Lunch with Biggie

I got to spend a lunch break with  Sara Bartlett , the owner and operator of Canyon Couture - an environmentally sustainable and ethically sourced business that focuses on the curation of recycled or repurposed clothes and home decor. They operate out of a converted school bus (a mobile fashion boutique) and give 10% of sales to different local non-profits. Sara discussed how she came up with the...

I got to spend my 100th lunch break with  Chantal Aybar at Chimiking. Chantal is a food storyteller with a curious palate and a love for travel and adventure. That love of food and adventure -led her to start her Let's Try This Orlando Instagram and host her own podcast - Let's Chisme con Chanti Chantal and I spoke about why she started her popular IG account- Let's Try This Orlando an...

I got to spend a lunch break with  Adrien Lucas the creator of Sarasota's original Indie Craft Show- Atomic Holiday Bazaar - a two-day holiday market that is an edgier, eccentric, quirky type of arts and craft show with over 180 Misfit Makers/vendors. Adrien spoke about why she decided to start Atomic and how it started and has grown in the past 16 years. She shared what she is looking for and...

I got to spend a lunch break with  Gary and Ariel Bruckner , the owners of Wash and Wik - a Soap & Candle Company- Hand Poured & Hand Labeled in Orlando, FL. They also provide wholesale and private labeling for many businesses. I chatted with Gary and Ariel about how they decided to start after reading an article about soap and candle making and now are making and distributing over 40,000...

I got to spend a lunch break with  Doug Rusinek , the top cat and owner of Felinious - an apparel brand focused on Cats. Apparel. Debauchery with sales going to their mission of rescuing and fostering kittens. I chatted with Dug about how he came up with and started Felinious. We spoke about how he it started as a Beer group logo and became an apparel brand. We chatted about why he changed his bra...

I got to spend a lunch break with Carolina Fuguet, a creative that loves sewing, creating and selling online and at local craft shows as the owner of Up Owl Night.   I chatted with Carolina about how she came up with and started Up Owl Night. We spoke about how she had started with fabric wired head wraps and has continued to pivot her brand and creating everything now from Apparel, stickers, and...

I got to spend a lunch break with  Adam Avitable , co-host of Dating Kinda Sucks podcast and a man of many talents- you could say he is a polymath. Adam is a Writer, Comedian, Content Strategist, Photographer, Content Creator, Lawyer, teacher, and so much more. He is also a lover of Mayo and Bacon. I chatted with Adam at one of his favorite places an Ale House. We sat down and talked about all the...

I got to spend a lunch break with Bobby Wesley , co-host of the Orlando Story Club and someone who hosted a solo show at the Orlando Fringe Festival. Bobby is also a Marketing and Strategy Consultant who thinks every BLT should be legally required to be a BELT (add fried egg over easy). I chatted with Bobby and we discussed how he got involved with the Orlando Story Club. We spoke about what Orlan...

I got to spend a lunch break with Quay Hu, the owner of Qreate Coffee + Studios- a shared creative space with the most unique caffeinated creations. Qreate answers the question “Why isn’t there a place with premium roast blends, artisan coffee, and tea drinks that’s also a shared creative space/studio with blazing-fast Wi-Fi where I can chill and be inspired to create and collaborate with other pe...

I got to spend a lunch break with Chef Mike Rumplik, Cara Oates-Rumplik, and Christine Gonzalez, the owners of The Nauti Lobstah - a family and friend-owned restaurant serving up fresh New England Seafood and Southern style Catfish and prime steaks in a family-friendly setting. I visited The Nauti Lobstah in Apopka, FL, and sat down with Chef Mike, Cara, and Christine to talk about how they decide...

I got to spend a lunch break with Jeff Starks, the Proprietor and Founder of Maffrey's - an Orlando shop located in Ivanhoe Village curating interesting, unique, and fun products that are connected to a good story. I spoke to Jeff about how he came up with the idea of wanting to open up a shop. We spoke about what the store was initially and how he saw his customers and pivoted and grew. Jeff...

I got to spend a lunch break with Derek Pierson, the Owner, and Local Pitmaster behind Bien Fuegos BBQ, an Orlando native bringing a Cuban twist to Texas-style BBQ right here in the city. Derek and I spoke about his love for BBQ and why Texas BBQ. We spoke about how he started to do Pop-ups and find places to be able to sell. We spoke about learning the craft of BBQ and when he decided it was time...

I got to spend a lunch break with Glen Turchin, Owner and Roaster at Otus Coffee a family-run coffee roasting business that started from their garage. Glen is providing approachability in Specialty Coffee. Glen and I spoke about his love for coffee and how he got into it. We spoke about him starting to roast coffee with a popcorn popper in his kitchen. How he was so into it he bought a commercial...

I got to spend a lunch break with  Charlie Pioli,  who comes from a career in solid waste & recycling consulting and has witnessed the egregious waste being generated and poorly managed around the country firsthand. Spurred to action, he started O-Town Compost - Orlando’s community composter to give his neighbors a sustainable option to recycle their food scraps. Charlie and I spoke about how...

I got to spend a lunch break with  Cassandra Hill,  a Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Artist, and Bookmaker for Chill Artistry - creating books and art from the Heart, Made by Hand Cas and I spoke about how she got into bookmaking and why bookmaking. Cas talked about what inspires her art. We spoke about where her inspiration comes from and why you should create and make your ideas happen. We also...

I got to spend a lunch break with  Justin Peterson, a Comic Book artist, Illustrator, Muralist, and Creative Director for Don the Beachcomber He is also a Tiki Enthusiast and Baseball Nerd Justin and I spoke about how he got into doing Murals around the country and how he started working on his comics- Very Near Mint, The Hot Dogger, and The Unbelievable Floridians. We discussed his creative proce...

I got to spend a lunch break with  Casey Webb , actor, comedian, and host of  Man V Food , a culinary tv tour across America, checking out the best diners, looking for great food, and tackling the nation's largest and most fiery eating challenges. Casey and I spoke about how he got the opportunity to be the host of Man vs Food and how the show works as far as production and time spent. We spok...

I got to spend a lunch break with  Adam and Coryn Enfinger , owners of  Dark Cycle Clothing ⁠ , a clothing brand based out of Tampa, FL inspired by Adam thinking up quirky animals on bike designs while making his 17-mile bike ride to work. Eventually, he screenprinted the designs on some extra t-shirts and they generated quite a bit of interest every time they were worn. Now with over 100k happy c...

I got to spend a lunch break with  Alex Nemo Hanse , owner of Foolies Limited Clothing , a clothing brand dedicated to uplifting and motivating people to chase their dreams no matter how "foolish" it seems. I spoke to Nemo about how he came up with the idea to start Foolies. We spoke about how the past 13 years he has been such an advocate for strong black women and the women that inspir...

I got to spend a lunch break with Steve Raggiani , co-founder of the 8it App , the simplest way to find the best food recommendations, pop-ups, dish drops & collabs in NYC. Sourcing the best food recommendations from critics and credible sources you already love and presenting it in an easy-to-use interface based on your Location. Short & sweet 8-word food recommendations by people you tru...

I got to spend a lunch break with Brian and Cindy Johnson, are the owners of Tao Te Cheese (pronounced Dow De Cheese ) and they are sharing the love of creative grilled cheese sandwiches with Central Floridians. I spoke to them how they got the name for the their food truck/trailer, as well as, why grilled cheese sandwiches. We discussed some of the misconceptions of owning a food truck along with...

I got to spend a lunch break with Ha Mai, the mind, soul, and heart behind the brand Fur Face Boy . A highly attentive-to-detail T-shirt brand representing Ha's loves, pop culture, and all of the quirkiness in between! I spoke to Ha about how Fur Face Boy came about and why he started it back in 2009. We spoke about how he came up with the name. We spoke about the journey the brand and he has...

*Please note that Stefanie had to rebrand/restart her brand and is now Goat Solution Skincare in 10/2023.* I got to spend a lunch break with  Stefanie Bush,  owner, and maker of Goat Solution Skincare* (formerly G.O.A.T.S Skincare) - a Raw Goat Milk Skincare enriched with vitamin and natural ingredients from the milk of their spoiled pastured-raised goats. Listener Deal: use the code: DELIFRESH at...

I got to spend a lunch break with Brittany Zepf,  co-owner and Brianna Gonsorek , the general manager of ⁠⁠ The Neighbors - a neighborhood general store, cocktail lounge & Chef’s table. Open on the 2nd floor of East End Market in Audubon Park, FL. I spoke to Brittany about how the idea of opening The Neighbors came about. How her husband, Jacob (co-owner of FreeHand Goods), and the owner of Ea...

I got to spend a lunch break with Ian Russell,  the chef, and co-owner of  ⁠ Smoke and Donuts BBQ focusing on savory smoked barbecue and sweet handmade donuts harnessing smoking techniques and seasoning profiles from the top BBQ regions around the country. I spoke to Ian about him and his wife Juliana Peña coming up with the concept (Juliana wanted a donut shop, and Ian wanted a BBQ joint). I spok...