Lunch with Biggie

I got to spend my lunch break with Thomas Ward of Pig Floyd's Urban Barbakoa , a rustic counter-serve joint offering globally flavored BBQ dishes plus craft beers.   I've known Thomas for over 10 years when he first started a food truck called Tree House Truck and I enjoyed my favorite sandwich he created called the ChiMoo.  Then in 2014 he opened Pig Floyd's Urban Barbakoa and now he is...

I got to spend a long lunch break and catch up with Jim Graziano of J.P. Graziano Grocery Co . in Chicago, IL.  An Italian Wholesale/Grocery that has been a long running Italian market and sandwich shop offering subs & specialty food items since 1937.  They also have been giving people an opportunity to Taste Real Chicago  During my conversation with Jim we discussed how his fam...

I got to spend my lunch break with the 2 of the 3 owners of The Gnarly Barley and GB's Bottle Shop ; Joey Morris and Zach Scray (someone had to work so Trace was working). The Gnarly Barley is a craft beer and sandwich shop that offers hot sammis and other stuff too .    GB's Bottle Shop & Tasting Bar is exactly that a craft beer bottle shop with a growler bar that has 20 rotating ta...

I got to spend my lunch break with Grant Tharp , of Grant's Vintage Shop , vintage collectibles, decor, and clothing.  He also created and hosts 2 evening night markets: TPD Thursdays and 407 Flea   I spoke to Grant about how he got into vintage and became a vintage purveyor and started his own vintage shop. As well as, what led him to create and host 2 night markets.    ...

I got to spend my lunch break with Nate Herko , of ReUp Sneakers Boutique a specialty Sneaker Consignment shop that specializes in buying, selling and trading high-end sneakers, plus some everyday options.   I spoke to Nike Nate about how he originally started a clothing brand and opened a store location and learned success and failure go hand and hand.  So he kicked it up a another leve...

I got to spend an extended lunch break with Thomas and Skye , of Marnin Saylor , creators of the Donut Cat and curators of #PastryPets.  Where they have a Tasty Pastry Toy Shop in Pikes Place Market in Seattle, Washington. I spoke to Skye about how she came up with the Donut Cat idea and how she and Thomas began creating and hand sewing them and how it started a pastry pet universe that led t...

I got to spend my lunch break with Sarah Johnson-Markve , Owner of Good Crowd , an Orlando gift shop that provides good gifts for great people. I spoke to Sarah about how and why she started Good Crowd and how she curates and selects her vendors who provide a mix of modern and unique gifts.  We discussed why she feels mentorship was so important in her shops success, as well as, what she look...

I got to spend an extended lunch break with Anderson Bluu , Artist, Sneaker Designer and @tiktok Verified Creator.   We spoke about how he started out with a clothing brand and due to a basketball injury and having time on his hands, him realizing his passion for creating art and his love for sneakers and basketball.  Lead him to create limited edition artwork inspired by sneaker, pop cu...

I got to spend my lunch break with Jessica and Ashley Cunningham of Over Fork Over , purveyors of witty and gritty goods and they are using printing presses over 100 years old to make it happen.  I spoke to Jessica and Ashley about how they even got into using and working with printing presses.  Along with how they came up with the name of their business. Working with a sibling and how t...

I got to spend my lunch break with Alex Lopez , aka Friks84 , a Designer and Illustrations, Co-Owner of Toy Snobs and Creative Director of Outrank Brand  I spoke to Friks about how he studied art in school but was also barber to pay the bills.  How he went from a love of designing shirts to doing it full time and becoming co-owner with his best friend of Toy Snobs , a 80's/ 90's Toy Pop...

I got to spend my lunch break with Jordan Eichenblatt , proprietor of Cholo Dogs , a Mexican Street Hot Dog concept and Director of Content at HiFive Agency in Orlando! I spoke to Jordan about how they came up with the idea of starting Cholo Dogs and how they met Franco Frutero to make it happen.  We discussed how surrounding yourself with the right people. Providing an experience for your cu...

I got to spend my lunch break with Monique Malcolm , owner of The Visionary Journal , and host of Pimp Your Brilliance Podcast , a podcast for solopreneurs who want to monetize their brilliance!  I spoke to Monique about how she started with a clothing brand and then transitioned to doing and selling digital products, as well as, creating and mass producing a Visionary Journal .  She sta...

I got to spend my lunch break with Scott and Kelly Seidl , owners of Kelly's Homemade Ice Cream , a local, handcrafted ice cream shop. They make all of their ice creams & sorbets at their shops right here in Orlando, FL  I spoke to Scott and Kelly about how they started making ice cream at home and how it evolved from Farmers Markets to Ice Cream Truck to now having multiple neighborhood...

I got to spend my lunch break with Dustin and April Williams , owners of À La Cart Orlando , A social dining experience featuring some of the best street food offerings in Orlando and a bar with 15 taps pouring a rotating lineup of beers, wines, and coffee. A fun space for foodies, beer lovers, and families of all shapes and sizes! A Food Truck Park you don’t want to miss in Orlando. I spoke to Du...

I got to spend my lunch break with Chris Carr , owner of Chris Carr Fine ArtPhotography , fine art photographer in Orlando working on a series called “Puddle Reflections,” capturing reflected images in puddles with an abstract or surreal element. I spoke to Chris about how he started and what his series Puddle Reflections is about; we discussed traveling weeks on end and what he’s learned from sel...

I got to spend a quick lunch break asking 4 questions to 3 restaurant/food truck owners - the guys from T eam Fat Kid Food Truck in Virginia Beach, Orlando's Sandwich Queen, Pom Moongauklang , owner of Pom Pom's Teahouse & Sandwicheria , and the owner of Pig Floyd's Urban Barbakoa , Thomas Ward in the Orlando Mills 50 District.  I asked them about what makes a great sandwich, their sandwi...

PLEASE NOTE in June 2023: Dope Minerals rebranded to  Moonglow Minerals I got to spend my lunch break with Gina, owner of Dope Minerals , a Magnesium + CBD Infused Skincare brand that is a Vegan, Organic, Non Gmo, 100% Natural Therapeutic solution for vibrant health.   I spoke to Gina about why she started it; how she transitioned from one skincare brand into a new one;  going from producing the p...

I got to spend an extended lunch break with Mark Thompson , a full-time YouTube creator for Sauce Stache , a YouTube Channel where Mark brings you along to try some new foods together, try weird food, and try to make some of the hardest, most impossible internet food trends. If you are into plant based food creations- he is a must follow.   I spoke to Mark about how he started; how he transit...

I got to spend my lunch break with Nicole Goodman , owner of Klondike Electric Bikes and Klondike Gift Supply in Skagway, Alaska.  I had the chance to speak with Nicole how she went from owning a Breakfast Food Truck in Orlando to moving to Skagway, Alaska and opening an electric bike rental shop right before the pandemic and how she and her husband pivoted and opened Klondike Gift Supply , a...

I got to spend my lunch break with Orlando's Sandwich Queen, Pom Moongauklang , owner of Pom Pom's Teahouse & Sandwicheria , an Orlando Sandwich shop in the Milk District that is an East meets West with themed gourmet sandwiches plus a unique blend of authentic side salads and a wide variety of loose leaf teas and a delicious array of sweets to tantilize your taste buds!. I got to speak to Pom...

I got to spend my lunch break with Jeff Perera, owner of Jeff’s Bagel Run , a Central Florida business that creates small batch, hand rolled, boiled, NY style bagels. I got to speak to Jeff about why he started in the bagel business and how he has grown his business. We discussed the importance of social media and word of mouth as well as discussed favorite sandwiches. As well as his thoughts on b...

I got to spend my lunch break with Ashley Withey , co-owner of Friendlily Press , an Orlando business that creates everything from prints, stationary, pins, stickers and more. During my short time I got to hear about how they started and how they have embraced opportunity and have grown quickly in a short period of time. She also had some great thoughts about “coming up with ideas”; Wholesale; Bus...

I got to spend my lunch break with Courtney Ford Hamil , creator and curator of the DeLand Indie Market and Sanford Indie Market .  I spoke with her about how she created her 2 different indie market events and what she looks for in vendors. We also discussed how she balances it all. Listen to learn more on how she has pivoted her events during the pandemic. Lunch with Biggie is an Orlando po...

I got to spend my lunch break with the head beard of Brott's Beard Care , Kelly Brott.  We talked about how he got started in beard care.  How he has grown his concept into a beard care business.  We also spoke about choosing and doing events as well as much more.   Lunch with Biggie is an Orlando, FL produced podcast about small business and creatives sharing their stories and...

I got to spend my lunch break with the guys from Team Fat Kid, a Podcast/Food Truck.  I talk with the guys about going from a passion of food to starting a podcast to opening a Food Truck and being on Food Network. Lunch with Biggie is an Orlando podcast about small business and creatives sharing their stories and inspiring you to pursue your passion, with some sandwich talk on the side. Crea...