Let’s Set Your Table Podcast

Summary: In Episode 24, we are joined with Conor Frank (HGI Showroom Manager) and Jen Katta (Business Development Director) from the Hode Group, Inc. This episode explores Lion's Wood's USA made innovative banquet furniture, focusing on the Flex Bar and portable induction units. Learn about their durability, customization options, and how they are transforming event setups with ease and efficiency...

In Episode 23 of 'Let's Set Your Table', we’re joined by Executive Chef Namo Chowcharoen, the culinary leader behind The Franklin Room in Chicago. Chef Namo shares his insights on the restaurant industry, emphasizing the importance of hospitality and customer service. He discusses his unique approach to creating a welcoming environment for diners, the cultural influences that shape his culinary ph...

In Episode 22 of Let’s Set Your Table, host John D. and co-host Nick D. are joined by fellow HGI team member and Director of Tabletop & Smallwares, Rachel Byerly, and Director of Sales - Northwest at American Metalcraft, Eric Hagge. In this episode, they discuss the evolution of heating solutions in catering, focusing on the transition from traditional chafing fuel to innovative flameless heat...

In Episode 21 of Let’s Set Your Table, host John D. and co-host Nick D. are joined by fellow HGI team members and Chicago representatives Kerry O’Connor and Jen Katta. Together, they share behind-the-scenes stories from the Hode Group's dynamic showroom in the heart of Fulton Market. From the importance of teamwork and relationship-building to the hands-on approach of product testing, the team ref...

In Episode 20, we are joined by Tom Wright, founder of OZZI Reusables and the OZZI Collection System, to discuss the impact of reusable containers on sustainability and the environment within the foodservice and hospitality world. The conversation covers Tom's journey in the culinary world, the functionality and benefits of the OZZI system, and its growing adoption across various sectors. This epi...

In Episode 19, host John DeTerlizzi and co-host Kerry O'Connor, of the Hode Group, visit with, Nick Mowat and Amy Howard from Steelite International. They discuss the importance of tabletop in the culinary and hospitality industry, the role of a showroom to benefit customer planning and design , and common mistakes operators make when selecting tabletop . The conversation highlights Steelite's ext...

In Episode 18, we are joined by Berry Global Account Manager Peggy O'Connor, to discuss the often-overlooked topic of trash can liners in the food service and hospitality industry. The hosts and our guest, explore the financial and environmental benefits of using the right size liners, the importance of standardization, and the impact of sustainability initiatives. The conversation emphasizes the...

In this episode, we are joined by Andreas Gfesser from Trendler, Inc. to explore the critical role of ergonomics in commercial seating within the food service and hospitality industry. The conversation delves into the importance of comfortable seating for enhancing dining experiences, the significance of furniture as a capital investment, and common mistakes made by restaurant operators in furnitu...

In this episode of 'Let's Set Your Table', hosts John and Nick discuss the current challenges in the aluminum packaging industry with guest Todd Dery, who is the National Sales Manager with Durable Packaging. They explore the impact of tariffs and legislation on aluminum prices, the strategies domestic suppliers are employing to navigate these challenges, and the importance of sustainable packagin...

In this episode of Let's Set Your Table, the hosts discuss green and sustainable disposables with their guests from Eco Products. Our guests for this episode were Toby Alves, Product and Zero Waste Specialist with Eco-Products and Nicole Geletka, Regional Sales Manager with Eco-Products. They aim to clarify the confusion around terms like "biodegradable" and "compostable" and educate owner-operato...

In this episode of Let's Set Your Table, host John D and co-host Melissa Marguerite discuss the importance of napkins in the dining experience. They are joined by Patrick Garrigan, National Sales Brand Manager from Midwest Specialty Products, who provides insights into the different types of napkins and their impact on the customer's perception. They highlight the role of napkins in cleanliness, p...

This conversation explores the benefits and applications of foil packaging in the food industry. The hosts discuss the advantages of foil packaging, such as heat retention and even heating, and its suitability for takeout and home meal replacement programs. They also address concerns about the perception of foil packaging and the importance of educating customers about its qualities. The conversat...

Attention Hospitality and F&B OPERATORS! You could be (literally) throwing money away into your trash, the landfill AND it might be costing you more than $100K every year. This savings strategy is one that most of you may have never considered! It is commonly overlooked and we break it down for you and how it works in this episode.  By the end of this episode, you will soon realize how much mo...

It’s not often that a professional knife is passed on as an heirloom, but that’s the case for Dexter Knives which are guaranteed to last a lifetime. They are American-made knives that have been around for 205 years. When brands promise a lifetime guarantee, they usually haven’t been around for centuries - but this brand walks the talk.  Tune in to discover how Dexter Knives makes knives for chefs...

What’s it like to buy paper packaging? Which type is right for you? Are paper packaging prices up or down these days? Rich Rosenberg, a food paper packaging industry leader, joins the show to answer all your questions to help you find the right packaging for your business.  Rich Rosenberg is an industry expert in the paper packaging industry. He’s been in the industry for almost 50 years and is th...

Episode 09 John and Nick D. are joined at the table with the Director of National Sales for Leafware, Diane Maxwell. In the ever-changing world of food service, green compostable food packaging and dinnerware is not a new term. However, Palm Leaf is a new renewable, sustainable and compostable substrate that you may not be familiar with.  Diane shares the features, benefits and the various uses fo...

Episode 08  In this episode, Jack Hode and John D. caught up with our good friend, Eric Fialkoff, the Smile Distribution Manager at Specialty Box and Packaging and the home of…custom takeout bags! Eric is a great partner of ours at the Hode Group! He is is an expert in custom logo'd and takeout packaging and is a huge asset in the disposables industry. Eric shares with us who Specialty Box and Pac...

Episode 07 In this episode, we catch up with Amy Howard, Senior Tabletop Specialist and Consultant for the Hode Group. Amy shares what value the Hode Group and our dedicated team with well over 100 years of combined experience bring to the food service and hospitality professional. Amy also discusses the opening of the new Hode Group Chicago Showroom which displays industry leaders and brands like...

Episode 06 In this episode of Let's Set Your Table, John D, Nick D and Jack Hode visit with the creator of WoodForm Concrete® and founder of JM Lifestyles, Jeff Kudrick. He is joined by Andrew Lippmann, who is the General Manager of Trueform Concrete. Trueform Concrete recently purchased JM lifestyles in August of 2022, so our visit with them could not be more timely. Jack Hode shares the back sto...

Episode 05 Ken Fraser, Southeast Divisional Sales Manager with Eco-Products joins John and Nick D. at the table. Ken shares a 2022 update and what's new in the industry with compostable packaging and how is Eco-Products handling the crazy demand for sustainable, disposable products. He also shares how Eco-Products separates itself as a leader in the “green” space and from its competition. He break...

Episode 04 John and Nick D. visit with the President and Founder of JAVA JACKET, Jay Sorenson. Jay shares with us who Java Jacket is, where they are located, how they got started and what a cool innovative idea & product they produce domestically for coffee houses, coffee servers and coffee baristas in the industry. Jay shares the status and availability of paper and paper board, its challenges an...

Episode 03 Matt Murray, Director of Sales at Anchor Packaging, and Jack Hode, Senior Vice President at the Hode Group join us at the Table. We discuss who Anchor is, what they are known for, and what value Anchor brings to the commercial operator in the food service and hospitality industry. Matt shares with us some incredibly exciting news at Anchor and the strategic offense they played during th...

Episode 02 John D. visits with Rich and Jack Hode of the Hode Group. Rich and Jack enlighten us on how they got their start and what value they as a group bring to the industry professional and how they assist operators in literally "setting their table". They share the past, present, and what they see for the industry‘s future. They also make a  strong case of why they decided to upgrade their cu...

Episode 01 John and Nick D. from the Hode Group visit with Wayne Koekeritz, Product and Zero Waste Specialist with Eco-Products of Boulder, Colorado. Wayne discusses who Eco-Products is, his role, and what value they deliver to the professional commercial operator and the foodservice industry. He reviews "green" basics and explains commonly used industry jargon and misnomers with terms like biodeg...