The Late Night Restaurant Podcast Show

In this wild and hilarious episode of The Late Night Restaurant Podcast , the crew welcomes special guest Eric Legenza, the mastermind behind Nightlife+ App — Canada’s newest and most ambitious nightlife app. From booking your next big night out in seconds to integrating Uber rides and crafting personalized venue suggestions, Eric breaks down how he’s building the digital future of nightlife one c...

In this episode of The Late Night Restaurant Podcast , the hosts welcome David Hopkins, a seasoned restaurant consultant and founder of The Fifteen Group, to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the restaurant industry. From menu costing and financial health checks to the impact of tariffs and consumer confidence, David shares invaluable insights on how restaurants can navigate an evolving...

Join us for a captivating late-night conversation with celebrated chef, TV personality, and culinary trailblazer Christine Cushing. From her memorable beginnings in the kitchen, influenced deeply by her father's unique cooking style, to her serendipitous discovery by a TV producer, Christine shares vibrant stories from behind the scenes of her groundbreaking cooking shows. Dive into heartfelt...

In this lively and insightful episode of The Late Night Restaurant Podcast , we welcome back our favorite returning guest, Bill Oakley—renowned foodie writer, former Simpsons showrunner, and all-around culinary adventurer. Broadcasting live from Phoenix, where he's taking a much-needed break from the gray skies of Portland, Bill shares his latest food discoveries, including an unforgettable vi...

In this episode of The Late Night Restaurant Podcast , we dive deep into the financial side of the restaurant industry with David Monteith, founder of Accountific. From bookkeeping best practices to tax deductions, David breaks down how restaurant owners can avoid costly mistakes, streamline their accounting, and make smarter financial decisions. We also discuss the impact of tariffs on Canadian r...

In this special episode of The Late Night Restaurant Podcast , we sit down with Theresa Kowall-Shipp , an award-winning American/Canadian TV and media professional with an impressive career spanning networks like Nat Geo, PBS/APT, CTV, CBC, Global, Food Network, BBC, Discovery, and more . A prolific content creator, Theresa has produced, directed, and written iconic shows such as Recipe to Riches...

In this episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show , we fire up the conversation with Essi Tadrus, the mastermind behind Southern Luv BBQ. From his early days in the restaurant business to building a scalable barbecue empire, Essi shares his journey, insights on food consistency, and how he's revolutionizing the BBQ supply chain. Expect deep dives into his smoking techniques, a discussion on wh...

In this engaging episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show , we dive deep into the world of fryer oil innovation with the team from Beyond Oil. From the science behind oil degradation to the revolutionary powder that extends oil life, reduces waste, and improves food quality, this discussion unpacks the future of frying for restaurants. The conversation also touches on cost savings, sustainability...

On this episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show , we sit down with Samantha Scholefield to dive into the real impact of tariffs on the Canadian foodservice industry. Samantha shares insights from her latest article, unpacking how restaurants are adapting, the confusion operators are facing, and why a "Team Canada" approach is more important than ever. We explore how local businesses ca...

Join us for an engaging episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show , where Jay Ashton, Dominic Padula, and Michael Beck sit down with Vince Sgabellone, Canadian Food Service Industry Analyst at Circana. In this insightful discussion, we tackle the pressing issues facing the restaurant industry, from the impact of tariffs and inflation to consumer confidence and shifting dining trends. Vince shares...

Join us for another wild and insightful episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show , where food, hospitality, and industry stories collide with late-night energy and humor. In this special Terroir Update 2025 , we dive deep into one of Canada’s most exciting culinary events— The Terroir Symposium —with special guests Tannis and Leanna from Calgary. Expect hilarious banter, unexpected detours, and a...

On this episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show , we sit down with Steve Fortunato , founder of Room Forty and author of The Urgent Recovery of Hospitality . Steve shares his insights on the true essence of hospitality, the power of generosity in the restaurant industry, and his journey from catering in Los Angeles to writing a book that redefines service. We dive into the challenges of modern h...

Join us for an unforgettable episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show featuring the legendary Bill Oakley —former writer and showrunner of The Simpsons , food critic, and all-around pop culture connoisseur! In this special edition, Bill takes us on a deep dive into his nationwide culinary tour , where he uncovers hidden food gems across America, bringing unique and nostalgic flavors to life throu...

In this powerhouse episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show , we sit down with the legendary Josh Kopel , a restaurateur-turned-industry coach, to talk about the levers that drive restaurant success. From marketing strategies that actually work to pricing tactics that boost profitability, Josh shares hard-earned insights from his decades in the business. He breaks down why restaurants must shift...

Join Canada's Restaurant Coach and the Late Night Restaurant Show team as they welcome Andrew Marino, CEO of Ghost Truck Kitchen , for an engaging conversation on reshaping the restaurant industry. Andrew shares his journey of innovation, from pioneering ghost kitchens to integrating AI and machine learning into operations. Explore leadership insights, strategies for navigating modern challeng...

In this episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show , we sit down with Cijoy Olickal , the innovative mind and COO behind GM Pilot , a platform revolutionizing restaurant operations. Cijoy shares his journey from engineering to hospitality tech, his insights on leveraging automation to enhance profitability, and how GM Pilot is empowering general managers to focus on what matters most. Packed with h...

Welcome to another exciting episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show ! Tonight, we dive into the ever-evolving world of restaurant technology with a special guest from Saskatoon-born 7shifts, a leading scheduling and labour management platform transforming the industry. Hosts Dominic and Jay explore how restaurants can move beyond pen-and-paper scheduling and embrace innovative tools to save time...

The Late Night Restaurant Show: Season Premiere with Dominic, Michael, and Jay The 2025 season kicks off with Dominic, Michael, and Jay bringing you insights, laughs, and innovation! Michael joins live from CES in Las Vegas to share the latest tech trends, while Dominic and Jay discuss the evolving restaurant landscape, marketing strategies, and a surprising new invention... protein coffee. It’s a...

In the debut episode,  Sara and Adam Waxman  kick off  Dine: From Table to Travel  with a celebratory toast and delve into a lively discussion about food, travel, and hospitality. The episode features a special guest appearance by renowned chef  Claudio Aprile , known for his innovative culinary style and role as a judge on  MasterChef Canada . Topics covered include: The reopening of Toronto's ic...

In this special redo episode of the Late Night Restaurant Show , we’re shaking things up with a first-of-its-kind Listening Party ! It’s all about connecting, sharing, and supporting each other in the foodservice and hospitality industry. Join our hosts as they create a space to listen to the thoughts, challenges, and ideas of industry pros like you. This isn’t just talk—it’s about community . Whe...

In this episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show , Jay and Dominic welcome back an incredible guest who knows the ins and outs of helping struggling restaurants thrive — Luis from Restaurant Search and Rescue . After a redo of a previous recording, the team dives deep into the most pressing challenges faced by restaurants today: outdated digital presence, lack of strategic planning, and the overw...

In this episode of  The Late Night Restaurant Show ,  Jay Ashton  dives into the future of restaurant hiring with the dynamic and driven  HP , the founder of  Kibbi . While Dominic enjoys some much-needed R&R in the Caribbean, Jay holds down the fort and guides us through an eye-opening discussion about solving one of the industry's biggest headaches:  finding reliable local talent . HP shares...

"The Late Night Restaurant Show" Welcomes TV Legend and Fast Food Critic Bill Oakley! Join us for an epic, laugh-out-loud episode as we sit down with  Bill Oakley , legendary writer of  The Simpsons ,  Futurama , and  Disenchantment , and now, the king of  fast food criticism  and regional American eats! 🌭🍕 In this interview, we dive into: Bill's iconic  Simpsons  moments (yes, we talk  Steamed...

In this insightful episode, we take a 60,000-foot view of the restaurant and hospitality industry. From inflation and labour challenges to the lasting impacts of COVID-19, we explore the pressing issues operators face today. Join Canada's Restaurant Guy, Troy, Tony, and Jason as they dive into innovative solutions, including menu engineering, AI integration, and strategic planning, to help restaur...

In this exciting episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show , we’re joined by Ayad Zaid, founder of Soho Citizen , a cutting-edge company blending AI and food service. Ayad shares how his innovative approach is helping restaurants harness the power of AI to analyze customer feedback, audit digital footprints, and improve operations. From tackling suspicious reviews to optimizing online presence, Ay...