Restaurant Influencers

Katie Lee, founder of Katie’s Pizza & Pasta, built her career in restaurant kitchens before turning a pandemic pivot into a national frozen pizza brand. Her handmade pizzas are now sold in every Target store nationwide as part of a $20 million retail deal. Watch now to learn about a $20 million Target deal, and the discipline required to scale without losing the craft. Sponsored by:  • TOAST - All...

Matt Ensero and Justin Egan, founders of Wing It On and members of the Craveworthy Brands portfolio, built the concept from a single store into an award-winning wing brand with nine National Buffalo Wing Festival trophies. Watch now to learn how Wing It On grew from a homegrown idea, earned national recognition, and found the right partner to scale. Sponsored by: • TOAST - All-In-1 Restaurant POS:...

Marcus Viscidi, Vice President of Sales for Informa, oversees industry gatherings like Create and the National Restaurant Association Show. By bringing the right operators and partners together, he helps restaurant brands connect, learn, and grow. Listen now to learn how emerging brands grow outside their four walls, why connection beats convenience, and how the right event can change a business....

Steph So, Chief Growth Officer at Shake Shack, blends technology, creativity, and hospitality to shape how guests experience one of America’s most beloved fast casual brands. Through digital innovation and menu development, she has become a key leader driving Shake Shack’s modern growth. Listen now to learn how Steph So blends hospitality with technology, why curiosity drives her decisions, and ho...

Super Bowl Champion Ndamukong Suh has partnered with Craveworthy Brands founder Gregg Majewski to invest in people through hospitality. Together, they combine Suh’s leadership mindset with Majewski’s restaurant expertise to create opportunity across emerging concepts and growing franchise teams.  Listen now to learn about Suh’s belief in opportunity, his partnership with Craveworthy, and how he is...

Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable, uses social media to stay close to the restaurants and diners who rely on the platform every day. As a leader who believes in openness, she treats online feedback as essential fuel for shaping the company’s future. Listen now to learn about the value of showing up online, the feedback that reshaped OpenTable, and why Debby Soo believes restaurants will always survive a...

Chef Bert Bonnarens, a Belgian-trained chef who cooked in Michelin-starred kitchens, now leads culinary development for Wild Thyme Restaurant Group. At Shorebird, Wild Thyme’s flagship brand, he blends global technique with fresh, market-driven cooking. Listen now to learn about his Michelin-trained beginnings, the lessons he carried across continents, and why guests follow him to the dock for fre...

Nick Kenner, Founder and CEO of Just Salad, is reshaping fast casual dining with a focus on sustainability and smart growth. His mission-driven approach has taken the brand from one Manhattan shop to more than 100 locations nationwide. Listen now to learn about scaling Just Salad from one small Manhattan shop to 100 locations, the lessons behind sustainable operations, and what it takes to build a...

Daniel Shemtob, winner of Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race and founder of The Lime Truck and Snibbs, has built a career that bridges hospitality and innovation. From food trucks to footwear, he’s turned real kitchen experience into products and businesses that serve the people behind the line. Listen now to learn about building The Lime Truck from the ground up, turning a kitchen injury into i...

Jehad Affoneh, Chief Design Officer at Toast, is one of the creative minds behind Toast IQ, the company’s new conversational AI assistant that helps restaurants turn data into action. From identifying top-performing menu items to providing insights across sales and labor, Toast IQ helps give operators the clarity to run smarter, more efficient businesses.  Listen now to learn about turning data in...

Darren Spicer, co-founder and CEO of Clutch Coffee Bar, built his company on the belief that great branding wins loyalty. Every part of the Clutch experience, from the drive-thru to the community events, is designed to make people feel connected. Listen now to learn about scaling without franchising, creating unforgettable brand experiences, and the mindset that turned risk into reward. Sponsored...

Yara Herrera, chef and partner at Hellbender in Queens in NYC, has earned acclaim from The New York Times, Esquire, and StarChefs. Drawing from her Mexican-American roots and years in some of the country’s toughest kitchens, she’s created a restaurant that celebrates confidence and creativity.  Listen now to learn about surviving opening night disasters, finding identity through food, and turning...

Ellis Winstanley, co-owner of Austin’s El Arroyo and CEO of Axial Shift, turned a quirky restaurant sign into a cultural phenomenon while also building software to solve operators’ biggest headaches.  Listen now to learn about turning a restaurant sign into a media brand, pulling off a statewide April Fool’s prank, and building tech that helps operators stay focused on hospitality. Sponsored by: •...

Elliot Nelson, founder and CEO of McNellie’s Group, expanded a single Tulsa pub into 27 restaurants in Oklahoma and Arkansas. As a restaurateur and developer, he built spaces that anchor neighborhoods and showcase the spirit of Oklahoma hospitality.  Listen now to learn about surviving a St. Patrick’s Day disaster, the challenge of building a neighborhood around a pub, and how Oklahoma hospitality...

Joe Fontana, founder of Fry the Coop, turned a love for Nashville hot chicken into one of Chicago’s fastest-growing restaurant brands. Known for bold risks, storytelling, and a $300,000-a-year commitment to frying in beef tallow. Listen now to learn about the leap from cubicle to hot chicken, the marketing stunt with a full chicken costume, and the rise of Fry the Coop across Chicago. Sponsored by...

Bill Oakley, former Simpsons writer/producer turned “professional food enthusiast,” spotlights the hidden gems of American food. From rabbit in Arkansas to “Secret” hot sauce in Portland, he uses humor and storytelling to connect beloved regional brands with a wider audience. Listen now to learn about his hunt for regional flavors, the stories behind unexpected finds, and why he keeps shining a sp...

David Meltzer, entrepreneur, mentor, and chairman of the Napoleon Hill Institute, teaches that empty seats don’t mean empty impact. Through his stage theory, he shows how content captured anywhere can be amplified everywhere. Listen now to learn why he calls losing $100 million an investment, how stage theory multiplies impact, and what he’s building in public. Sponsored by: • TOAST - All-In-1 Res...

Chris Brown turned food trucks into rolling broadcast studios. Outfitted with 4K cameras, Ring cameras, and livestream setups, his fleet fuels a growing restaurant empire while keeping fans entertained with interactive broadcasts and the Championship Egg Roll Food Truck Tour.   Listen now to learn about building an empire from egg rolls, turning food trucks into studios, and creating experiences f...

André Moraes, Global Digital Marketing lead at PepsiCo, is helping restaurants grow with digital tools and local marketing support. From menu optimization to community programs, Pepsi has become more than a beverage brand. It is a growth partner for restaurants. Listen now to learn how Pepsi supports restaurants with free tools, invests in local businesses, and helps strengthen communities. Sponso...

Lawrence Longo, CEO of Off the Menu and partner in Prince St. Pizza, is leading the charge to grow the iconic SoHo pizza shop into a big brand. From the original NYC location to spots in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Longo is committed to protecting what makes it special. Listen now to learn about his vision for a great American pizza brand, building a loyal following, and the strategy behind g...

Andrew K. Smith, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Savory Fund, left the tech world behind and started his restaurant career in the dish pit of his wife’s bakery. Since then, he and his team have grown over 320 restaurants, generated more than $2.5 billion in sales, and raised over $750 million across three funds. Listen now to learn how storytelling drives scale, how founders lead, and how famil...

Paul Ryu, founder of JPMforce and the mind behind hundreds of viral food videos, is the go-to content strategist for Las Vegas restaurants. From sushi burgers to steakhouse reels, his work has transformed how hospitality brands show up online. Listen now to learn how one off-menu item sparked 50 million views, why he only hires active creators, and what it takes to scale influence without selling...

Von Miller, Super Bowl MVP, is also co-founder of Greener Pastures Chicken, a Texas-based company redefining organic, ethical farming. What started in college became a full-fledged mission: raise better birds, build a better system, and bring NFL discipline to agriculture. Listen to hear how falling asleep in class led to a purpose-driven business, why Patrick Mahomes got on board, and how farming...

Mehdi Zarhloul chased the American Dream — and caught it. As the founder of Crazy Pita, he grew his restaurant brand into a Las Vegas favorite, expanded with new concepts like Salad Madness and Chicken Genius, and even opened inside a Walmart. Listen now for the story of how Mehdi Zarhloul built a thriving Las Vegas restaurant group, created his own holidays, and proved you don’t have to wait for...

Chef Barry Dakake, Marco Cicione, and Yassine Lyoubi are co-owners of Barry’s Downtown Prime in Las Vegas. As founders of Make It Happen Hospitality, they’ve built a steakhouse known for standout food, consistency, and local pride. This trio has made the restaurant a Downtown destination. Listen now to learn how friendship became a business, how they built media buzz without a budget, and how they...