef, and former restaurant manager, to uncover the legal mistakes that can expose restaurants to costly fines, employee claims, an...

Every unforgettable production, work of art, hospitality experience, or successful brand begins with one thing—a powerful story. On this episode of Restaurant Diva's Dine & Dish Podcast , host Michele DiMeo  welcomes Erica Bergsmeds —producer, creative visionary, and contemporary artist—for an inspiring conversation about creativity, storytelling, authenticity, and the many ways art shapes how...

Welcome to Restaurant Diva's Dine & Dish Podcast , where hospitality leaders, restaurant executives, entrepreneurs, and innovators share the ideas shaping the future of restaurants, hotels, travel, and hospitality. In this episode, Michele DiMeo, The Restaurant Diva , sits down with globally recognized hospitality influencer, travel expert, and marketing strategist Scott Eddy (@MrScottEddy) to...

Welcome to Restaurant Diva's Dine & Dish Podcast , where hospitality leaders, restaurant executives, entrepreneurs, chefs, and innovators share the ideas shaping the future of the restaurant and hospitality industry. In this episode, Michele DiMeo, The Restaurant Diva , sits down with Mike Dolinger , Vice President of Development & Operations at California Tortilla , to discuss what it rea...

Welcome to Restaurant Diva's Dine & Dish Podcast , where hospitality leaders, restaurant executives, entrepreneurs, chefs, and innovators share the strategies shaping the future of the restaurant and hospitality industry. In this episode, Michele DiMeo, The Restaurant Diva , sits down with Anne Napolitano , a former chef turned accountant and restaurant financial consultant, to discuss one of...

Welcome to Restaurant Diva's Dine & Dish Podcast, where hospitality leaders, restaurant executives, chefs, entrepreneurs, and innovators share ideas shaping the future of the restaurant and hospitality industry. In this episode, Michele DiMeo, The Restaurant Diva, sits down with David Page, creator and original executive producer of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and host of the Culinary Characte...

Welcome to  Restaurant Diva's Dine & Dish Podcast , where hospitality leaders, restaurant executives, entrepreneurs, chefs, and innovators share ideas shaping the future of the restaurant and hospitality industry. In this episode, Michele DiMeo,  The Restaurant Diva , sits down with  Lindsay Cunningham , co-founder of  RollinGreens , to discuss how  plant-based protein, food innovation, sustai...

Welcome to Restaurant Diva's Dine & Dish Podcast, where hospitality leaders, restaurant executives, entrepreneurs, and innovators share insights shaping the future of hospitality and guest experience. In this episode, Michele DiMeo, The Restaurant Diva, sits down with Jonathan Oringdulph, a retired military leader with more than 25 years of service in the Air Force and Navy, including two tour...

Welcome to this week's episode of  Dine & Dish  featuring  Joey Cioffi, Founder & CEO of Salad House . Joey's journey is a true American Dream story. Growing up in his family's deli in Springfield, New Jersey, Joey learned hospitality from the ground up. Inspired by his father's entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to quality service, he launched the first Salad House location in 2011 wit...

Welcome to this week's episode of Dine & Dish featuring Ami Alexander, Managing Partner at Barrel Aged Hospitality. Most hospitality conversations focus on concept development, branding, design, and positioning. But the reality is that concepts rarely fail on paper—they fail after opening, when operations, leadership, team culture, and execution determine whether a business succeeds or quietly...

This week on my podcast, I’m joined by Jess Olmeda for an honest and empowering conversation about women’s health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness after 40. We dive into the real changes women experience as they age—from hormones and metabolism to energy, stress, sleep, and confidence—and how to create sustainable habits that actually work in real life. Jess shares practical advice on exercise, n...

This week, I’m joined by Tia Plunkett-McQueen, Vice President of Human Resources, for a powerful conversation on one of the biggest challenges facing hospitality today—people. We dive into what’s really happening in today’s hiring landscape, why attracting and retaining talent has become more complex, and what leaders need to understand about building a sustainable workforce. Tia shares her expert...

This week, I’m joined by Dani Peleva, Founder & CEO of Franchise Fame and Amazon best-selling author of Franchise Fame , for a powerful conversation on what it really takes to scale a brand the right way. Dani specializes in national franchise marketing and helping established brands grow with clarity, consistency, and strategy. We dive into the biggest challenges franchise systems face when e...

This week, I’m joined by Kyle Savage, event planner extraordinaire, author, and motivational speaker, for a conversation all about what it takes to create unforgettable experiences. From high-level event planning and managing guest expectations to the power of organization, attention to detail, and leadership under pressure, Kyle shares the behind-the-scenes reality of building events that leave a...