From Fast Food to Fine Dining: Danny Mastropierro on Navigating the Restaurant Industry

How does working the drive-thru window at Culver's prepare you to become a Restaurant General Manager and Wine Director?   In this honest conversation, I sit down with Danny Mastropierro to discuss the realities of building a successful career in the hospitality industry. Danny takes us through his entire professional journey, starting with his time as a shy teenager working fast food in Florida, moving into the demanding world of white linen service, and eventually managing high-profile corporate groups in major cities.   He shares lessons learned about the importance of execution over effort, the culture shock of moving from casual dining to fine dining, and the profound difference between old-school management and modern corporate structure. We dive into the wisdom behind his creed, "Wine is History, GM is Math," and how he navigated the intense, transient environment of a major city like San Francisco to find his professional footing.   This episode is essential viewing for anyone looking for the unfiltered truth about working their way up the ladder in restaurants.   **SUBSCRIBE & CONNECT** Listen to the Full Audio Episode: https://www.thereluctantsomm.com Connect with Danny Mastropierro: @dmastropierro Follow The Reluctant Somm on Instagram: @reluctantsomm

In an industry often defined by accolades, what is the real work? We sat down with Caleb McArthur, Lead Sommelier of the Grand Award-winning Selby's, to talk about a journey that proves the path to the top is rarely a straight line. Caleb's story begins not with a deep wine cellar, but in a university psychology program. It's a path that took him from a family-owned Chinese restaurant to the high-stakes corporate world of The Ritz-Carlton, and eventually into the intense, character-building "dojo" of 3-Michelin-star Benu. He shares raw, honest lessons about embracing discomfort, surviving a chaotic Napa harvest, and understanding that the ultimate goal of hospitality is simple: bringing comfort to others. This is a conversation about the relentless commitment to craft, the resilience required to truly grow, and the humanity at the heart of service. Timestamp Navigation: 01:09 - An Unlikely Start: The Psychology Path 03:20 - The First Spark: Lessons from a Family Restaurant 05:26 - The Corporate Leap: Discipline at the Ritz Carlton 11:21 - Inside the "Dojo": An Eye-Opening Stint at 3-Michelin-Star Benu 12:26 - Trial by Fire: Surviving the "Blade Runner" Sky of the 2020 Harvest 22:08 - The David Bowie Method for Embracing Career Discomfort 44:48 - Getting the Call: How Hospitality Legends Recruit Talent 50:46 - More Than a Trophy: The Real Strategy Behind a Grand Award 57:42 - A Sommelier's Take: The Right (and Wrong) Way to Do Corkage 1:03:37 - Finding the 'Why': How Service Connects Everything

On this episode of The Reluctant Somm, I sit down with Tommy Laurel, a sommelier at Lazy Bear in San Francisco. We talk about the hard work and fierce drive it takes to succeed in the hospitality and beverage industry, how the pandemic changed everything, and Tommy’s path to becoming a sommelier at an acclaimed fine-dining restaurant.   You can also find us online at: Website: https://www.thereluctantsomm.com/ Instagram: @reluctantsomm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thereluctantsomm   Keywords: hospitality, wine, beverage industry, sommelier, fine dining, San Francisco, Lazy Bear, career, passion, hard work, personal growth.

This week, we sit down with Alder Yarrow, a celebrated voice in the wine world who has built his reputation on curiosity, integrity, and a deep-seated belief in the stories behind the bottle. We discuss his journey from a digital marketing professional to a highly respected wine critic for his blog, Vinography, and as a longtime contributor to JancisRobinson.com. He shares the story of founding a global organization dedicated to preserving the world’s most historic vineyards and his involvement with a foundation that is creating a more diverse hospitality industry. It's a conversation about finding a personal mission, challenging conventional wisdom, and the relentless pursuit of what truly matters in wine.   Alder’s story is a masterclass in how to build a body of work with passion and purpose. He is a professional who is pushing the boundaries, championing honest, handcrafted wine, and working to create a more inclusive and sustainable industry. This is a must-listen for anyone who wants to learn how passion, purpose, and a little bit of audacity are creating the next generation of the wine industry.   We dive into: The Roots of Curiosity: The personal childhood memory that sparked Alder's love for wine and a unique palate for flavor. The Old Vine Registry: The mission to create a global, crowdsourced database to protect and celebrate the world's most ancient vineyards . A Conduit for Connection: How wine, at its best, acts as a bridge for conversation and meaningful connection between people . A Lesson in Resilience: Why old vineyards—survivors of political, climate, and market change—are so vital and what they teach us about endurance . Timestamps: Alder’s Wine Journey 00:00 - The Roots of Curiosity: A single childhood memory sparks a lifelong curiosity about wine . 00:18:00 - The Path to Wine Criticism: How a digital marketing professional transitioned into writing about wine. 00:35:45 - The Old Vine Registry: The origin story of the non-profit organization dedicated to cataloging and preserving the world's oldest vineyards . 00:54:20 - A Critique of the System: A pointed critique of confusing wine rating systems and their impact . A Philosophy of Connection 01:04:00 - A New Approach to Diversity: Alder's involvement with the Glancy Wine Education Foundation and its mission to help underserved communities . 01:15:30 - Southern Fried Chicken & Champagne: A conversation about perfect, and perfectly unexpected, food and wine pairings . 01:32:00 - The Power of Story: Why the narrative behind a bottle of wine is more valuable than any score . 01:45:00 - Wine as a Conduit: The idea that a bottle of wine is a vehicle for conversation and connection . Connect with Alder: The Old Vine Registry (https://www.oldvineregistry.org/): A grassroots, volunteer effort that is the world's first crowdsourced global database of living historic vineyard sites. Its purpose is to be the single richest source of accurate, in-depth data on old-vine vineyards in the world and to connect people with vineyards to ensure their preservation. The Glancy Wine Education Foundation (https://www.glancywineeducationfoundation.org/): A non-profit dedicated to providing scholarships to underserved communities in wine and hospitality. The foundation aims to increase diversity and raise the earning power of professionals through wine education. Vinography: https://www.vinography.com/ JancisRobinson.com: https://www.jancisrobinson.com/ #Wine #Podcast #WinePodcast #Interview #AlderYarrow #OldVines #Vinography #WineCritic #GlancyFoundation #WineEducation #WineWriting #Hospitality #Sustainability #Resilience #WineLover #Winemaking

This week, we sit down with Corey Reis, the thoughtful and resilient Wine Director of Be.Steak.A in Campbell. In a deeply personal conversation, Corey shares his winding journey through the hospitality industry—a path marked by high-stakes Michelin pop-ups, the humbling reality of wine sales, and a profound, life-altering turn toward gardening as a way to navigate grief. It’s a story about coming home to your passion, even when the road is anything but straight. Corey’s story is the epitome of what it means to be a "Reluctant Somm." He’s a professional whose expertise was forged not just in fine dining rooms, but through real-life struggle, adaptation, and a willingness to step away to find clarity. This is a must-listen for anyone who understands that a career isn’t always a ladder, but a journey of resilience, self-discovery, and finding your way back. We dive into: The Zig-Zag Career: Why stepping in and out of the wine world—from breweries to sales—can be a source of strength and perspective. Growth from Grief: How starting a garden after a personal loss provided a powerful new connection to the earth and a path through hardship. The Michelin Gauntlet: A look inside the controlled chaos of running the wine program for Ritual at Manresa, a rotating, three-Michelin-star pop-up. The Power of Mentorship: The story of the Bacchus Group "family" and the key figures who shaped his journey in hospitality. Timestamps: The Winding Road 03:16 - A Serendipitous Start: How a legal battle with a vocational school led to a job at Pizza Antica and the start of a career. 07:52 - The Humbling Reality of Sales: The transition from the restaurant floor to a distribution rep and the lessons learned. 10:05 - A Detour into Beer: Stepping away from wine to find a different kind of community and passion at a local brewery. The Turning Point 09:17 - Navigating Personal Loss: Corey speaks openly about his mother's passing and the decision to step back from the industry. 11:33 - The Hibiscus Project: How discovering a passion for gardening transformed his father's yard into a food forest and became a source of healing and joy. 37:34 - Connecting Soil to Wine: How getting his hands dirty in the garden created a deeper, more tangible understanding of viticulture. The Return to Wine 16:27 - Ritual at Manresa: The story of landing a "vastly underqualified" job and being thrown into the fire with the world's best chefs. 19:54 - Chasing the Michelin Bug: The desire to be part of a home team and build something lasting, leading to his role at Be.Steak.A. 1:21:23 - Advice to the Industry: Corey's final thoughts and his most important piece of advice: "Don't ever take your foot off the gas." Connect with Corey: Instagram: @[Corey's Handle] Be.Steak.A Restaurant: @besteaka_ca Corey's Gardening Project: The Hibiscus Project on YouTube Connect with The Reluctant Somm: Instagram: @reluctantsomm Support Our Mission: Your support is our fuel. Leave a review, share this episode with a friend, or subscribe on YouTube. #TheReluctantSomm #CoreyReis #BeSteakA #Sommelier #GriefJourney #Gardening #HospitalityStrong #Resilience #PersonalStory #WinePodcast #NewEpisode #Podcast #Interview #Wine #WineLover #SommLife #BayAreaFoodie #CampbellCA #FoodAndWine #Winemaking

In this episode, I sit down with the passionate Zoltan Csaba Nagy, a renowned Sommelier and the author of the award-winning book Wine Queens. He is also a judge for Spain's highly respected annual "100 Best Wine of the Year" guide. Now the General Manager of the Palo Alto restaurant, Macarena, Zoltan shares his captivating story—from his eye-opening "aha moment" at a tiny, family-run winery in Spain to a decorated career in Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe.   Zoltan pulls back the curtain on his remarkable journey, sharing his philosophy on authenticity and his mission to make wine an accessible, joyful experience.   In this episode, we explore: A Different Wine Philosophy: Zoltan discusses the personal, family-driven culture of Spanish wineries and how it compares to other global regions he has visited.   The Power of Connection: Zoltan's belief that wine is about community, not just scores and price tags, and why authentic relationships with small producers are key to a great wine list.   Beyond the Restaurant: His career as a celebrated international wine judge and author.   A Taste of Spain: What makes Macarena's authentic approach, from the tableside carved jamón to their unique sherry program, a hit with guests.   Connect with Zoltan and Macarena: @zoltancsaba Macarena Restaurant: @macarena.group Zoltan's book, Wine Queens (Reinas de Copas)   Want more from The Reluctant Somm? 🍷 Free Wine Community Resources: https://www.thereluctantsomm.com/comm... Follow us on Instagram: @thereluctantsomm #TheReluctantSomm #WinePodcast #Sommelier #SpanishWine #Macarena #PaloAlto #WineLover #WineCulture #Podcast #wine

Welcome to Season 4 of The Reluctant Somm. This is the conversation we’ve needed to have with you. In our most honest episode yet, Chris sits down with, Bianca Finley—a wine professional, an entrepreneur, and the other half of this podcast. We pull back the curtain on the chaotic but necessary work of building a life and a brand on your own terms. We discuss the most powerful lessons we've learned, including: The Power of Authenticity: Our journey in a sometimes hostile industry and why being "unapologetically yourself" became our most powerful tool. The New Era of Wine: A look at the "Old Guard" versus the "New Wave," and our role as a bridge for a more equitable future. The Unfiltered Reality: We expose the layers of privilege in the industry and reveal why your support is so critical to our mission. This is more than a podcast; it’s a movement. We are building a community with no safety net, and this episode is our mission statement. Join the movement: We’re building something bigger. Follow our journey on our new podcast, "The Chaotic Era," where we tackle upward mobility, generational wealth, and what it really means to have a seat at the table. https://www.thepoormillennials.com/ Connect with us: Your support is our fuel. Leave a review, share this episode with a friend, and let us know your biggest takeaway on Instagram. @reluctantsomm Thank you for being part of our community. #TheReluctantSomm #Season4 #WineIndustry #GritAndGrace #Entrepreneurship #AuthenticLeadership #UpwardMobility

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Paul Carayas from Saison Wine Bar, an esteemed professional and the only Certified Madeira Wine Educator in North America! With over two decades in hospitality, including a storied tenure as Wine Director for Michelin-rated Chez TJ, Paul shares his passion for wine, which he literally thinks about every single day.   Join us as we delve into Paul's philosophy of challenging both himself and his customers, believing that if you're not pushing boundaries, you might be short-changing the experience. He explains how wine is an endless journey of discovery, where you can never truly know everything. Paul also pulls back the curtain on how his trusty Coravin allows him to pour incredible, "off-the-wall" wines by the glass, ensuring a unique offering for every guest. And for a truly unforgettable pairing, he reveals one of Saison Wine Bar's must-try experiences: oysters and Madeira. Tune in for a captivating conversation about continuous learning and the art of helping others navigate their own wine journey.   Wines Drank: 2012 Domaine Ramonet Bouzeron 2018 La Follette Robert Road Vineyard Pinot Noir   Want more from The Reluctant Somm? 🍷 Join us at an upcoming event!: https://www.thereluctantsomm.com/events Free Wine Community Resources: https://www.thereluctantsomm.com/community Stay in the loop with our monthly guide & Newsletter: https://www.thereluctantsomm.com Follow us on Instagram: @thereluctantsomm   #PaulCarayas #SaisonWineBar #MadeiraWineEducator #SommelierLife #WineJourney #Coravin #WinePairing #OystersAndMadeira #WinePodcast #TheReluctantSomm #HospitalityIndustry #WineCommunity #WineEducation #WineLovers #Interview

In this heartfelt episode, as she prepares to leave San Francisco, we sit down with Lauren Loiselle, a talented sommelier and Cicerone. Lauren's rich background includes Angler in San Francisco, Che Fico and Bar Jabroni in SF, and Homewood in Dallas. Join us as we delve into her reflections on closing this chapter in her life, reflecting on the challenges and triumphs. We also explore the many beautiful aspects of San Francisco, celebrating its vibrant spirit and the unique community it fosters within the hospitality industry. Tune in for a conversation about new beginnings and the enduring passion that drives true professionals in both wine and beer. Wines Drank: 2024 Jolie Laide Melon de Bourgogne 2023 Tiberio Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Want more from The Reluctant Somm? 🍷 Join us at an upcoming event!: https://www.thereluctantsomm.com/eventsFree Wine Community Resources: https://www.thereluctantsomm.com/community Stay in the loop with our monthly guide & Newsletter: https://www.thereluctantsomm.com Follow us on Instagram: @thereluctantsomm #LaurenLoiselle #AnglerSF #SommelierLife #Cicerone #BeerLover #SanFrancisco #HospitalityIndustry #WinePodcast #TheReluctantSomm #NewBeginnings #WineCommunity #SFHospitality #wine #interview

This week on The Reluctant Somm, we travel to South Africa (figuratively!) to sit down with Ali Verburg, the second generation now at the helm of Luddite Wines and Saboteur Wines. Ali’s life has been intrinsically linked to the vineyard, growing up deeply immersed in her family's winemaking journey in the Bot River region.   Ali shares the compelling story of her parents, Niels and Penny, who, after meeting at Elsenburg Agricultural College and gaining international winemaking experience across France, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, and Greece, finally found their home on a small farm in South Africa. We delve into Ali's own global harvest experiences, from Michigan to St. Emilion and the Rheinhessen, which have shaped her unique perspective. Beyond the grapes, we explore Luddite’s distinctive philosophy – a commitment to human connection and employment in an increasingly automated world. Ali discusses their experimental grape varieties and how, in an industry often embracing new technologies, Luddite intentionally champions the vital role of people in crafting their wines, offering a thoughtful counterpoint to the march of automation.   Tune in for an insightful conversation about family legacy, global winemaking adventures, and the surprisingly human-centric approach behind some of South Africa’s most compelling wines. Want more from The Reluctant Somm? 🍷 Join us at an upcoming event!: https://www.thereluctantsomm.com/events Free Wine Community Resources: https://www.thereluctantsomm.com/community Stay in the loop with our monthly guide & Newsletter: https://www.thereluctantsomm.com Follow us on Instagram: @thereluctantsomm #wine #podcast #interview #southafrica #ludditewines #saboteurwines #aliverburg #botriver #winemaking #familywinery #hospitality #wineindustry #humanity #automation #experimentalgrapes #generationalstory