That Restaurant Thing

So excited to have a chat with Jack Ballarini today! The first guest on this podcast that I don't actually know. We connected on Instagram a few years back, don't exactly remember how, but I instantly clicked with the way he was running his restaurant BUNS in Verona in Italy. We've talked a lot on IG, sent each other parcels full of our respective restos merch and it was obvious to me that Jack would be the perfect guest for this comeback episode. We touched on coming to this business from another background, we talked about building a business around ourselves and how to transition toward a better work-life balance and how that is actually a healthy move for the business, we talked about not caring about communication strategy and how a small community is actually a good thing, we talked about scaling and how that doesn't have to be a goal etc. we talked about a lot of cool stuff and I hope you'll enjoy it whether you're a business owner yourself or just thinking of maybe going into that direction someday. Share the pod, give it some stars and catch you on the next one!

You guys don't even know how big of a deal this episode is for me! Talor was so instrumental in my hospitality journey. She gave me my first job, trained me as a barista from the ground up, and didn't give up on me when most would have asked me to clear my locker and be on my way. We go back, way back; she's been insanely busy since we said our goodbyes in Melbourne many, many years ago. Talking about when we worked together and everything she's been doing since makes for an amazing episode. We were having such a good time recording this episode; it lasted nearly two hours, so I split it into two parts for practicality's sake. Enjoy, share, and rate! Happy holidays guys!

You guys don't even know how big of a deal this episode is for me! Talor was so instrumental in my hospitality journey. She gave me my first job, trained me as a barista from the ground up, and didn't give up on me when most would have asked me to clear my locker and be on my way. We go back, way back; she's been insanely busy since we said our goodbyes in Melbourne many, many years ago. Talking about when we worked together and everything she's been doing since makes for an amazing episode. We were having such a good time recording this episode; it lasted nearly two hours, so I split it into two parts for practicality's sake. Enjoy, share, and rate! Happy holidays guys!

I don't really care for sweet stuff. When they pulled the lever of the DNA lottery for Nico Alary, it landed on meat, cheese, and wine. I rarely order dessert, happy within the boundaries of my self imposed comfort zone, bordered by croissants on one side, and pain au chocolat on the other. But then Boneshaker Doughnuts came into my life, and now the gates are wild open. Make way for the incredible fried pockets of fluffy dough. Nevermind what I just said. I've known Amanda and Louis for a long time. I've waited on them times and times over at Holybelly when they'd come down exhausted but always pumped, for a bit of breakfast with the whole family. I watched Boneshaker grow from the early pop-up days to the destination shop it has become now, after 5 years of relentless efforts. As much as I know them both and care for the project, I actually knew very little about the origin of the idea and the many hurdles they had to overcome before being able to serve their first (delicious) doughnuts on rue d'Aboukir. We talked about resilience, slow growth, changing preconceived notions about making and selling donuts, starting a business on zero dough (I had to, sorry). It's a fantastic episode and I could not think of better guests to get back in the saddle after this long COVID hiatus. Have a good listen guys, don't forget to review the show and tell your mates!

Alright guys, time to reach for that Modelo you'd been saving, find somewhere comfortable to sink your butt in for 50 minutes because for this episode I got you el señor Emmanuel "Manu" Peña, the friendly cook/chef from El Nopal, the beloved Mexican institution by the Canal Saint-Martin. I've known Manu for years, had his food on countless occasions (pretty much every Holybelly staff going away parties for years!) and yet I didn't know much about the guy! Why Paris? Why cooking? Turns out he was a lawyer for a while before trading his suits for some knives, I had no idea! We talked about what, as an employee, has made him stay at El Nopal for 8 years now, super interesting, where he loves to eat in Paris, what his projects are for the future etc. It's all bueno, a really good episode recorded COVID19 style, me in my house and him in his using ZenCastr as an audio bridge so the quality is great but not the premium stuff we usually put out with Katie at WRP. Hope you enjoy chicos y chicas, drop me a cinco estrellas review por favor, it makes me feel good about yo! Catch you on the next episode!

Joe Boley! The man who brought us Red House and its negronis on tap, wild karaoke nights and the yearly, much anticipated, crawfish boil! I'm so happy Joe agreed to come on the show because not many people know the story behind Red House and Sister Midnight and he's such a good man, I've known him for years now, and it is such a treat to have him talk to us for a solid half-hour (more like 10 minutes if you remove my constant interjections! Sorry, working on it :p) about why he does what he does and the way he does it. Plus, he sounds GREAT! Adult audiobooks Joe, think about it! It could be a good source of revenue in those lonely confinement days! Alright, enough of this, hope you enjoy guys!

Chris and Christine! Not only some of the kindest folks operating on the Parisian food scene but also some of the most talented cooks, pastry chefs, business owners out there. I've had the pleasure of knowing them for a few years, since back in the days when Christine used to bang out the best sausage rolls out of the tiny Ten Belles kitchen. They've grown a whole bunch since then, so we talked about that, and a lot of other really cool stuff. Give it a listen, it's only 30 minutes. Give the show 5 stars if you may, I've been told these things do make a difference! Thanks for listening and for all the kind words I'm receiving, plenty more coming.

David Flynn! We've been in each others rearview mirror for years (technically impossible, I know). We both started with a small operation back in 2013 and steadily grew it into what it is today. I was around when they dropped their first kilos of coffee in the brand new roaster of their tiny roastery, I was there when La Fontaine opened and when the roastery quadrupled in size, I was there too. He's my guy and I loved talking to him about it all, the good, the less good, the success, the failures, the process etc. I think you'll love this one as it is packed with useful resources whether you're thinking about opening a business or already running one. Enjoy, tell your mates and drop me a line!

For this third episode, a perfect counterpoint to my past two guests. Nico Clerc has been operating Telescope café in the 1st arrondissement for the past 8 years. No crazy growth, no multiple locations, he's been busy, but in a different way. Keeping the standards up, discovering wine and getting really good at it, making bread, even gave lunch a go for a while. A super interesting conversation with this former photographer friend of mine who drives his business from the heart. Hope you enjoy, take one minute to post a comment and a review on iTunes please, I've been told it makes a difference! Thanks for your support and thanks for listening.

I'm so psyched about this second episode because I'm joined by Marc Grossman, founder of the mythical Bob's Juice Bar he opened all the way back in 2006. He's a man we don't hear about nearly as often as we should and I feel privileged to have been able to have him on the show for a full half-hour. We talked about a lot of interesting stuff: growth (again), his move from New York to Paris, romanticizing the past, always being thirsty for the next new project, our inability to disconnect mentally from the business and tricks we've found to free our minds from time to time. Anyway, a great episode, hope you'll enjoy it! Drop me a message in the comment section and a review on iTunes, I'm just getting warmed up. Thank you for all the support following the first episode!