Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Kyle Hilla hails form Misquite, TX and has over 12 years of experience bar tendering. Hilla has been recognized as Bartender of the Year in 2016 and 2017 by both  D Magazine  and CultureMap  Taste Makers Awards. Having crafted innovative, well-balanced cocktails for Oak Cliff, and Bolsa for 5 years, Kyle then moved on to act as 'liquid architect' for Turn The Tables Hospitality. Today Hilla Serves...

A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France, World Master Chef Sharon Van Meter brings more than 40 years of award-winning and acclaimed culinary experience to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Chef Van Meter has served the culinary world as Executive Chef of The Ritz-Carlton International, Professor of American Cuisine at Paris' Le Cordon Bleu and Executive Chef in the renowned kitchens of Neiman Mar...

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Roger Kaplan has over 40 years experience in the hospitality industry as a nationally acclaimed chef, owner, operator, entrepreneur, concept developer, manufacturing liaison and consultant. Now, as Founder of RK Innovations , a restaurant support and collaborative consulting company, Roger brings experience from various leadership positions includin...

Originating from Dallas TX, Chef Scott Gottlich studied at Oklahoma University and Johnson and Wales University. After graduating, Gottlich jumped between the East and West coast working for some great mentors, including Tim Goodell, Eric Ripert, and Chris Muhler. With Considerable experience under his belt, Gottlich returned to Dallas, TX, where he took his first role as executive Chef, at Lola....

After a 20 year run as Executive Chef and Director of Operations at Z'Tejas restaurant chain, Jack Gilmore and Tom Kamm , decided to strike out on their own, opening  Jack Allen's Kitchen  in late 2009. 10 years later they've scaled the Jack Allen's concept into 4 locations. Additionally, they've created Salt Traders Coastal Cooking in 2016, which is about to open its second location later this ye...

  Eric Silverstein spent the first 10 years of his life in Japan, before moving to Atlanta Georgia. He would go on to study marketing, finance, and law at Washington University. In 2010, Silverstein left his life of litigation for a life of roaming the streets of Austin in his food truck, The Peached Tortilla , where he served Asian and Southern-inspired tacos and sliders. Over the years, he has c...

Hailing from Wisconsin, Mark David Buley is graduate of The University of Wisconsin-Stout and the Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park. After his formal education Buley went to work at the Montagna Restaurant at the Little Nell Hotel in Aspen, where he met future business partners  Bryce Gilmore and Sam Hellman-Mass. In 2012, Buley joined past colleagues to Open The Odd Duck . In 2018, Buley an...

Jake Maddux hails from Bartlesville, OK, and is graduate of Oklahoma University. Prior to getting involved in the world beer and hospitality, Maddux served as a U.S. Marine. After his service, Maddux found himself in San Francisco, working for one of the most renowned breweries in the world, Anchor Brewing Company. Maddux also spent some time with another industry great, New Belgium Brewing Compan...

Hailing from San Antonio and graduate of  St. Mary's University with a BBA in Accounting, Ryan Salts' experience includes working at the 80/20 Foundation and Geekdom prior to helping open Launch SA (formerly Café Commerce). Through Launch SA, Ryan created many of the programs now operating, including Break Fast & Launch , Pitch Tab and San Antonio Entrepreneurship Week.  His greatest value is his...

  Chef Tim McDiarmid was raised on a farm in rural Canada.  After a decade working in some of the most visionary whole foods restaurants in New York City, Tim chose to settle down in sunny, laid back San Antonio. As a single mother, she wanted a flexible profession that would allow her to be with her son as well as focus on the wholesome, playful diet she'd always enjoyed. Tim the Girl Catering wa...

  Hailing from Dunkirk, NY, at the age of 19, Chef Stephen Paprocki moved to San Antonio after falling in love with the city during a previous vacation. He's worked at some of the finest restaurants in San Antonio, spent years as an Omni Task Force Chef, as well as received formal training and a degree from Johnson & Wales University. Today, Chef Paprocki wears a number of hats including: Chef; Re...

Former audio engineer, radio personality, and insurance claims adjuster, Jody Bailey Newman took a stab at the food an beverage industry with husband, Steve Newmen, in 2009 with their unique concept, The Friendly Spot . 10 years later, Jody is a leading craft beer entrepreneur and Chief Friend behind The Friendly Spot Ice House , B&D Ice House Hills and Dales Ice House . In addition, Jody often me...

Hailing from Ranchi, India, Akash Kapoor started studying business communication, law, finance, and economics in the mid 80's. In the summer of 2009 after being inspired by Roi Choi's Kogi BBQ trucks, Akash and a few of his friends immediate got to work planning their Indian street food concept. Two months later, Curry Up Now was officially in business. 10 years later, Kapoor and his team has scal...

Hailing from Boston, MA, and a Graduate of Boston University Questrom School of Business,  Sam Hellman-Mass has previously worked at the Montagna Restaurant at the Little Nell Hotel in Aspen, where he met Bryce Gilmore and later moved to Austin and helped him open Barley Swine, and Odd Duck. Under Hellman-Mass's leadership, The Odd Duck received much acclaim. With this success in his back pocket,...

A retired semi-pro football player, Ben Seabury has been managing and owning food and beverage operations for over a decade. He's scaled a cupcake concept, served as Executive Chef, GM, Direct of Operations, and Founder. Seabury's current title is President of the 1100 Group. The 1100 Group consist of 4 unique concepts, event management, catering, and a consulting division. On top of this Ben also...

  As an Austin native and graduate of Texas Culinary Academy, Evan LeRoy has garnered international acclaim as a top tier barbecue chef cooking at NYC's  Hill Country Barbecue Market  and Austin's  Freedmen's Bar . He's traveled as far as Russia and Australia to train and teach his skills. In 2017, he and business partner, Sawyer Lewis , opened Leroy and Lewis and was quickly identified as one of...

  This is Justin Elliott's second time on the show. For Justin's full story head over to www.restaurantunstoppable.com/557 . Having worked in some of the best bars in Austin, Elliott has consistently produced forward-thinking bar programs that have been recognized by Bon Appetit, Playboy, Texas Monthly, Zagat, Southern Living Magazine, Imbibe, Food Republic, Star Chefs and many more. This past yea...

  After early influences at his Uncle's deli, a stint as a professional drummer and a decade of experience at restaurants like New York City's Gramercy Tavern, Roberta's in Brooklyn, Franklin BBQ and Bufalina in Austin, TX, Chef Tedesco opened  L'Oca D'Oro in 2016 with business partner Adam Orman. The duo is going into their 3th year of delivering gracious hospitality. Tedesco and Orman are also m...

Hailing from a small German town, Horst Schulze knew from the age of 5 that he wanted to work in the hotel industry. So he got his start, like most of do, as a dish washer. From the bottom rung he climbed his way to the top, traveling the world and working in 5 star hotels along the way. In 1983 he cofounded the Ritz Carlton and set the standards for the service industry going forward. Schulze joi...

David Scott Peters is the founder of  TheRestaurantExpert.com , a company specializing in coaching and training independent restaurant owners. He is the developer of  SMART Systems Pro , an online restaurant management software designed specifically for independent restaurant operators. David is a regular speaker at food industry events all over the country, is a regular guest contributor to resta...

Today is a big day! It marks Restaurant Unstoppable's 5th year of producing content! To celebrate, I've ask my good friend and new partner, Brandon Hull, to flip the table on me.  Side note: Brandon will be joining Restaurant Unstoppable as my new DOO and CMO. I couldn't think of a better person to join the team.  The purpose of todays conversation is to reflect on the past 5 years and the biggest...

Graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder, e ntrepreneur, health enthusiast, and engineer who likes to build businesses that make the world a  more interesting and sustainable place,  Anthony Pigliacampo is the founder and co-CEO of Modern Market . Modern Market opened its doors in 2009 with the mission is to serve delicious, healthy food that moves us forward. Since it's first location almos...

Today we're speaking with Anna Tauzin-Rice. Initially, she served the National Restaurant Association as Manager of Digital Innovation, and later as Head of Innovation & Entrepreneurial Services. Today, she serves the Texas Restaurant Association as Vice President of Marketing and Innovation. The topic of our discussion: Do restaurant associations still carry the same weight they use to? This is t...

Ben Gaddis is the President of T-3, an Austin advertising agency dedicated to helping clients build useful brands and create exclusive, meaningful relationships with their customers. Today, we're here to discuss the shifting marketplace. Specifically, why fewer people are going out to eat and what you can do about it. Here's what Ben believes you can do about it: 1) Owning your relationships onlin...

Early in her career, Austin native, Callie Speer, influenced the pastry and bread program for Parkside under Shawn Cirkiel. Her experience also includes working as the pastry chef for Chameleon Group, and as the executive pastry chef for the Hotel Van Zandt. In 2013, she was nominated for  Food and Wine Magazine 's "People's Best New Pastry Chef". In 2015, she was awarded Pastry Chef of the Year b...