The Industry

This weeks guest is Christen LaRochelle . A professional booze hustler for over 20 years, Christen started working in the restaurant and hospitality industry at 13 years old and segued those skills into a career in the wine and spirits supply and distribution world. Today, you'll find Christen managing a portfolio of fine wine and craft spirits in the Northeast and regularly leading educational ev...

This weeks guest is Mike Derry. Mike currently splits his time between Cartagena Colombia and New York City . Originally from Penticton in British Columbia, Canada, Mike waited tables and bartended through college. Mike has spent his working life in various careers - teacher, commercial production in Los Angeles, legal recruiter in NYC until he came back to his dream - bar life! Mike opened his fi...

This weeks guest is Michael Anderson. Currently, Michael is a Sommelier, Restaurant Manager and Restaurant Director at the Elora Mill located in Elora, Ontario. Michael got his start in the industry over two decades ago while he was earning his diploma in Recreation and Leisure Services. Michael worked at various independent and family restaurants as a server, bartender and manager. Eventually, Mi...

Ben Kingstone is a hospitality professional with a passion for creating exceptional guest experiences. Ben entered the industry to pursue a career that feeds his drive for knowledge and excitement. With expertise in crafting unique and innovative cocktails, Ben was a finalist for Diageo World Class in 2023. With experience in roles such as Beverage Director & Director of Operations, Ben has cu...

This week we are joined by Sidney Kendall who currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona. Kendall has been in the Industry since she was 15 and has worked her way through fast food, casual and fine dining restaurants; sports and dive bars and cocktail lounges. Kendall has moved extensively in her life as she has lived in California, Illinois, Nebraska and now lives in Arizona. Currently, Kendall is the...

This weeks guest is Hugo Gamino who is currently a writer and food content creator. A classically trained chef, Hugo spent over ten years in the professional kitchens of multiple brigades across the United States where he held various positions such as sous chef, chef de cuisine, executive chef, and some stages at Michelin starred kitchens. Hugo then made a transition into the fashion industry, at...

This weeks guest is Kate Boushel who joins us from Montreal, Quebec . Kate is currently a Partner, Beverage and Education Directo and Bartender for the Barocco Goup . After leaving the restaurant and bar industry for a successful public and government relations career, it’s Kate’s passion for local flavours, spirits, and cocktails, as well as her natural inclination toward the art of hospitality t...

This week we are joined by Rob Wigg of From Barrel To Bottle . Founded in December 2017 by four friends, From Barrel To Bottle's Creative Director, Erik, was contracted by a whisky company for images of their bottle in the mountains. After delivering these images and looking around online, Erik realized there was a major gap in the market. He proposed that the group of four friends start...

This week we are joined by J’Nai Angelle in the first and main segment of the episode. In the bonus segment at 35:15 Yelena Anter makes her return to the show. According to Where Y’at NOLA Magazine , J’Nai is “[NOLA’s] favorite virtual bartender.” J’Nai was born and raised in New Orleans, LA and she is a graduate of LSU . J’Nai has been bartending for 10 years, and has worked in almost every type...

Canadian Chef Ron McKinlay is the Executive Chef of Canoe restaurant in Toronto, where he works closely with producers, gatherers, and suppliers to create dishes inspired by Canada’s diverse landscapes and its distinct provinces. After traveling, working, and training with some of the best chefs around the world, he, alongside his team, are aiming to promote and take Canadian produce and suppliers...

This weeks guest is Steph Soulis who is the President and CEO of Little Mushroom Catering currently based out of Cambridge, Ontario. She created LMC in 2010 as a natural extension of her love for food and quality service. Stephanie was featured in a commercial for CTV in Libro’s Share the Future campaign. She is past Chair of the Board for the Kitchener Public Library, past Chair of the Board for...

This weeks guest is Raven Alexis Dales who currently lives in Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Raven has been working in the Food & Beverage industry since 2011, beginning her career studying culinary arts at Vancouver Community College and working in restaurants in Vancouver & Victoria. While doing so, Raven studied through the WSET program to better understand the re...

This weeks guest is Danny Posey who joins us from Fayetteville, Arkansas . Danny has over 16 years in the industry as he’s worked as a server, bartender, corporate trainer and general manager. After several years in a managerial role, working 80-90 hour weeks in a corporate restaurant environment, Danny simplified his life and got back to bartending. Currently, Danny is the bar manager at The Amen...

This weeks guest is Meredith Barry who joins us from St Louis, Missouri . Meredith Ann Barry was immersed within the hospitality industry at an early age, her father placing her to work in the country club that he managed some time ago. Although she held many roles throughout her time there, the excitement of creating drinks for others to imbibe seduced Meredith. From the humble beginnings of mini...

This weeks guest is Monté Burrow -- An HBCU graduate (Morgan State University) and seasoned leader with nearly 2 decades of beverage alcohol industry experience. Monté’s introduction to the alcohol world emanated while at Morgan State when Anheuser-Busch came on campus to recruit for an 8-month co-op opportunity at their headquarters in St. Louis, MO. He would later go on to found a boutique Exper...

This week we are joined by Chef Nuit Regular and Jeff Regular. This dynamic couple is making waves on the Toronto and Canadian food scene. Chef Nuit Regular is the Executive Chef and Co-Owner of PAI , Kiin By Chef Nuit, and Sukhothai , as well as the Executive Chef of Selva . Chef Nuit has transformed the Thai food scene in Toronto through the distinct flavours of Northern Thai cuisine and hospita...

Lauren Mote is the Global Director of On Trade Excellence for PATRÓN Tequila , developing the global PATRÓN trade advocacy agenda for the Tequila brand, and leading the global PATRÓN Perfectionists Bartending Program. Lauren is also a founding partner of the award-winning Bittered Sling cocktail bitters company, Nightcap Media marketing agency and Women Celebrate social enterprise. Lauren is an ac...

This weeks guest is Alie Kudoba who is currently the head Bartender at The Bauer Kitchen in Waterloo, Ontario . Alie returns for her second appearance on the show. Alie joins us while vacationing in the Dominican Republic. We start off talking about Alie’s side hustle - her bartending and cocktailing business. We also cover the work that goes in to crafting a cocktail list for a corporate large ca...

Matt Hassen joins us on our latest episode from Kelowna, British Columbia . Matt has had over a 20 year career in the industry. Originally getting a start as a bar back, Matt quickly moved on to bartending, managing and currently as a head bartender. Matt has successfully worked his way up to being one of the top 10 bartenders in Canada through Diageo World Class. Matt is also a recipient of a kid...

This week we are joined by Maddie Jaggers of Chef Rubber and the returning Yelena Anter of Cocktail Vision . Maddie and Yelena discuss how they represent their two distinct brands that share a common platform and resources that benefits all parties involved. Both Maddie and Yelena also talk about the hectic and intense life on road when attending and working the many trade shows. Links @cocktail.v...

This week we have another 2 part episode. In the first part of the episode Raven Mina joins the show from Los Angeles California. Raven got her start bartending in Riverside California while she was still in school. Raven originally worked as a server and bar back, but once she was given the chance to become a bartender and create cocktails, she fell in love with the craft and you now find her wor...

This weeks guest is Kate Gerwin who joins us from Albuquerque, New Mexico . Kate is a widely celebrated bartender and hospitality consultant, is well-known in the drinks industry for being the first woman and first American to win a global bartending championship for Bols Around the World Bartending Championship in 2014 , but this is just one of her many worthy accomplishments. In her more-than-20...

This weeks guest is Andi Ichim who joins us from New York City. Half russian and half gypsy and born in Transylvania , Andi has been a hospitality pioneer more than half of his life. Over the years, Andi has competed in several bar contests and performed in multiple bars, tv shows, and huge events around the world like: Mexico, Panama, Dominican Republic, France, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey, Irelan...

This weeks guest is Kim Haasarud . From her humble beginnings as a bartender in the 90’s in New York City to becoming James-Beard honored mixologist and author, Kim Haasarud has embraced innovation and hospitality throughout her work on hundreds of projects with clients ranging from hotel groups, restaurant chains, mixology bars, liquor brands, distributors and other beverage brands both domestica...

Rick Baroncelli is a wine professional from Waterloo, Ontario representing “ The Case For Wine, Vinexx ”. Rick has over 37 years’ experience in the restaurant industry, most notable was his 20 years at iconic Canoe Restaurant in Toronto. At Canoe, he served food and wine to a high-end clientele; it is there where he really discovered his love of wine and his passion for honing sommelier skills. Th...