Better than a Snickers bar? Gato Dates wants Bethenny Frankel to try a bite. Gabriella “Gabi” Labi and Tonya Reznikovich, founders of Gato Dates, join Schatzy and Jimmy on The Foodfluencers, a Hospitality Hangout miniseries, for a chocolate and peanut butter debate. Gabi says Bethenny posted a reel rejecting dates…
Tonya kept asking Gabi for more dessert. Eventually, she suggested turning it into a product so she could finally pay for it. Gato Dates founders Gabriella “Gabi” Labi and Tonya Reznikovich join The Foodfluencers, a Hospitality Hangout miniseries, to share how dates served at a Shabbat dinner became a business.…
They named a chocolate Happy Ending—and yes, it’s literally spicy. Charlotte Cruze, cofounder of Alice Mushrooms, joins The Foodfluencers on Hospitality Hangout to discuss the names behind the brand’s functional mushroom chocolates: Nightcap, Brainstorm, and Happy Ending. Charlotte shares how the names come together through back-and-forth brainstorming, then explains Happy…
A wedding in Argentina, a first order from Call Your Mother and a peanut butter jar worth turning upside down. One Trick Pony co-founder and CEO Lucy Dana joins Hospitality Hangout’s The Foodfluencers to talk about better peanut butter, organic TikTok buzz and making something people come back to buy…
He started as a dishwasher. Now he runs marketing for the same pizza company and still jumps in to wash dishes. Clayton Krueger, Chief Marketing Officer of Farrelli’s Pizza, joins Hospitality Hangout to talk about his journey from the dish pit to restaurant leadership. The conversation covers why dishwashers are…
Erewhon, Whole Foods, or Meadow Lane? “Don’t make me pick a favorite child.” Charlotte Cruze, cofounder of Alice Mushrooms, plays This or That on The Foodfluencers, part of Hospitality Hangout. She picks between Brainstorm and Nightcap, coffee and tea, New York and LA, and Instagram and TikTok but choosing a…
Ever wondered why every Mellow Mushroom looks different? The details were deliberate. Ahsan Jiva, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Transformation at Mellow Mushroom, joins Schatzy and Jimmy on Hospitality Hangout to explain how custom merchandise and restaurant décor helped give each location its own personality. For roughly the brand’s…
They sent samples to Erewhon. Two days after the samples arrived, they heard back. Gato Dates founders Gabriella “Gabi” Labi and Tonya Reznikovich join Schatzy and Jimmy on The Foodfluencers, a Hospitality Hangout miniseries, to share the story behind their Erewhon launch. How did their Medjool dates filled with nut…
Mellow Mushroom’s next chapter includes counter service, better pizza ordering and plans for rewards beyond free food. Ahsan Jiva joins Schatzy and Jimmy on Hospitality Hangout to talk psychedelic art, Holy Shiitake, Mellow Rollz and keeping the brand’s personality as it evolves. Recorded on location in Atlanta.
Pineapple on pizza is hot. Pickles are “hotter than hot.” Gorgonzola? That’s a no. Clayton Krueger, Chief Marketing Officer of Farrelli’s Pizza, joins Hospitality Hangout for Hot or Not, presented by PizzaCloud. From pickle pizza and pineapple to honey and gorgonzola, Clayton delivers his verdicts on pizza toppings. Then the…
Gato Dates began with a Shabbat dinner dessert Tonya couldn’t stop requesting. Founders Gabriella “Gabi” Labi and Tonya Reznikovich join Hospitality Hangout’s The Foodfluencers to talk chocolate-covered dates, their path to Erewhon, creative collaborations and building a following without paid ads. Plus, the Snickers debate and their dream dessert collaborations.
Ben & Jerry’s is the dream collab. Instagram gets deleted. TikTok stays. Charlotte Cruze, cofounder of Alice Mushrooms, takes on a quickfire round on The Foodfluencers, part of Hospitality Hangout. She names Ben & Jerry’s as her dream collaborator, chooses between Instagram and TikTok, and reveals her 4.85 Uber rating.…
Olives on a burger? Erin Walter of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is not having it. The Freddy’s CMO plays Hot or Not with over-the-top social campaigns, limited-time offers, and one controversial burger topping. Her ruling: LTOs are on fire, but olives belong in a martini — not on a…
Butter AND cream cheese on a bagel—would you try it? Billy Shore of No Kid Hungry joins the Hospitality Hangout podcast for a quickfire round covering food favorites, his Uber rating, and his go-to bagel order: sesame with cream cheese. That simple bagel order turns into a food debate when…
Remember when you could hop into a New York City cab, name a corner, and the driver knew exactly where to go? Charlotte Cruze, cofounder of Alice Mushrooms, joins The Foodfluencers on Hospitality Hangout for some old-school NYC nostalgia. The group compares their Uber and yellow-cab experiences with memories of…
$8 million for mushroom chocolate and now we’re talking ice cream? Charlotte Cruze, cofounder of Alice Mushrooms, joins The Foodfluencers on Hospitality Hangout to discuss the brand’s $8 million Series A, led by NewBound Venture Capital with participation from Unilever Ventures and returning investor L Catterton. Then the conversation takes…
Domino’s Pizza Tracker or DoorDash: which came first? Freddy’s CMO Erin Walter takes on a brand-history challenge featuring YouTube vs. Olo, Domino’s vs. DoorDash, and Freddy’s first franchise vs. Chipotle’s IPO. And yes, YouTube and Olo really both trace their beginnings to 2005. Olo Freddy’s opened its first franchise in…
Would you rather talk to a person or AI when you call a pizza place? Clayton Krueger, Chief Marketing Officer of Farrelli’s Pizza, joins Hospitality Hangout to discuss AI phone answering, restaurant technology, and what makes a better guest experience. When employees are busy answering questions about opening hours, arriving…
Disney World? Hot. Robot servers? Hot. QR code menus? Not so much. Mike Fiato of Eurest plays Hot or Not with Space Mountain, guest-recognition technology, celebrity-chef airline meals and the restaurant trends shaping the guest experience. #HospitalityHangout #Eurest #DisneyWorld #HospitalityTrends
Billy Shore of No Kid Hungry weighs in during a rapid-fire “Hot or Not” round on the Hospitality Hangout podcast. From mocktails and protein everything to pickle-flavored everything, drone deliveries, and private dining clubs, Billy gives his verdicts on food and hospitality trends. Pickle everything: has it gone too far?…
Bad Ass Coffee subscriptions are taking off. CEO Scott Snyder explains how customers can choose their favorite coffee, grind and delivery schedule through BadAssCoffee.com. And if you want Scott to personally bring the coffee to your house? Apparently that’s the premium plan. #HospitalityHangout #BadAssCoffee #CoffeeSubscription #HawaiianCoffee
Delete Instagram or TikTok forever—which one are you choosing? Alice Mushrooms cofounder Charlotte Cruze joins The Foodfluencers on Hospitality Hangout for a debate about personalized feeds, online shopping, and why TikTok feels like it knows you so well. One app stays. One goes. Drop your pick in the comments. #TikTok…
How do you build better restaurant partnerships? Billy Shore of No Kid Hungry shares one simple question: “What would be good for you in this relationship?” In this Hospitality Hangout podcast clip, Billy explains why his team treats partnership programs like “wet clay”—shaping them around what restaurant partners actually need…
What’s the best way to eat hummus? Little Sesame co-founder Nick Wiseman picks Persian cucumbers over carrots, pita over pretzels, falafel over grilled chicken, and a bowl over a wrap. That last one? He calls it the Little Sesame way. #HospitalityHangout #LittleSesame #Hummus #Falafel