Table Talk with Rosanna Caira

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Anat Davidzon, managing director of International at Chipotle Mexican Grill. Their conversation centres on Davidzon’s journey in the foodservice and hospitality industry, starting as an entrepreneur when she founded a fast-casual coffee chain to her executive role at Chipotle wher...

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Christina Kuypers, president and CEO of Chop Steakhouse & Bar. The two discuss Christina’s trajectory over the past 20 years, leading to her new current role, touching on her strategies for driving brand growth, the company’s operational transformation and how she champions a people-first...

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with respected Toronto restaurateur Yannick Bigourdan, owner of Lucie, the Carbon Bar and Carbon Snack Bar, the Berczy Tavern, Notte Ristorante, the Social Catering & Co., and a recently launched consultancy called JKTT Restaurant Consulting.  The interview touches on Bigourdan’s professional j...

Franchise Foundations In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Peter Mammas, president and CEO of Foodtastic. The two discuss how the Montreal-based company is fuelling franchise success, staying on top of  trends such as AI and working creatively to grow the company's portfolio of brands.

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Toronto chef Nuit Regular and her husband and partner Jeff Regular. The husband-and-wife team discuss how they met in Thailand, the collection of 13 successful restaurants they’ve created together and the secrets that help them succeed both at work and in their personal lives.

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor/publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality , speaks with Karisa  Marra, head of Sales at Square Canada,  who  dives into the world of digital transformation. Discover how Square is re-shaping the way businesses connect with customers and manage payments in an ever-evolving market. With insights on innovative marketing strategies and the future of...

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor/publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Doug Stephen, owner and operator of Winnipeg-based WOW Hospitality.  The conversation focuses on Stephen’s career path, his recent induction into the Manitoba Restaurant & Foodservice Association’s Hall of Fame, and the lasting impact the iconic restaurateur has had over more than 40 years. 

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality, speaks with Tony Elenis, president and CEO of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association, about some of the most important issues his association is dealing with. including labour challenges, wholesale liquor changes in the province, and the uncertainty surrounding the potential impact of tarif...

In this special episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor of Foodservice and Hospitality, speaks with the two restaurateurs behind the successful Osteria Giulia and Giulietta concepts—David Minicucci and chef Rob Rossi. The partners talk about the secrets of their success, a new restaurant concept soon to be launched, and the reasons why their partnership continues to shine.

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with industry analyst Vince Sgabellone of Circana. The two discuss the state of the restaurant industry in Canada, with a particular emphasis on the increasing popularity of the fast-casual segment, touching on the opportunities it affords foodservice operators.

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with Robert Carter, president of StratonHunter, a consultancy focused on the retail and restaurant industry. The two discuss the state of the Canadian foodservice industry, the salient trends impacting it, and what the outlook for the next year looks like.

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Darcy MacDonell and Simon MacRae, partners of the Common Stove,  PICNIC Tapas & Wine and the Hog & Penny Pub in Orillia, Ont. The two restaurateurs discuss how they’re working together to create Orillia’s most popular restaurant, how they’re dealing with the challenges and opportu...

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Frank Menezes, Professor & Program Coordinator, Hotel Operations Management, School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, at George Brown College. The two speak about the myriad changes in the education field, the importance of collaboration between colleges and the industry and th...

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with chef Jonathan Gushue and former hotelier, Jennifer Belanger, partners of Gushue Belanger Hospitality Services. The partners, whose combined business experience totals 50 years, in both restaurants and hotels, discuss the challenges and opportunities of launching a new partnership in 2022 p...

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Meeru Dhalwala, co-owner and chef of Vancouver's renowned restaurant Vij's. The chef and restaurateur talks about her love of Indian cuisine, her passion for bringing humanity into her business and cooking practices, and her work at advancing and promoting women in business.

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Jacqueline Nicosia and Chef Roberto Marotta of Ardo Restaurant, Dova and Vivi Imports about their passion for promoting Sicilian food and ingredients. The co-owners of this thriving Toronto-based hospitality business group shares their story of entrepreneurship with a focus on the challeng...

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Kris Hall, founder of the London-England based Burnt Chef Project and Imrun Texeira, chef and Canadian ambassador of the project. The two speak about the impressive growth of this important movement that aims to tackle the stigma of mental health within the global hospitality industry, whi...

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with two of KML’s recent Top 30 under 30 winners about what made them want to become chefs, their love for the hospitality industry and what can be improved to make hospitality the industry of choice.

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with Vince Sgabellone, of Circana (formerly the NPD Group) about how the foodservice industry is faring, where growth is taking place and the post-pandemic trends that are changing the landscape of the foodservice and hospitality industry.

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Jacob Mancini, VP, Restaurants & Breweries with Canadian Western Bank, (CWB) about the state of the industry, the possibility of an impending recession and what restaurant operators can expect when dealing with the banking community in 2023.

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with chef/restaurateur Trevor Lui about the challenges of running a restaurant post pandemic, about his entrepreneurial dream of creating unique dining experiences and about his role as co-founder of Quell, an agency representing food and drink talent with a focus on broadening BIPOC w...

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Chefs Jamie Kennedy and Michael Stadtlander, two of Canada’s most well-known chefs, who were instrumental in helping to develop Canadian Cuisine as well as the use of organic, sustainable and locally sourced foods while promoting the farm-to-table experience. The duo speak about their rise...

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Scott Bellhouse, president of Bellhouse Hospitality about the current recruitment challenges being faced in the hospitality industry, how the pandemic exacerbated an already challenging area, and what operators can do to find and retain candidates.

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Vancouver chef/restaurateur Vikram Vij about the changes fuelled by the pandemic, the impact on his restaurants and the lessons learned by having to re-structure his business to move forward in a post-pandemic world.

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Rudi Fischbacher, Dean of Toronto’s George Brown College Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts about his new role as Dean, his plans for continuing to deliver quality education and his views on how the industry and the college system can better work together to deliver quality...