#79. In this episode of the meez Podcast, Josh Sharkey sits down with Melina Shannon-DiPietro, Executive Director of the MAD Foundation , to explore how MAD is transforming the hospitality industry through education, sustainability, and community-building. Melina, who has been at the helm of MAD since joining René Redzepi in Copenhagen, shares insights into how the organization is empowering chefs and food professionals to lead with purpose. From their groundbreaking MAD Academy programs, to MAD...
Oct 01, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 79
#78. In this episode of The meez Podcast, host Josh Sharkey sits down with Basu Ratnam, founder of karma-infused restaurant group, INDAY . INDAY came to life while Basu was working in finance in New York City. As his career progressed, he felt increasingly disconnected from what he truly cared about. With lifelong memories of being around food and a mother who instilled the belief that food can nourish the mind, body, spirit, and community, he saw the potential of pursuing that idea through INDA...
Sep 24, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 78
#77. In this episode of The meez Podcast, host Josh Sharkey sits down with Chef Opie Crooks, a culinary talent and soon-to-be dad. Josh shares the story of how he first met Opie at an event in Washington, D.C., where Opie's graciousness and exceptional cooking left a lasting impression. Now based in Savannah, Georgia, Opie oversees culinary operations for FARM Hospitality Group , managing multiple concepts with his characteristic warmth and expertise. Recorded from the quietest spot Opie could f...
Sep 17, 2024•37 min•Season 2Ep. 77
#76. On this episode of The meez Podcast, we sit down with Alice Cheng, founder and CEO of Culinary Agents , a groundbreaking platform connecting talent and businesses in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Alice shares her incredible journey from a role in IBM's mailroom to executive ranks on a global scale at the company. After a decade-plus career climbing the corporate ladder at lightning speed, Alice made the bold decision to leave and launch her own start-up. Inspired by helping her f...
Sep 10, 2024•48 min•Season 2Ep. 76
#75. In this episode of The meez Podcast, we dive deep into the culinary world of Tyler Akin, founder of Form-Function Hospitality , and a celebrated chef and restaurateur who has left an indelible mark on the East Coast's dining scene. From his early days in Wilmington, Delaware, where he was inspired by his Southern grandmother's meticulous cooking, to his time at prestigious kitchens like minibar by José Andrés and Michelin-starred Komi, Akin's journey is anything but ordinary. After leaving ...
Sep 03, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 75
#74. In this episode of The meez Podcast, Josh Sharkey reconnects with Darleen Scherer, the founder of Black Sheep and a pioneering force in the specialty coffee world. With over 20 years of experience, Darleen has been at the helm of several successful coffee roasting companies, including Gorilla Coffee, Supercrown Coffee Roasters, and Taylor Lane Organic Coffee. Known as "The Godmother of New York Coffee," she has been recognized by The New York Times, Bon Appétit, Time Out, The Food Network, ...
Aug 27, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 2Ep. 74
#73. In this episode of The meez Podcast, we sit down with Chef Jesse Ito, the Chef and Co-Owner of Royal Sushi & Izakaya in Philadelphia. A first-generation Japanese Korean American and multiple James Beard nominee, Jesse shares his remarkable journey from growing up in his family’s renowned restaurant, Fuji, in Cinnaminson, NJ, to becoming one of Philly’s most celebrated chefs. Jesse reflects on his early years learning the art of sushi from his father, Masaharu Ito, and the unique dynamic...
Aug 20, 2024•55 min•Season 2Ep. 73
#72. In this episode of The meez Podcast, host Josh Sharkey welcomes Will Guidara, a renowned figure in the culinary world. Will is the former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park , once ranked as the number one restaurant in the world. He recently co-produced the hit show "The Bear" and writes the fascinating newsletter " Pre-Meal ," which draws inspiration from the daily pre-meal rituals at Eleven Madison Park. Will is also the author of the acclaimed book " Unreasonable Hospitality ". The book del...
Aug 13, 2024•46 min•Season 2Ep. 72
#71. In this episode of The meez Podcast, Josh Sharkey sits down with Drew Skolnik, a partner at KarpReilly , a prominent private growth equity firm known for its successful investments in the food and beverage industry. KarpReilly has invested in well-known brands such as Habit Burger Grill, Cooper’s Hawk, Made In, S&S and Spindrift. The discussion delves into the intricacies of growth equity, exploring how it differs from venture capital, what firms like KarpReilly look for when investing ...
Aug 06, 2024•52 min•Season 2Ep. 71
#70. Join host Josh Sharkey as he welcomes an old friend and pioneering entrepreneur, Alex Beltrani, the founder and CEO of Tattle , to the show. In this engaging episode, Josh and Alex dive into the story of Tattle, a revolutionary tech company that digitizes the customer feedback experience for restaurants. Alex shares his journey from the inception of Tattle to its impressive growth, providing insights into how his platform quantifies and drives restaurant success by analyzing customer feedba...
Jul 30, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 70
#69. Join host Josh Sharkey on today's meez Podcast as he delves into the world of barbeque with Jessica Bograd, the Senior Director of Culinary for City Barbeque . Jessica is not only an incredible chef but also runs an exceptional operation at City Barbeque. Before her tenure at City Barbeque, Jessica was deeply involved in R&D, creating menu items for well-known brands like Popeyes, Chick-fil-A, TGI Fridays, Inspire Brands, and Focus Brands. In this episode, we explore Jessica’s extensive...
Jul 23, 2024•59 min•Season 2Ep. 69
#68. In this episode of The meez Podcast, host Josh Sharkey sits down with Matt Wampler, co-founder and CEO of ClearCOGS , one of the rising stars in the food tech industry. Josh and Matt delve into the fascinating world of predictive analytics, AI, and machine learning in the food sector. ClearCOGS is revolutionizing the way large-scale organizations forecast sales and manage food prep. By leveraging advanced technologies, ClearCOGS provides daily insights that help businesses like Jimmy John's...
Jul 16, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 68
#67. In this special episode of The meez Podcast, listeners are treated to a captivating talk given at the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) in New York City between Brian Konopka, Director of Strategic Operations Dean of Restaurant & Culinary Management, and Josh Sharkey, Founder and CEO of meez. Addressing a business class with a culinary focus, Josh and Brian engage with a dynamic group of students and faculty, discussing the journey of entrepreneurship, the challenges faced along the...
Jul 09, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 67
🌟 Welcome to The meez Network 🌟 As hospitality professionals, your time is invaluable. That’s why we're thrilled to announce the launch of The meez Network, a curated content hub designed to bring all the hospitality industry insights you need into one convenient place. 📕 Our Journey: Inspired by the enthusiastic feedback from their podcasts and the industry's call for a centralized resource, Andrew Friedman (Author/Host of Andrew Talks to Chefs ) and Josh Sharkey (Founder/CEO of meez and hos...
Jul 03, 2024•9 min
#66. In this special episode of The meez Podcast, host Josh Sharkey welcomes Patrick Lightbody and Henry Shapiro, founders of the revolutionary app, Reclaim.ai . Unlike the typical focus on the restaurant and hospitality industry, this episode dives into the realm of digital hospitality, exploring how Reclaim exemplifies excellence in this space. Patrick and Henry share insights into the creation and impact of Reclaim, an app designed to optimize work habits by intelligently managing calendar ev...
Jul 02, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 66
#65. In this episode of The meez Podcast, host Josh Sharkey catches up with old friends who are also amazing chefs and restaurateurs. The guests are Jess Maher and Todd Duplechan, a dynamic duo Josh has known for nearly two decades. Their paths first crossed while working together at Bouley and Danube in New York City, and they've remained close ever since. Listeners will hear them reminisce about their time at renowned restaurants like Bouley, Danube, Gray Kunz’s establishments, and Tabla with ...
Jun 25, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 65
#64. In this episode of the meez Podcast, host Josh Sharkey welcomes Ellen Yin, the esteemed founder and co-owner of High Street Hospitality Group . Ellen has garnered acclaim for her work, including being honored with the Outstanding Restaurateur Award by the James Beard Foundation. She also serves on the board of Open Table (among many other boards) and is the co-chair of the Sisterly Love Coalition, an organization dedicated to empowering women in the Philadelphia hospitality industry. Josh a...
Jun 18, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 64
#63. In the latest episode of The meez Podcast, we're sitting down with Tracy and Arjav, the dynamic duo behind Birdie's , a cherished eatery in Austin, Texas. Not only are they partners in life, having met and fallen in love in the bustling New York restaurant scene, but they've also ventured into the world of business together, creating a dining experience that's both successful and beloved. Their journey began over shared Negronis and led to the opening of Birdie's, which has since become a t...
Jun 11, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 63
#62. In this engaging episode of The meez Podcast, host Josh Sharkey sits down with his friend and accomplished entrepreneur, Jordan Silverman. Josh and Jordan delve into the journey that led Jordan from his role as VP of Customer Success at MarketMan to founding his innovative AI company, Starfish . Jordan's impressive track record of going above and beyond to help others is a central theme in their discussion. Josh recounts how Jordan's willingness to share his expertise and offer support was ...
Jun 04, 2024•52 min•Season 2Ep. 62
#61. In this episode of The meez Podcast, host Josh Sharkey welcomes Sam Bernstein, the founder of Table22 . Table22 is a pioneering company designed to help restaurants generate incremental new revenue through subscriptions, including memberships, CPG products, and events. Josh and Sam's paths first crossed at The Chef Conference in Philadelphia. Since then, their encounters have become frequent, most recently at the National Restaurant Association Show, where they connected at an event hosted ...
May 28, 2024•56 min•Season 2Ep. 61
#60. For this week's episode, we are thrilled to welcome chef Alon Shaya. Alon is a two-time James Beard Award winner, having earned accolades for Best Chef in the South and Best New Restaurant. He's also the author of the acclaimed book "Shaya," a book that traces the evolution of a cuisine and the transformative power of cooking throughout Alon's personal life and career. Alon has made significant strides in the culinary world. He is the chef-partner, and founder of Pomegranate Hospitality , a...
May 21, 2024•59 min•Season 2Ep. 60
#59. Join host Josh Sharkey on this engaging episode of The meez Podcast as he sits down with Sterling Douglass, the dynamic co-founder and CEO of Chowly , a trailblazing food tech company that enhances your sales through strategic first and third-party distribution channels, alongside sophisticated advertising and marketing support. Sterling shares his journey from an actuary to a leading entrepreneur, revealing the challenges and triumphs of building a company. This episode dives into the inno...
May 14, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 59
#58. Dive into an exhilarating episode of The meez Podcast recorded live at The Chef Conference in Philadelphia. This special installment features a dynamic panel discussion hosted by our founder and CEO, Josh Sharkey, with four culinary luminaries, each bringing a unique blend of creativity, science, and innovation to the table. Join us as we engage with Rosio Sanchez, the esteemed former pastry chef at Noma and now thriving as the chef and founder of Sanchez and Hija de Sanchez in Copenhagen. ...
May 07, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 58
#57. In this episode, we sit down with Ellen Cassidy, the founder of Elemental Prep , a company that teaches people how to retain information. Ellen shares her innovative process of information retention, which involves reading, translating, and quipping. She explains how to code information with emotions by intoning the words as you say them, translating the information in your own words, and creating a conversation with what you read. This process helps people retain information and make it th...
Apr 30, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 57
#56. In the latest episode of The meez Podcast, we had the pleasure of conversing with the masterful Avery Ruzicka, founder and head baker of Manresa Bread . Avery delves into the art of breadmaking, sharing her passion for milling flour in-house and the distinctive flavors it yields. She also enlightens us on the benefits of natural leavening, not just for taste but for digestion too, and offers her take on the ubiquitous all-purpose flour. But Avery's expertise doesn't end at the oven. She's a...
Apr 23, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 56
#55. In this week's episode, we sit down with the remarkable Chef Fiore Tedesco, co-owner of the renowned L'Oca d'Oro in Austin and the visionary behind an eagerly anticipated new pizza venture, Bambino . Beyond his entrepreneurial spirit, Chef Fiore is a proud supporter of Good Work Austin, showcasing his commitment to community and culinary excellence. Join us as Chef Fiore shares his extraordinary journey, marked by both hardship and triumph. From his early years influenced by a significant h...
Apr 16, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 55
#54. Welcome to this captivating episode of The meez Podcast, where we explore the heart of culinary innovation and education with our distinguished guest, Mike Traud, founder of The Chef Conference (formerly known as the Philly Chef Conference) in the gastronomic hub of Philadelphia. With a legacy spanning over a decade and 10 groundbreaking conferences, Mike has significantly contributed to the culinary landscape through this annual event, which started during his tenure as the Director of Hos...
Apr 09, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 54
#53. This week, we're joined by a distinguished entrepreneur, activist, public speaker, mediator, chef, and a key figure in the hospitality industry, Elizabeth Meltz. Elizabeth shines not only through her involvement on the boards of various organizations championing the hospitality sector and women's empowerment but also as the founder of EM PATH , a company dedicated to refining leadership, culture, and management in hospitality and beyond. With over a decade of experience with the Batali and ...
Apr 02, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 53
#52. Welcome to a special episode of The meez Podcast, hosted in the vibrant streets of Miami! In this episode, we're thrilled to feature the acclaimed Chef Brad Kilgore as our guest. This episode was recorded shortly after the meez team's annual summit, a time when our global team unites to share, connect, and sometimes even meet each other in person for the first time. We had the pleasure of recording at Chef Kilgore's new culinary venture, Oise , a unique fusion of Japanese and Italian cuisin...
Mar 26, 2024•52 min•Season 2Ep. 52
#51. In this week's captivating conversation, our host welcomes a culinary powerhouse, Caroline Glover, owner of restaurant Annette and bar Traveling Mercies in Aurora, Colorado. With accolades including a James Beard award and recognition as one of Food and Wine magazine's Best New Chefs in America, Caroline's journey through the culinary world is nothing short of inspiring. Tune in as Caroline shares her fascinating career trajectory, from honing her skills under the mentorship of April Bloomf...
Mar 19, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 51
