Third in a three part series on Social Media Marketing with Malia at Millenial Marketing. Malia, the owner of Millenial Marketing, and Martha, host of Holy Guacamole, talk through the most Frequently Asked Questions Malia receives regarding social media. Chances are you have asked some of these questions yourself, and know that social media is forever shifting and changing, and you might need an update. Want to know more, and talk to Malia about your project, here is the website , and if you wan...
Oct 20, 2023•14 min
Continuing our series on experts in our field, today we have on Tom Suchuch to discuss the NM high school culinary program, ProStart. This is a national program with state level programs. ProStart is part of a necessary conversaton about our current hiring challenges in the restaurant industry. The difficulty in finding and retaining either experienced and/or trainable staff is our latest challenge The industry business model is evolving quickly and restaurant owners have to adapt. Tom Schuch is...
Oct 13, 2023•32 min
Second in a three part series on Social Media Marketing with Malia at Millenial Marketing. Malia, the owner of Millenial Marketing, and Martha, host of Holy Guacamole, talk through the most Frequently Asked Questions Malia receives regarding social media. Chances are you have asked some of these questions yourself, and know that social media is forever shifting and changing, and you might need an update. Want to know more, and talk to Malia about your project, here is the website , and if you wa...
Oct 06, 2023•19 min
Claire and Brandon, owners of Sura Korean BBQ and Tofu House on Long Beach are our guest today. They have a long and lusterous history with this place. Claire and Brandon took on the project of giving Korean BBQ a refreshed and contemporary feel. It included improving from within, adding a patio, and improving the kitchen. They faced challenges, and do not stop! This episode is for you if you need a shot of confidence with a side of awareness that you can make improvements and be happy with them...
Sep 29, 2023•34 min
First in a three part series on Social Media Marketing with Malia at Millenial Marketing. Malia, the owner of Millenial Marketing, and Martha, host of Holy Guacamole, talk through the most Frequently Asked Questions Malia receives regarding social media. Chances are you have asked some of these questions yourself, and know that social media is forever shifting and changing, and you might need an update. Want to know more, and talk to Malia about your project, here is the website , and if you wan...
Sep 22, 2023•11 min
This episode is a story about one of the best things in life -- ice cream, and it's plant based for all the good reasons! Listen and learn how this co-founders couple Nicole and Dwight conjured their sons' milk allergy into the joy ice cream brings into any family. Co-founder, father and chef, Dwight Campbell has exhaustive culinary skills -- serving steak dinners for 500 on a given evening. He experimented and tinkered with almonds and then cashews to create a plant-based ice cream recipe. Co-f...
Sep 15, 2023•32 min
Brahm is the farmer at the regenerative farm at The Inn at Shaker Mill Farm. Listen to this episode as an expert on how regenerative farming, is much like speaking another language in it's ability to give you new perspective, and positive perspective on life. This episode is as much about the life force that you carry in your daily life as it is about how regernative farming is the life force for our planets future. To learn more about the work Brahm is doing at the farm, and the work Michael an...
Sep 08, 2023•52 min
What makes a bar work? How do you make the math work? And how do you keep it working for years to come? We interview UK based Tyler Zielinski to get his opinion. He writes for PUNCH, Food & Wine, London Evening Standard, Eater, Class Bar Mag, Condé Nast Traveler and more. And he is a Brand and Hospitality Consultant for bars, spirit companies and industry events. Our loyal listeners, intellectually curious business owners, want to know better ways to improve their business, in an ever changi...
Sep 01, 2023•41 min
Line abandonment falls into an operational topic, which is Pillar 3, in the Six Pillars of a Successful Business . How does it happen? In the restaurant industry customers leave a line before completing their intended transaction, which in this case would be ordering their food and dining at the restaurant. This phenomenon can occur in various contexts, such as waiting in line to place an order, waiting for a table to become available, or waiting to pay the bill. Here are the factors that can co...
Aug 25, 2023•20 min
Following the request from many listeners we felt a discussion on The Bear was worth a slight detour from our regular format. That's why we asked Jenny to come back and discuss The Bear, Season One with Martha. Starting off with a quote from the article by Carina Chocano from NY Times, called How ‘The Bear’ Captures the Panic of Modern Work . Jenny and Martha discuss various elements Chocano reveals, and other elements worth further exploration. Please see Season 1 before listening, so any spoil...
Aug 18, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Climate change is striking us hard this year. Finding a place deserving of an episode took time. This episode shares the story of one amazing place on Earth where they are working with nature in numerous way. Step into The Inn at Shaker Mill Falls. It is an 18 room inn and retreat center operated out of a historic, repurposed gristmill built by the local Shaker Mt. Lebanon community in 1824. Hospitality is the basis of what you'll learn. They are eager for you to be nourished in this magical val...
Aug 11, 2023•36 min
This episode starts a series whose time has come--Inner Circle Conversations. These are topics that I see trending or you, the audience is asking for me, the host, Martha Lucius, to share. Sharing how to run events and why. What's the purpose of having them, what's the power behind events, and why do them in the first place. If you are an owner, learn why you should consider doing them, and what's involoved. If you are a fan or restaurants or food based businesses, why should you attend. CHEF LE...
Aug 04, 2023•15 min
Don't know how our industry is doing? Could be because the statistics are a little confusing. National Restaurant Association came out with a statistic that says restaurants are back to normal. Here we explore that statistic and the few other stats that are telling the story of what's going on in our industry. Statistics are useful when you have a series of stats that can tell a range of information. Enjoy listening.
Jul 14, 2023•9 min
This is a short story on how you can build a successful hiring habit even now, in 2023! Whenever restaurants are hiring, they follow, or don't follow a protocol. In this episode you'll hear the steps you can take and why they may work for your business. From the job advertisement that describes the job desciption in the best light, to screening calls, to interview no. 1 and no. 2 to the decision to, or not to hire the right person for the position. It's purposely told with a dash of humor becaus...
Jun 30, 2023•22 min
Joe Shaffer from Hidden Water Farms shares where our food comes from, and knows how farmers steward the land and animals. He grew up raising cattle, and now has cattle, pigs, chickens and a vegetable plot at Hidden Waters with his partner Tom. Joe shares what the term "Regenerative Agriculture" means, and why it's an important method in caring for the environment. There is a growing trend in the US for farm stores. This farm store opened June 2023. Joe describes how that space works, and how the...
Jun 16, 2023•36 min
This season has been filled with information about the Six Pillars of a successful business. This episode is about the interplay of Quality and Financial Stability. This Sandwich Episode uses a simple story to tell the financial lesson of changes in the restaurant industry. The recipe of building a sandwich the same way every time, ensures customer delight. That recipe reflects a quality product, created and served the same way every time. It's one version, and one recipe for quality in a restau...
Jun 09, 2023•9 min
Jenny Gaitner is back. A light and lively conversation about the excuses staff provide when they don't want to come in to work. Jenny has been on the show previously, discussing staff pay and salaries. Jenny and me, Martha always have frank and lively conversation. This one includes a monkey plate of humor! Thanks for listening. Like what you hear? We'd appreciate your review of @holyguacamole on your fav podcast provider -- this helps more people find what we are doing. What are we doing? Helpi...
May 26, 2023•34 min
The last few months have been all about understanding the Six Pillars of a Successful Business. Hospitality is the 6th of Six Pillars. It's where we take all the planning of a restaurants daily plan and turn it into reality. We all need a little levity. This levity is an amuse-bouche for a series of service stories.
May 19, 2023•5 min
The Sixth Pillar of Success is about culture and hospitality. We know our listeners appreciate hearing from an authority on hospitality and culture. Erin Moran is that voice. She is Director of Dr Grasmick's Leadership Institute at Towson University weighs in with her definition of hospitality and good culture. She has been part of Union Square Hospitality Group, and Great Places to Work. She holds a unique perspective on hiring and retaining staff, of how a good culture supports the bottom line...
May 05, 2023•31 min
Here we are, the last pillar in the Six Pillars of a Successful Business: HOSPITALITY. It’s subtitle is “what are the ways to attract guests to your place, in the first place… then, what are they ways to invite them back, over and over and over again!!! BUT WAIT…. but before we get there, I’m going to tuck in this teensy refresher. This little refresher will help you get centered before we dive into THAT LAST PILLAR,…. the Sixth Pillar — the outwardly focused pillar, the pillar about Hospitality...
Apr 28, 2023•13 min
We take a break from the Six Pillars to share how food, community and kindness come together. And they come together at restaurants, bars, cafes, and food businesses, partly because each of those businesses is an epicenter in the community. Here are a couple of stories about how food, community and kindness coelesce. Please send and share your stories too. This is an incredibly important part of how owners can serve community. Go out there and gather people and share what's good in the world....
Apr 14, 2023•15 min
Defining the Fifth Pillar of a Successful Business: the avenues and distribution to bring product to market. Avenues and distribution is where restaurant or CPG product find methods to sell their product. Many facets of the same jewel. The definition of the Fifth Pillar is more than the phrased "avenues" and your "distribution". Martha Lucius describes several examples of the many avenues possible in your business, and how each one can be a source of revenue and profit. Marketing is one aspect o...
Apr 07, 2023•12 min
We dig into the fifth pillar of a successful business: avenues and distribution to bring product to market. Going deep with the Six Pillars of Success as a method for business owners to roadmap change and stability into their business. The Six Pillars are Brand Strategy, Financial Stability, Operations, Product Quality, Avenues & Distribution, and Hospitality. Kathleen Overman started her new business called Sweet Leenie as a field marketing representative and then evolved into a marketing a...
Mar 24, 2023•39 min
The fourth pillar of a successful business is product & quality. Those words translate into a consistent and elusive practice of quality control within a business. Studying the Six Pillars of Success as a method for business owners to roadmap change and stability into their business. The Six Pillars are Brand Strategy, Financial Stability, Operations, Product Quality, Avenues & Distribution, and Hospitality. Meaghan Carpenter, owner of HEX Ferments shares their methods and creative think...
Mar 17, 2023•45 min
We dig into the fourth pillar of a successful business: product & quality. Going deep with the Six Pillars of Success as a method for business owners to roadmap change and stability into their business. The Six Pillars are Brand Strategy, Financial Stability, Operations, Product Quality, Avenues & Distribution, and Hospitality. Quality is where product, service and time blend togther. It is an elusive concept. One that each business owner strives to achieve. Considering testing and tasti...
Mar 10, 2023•6 min
We dig into the third pillar of a successful business: operating efficiently. Going deep with the Six Pillars of Success as a method for business owners to roadmap change and stability into their business. The Six Pillars are Brand Strategy, Financial Stability, Operations, Product Quality, Avenues & Distribution, and Hospitality. Operations in a restaurant are a set of tasks, SOPs, best practices and equipment that all need to blend together in the right combination to ensure every day goes...
Mar 03, 2023•9 min
We dig into the third pillar of a successful business: operating efficiently. Going deep with the Six Pillars of Success as a method for business owners to roadmap change and stability into their business. The Six Pillars are Brand Strategy, Financial Stability, Operations, Product Quality, Avenues & Distribution, and Hospitality. The jargon of operating efficiently is broken down into digestible morsels. Review your efficiency by ensuring that your equipment, ingredients and vendor relation...
Feb 24, 2023•14 min
Going deep with the Six Pillars of Success as a method for business owners to roadmap change and stability into their business. The Six Pillars are Brand Strategy, Financial Stability, Operations, Product Quality, Avenues & Distribution, and Hospitality. The jargon of financial stability is broken down into digestible morsels. How can you build healthy habits that will support and grow your businesses financial stability. You'll learn how to be mindful and aware of your food costs and labor ...
Feb 17, 2023•16 min
Kicking off the third year of Holy Guacamole we go deep with the Six Pillars of Success as a method for business owners to roadmap change into their business. The Six Pillars are Brand Strategy, Financial Stability, Operations, Product Quality, Avenues & Distribution, Hospitality In this episode guest Sari Kimbell shares her method of ensuring Financial Stability. Guest Sari Kimbell and host Martha Lucius have a lively conversation on how to ensure that a new or established business charts t...
Feb 10, 2023•51 min
A new type of episode starts today with diehard industry professional Jenny Gaitner. This episodes' focus is on the living wage. She's been working in restaurants and bars as an employee since her teens. This episode is an honest and open conversation from the perspective of two people who have watched the industry since the 80s. What has changed, and what is more equitable in philosophy and respect for the employee? Servers were known to make ridiculous tips, back in the day. This is not a naiv...
Feb 03, 2023•30 min
