Tabletopjournal

This week, we’re honored to be celebrating our 100 th episode with one of our most passionate guests – London’s Paulo De Tarso. Having climbed the ranks and worked with some of the world’s best, Paulo is a noted restaurateur, founder of London's Margot Restaurant and now is preparing his next great adventure.   A master of the front of the house dining experience, Paulo knows that often it is the little things that make all the difference. In our conversation, Paulo shares his wisdom and his passion for the hospitality industry while giving insights into just what is required to exceed guests' expectations and to create those very special, very memorable dining experiences.   Come listen to our conversation and catch Paulo’s infectious and energetic spirit of hospitality on this very special episode of Seat Yourself.

With a return of the COVID-10 pandemic impacting many regions of the world, many in the #foodservice & #hospitality industry are returning to a tighter lockdown situation. Leaders at all levels far beyond just the C-suite are being stretched in ways never dreamed of before we all became far too familiar with the word pandemic.   So, this week begins a “keeping-things-simple” series on leadership in complicated times. This occasionally appearing series will focus on the cornerstones of Simple Leadership and our first episode is on Trust.

This week, we interview #tabletop expert Simon Whitney from just outside of Stoke-On-Trent in the UK. After a very successful and lengthy career as UK hospitality Sales Executive for the well-known Villeroy & Boch brand, Simon found himself being made redundant. Now, during the current COVID-19 pandemic, Simon Whitney has just started his own sales agency representing V&B and others after the life-changing event that was no fault of his own. Add to those challenges, the UK has just now gone back into intense lockdown mode. So, we’ve been looking forward to catching up with Simon to talk about what life is like after redundancy and to learn more about his thoughts as he made his decision to start his agency. And, finally and most importantly, we want to learn about his plans for his agency and the brands he represents.

If you’re feeling extra stressed these days, its small wonder why. With stricter lockdowns returning in regions all around the world, the chaos of the American elections and the Thanksgiving holiday all playing into our psyches, it’s little wonder why there is so much confusion, distrust and depression in the world. That’s why I thought it might be helpful to us remember and to reflect on some of the great moments we all have in our lives – what they are and why they’re so important.   Being grateful for all we have – and understanding what the hospitality industry does to strengthen our cultural fabric – are the central themes for this episode of Seat Yourself.     Cheers, Dave

With the foodservice and hospitality industry undergoing global transformational change, many of us are reflecting on our positions and considering if now is the time to make a few changes.   This week, we offer up considerations to ponder before undertaking our journeys of change – whether they be personal or professional. And, we discuss what the rewards can when we achieve our desired destinations.

This week, we offer up 7 quick steps on how to improve and elevate communications both internally and externally. In times of crisis such as COVID-19, communication becomes very critical to how organizations navigate their way through the turbulence. Both employees and customers want to know what a company or organization’s plans are, even as those plans are evolving. So, leaders need to be sure the correct message is being conveyed. In this episode, we discuss 7 quick steps from the American Psychological Association for doing just that.

This week, cocktail & spirits guru Zander Lauritzen Hansen returns to continue the conversation about the psychology that glassware brings to the overall hospitality guest experience. This time, however, we dig deeper discussing specific spirits and drinks such as whisky and tiki-drinks. Then, Zander gives us his take on the psychological importance of glassware to the wine and beer guest. We finish up with a lively discussion about sustainability and open the door to future episodes with a conversation on low and no-alcohol beverages. All in one single episode!

This week, we sit with Seth Iadarola, the new Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing for THERMA-TEK and Dade Coolers. As a former hospitality tabletop sales executive, Seth talks about his time in the tabletop sector and how it prepared him for his current role. He also shares insights on why he is excited to bring his talents to his new organziation. We also ask Seth to share his take on the current state of the foodservice and hospitality industry, along with offering advice to those who seek to stay within the hospitality tabletop category.

After receiving notes from a number of listeners wondering where we’ve been for 2 weeks and worrying about our team’s wellbeing, it made me think about who in our industry that I worry about. So, in this episode of Seat Yourself, I detail the three people I worry about and why. I also offer up a few suggestions for all three on how to deal with our current industry struggles. And, for the record, both myself and our team are fine. In fact, we are working diligently on several 2021 projects that we think you will like very much in the coming year. I thank everyone who sent notes but all is well on the front.

This week, friend of the podcast & cocktail conversationalist Zander Lauritzen Hansen joins us again. This week our focus will not be specifically on cocktails, however. This week, we will turn attention to the glassware used in serving cocktails and why the glassware you choose for your cocktails matters so much. Copenhagen-based and a global leader in the bartending scene, Zander will also cover current trends in both cocktails and cocktail glassware, along with how you can capitalize on those trends.

This week, in our last of August, we take on a couple of the key issues confronting many of us within the foodservice and hospitality industry around the world. There have been so many challenges from the COVID pandemic crisis – but none more deeply and with such long-lasting effect than that of the loss of #identity and #purpose for so many of us within our industry. This week, we will attempt to put a bit of perspective around it all and help us to turn back towards having meaningful purpose no matter how our professional story may play out. In addition, in our Introduction, we will pay tributes to a couple of hospitality tabletop industry greats that we have recently lost.

This week, Seat Yourself friend Greg Kirrish joins us again - this time to discuss the notion that perhaps the comeback of the foodservice & hospitality industry may already be underway, but just not easily visible to everyone just yet. There’s some specific evidence that there just may be reasons for optimism….but as usual, our conversation doesn’t run from the realities of our current situation. In the discussion, we also talk about the keys that companies of all types – operator, supply chain, and manufacturer/supplier – all need to focus on for success as we think about coming out of COVID-19 lockdown.

This week, when our scheduled guest had an emergency and could not make it, we had an opportunity to test our agility and quickly pivot to re-write our planned podcast. Keeping with our original idea of maintaining good mental health and the various support groups available to us during these trying times, we have tried to focus our attention on the needs of our colleagues within the global hospitality and foodservice industry. Practicing self-care and self compassion could never be more important than during the current COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to those two critical elements, we all will need the support of others at some point and sometimes we will need the help of a group of others. This week’s episode has thoughts on all of that to help ourselves or others that we may know.

This week, in our latest Creative Spectrum episode, we sit with hospitality tabletop veteran Bob Thomson for a different kind of conversation. However, today’s conversation won’t be about tabletop and we think you may find a side of Bob that many are not likely aware of. As you probably know by now, each of our conversations in our Creative Spectrum series are meant to influence, impact and inspire. As Bob describes his own “2nd Chance” journey with his new venture Bobby T’s Up In Smoke, we think he scores direct hits on all three of those. And, if you listen closely, you may even be able to “hear” the smile in Bob’s voice as he describes both the how and the why behind SW Florida’s hottest new brand–Bobby T’s Up In Smoke.

In this week’s episode, we switch back to our focus on beverages – specifically, cocktails-to-go, except that this time we add in some great content on mocktails as Copenhagen’s Zander Lauritzen Hansen returns to Seat Yourself. Zander is CEO of . Additionally, Zander gives us his take on how restaurants and bars can take their sustainability efforts to the next level and a few reasons for doing so that you may not have considered. All this under a new banner we are calling the Beverage Bar.

In this week’s episode of our new series The Creative Spectrum, we could not be more excited to sit with this week’s guest. In what might be our most anticipated interview to date, the very talented – and very creative - Jason Wange from Cal-Mil Products joins us. Jason has recently started a new position as Sr. Director of Sales for the Western Region Sales for Cal-Mil and you may be wondering… “Why? - in a series called “The Creative Spectrum”, would we would have a foodservice sales manager on our podcast? Let’s just call it Jason’s strong message of creative “compassionate thinking” and “creative product/company cultures”. Listen to our episode and we’re guessing you’ll understand our “why” on this week’s episode.

In this week’s episode of our new series The Creative Spectrum, we are extremely excited to welcome designer-creator . Yvette is a designer-creator whose talents extend into many areas of design and creativity – whether they be when she designs spaces or experiences, or the products that Yvette designs. Based in America’s southwest region, Yvette’s projects  - and the positive influence generated by them – can be felt all across America. We are extremely excited to have join us and discuss her views on great design and what that means, along with her thoughts and opinions on how all of us are positively impacted by design each and every day.

In the next episode of our new series The Creative Spectrum, we are very excited to have Sahar Madanat join us. Sahar is Founder of Twelve Degrees - a growing and award-winning multidisciplinary team of designers and engineers based in Amman, Jordan   Sahar has been working with both national and international clients for the past twenty years. And while Sahar is an industrial designer by her training – she is an entrepreneur and design advocate by heart. One of the most award-winning designers in the Middle East, Sahar’s design work ranges from medical devices to new concept furniture.   We are extremely excited to have Sahar Madanat join us and discuss her philosophy towards creating, her design process and the influence and inspiration she hopes to bring to others with the creations that she and her teammates at Twelve Degrees bring forward.

In the launch of our new series The Creative Spectrum we are very excited to have as our first guest London’s Maham Anjum.  A graduate of the and , Maham’s creative dinnerware designs have been used extensively in the hospitality industry as well as creating ranges for international manufacturers. Maham Anjum joins us to discuss what inspires and drives her creativity, along giving us a glimpse in the creative life of a true global ceramic artisan.

In this episode of our podcast, we start with the exciting announcement of our new series The Creative Spectrum. As we look towards the future, we tell you the “why” behind this very exciting new series and the thought process behind its development. This week’s episode of Seat Yourself also includes a timely commentary on how can use the current coronavirus situation to our advantage and become a stronger – and better – self.