Jeremy Julian

Podcast

211. Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast Ep. 211 – Fantastic food quality lessons from the leaders at Thermodyne

December 11, 2023

Thermodyne foodservice is a company that provides high-quality cooking and holding equipment for restaurants, hotels, catering and other foodservice businesses. Thermodyne’s patented Fluid Shelf technology ensures even heat distribution and precise temperature control, resulting in better food quality, safety and shelf life. Thermodyne offers a range of products, from countertop warmers and steamers to full-size ovens and cabinets, that can meet any foodservice need. Join Aaron Bremer where he shares his journey. 

Title: Utilizing Technology for Enhanced Food Service: Thermodyne Foodservice

Introduction

The advent of technology has revamped countless industries, and the restaurant sector is no exception. The Restaurant Technology Guys podcast aims to help restaurant owners understand how they can leverage technology to streamline their operations. In this podcast episode, the host, Jeremy Julian, delves into an interesting conversation with Aaron Bremer – Director of Sales for Thermodyne Food Service Products.

How Thermodyne Products Assist in Food Services

During the podcast, Aaron gives detailed insight into Thermodyne’s offerings. Thermodyne specializes in developing an array of equipment which makes restaurant operations smoother and more efficient.

Their prime product is a cooking cabinet that maintains a specific temperature in order to cook and hold food effectively. This seemingly simple device is a gamechanger for restaurants as it can maintain the quality of the food to be served while maximizing efficiency in the kitchen.

Aaron also talks about how Thermodyne evolved from making holding cabinets to cooking cabinets. Offering more than just heating shelves, Thermodyne has adapted its technology to meet various food service needs like chilling, holding, or cooking. All these products adhere to the same principle of maintaining a precise temperature.

Dispelling the Doubts on Machine Vs Chef

One of the intriguing parts of Jeremy’s interaction with Aaron comes when they address a commonly held belief among many Chefs – no machine can cook prime rib as perfectly as they can. Aaron counters this belief, explaining how Thermodyne’s cooking cabinet simplifies the process, guarantees consistency, and may even yield a better product. He effectively breaks down the traditional method of cooking prime rib, highlighting potential issues relating to temperature inconsistencies, and even simple forgetting. With Thermadyne’s solution, all this stress can be eliminated.

As a trained chef himself, Aaron is uniquely positioned to connect with other culinary professionals and assure them of Thermodyne’s product efficacy. He emphasizes that their equipment can enable chefs to cook and hold food items like prime ribs with better yield, consistency, and quality.

The Thermodyne Difference

What truly sets Thermodyne apart, Aaron explains, is its use of smart technology and minimal heat dispersion. The newer models come equipped with a touchscreen smart-controller that can transition from cooking temperature to holding temperature. This consistency offers incredible benefits to food service operations – from maintaining the quality of food to reducing energy costs significantly.

Thermodyne also offers dual purpose units that are essentially cooking cabinets with refrigerator condensers attached. These are perfect for establishments such as hospitals or nursing homes that serve high volumes of meals every day. For these businesses, Thermodyne’s solutions not only cut down cooking and prepping times but are also cost-effective.

Conclusion

Embracing technology does not mean casting aside the art and craft of cooking. Quite the contrary, products like Thermodyne’s offer unsurpassed support to culinary experts and food service operations, helping them maintain their passion for great food while offering efficiency and quality that ensures customer satisfaction.

In conclusion, it’s apparent from Jeremy and Aaron’s discussion that the right technology, like Thermodyne’s cooking and holding cabinet, can elevate the cooking and service process in restaurants. With the aim of helping restaurants achieve more with less stress, Thermodyne is indeed revolutionizing the world of food service.

210. Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast Ep. 210 – Where did the name Voodoo Brewing Co come from? Learn this and more from this talk with their CEO

December 4, 2023

In this episode, we have a special guest: Matteo,  CEO of Voodoo Brewing.

Title: “Craft Beer with Community Spirit: Exploring the Voodoo Brewing Co Story”

Craft brewing has become a popular sector within the beverage industry, often attracting passionate and community-oriented entrepreneurs. One remarkable example is the Voodoo Brewing Co, a thriving brewing company based in Pennsylvania. The journey of Voodoo Brewing Co. involves community engagement, entrepreneurial vision, and a relentless dedication to brewing excellent beer.

Discovering the Story Behind Voodoo Brewing Co.

In a conversation on the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast, Jeremy Julian sat down with Matt Mateo, the CEO of Voodoo Brewing Co., to discuss the company’s history, its current operations, and how it stands out in a competitive industry. Interestingly, the Voodoo Brewing Co venture was birthed out of a pivot from a previous business venture. Mateo, alongside his brother, initially ventured into event staffing and production but realized an opportunity to diversify their investments by buying a bar in their hometown.

The duo’s original plan was to set up a little nano-brewery within the bar. In their desire to expedite the plan, the brothers discovered that the local Voodoo Brewing Company was on the brink of bankruptcy. Instead of seeing this as a setback, they saw it as an opportunity to take the brewing venture a notch higher. They decided to take over the business, revamping it into a successful brewing operation.

Growing with the Community

What sets Voodoo Brewing Co apart from many other breweries is its intentional involvement within the community. Matteo attributes their unique approach to the brewing industry as a significant driver behind the success of Voodoo Brewing Co. From the onset, they envisioned creating a unique drinking and dining experience, pairing handcrafted beers with excellent food within a relaxed and vibey ambiance. Voodoo Brewing Co. doesn’t just brew excellent beers – it creates an inclusive community experience.

However, the company’s commitment extends beyond providing a great experience. They believe that “craft beer without community is just beer.” Therefore, they prioritize integrating their operations with their local communities. This includes hiring staff from the local community, supporting local charities and nonprofits, and having a community engagement plan as a requirement for every Voodoo Brewing Co location.

Scaling and Maintaining Quality

Maintaining the quality of services and product offerings is a challenge many businesses grapple with during expansion. However, Voodoo Brewing Co. managed to scale its operations without compromising the quality of its beer or dining experience. According to Matteo, such an achievement was possible due to a mix of good strategy, deliberate decision-making, and finding scalable solutions to various aspects of their operations, whether it was building a new tap room or developing unique beer recipes.

Looking into the Future with Voodoo Brewing Co.

Today, Voodoo Brewing Co. stands as an embodiment of an entrepreneurial dream coupled with dedicated community-driven operations. With franchising opportunities now available, it’s looking to replicate its success story in new communities, extending the reach of its unique beers and food concepts. The company’s growth seems unstoppable, yet the commitment towards each new community they join remains unwavering – a testament to Voodoo Brewing Co.’s dedication to providing more than just a great beer.

Tune in and get ready to learn some brewing magic from Matteo! Check them out at https://www.voodoobrewery.com/

https://youtu.be/6ouS1xTRbOs

209. Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast Ep. 209 – Learn the keys to training and employee retention with Founder of Shifty Beth Hussey

November 27, 2023

The restaurant industry is notorious for its quick turnovers and shorter staff retention timelines. It can be challenging to run a restaurant effectively when you’re consistently training new employees. This is where an innovative digital platform like Shifty comes into play. Shifty is changing the restaurant training game, providing employees and employers with resources for better staff retention, improved service, and increased product knowledge.

Understanding the Need:

One of the founders of Shifty, Beth Hussey, who is also a restaurateur, noticed a gap in the industry – a lack of robust and efficient training modules for new employees. Most restaurants loosely follow the ‘shadow shift’ protocol. But without any guidance or structure, this method often falls short. New employees mimic seasoned servers, learning the ropes in a haphazard manner. This method, unfortunately, fails to engage the trainee fully or provide them with a comprehensive understanding of their role.

What Makes Shifty Different?

Shifty offers a much-needed twist to the typical ‘shadow shift.’ It retains the essence of this established training process while enriching it with structured learning objectives for each shift. A checklist for the trainee and trainer is provided, outlining all they need to learn during a particular shift. Trainees also get homework where they make flashcards about what they’d learn during each shift. After completing the training, instead of a conventional, stressful written test, managers sit down for a one-on-one interactive session with the trainee, going through their flashcards. This approach allows the trainee to tie real-world experiences to the knowledge they’ve gained during the training period, solidifying their understanding, confidence, and job preparedness.

The Benefit to Employees:

From parking to menu details, employees are onboarded onto the platform with extensively detailed flashcards. Restaurants can further customize these flashcards to communicate internal rules, serve consistent information, and generate a more personal training experience for each new employee. The diligent focus shifty maintains on arranging a proper onboarding program helps reduce the fear and insecurities new employees often face, thus ensuring better job satisfaction and retention.

The Benefit to Restaurants:

In addition to the training aspect, Shifty also acts as an engagement tool, allowing managers to constantly communicate with their employees. Managers can use the platform to gather feedback via polls or an anonymous suggestion box. This active engagement fosters a supportive community within the restaurant premises, increasing employee retention and improving customer service.

Conclusion:

Shifty is transforming the restaurant industry’s training landscape. It takes the fundamental ‘shadow shift’ concept and adapts it to a more digitally savvy, interactive, and comprehensive structure – successfully tackling significant issues like high staff turnover. For restaurateurs aiming to improve their training program for more exemplary customer service and higher employee satisfaction, Shifty is undoubtedly a game-changer.

Check them out at Shifty – Training app for Servers and Bartenders (shiftyinc.com)

208. Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast Ep. 208 – High Growth restaurant group Pepper Lunch shares the keys to growth with CEO Troy Hooper

November 20, 2023

Join Jeremy and CEO Troy Hooper where they talk about how Pepper Lunch came to be in Japan and its amazing growth in North America.  Be the first to hear about their goals and growth plans for the US market. 

Expanding the Culinary Scene with Pepper Lunch: A Journey of Authenticity and Innovation

Every so often, a brand comes along that is so unique and fascinating that it quickly becomes a tantalizing topic of conversation. One such brand is Pepper Lunch, a DIY teppanyaki-style fast-casual restaurant, that is rapidly gaining momentum in the United States. In this blog, we’ll get an insider’s perspective on the history, mission, and future plans of this beloved Tokyo-originated brand through a conversation with its CEO, Troy Hooper.

Journey of Pepper Lunch

From its humble beginnings in 1994, founded by a master chef in Tokyo, Pepper Lunch has always been about celebrating authentic Japanese cuisine and bringing a unique dining experience to the masses. The brand was originally created around the singular concept of serving affordable high-quality beef dishes, traditionally viewed as a celebratory and luxury food in Japan, to everyday customers.

The signature dish that epitomizes this vision and has become a cornerstone of Pepper Lunch’s menu is the Beef Pepper Rice. This dish was inspired by the idea of shrinking the traditional Japanese family meal that consists of a large, community-sized iron skillet of rice, vegetables, and beef into more individualized portions.

An Experiential Approach to Fast-Casual Dining

Pepper Lunch’s dining experience is all about catering to the senses. The experience begins even before you see your food. The audible sizzle of the food, the stimulating aromas, and the visual appeal of the bubbling ingredients together create a symphony for the senses. Importantly, this experiential model allows customers to have a hand in the final preparation of their meals, adding to the uniqueness of the dining experience.

Pepper Lunch’s Expansion Plans

After initially establishing outlets in Guam, Las Vegas, Houston, and Southern California, Pepper Lunch has an ambitious goal of 600 new locations over the next ten years. Their plan is to work with established multi-unit franchise operators who have profound knowledge and experience in the restaurant sector. Pepper Lunch is ready to start expanding rapidly with sizable commitments from franchise operators already planned in places like Arizona, Texas, and Central Florida.

Protecting the Brand and the Customer

In an industry where customization is often seen as a key selling point, Pepper Lunch stands out. By allowing customers to create their meals exactly the way they want, there are no “off-limits” ingredient combinations when it comes to their offerings. Drawing from a simple ingredient palette of protein, rice, and vegetables, Pepper Lunch enables customers to get creative within the framework of authentic Japanese cuisine.

Moreover, since meals are served on sizzling hot metal plates which customers are supposed to stir and cook further, Pepper Lunch places a high emphasis on customer safety. This is accomplished by using a paper ring around the sizzling plate that acts as a visual and physical barrier cautioning customers of the high temperature.

The Future of Pepper Lunch

Pepper Lunch is an exciting brand that is definitely worth watching. With 30 years of experience and a robust infrastructure already in place, they are poised for massive growth. For these reasons, Pepper Lunch is set to be a hot new contender in the fast-casual dining scene, revolutionizing the way we experience food and dine out.

Check them out at Pepper Lunch – Sizzling Hot Plate Dining Experience (pepperlunchrestaurants.com)

https://youtu.be/2l8Hu45z2xY

207. Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast Ep. 207 – Generate more revenue and quicker throughput with Union Technology

November 13, 2023

Join Jeremy and Founder and CEO Alex Broeker where we talk about the problem of checking out in a restaurant and how if not done well it can ruin the entire hospitality experience. Check them out at Union | Great Service Starts Here (getunion.com)

https://youtu.be/IW6x_QkxIkI

206. Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast Ep. 206 – Learn about Farm To Table Soul Food Restaurant Cornbread

November 6, 2023

Join Jeremy and found of Cornbread Soul Adenah Bayoh where we talk about how Cornbread came to be, her journey to the states and how to use technology to your advantage. Check them out at Cornbread Soul | Best Soul Food Restaurant | Farm to Soul

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