Forktales

Pete Olander is the founder of Happie, a plant medicine beverage company focused on cannabis-infused and functional mushroom drinks. Before launching Happie, he worked in private banking at J.P. Morgan and later in the nutrition and consumer packaged goods space, experiences that helped shape his entrepreneurial mindset and understanding of beverage formulation, distribution and scaling a brand. H...

Jenny Mehlman is Senior Marketing Director at Dairy Farmers of America, where she leads branded cheese and butter businesses. With a background in brand stewardship and innovation, she focuses on making legacy food categories relevant through consumer insight, storytelling and everyday moments that drive connection. Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is a farmer-owned cooperative representing more tha...

Mike DiBeneditto is CEO of Golden Waffles, a nearly 90-year-old foodservice brand known for its fresh-baked waffle program. With a background in broadline distribution and leadership roles shaped by industry acquisitions, he brings an operator-first mindset grounded in clarity, partnership and disciplined execution. Golden Waffles, founded in 1937, provides an all-inclusive waffle program to opera...

Madelyn Alfano is CEO and owner of Maria’s Italian Kitchen and a lifelong hospitality leader. Raised in her family’s grocery and restaurant business, she brings decades of hands-on experience, people-first leadership and a deep belief in food, culture and community. Founded in Los Angeles in 1972, Maria’s Italian Kitchen is a family-rooted, Southern Italian restaurant brand known for classic comfo...

Chuck Meehan is Chief Creative Officer of Pavone Group and a veteran creative leader with decades of experience shaping iconic, culture-driving campaigns. A four-time Super Bowl creative, Chuck has worked with global brands and top-tier talent to create work that breaks through noise and pressure. Chuck has led creative teams at major agencies and worked on campaigns for brands including General M...

]EPISODE 105: Joey Jurgielewicz – Director of Client Service at Tasty Duck and leader in sustainable duck farming EPISODE 106: Tom Moffitt – Founder and CEO of Culture Fresh Foods and pioneer in plant-based dairy innovation EPISODE 107: Edward Medina – President of Ramona’s Food Group and transformative leader in authentic Mexican cuisine EPISODE 108: Sameer Malhotra – CEO of Café Spice and champi...

Curtis Chin is a writer, filmmaker, activist, and author of the acclaimed memoir Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant. His work reflects on growing up gay and Chinese American in 1980s Detroit while working in his family’s landmark restaurant. Chung’s Cantonese Cuisine, founded by Curtis’s great-grandfather, was a legendary Detroit institution for 65 years. Known for its handmad...

Elliot Nelson is the founder and CEO of McNellie’s Group, a hospitality company that has reshaped the dining scene in Tulsa and beyond. A visionary entrepreneur, Elliot has grown from opening one Irish pub in 2004 to overseeing dozens of restaurants and development projects. McNellie’s Group operates a diverse portfolio of pubs, restaurants, and concepts across Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and beyond. Wi...

Sameer Malhotra is the CEO and co-founder of Café Spice, a nationally distributed brand bringing authentic Indian cuisine to a broad American audience. Raised in a family of restaurateurs, Sameer has grown Café Spice from a single restaurant concept into a $50 million food manufacturing business. Café Spice is a family-owned food company specializing in globally inspired, ready-to-eat meals. Partn...

Edward Medina serves as the president of Ramona’s Food Group. With a background in finance, Edward has played a pivotal role in revitalizing Ramona’s, transforming it into a thriving family-owned business deeply rooted in tradition and committed to innovation. Ramona’s Food Group is a family-owned enterprise renowned for its authentic Mexican cuisine. Established in 1947 by Roman...

Tom Moffitt is a seasoned entrepreneur and pioneer in the plant-based dairy industry. With a background as a food microbiologist, Tom co-founded Commonwealth Dairy, turning it into a national powerhouse, and now leads Culture Fresh Foods, focusing on innovative non-dairy products. Culture Fresh Foods specializes in creating next-generation plant-based dairy products, offering a variety of non-dair...

Joey Jurgielewicz is a fifth-generation duck farmer and the Director of Client Service of Tasty Duck. With deep roots in the Long Island duck farming tradition, Joey brings passion, innovation and hospitality expertise to the family business. Tasty Duck is a vertically integrated duck operation headquartered in Pennsylvania, with a legacy dating back to 1933. The company supplies premium Pekin duc...

EPISODE 104: Sean Zecman – Food distribution leader and innovator EPISODE 103: Kenny Morrison – Founder of VCC Brands and Pioneer in Cannabis-Infused Beverages EPISODE 102: Laurel Orley – CEO of Daily Crunch and Innovator in Better-for-You Snacking EPISODE 101: Judy Joo – Chef, entrepreneur and leading voice in modern Korean cuisine EPISODE 100: Denise Woodard – CPG entrepreneur and advocate for a...

Kenny Morrison is a cannabis industry pioneer and the founder of VCC Brands and CQ Drinks. With a background in documentary filmmaking and early cannabis retail, Kenny has been instrumental in shaping the cannabis-infused beverage category since 2008. VCC Brands, originally Venice Cookie Company, is a legacy cannabis company focused exclusively on beverages since 2020. Its flagship brand, CQ (Cann...

Laurel Orley is the founder and CEO of Daily Crunch Snacks and a mission-driven entrepreneur with a background in advertising. After more than a decade building major brands like Dove at Unilever, she transitioned to launch her own company focused on health, flavor, and impact. Daily Crunch Snacks is a women-owned snack brand offering sprouted, air-dried almonds and other nut blends with bold, inn...

Judy Joo is a classically trained chef, entrepreneur, and television personality whose unconventional journey spans engineering, Wall Street, and the world’s top kitchens. She is an Iron Chef, cookbook author, and dynamic force in the food world, celebrated for modernizing and globalizing Korean cuisine. Judy is the founder of Seoul Bird, a Korean fast-casual fried chicken concept with locations i...

Denise Woodard is the founder and CEO of Partake Foods. She launched the brand after her daughter was diagnosed with multiple food allergies. A former Coca-Cola executive, Denise became the first Black woman to publicly raise over $1 million for a CPG food startup. Partake Foods creates delicious, allergy-friendly snacks that are free from the top nine allergens. With a mission rooted in inclusivi...

Stephanie Jaeger is the President of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) and a veteran of the restaurant industry with over 35 years of experience. She also serves as a Learning and Development Specialist for the Joey Restaurant Group, where she focuses on training and team culture. LDEI is a global philanthropic organization of women leaders in food, beverage, and hospitality. With o...

Yanni Hufnagel, a former college basketball coach turned entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of Lemon Perfect, a fast-growing enhanced water brand. With a background in coaching at top programs like Harvard and Vanderbilt, Hufnagel applied his competitive drive and leadership skills to disrupt the beverage industry with a health-focused, innovative brand. Lemon Perfect is a fast-growing beverage...

Eat’n Park is a regional restaurant chain known for its family-friendly atmosphere, classic American comfort food, and iconic Smiley Cookies. Founded in 1949 in Pittsburgh, it offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a focus on fresh, made-to-order meals. The brand emphasizes hospitality, community involvement, and sustainability initiatives. Parkhurst Dining, a division of Eat’n Park...

UNiTE Food is a Yorba Linda, California-based company that produces globally inspired protein bars. The brand offers unique flavors such as Churro, Mexican Hot Chocolate, and PB & Jelly, aiming to bring diversity to the wellness industry. Each bar provides around 10 grams of protein and is gluten-free, catering to health-conscious consumers seeking both nutrition and nostalgic tastes.  Clara o...

EPISODE 92 – Stephen Baldi – President of Baldi Management Group  EPISODE 91 – Nick McMillan and Amanda Signorelli – Managing Partners of Golden Steer EPISODE 90 – Anand Gala – Managing partner of Gala Capital Partners EPISODE 89 – Andy Gellert – President of Gellert Global  EPISODE 88 – Shannon O’Shields – VP of Marketing for R...

Stephen oversees Baldi Management Group (BMG), an airport concessions and management consulting company that manages restaurants in Reagan National Airport, JFK International Airport and Dulles International Airport.  Established in 2008, BMG operates various food and beverage outlets, including franchises like Dunkin’ Donuts, Potbelly, and Smashburger.  Stephen is an alumnus of Georgetown U...

The Golden Steer Steakhouse, established in 1958, is Las Vegas’s oldest continuously operating steakhouse. It has been a favored dining spot for numerous celebrities, including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Marilyn Monroe. The restaurant is renowned for its classic ambiance, featuring red leather booths named after its famous patrons, tuxedoed servers, and tableside preparations of Caesa...