The Restaurant Guys

 This is just a teaser from a bonus episode for our subscribers. If you'd like to become a Restaurant Guys' Regular and listen to the entire episode and other commercial-free episodes, subscribe herehttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2401692/subscribeThis is a Vintage Selection from 2005The BanterThe Guys discuss the inequities in Father’s Day and Mother’s Day as well as pairing strawberries with the perfect sparkling wine. The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys want to speak with writer Sam Gugino after reading his fantastic article about coffee. They talk about its journey from farm to roasting to brewing. After his deep dive, Sam shares five criteria for making the best coffee. The Inside Track The Guys chat with Sam about quality coffee and, in typical Restaurant Guys fashion, they don’t choose the lesser variety.Sam: There are actually two basic different kinds of coffee, Robusta and Arabica. The robusta, the cheap stuff that goes into the cans and supermarkets, actually has more caffeine than the more expensive stuff. So if you really want that caffeine jolt, get the cheap stuff.Mark: I'd rather have two cups of something good. Is that okay? Sam Gugino on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2005InfoSam's websitehttps://www.samcooks.com/(Sadly, the coffee article is no longer available)Sam’s newest book (2025)Eat! You'll Get Hungry, A Family Food SagaBy Sam Gugino Our PlacesStage Left Steakhttps://www.stageleft.com/Catherine Lombardi Restauranthttps://www.catherinelombardi.com/Stage Left Wineshophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Reach Out to The Guys!TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.comFollow us on Instagram @restaurantguyspodcast

This is a Vintage Selection from 2005The BanterThe Guys talk about a new trend: concierge for teens.The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys catch up with traveling writer Michael Stern who searches for our country’s best roadside restaurants. They discuss the finest dishes he’s encountered and where he finds the best (and worst) places.The Inside TrackThe Guys often road trip through the U.S. and were thrilled to hear Michael and his wife Jane’s theory about a pillar of American cuisine: barbecue. Here is their tip on finding the best places.“ Jane and I, in fact, developed a whole theory. It's the pigs plus Jesus theory of barbecue. When you're in the deep south, if you go into a barbecue parlor and see a lot of religious iconography on the wall, chances are very good the barbecue is gonna be excellent,” Michael Stern on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2005BioMichael and his wife Jane were trailblazing guides for over 40 years. After meeting at Yale, where they came to study art, they began a collaboration that has yielded over forty books including New York Times best sellers Elvis World and The Encyclopedia of Bad Taste. Michael is co-creator of roadfood.com – the first website to feature photography. In 1992, Jane and Michael Stern were inducted into the Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America for their pioneering work discovering regional food. Michael was an editor at Gourmet Magazine for 17 years. The monthly column he and Jane Stern wrote won three James Beard journalism awards. He was a contributing editor to Saveur Magazine from 2010 to 2015. The Sterns were regular weekly guests on the Public Radio show, The Splendid Table. In 2016 the Smithsonian Institution acquired the Jane & Michael Stern Roadfood collection for its permanent archives.InfoMichael & Jane's bookRoad Food 17th EdBy Jane and Michael SternRoadfoodhttps://roadfood.com/Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regularhttps://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/Magyar Bankhttps://www.magbank.com/Stage Left Wine Shophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Our PlacesStage Left Steakhttps://www.stageleft.com/Catherine Lombardi Restauranthttps://www.catherinelombardi.com/Stage Left Wineshophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Reach Out to The Guys!TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.comFollow us on Instagram @restaurantguyspodcast

The BanterThe Guys provide suggestions on what restaurants should do if they don’t have a pastry chef. Mark points out why you should not take dieting tips from Francis.The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys are *on location* with chef James London of Chubby Fish. They talk about the operations and dining experience of his jewel-box restaurant and how dock-to-table benefits everyone…except the fish.The Inside TrackThe Guys dined at James’ place the night before this podcast and were blown away by the meal! They also marveled at the wonderful blend of southern hospitality and northern hustle. “ When you go in and you see a service at Chubby Fish, it's almost like watching ballet. It is the way that they spin and they dance and work with each other seamlessly,” James London on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2025BioJames London, a Charleston native, came up cooking in barbecue and Southern restaurants in South Carolina. Once he graduated College of Charleston he made the leap to New York City where he enrolled at The French Culinary Institute. After graduation James worked with Chef Josh Dechellis before becoming the Executive Chef at Niko in Soho.After his time in New York, James went west to San Francisco where he led the kitchen at The Elite Café, a Creole restaurant in Pacific Heights.James eventually returned to Charleston where he and his wife, Yoanna, opened Chubby Fish, a dock to table seafood concept. Chubby Fish has garnered a Best New Restaurant nod from Bon Appetit, was ranked #7 Restaurant in the US from Food and Wine Magazine, and a James Beard finalist for Best Chef Southeast 2024.InfoChubby Fish, Charleston, SChttps://www.chubbyfishcharleston.com/Life Raft Treats “Not Fried Chicken” Ice Cream on Goldbellyhttps://www.goldbelly.com/Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regularhttps://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/Magyar Bankhttps://www.magbank.com/Stage Left Wine Shophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Our PlacesStage Left Steakhttps://www.stageleft.com/Catherine Lombardi Restauranthttps://www.catherinelombardi.com/Stage Left Wineshophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Reach Out to The Guys!TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.comFollow us on Instagram @restaurantguyspodcast

This is a Vintage Selection from 2007The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys speak with Lettie Teague about her articles “The Secret Life of a Wine Salesperson” and “The Secret Life of a Sommelier.” Lettie gets a behind the scenes look into the selling of wine both to restaurants and to consumers. Hear how good shoes and avoiding coffee can lead to success. The Inside TrackThe Guys invite Lettie on the show after reading her insider articles about getting wine from the distributor into restaurants then into the glasses of consumers. Lettie says this about Food & Wine magazine. “It is half of our name and we really make a point to have it in every possible place, not just in bottles recommended or profiles of winemakers or stories but also absolutely every dish that it's appropriate to. So, our commitment to wine is profound,” Lettie Teague on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2007 BioLettie Teague has been The Wall Street Journal’s wine columnist for 15 years. Before joining the Journal in 2010, Lettie was the executive wine editor and columnist for Food & Wine magazine.She has won three James Beard awards for her wine writing and is the author of three books: “Wine in Words” and “Educating Peter,” and "Dear Readers and Riders," a biography of best-selling children's book author Marguerite Henry. She is also the co-author and illustrator of “Fear of Wine" and was inducted into the Wine Media Hall of Fame in 2015.InfoLettie’s article “Secret Life of a Wine Salesmen”https://www.foodandwine.com/wine/secret-life-of-a-wine-salesmanOur PlacesStage Left Steakhttps://www.stageleft.com/Catherine Lombardi Restauranthttps://www.catherinelombardi.com/Stage Left Wineshophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Reach Out to The Guys!TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.comFollow us on Instagram @restaurantguyspodcast

From The Wine Makers Podcast:This week, Sam hits the road with MJ Towler—The Black Wine Guy—for a special crossover episode recorded live in New Brunswick, New Jersey. They sit down with legendary restaurateurs and OG podcasters Francis Schott and Mark Pascal, the co-owners of Stage Left Steak and Catherine Lombardi, and hosts of The Restaurant Guys podcast.Long before podcasts went mainstream, Francis and Mark were pioneering thoughtful, unpretentious conversations in food, wine, and hospitality, straight from their corner of the Garden State. Sam and MJ dive deep into Francis and Mark’s early days in the restaurant industry, the dramatic evolution of hospitality, and how New Brunswick emerged as an unexpected—and underrated—food and wine hotspot.The conversation also revisits the wild, early days of podcasting, raising a glass to names like DiSpirito, Trotter, and Bourdain. With behind-the-scenes restaurant stories, old-school podcast wisdom, and heartfelt reminders about the timeless power of passion and hospitality, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.Guests Francis Schott and Mark Pascal join co-hosts Sam Coturri and MJ Towler (The Black Wine Guy, Beats Vines & Life) for this special collaboration.HostsSam Coturri of The Wine Makers podcast and Sixteen 600 Winehttps://radiomisfits.com/twm369/MJ Towler of Beats, Vine and Life podcast and The Black Wine Guy Experiencehttps://blackwineguy.com/Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regularhttps://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/Magyar Bankhttps://www.magbank.com/Stage Left Wine Shophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Our PlacesStage Left Steakhttps://www.stageleft.com/Catherine Lombardi Restauranthttps://www.catherinelombardi.com/Stage Left Wineshophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Reach Out to The Guys!TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.comFollow us on Instagram @restaurantguyspodcast

This is a Vintage Selection from 2007The BanterThe Guys talk about restaurants being an integral part of emerging downtowns and about a yogurt shop that needs a bouncer.The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys host Marcus Sammuelson to talk about cuisines all over the world, particularly the regions of Africa. He wants to open people’s eyes to the delicious flavors of African cuisine and expresses interest in opening an African restaurant someday. This dream finally happened in 2024!The Inside TrackThe Guys and Marcus discuss the uniqueness of the restaurant business and the power of food to communicate. “Food is an incredible thing! Through food, people can see your passion and your culture. You can teach people where you're from and what you believe in, which not every business can really do,” Marcus Sammuelson on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2007BioMarcus Samuelsson is the chef behind many restaurants worldwide, including Red Rooster Harlem and Red Rooster Overtown in Miami; Hav & Mar in the Chelsea Arts District; Metropolis at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in lower Manhattan; “Marcus” restaurants in Atlanta and New Jersey, plus several international locations. His latest venture, Marcus DC debuts Spring 2025 at The Morrow in Washington DC. In 2023, Marcus earned an Emmy Award for the Short Form Program “My Mark.” He is a longstanding judge and TV personality on the hit Food Network show Chopped, head judge of Top Chef: Family Style, and an Iron Chef on Netflix’s rebooted Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend, and makes frequent appearances on Scandinavian TV. He is the author of multiple books including The New York Times bestseller Yes, Chef: A Memoir as well as the critically acclaimed The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food.Samuelsson is co-chair of Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), which focuses on helping underserved youth. Samuelsson was the youngest person ever to receive a three-star review from the New York Times. He has won eight James Beard Foundation Awards.InfoMarcus Addi (his African restaurant)https://www.marcusaddis.com/about/Marcus’ bookThe Soul Of A New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of AfricaUNICEF (Marcus has been an Ambassador since 2000)https://www.unicefusa.org/C-Cap, Culinary Careers Programhttps://culinarycareers.org/Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regularhttps://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/Magyar Bankhttps://www.magbank.com/Stage Left Wine Shophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Our PlacesStage Left Steakhttps://www.stageleft.com/Catherine Lombardi Restauranthttps://www.catherinelombardi.com/Stage Left Wineshophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Reach Out to The Guys!TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.comFollow us on Instagram @restaurantguyspodcast

The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys welcome Scott Conant to a conversation LIVE at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. They talk about Scott’s origin story, what it’s like being a television personality as a host, judge and competitor and why he's going to upgrade the Italian products you can use at home: it’s all about soul.The Inside TrackThe Guys have enjoyed Scott’s cooking and vision since they ate his food at his NYC restaurants and had Scott as a guest on The Restaurant Guys in 2005. Scott has uttered Mark’s favorite line spoken on television. (It was directed at one of their former chefs. You’ll want to hear it!)Scott explains what has guided him throughout his life and advises young chefs to do the same.“When I identify bullshit, I walk away from it. I think that's been really difficult for me at certain times in my career. It's always served me in the end because I only choose the things that I love to do, but I do it with full commitment, with no expectation of result except the love and the passion that I have for it,” Scott Conant on The Restaurant Guys LIVE 2025BioScott opened L'Impero in NYC. Following L'Impero, Scott went on to open Alto. Scott left L'Impero and Alto in 2007 and, in 2008, launched Scarpetta in Manhattan. Later, Cellaio in Monticello, NY then The Americano in  Atlanta, GA.Scott is known as a judge on Chopped for over a decade and frequent co-host on Beat Bobby Flay. His newest show, House of Knives, debuted in 2025. In addition, Scott has made frequent guest appearances on The Today Show, Rachael Ray Show, and Good Morning America, and others.    Scott's most recent cookbook is Peace, Love, and Pasta: Simple and Elegant Recipes from a Chef's Home Kitchen.He is opening up several new eateries and launching a consumer products line in 2025. ​LinksHouse of Knives on Food Networkhttps://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/house-of-knives/articles/house-of-knives-announcement-food-networkScott Conanthttps://www.scottconant.com/Promise Culinary Schoolhttps://elijahspromise.org/promise-culinary/Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regularhttps://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/Magyar Bankhttps://www.magbank.com/Stage Left Wine Shophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Our PlacesStage Left Steakhttps://www.stageleft.com/Catherine Lombardi Restauranthttps://www.catherinelombardi.com/Stage Left Wineshophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Reach Out to The Guys!TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.comFollow us on Instagram @restaurantguyspodcast

This is a Vintage Selection from 2005The BanterThe Guys discuss the joy and ridiculousness of weddings.The ConversationThe Restaurant guys are joined by Blake Spalding and Jennifer Castle of Hell’s Backbone Grill in Boulder, Utah. They talk about how they got there, how they became part of their community and how they’ve created something truly special in the middle of nowhere. The Inside TrackThe Guys heard about their book and became enchanted with their story. They discuss how vision and passion can create relationships and fulfillment for themselves and their staff.“To give people work that has meaning, where they feel like they're part of something larger. We have a mission that doesn't have much to do with making money.  That's why people come back year after year and give us their hearts and their souls…and work themselves to the bone to make it happen,” Blake Spalding on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2005BioBlake Spalding and Jennifer Castle both started as river chefs. In the year 2000, the opportunity to own Hell’s Backbone Grill presented itself, and they moved to Boulder, Utah.Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm was selected as a James Beard Awards semifinalist in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and advanced to nominee in 2020, the year the awards were canceled due to the pandemic. Spalding and Castle were honored most recently by the restaurant’s inclusion as semi-finalists for Outstanding Restaurant for both 2022 and 2023.Co-owners Jen Castle and Blake Spalding have also created a retail line of food and two acclaimed cookbooks, With a Measure of Grace, the Stories and Recipes of a Small Town Restaurant, and This Immeasurable Place, Food and Farming from the Edge of Wilderness. They operate a food truck dubbed “Little Bone.”They, along with investors and donors, very recently acquired the Boulder Mountain Lodge property in Boulder, Utah.InfoHell’s Backbone Grill, Boulder, Utahhttps://www.hellsbackbonegrill.com/With a Measure of Grace: The Story and Recipes of a Small Town Restaurant by Blake Spalding, Jennifer Castle and Livinia Spaldinghttps://www.hellsbackbonegrill.com/shop/p/with-a-measure-of-graceSubscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regularhttps://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/Magyar Bankhttps://www.magbank.com/Stage Left Wine Shophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Our PlacesStage Left Steakhttps://www.stageleft.com/Catherine Lombardi Restauranthttps://www.catherinelombardi.com/Stage Left Wineshophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Reach Out to The Guys!TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.comFollow us on Instagram @restaurantguyspodcast

The BanterThe Guys talk about their visit to one of their new favorite cities: Charleston, SC.The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys catch up with cocktail creator and bar operator Jillian Vose in her Charleston home as she prepares to open up her newest venture, Hazel and Apple, with business partner Sean Muldoon. Jillian tells her story of where she’s been and where she’s going (which is pretty exciting!)The Inside TrackThe Guys have known Jillian from Death & Co. and The Dead Rabbit (NYC) and were happy to meet up while they were in Charleston. Jillian shares some of what she is looking forward to about running her soon-to-open bar Hazel and Apple. “Knowing that people want to work, they want to do a good job, and hiring the right people and investing in people, having a great education program and giving people opportunities not only helps yourself, but them. That is what I want to achieve and create: a great community and a great working environment,” Jillian Vose on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2025BioJillian Vose is a renowned mixologist and entrepreneur, celebrated for her innovative approach to cocktails and her influential presence in the beverage industry. After starting out in AZ, she quickly ascended the ranks, contributing significantly to establishments like Clover Club, Maison Premiere, Death & Co., and notably, The Dead Rabbit in NYC. Her latest venture, Hazel and Apple in Charleston, SC, is set to bring a fresh perspective to the city's vibrant bar scene.Co-authored Mixology & Mayhem and Paddy Drinks: The World of Modern Irish Whiskey CocktailsNamed one of the 10 Best American Bartenders in 2017 by the Spirited Awards from Tales of The Cocktail.InfoHazel and Apple, Charleston, SChttps://www.hazelandapple.com/Badger Bevs https://badgerbevs.com/Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regularhttps://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/Magyar Bankhttps://www.magbank.com/Stage Left Wine Shophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Our PlacesStage Left Steakhttps://www.stageleft.com/Catherine Lombardi Restauranthttps://www.catherinelombardi.com/Stage Left Wineshophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Reach Out to The Guys!TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.comFollow us on Instagram @restaurantguyspodcast

This is a Vintage Selection from 2007The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys share this conversation Francis had with chef and winemaker David Page at the opening weekend of his new bed & breakfast on Shinn Estate Vineyards. He talks about growing and sourcing food on Long Island, ovens that cook for days and the differences between hosting a guest for a couple of hours or a couple of days.The Inside TrackThe Guys knew David from The Red Meat Club (a monthly gathering of NYC restaurateurs) and his restaurant Home which he ran with wife Barbara Shinn. The couple bought a vineyard and taught themselves how to grow grapes and make wine. He talks about immersing themselves in their lives as farmers, winemakers and proprietors of a bed & breakfast. “We love our lifestyle. We really, truly, truly do. It doesn't mean that every second of every day we're in ecstasy, but we love our lifestyle. And when you find something that you love, it's worth doing. So yes, we do wake up very early and we do spend the entirety of our day immersed in this lifestyle, and there's not anything else that we can think that we really want to do other than have a nice glass of wine at the end of the day and have  a good dinner.And we retire and we start all over the next day,” David Page on The Restaurant Guys 2007 David Page no longer owns Shinn Estate Vineyards.Our PlacesStage Left Steakhttps://www.stageleft.com/Catherine Lombardi Restauranthttps://www.catherinelombardi.com/Stage Left Wineshophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Reach Out to The Guys!TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.comFollow us on Instagram @restaurantguyspodcast