Barbecue Catering Smarts

In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts , Michael Attias welcomes Jenn Saunders-Haynes, Owner & Chief Catering Strategist at Elizabeth Jewel Consulting . Jenn shares why the three P's—Packaging, Process, and Profit—are the foundation of catering success . From avoiding the trap of copying your full restaurant menu, to choosing functional packaging that protects food quality, to building syst...

In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts , Michael Attias welcomes Deborah Miller, Founder of Deborah Miller Catering & Events —one of New York City's most creative and fast-growing catering companies. Deborah shares her journey from growing up in her father's "greasy spoon" to building a thriving, full-service catering and events business in the heart of Manhattan. She reveals how her team c...

In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts , Michael Attias sits down with John Geyerman, Chief Strategy Officer at WOWorks , the parent company behind better-for-you brands like Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, and The Simple Greek. John brings a wealth of experience from his days at Schlotzsky's and Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, and he dives into the complexities and opportunities of running cateri...

In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts , Michael Attias welcomes Christian Hilty, VP of Partnerships at DeliverThat , a delivery logistics platform built specifically for catering. Christian shares how DeliverThat carved out a niche in the catering world by offering scheduled, white-glove delivery services tailored for large catering orders—a game-changer for restaurants tired of the headac...

In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts , Michael Attias sits down with Chris Heffernan, CEO of dlivrd —a last-mile logistics company disrupting the gig delivery space with a focus on transparency, driver empowerment, and AI-driven matchmaking. Chris shares his vision for a delivery ecosystem where restaurant operators and drivers both win. You'll hear how dlivrd's platform is custom-built f...

In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts , Michael Attias sits down with Jason Schultz, Founder and CEO of Blue Ridge Payment Partners , for a conversation that's less about payment processing and more about character, relationships, and doing business the right way. Michael shares the behind-the-scenes story of how Jason uncovered a major opportunity that led to CaterZen landing one of its b...

In this episode of  Restaurant Catering Smarts , Michael Attias welcomes Ellen Diehl, Operations Coordinator at Roots Natural Kitchen —affectionately dubbed "The Catering Queen" by her team. Ellen plays a pivotal role in building and scaling off-premise catering for one of the country's fastest-growing health-focused fast-casual brands. From her humble beginnings working the drive-thru at Long Joh...

In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts , Michael Attias welcomes Allen Beck , Director of Off-Premise and Catering at Costa Vida . With over 15 years of experience in restaurant operations and hospitality, Allen has helped Costa Vida double its catering business year over year—by building a sales-driven culture and putting boots on the ground. Allen shares how the brand shifted catering fro...

In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts , Michael Attias welcomes Marianne Jeff , also known as The Get It Done Diva and Founder of the Women's Business Momentum Center . With over 20 years of experience coaching small business owners, Marianne shares the strategies she used to help Zach's Catering transform their operations—from clunky systems and chaotic days to streamlined processes and s...

In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts , Michael Attias sits down with Erle Dardick , founder of CaterLinked and the Off Premises Growth Academy —and one of the most respected voices in restaurant off-premises strategy. Erle's journey started back in 1996 with the purchase of Tony's Deli in Vancouver. Fast forward nearly 30 years, and he's become a major force in helping restaurant operator...

In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts , Michael Attias welcomes Kelly Grogan , Founder & CEO of CRUMBS , a platform helping restaurants grow through smarter local store marketing, online ordering, and catering strategies. With a background in both hospitality and tech, Kelly shares how CRUMBS empowers restaurants to grow incremental revenue channels—especially catering—by simplifying syste...

In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts , Michael Attias sits down with Aron Benon, CEO of LaLa Tacos , a fast-growing taco catering business known for its high-quality food, top-notch customer service, and innovative marketing strategies . Aron shares how he turned a small taco cart operation into a thriving business with 22 taco carts, a 5,000-square-foot catering kitchen, and a reputation...

In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts , Michael Attias welcomes Jessica Lehrer, Owner of Adam & Joe's Gourmet Eatery , a catering company that has mastered high-volume, high-quality corporate catering with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and exceptional service . Jessica shares how she and her family grew their business from a small restaurant into a thriving catering operati...

In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts , Michael Attias welcomes Butch Scott, Owner/Operator of Taylor Grocery Special Events Catering in Taylor, Mississippi. With over two decades in the restaurant and catering industry, Butch has built a multi-million-dollar catering business rooted in southern hospitality, consistency, and customer relationships . Butch shares his journey from running Ab...

In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts , Michael Attias welcomes Amber Polk, Catering Director at Soulman's Bar-B-Que . With over 10 years of experience in the catering industry, Amber has played a pivotal role in growing Soulman's Bar-B-Que's catering operation across 20 company-owned locations. Amber shares how consistency, training, and customer relationships have been the foundation of...

In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts , Michael Attias welcomes Julie Wade, Head of Marketing at Taziki's Mediterranean Café . With over 15 years of experience in brand strategy and marketing, Julie shares insights on creating authentic customer experiences, leveraging technology like AI for personalization, and the importance of integrating catering into broader marketing plans. Julie dis...

In this episode of Restaurant Catering Smarts , host Michael Attias interviews Jill Hammett, the new COO of CaterZen Catering Software . Jill shares her unique journey into the catering industry, emphasizing the importance of relationships, reputation, and technology in building a successful catering business. She discusses the challenges and strategies involved in catering growth, the role of per...