Sips & Secrets with Leticia Duarte

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, Leticia sits down with Chef Michael Bick to talk about the wild reality of weddings, catering, and hospitality events gone completely wrong. From nightmare clients and last-minute disasters to food shortages, difficult guests, and bridezilla moments, we break down some of the craziest stories from behind the scenes of the event industry. We also get into the pres...

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, we sit down with a former drug task force officer Jeff Pike who went undercover inside bars and nightlife to catch illegal activity most people never even notice. From his early days on patrol to living a full double life undercover, he shares what it’s really like working inside the system — including overserving, hidden drug activity, and the reality of how bar...

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, we’re talking about what it’s really like working around money — from rich clients and luxury lifestyles to the entitlement no one wants to admit. We break down the differences between old money vs new money, what it’s like serving in affluent areas like Greenwich and Westport, and how appearance, confidence, and presentation can actually impact how much money yo...

In this episode of Sips and Secrets, we dive into the REAL side of working in restaurants — and it’s not what you think. From getting fired for being too slow to absolute kitchen chaos, we break down what it’s actually like behind the scenes in the food industry. We talk about our first jobs, fast food horror stories, and the moment things go completely off the rails (yes… someone really got fired...

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, we’re pulling back the curtain on what really goes on behind the scenes in the hospitality industry. From restaurant chaos and bar life to strip club stories and brand deals, this conversation dives into the truth about working in nightlife that most people never see. We talk about the highs, the burnout, the money, and the wild moments that come with managing ba...

What really goes on behind the scenes in the restaurant industry? In this episode of Sips & Secrets, we sit down with Eric to talk about how working in restaurants completely changed our lives—from making money when we had nothing, to learning how to adapt our personalities depending on where we work, and navigating the chaos of dating coworkers and even customers 😳 If you’ve ever worked in a res...

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, we dive into the real side of working in the restaurant and service industry. From working at Buffalo Wild Wings, bartending chaos, crazy customers, and long shifts to navigating toxic environments, family struggles, and personal growth. We talk about what it’s really like being a server and bartender, the highs and lows of restaurant life, and why some people ev...

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, Joe and I dive into the reality of working in the restaurant industry — from starting young as servers to the challenges of owning a restaurant. We talk about serving underage customers, the close bonds restaurant staff build, and the chaos that happens behind the scenes. We also discuss the struggles of trying to keep a restaurant afloat, the limits of food truc...

What is it really like working in the restaurant industry? In this episode of Sips & Secrets, Ginjer and I dive into the realities of restaurant life that nobody talks about — from starting young because of fast money, to the uncomfortable situations servers and bartenders face, and how workplace culture is shaped from the top down. We talk about how coworkers quickly become family in family-owned...

Welcome back to Sips & Secrets 🍸 — the podcast where we talk about what restaurant life is really like behind the scenes. In this episode, Carlos and I break down the chaos of working in a busy restaurant during peak dinner rush; from kitchens handling 150+ tickets at once and printers that never stop running, to the reality of managing guests, coworkers, and expectations when everything hits at...

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, I sit down with my little cousin Ader to talk about what it’s really like working your first jobs in retail and hospitality — and why everyone should experience it at least once. From managers undermining employees in front of customers, to chaotic first serving shifts, minimum wage struggles, and the emotional impact customers and coworkers can have on your day…...

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, we sit down with Cornelius to talk about the real side of hospitality that nobody prepares you for. From emotionally draining customer interactions to moments that genuinely make you question humanity, this one is for anyone who’s ever worked a fast-paced service job and had to keep smiling through it. We get into what it’s really like working at Starbucks and si...

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, we sit down with the owner of Frisky Business Cat Café in Palm Springs, California—a business built not just for profit, but for purpose What started as a way to help his wife escape corporate burnout turned into a life-changing mission after discovering a cat café in South Carolina. Through countless city regulations, permits, and hurdles, Frisky Business finall...

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, we sit down with a seasoned high-volume bartender who’s worked everywhere from Broadway Nashville to Las Vegas. After years behind the bar and in management, we get real about the pressure to manage, the guilt that comes with stepping down, and why not everyone is meant to stay in leadership roles forever. We talk about what truly makes a great bar manager—listen...

What happens when you leave a job that felt like family — but was also burning you out? In this episode of Sips & Secrets, I sit down with Luis to talk about the emotional reality of the restaurant industry — the parts no one prepares you for and no one really talks about. We get real about restaurant burnout, the guilt of taking time off, and why leaving a restaurant job can feel harder than endi...

On this episode of Sips & Secrets, we talk about how working in catering became the unexpected stepping stone that shaped my entire future. Those long shifts, last-minute changes, high-pressure events, and “make it happen” moments didn’t just teach hustle — they taught patience, compassion, leadership, and how to handle people in every situation. We get into: 🍕 how catering prepared us for real l...

Ever wonder what really happens when the lights go dim, the doors swing closed, and the restaurant chaos hits full throttle? In this episode, Lou and I pull back the curtain and tell the truth — the messy, hilarious, uncomfortable, sometimes toxic truth — about life in the hospitality world. We talk about the humor that keeps us sane, the customer stereotypes that are a little too accurate, the ho...

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, we talk about what nobody tells you: sometimes your passion doesn’t show up until you’re 30… and that’s totally okay. We get real about chasing dreams later in life, working for 50+ years (and how that thought alone can humble you 😅), partnerships that go sour fast, and why travel, cookbooks, and constant trial-and-error might actually be the secret sauce to fig...

Kelsey joins Sips & Secrets to talk about the everyday restaurant moments that drive servers absolutely crazy. From customers who don’t know what they ordered, to people who refuse to move when hot plates are burning your hands, to tables with zero awareness of the space around them — this episode is painfully relatable if you’ve ever worked in food service. We break down the unspoken rules custom...

Owen joins Sips & Secrets to talk about the side of restaurant life that only people in the trenches understand. From trauma-bonding with coworkers because you’re basically going to war together every shift, to why managers and owners should never lead a restaurant unless they’ve actually worked the floor, Owen breaks down what really makes (or breaks) hospitality teams. We also dive into the futu...

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, Tonya sits down with us to reveal the real side of bartending that nobody warns you about. We talk about: 💋 Why you always have to pay more attention to the woman when serving a couple ✈️ How travel bartending can feel easier because you don’t have to “learn” people 🔐 Why you need an “in” to get the better, higher-earning bartending jobs 🔥 How bartending saved...

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, Angela and I break down why bartending is truly one of the best jobs in the hospitality industry — from making great money, having flexible hours, and being yourself behind the bar, to working with your best friends and building real community. If you’re curious about bartender life, how much bartenders make, why people love working in the restaurant industry, or...

If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant or behind a bar, this episode is going to hit home. On Sips & Secrets, we dive into what really happens when you’re dealing with bad tippers, impossible customers, chaotic shifts, and the emotional rollercoaster of working in the service industry. We talk about crying in the walk-in, smelling like food after every shift, how your mood affects your tips, and th...

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, we get real about what it’s like growing up as the boss’s daughter, learning the restaurant business from the ground up, and finding confidence in showing your personality at every table. From juggling ADHD and chaotic shifts to building genuine connections with customers and coworkers, this conversation dives into the heart of hospitality, passion, patience, and...

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, we dive into the reality of bartending, bar culture, and drinking — and how easy it is for alcohol to go from “part of the job” to something that takes over your life. We talk about how bartenders often become therapists for customers, taking on emotional weight night after night while trying to keep it together themselves. From crazy customer stories to the pres...