The Restaurant Guys

The BanterThe Guys try some homemade Applejack. You can’t taste it, but learn about this centuries-old northern American spirit and why Johnny Appleseed was really planting those apples!The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys welcome chef-owner of Attica, a restaurant regularly ranked among the best in the word. Attica is just outside Melbourne, Australia. Chef Shewry continues to learn about native foods, particularly those unique to that part of the world so he can share their splendor with others. His book Uses for Obsession will be released October 2024. The Guys compare stories from their decades running restaurantsThe Inside TrackThe Guys became acquainted with Ben Shewry through their former employee now author and Australian wine importer Jon Ross. A friendship was quickly formed over their mutual passion for service, food and the hospitality business. “Attica was nothing until I realized, thankfully fairly early on, that the service was actually the most important thing. Some people would balk at that because Attica really is a restaurant known for its cooking, but the service is what carries it. It’s what the great memories are built on. It's the human interactions,” Ben Shewry on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2024BioFrom a childhood in New Zealand with some early experience at The Roxborough, Shewry moved to Australia and then America to further cement his skill set in the fundamentals of exquisite cookery. He has a passion for respectfully utilizing the foods unique to Australia and New Zealand. Ben Shewry was named “Best New Talent” by Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine in 2008.His restaurant Attica is often ranked among the world’s top 100 restaurants.Ben’s book Uses for Obsession will be released October 2024.InfoBen’s BookUses for Obsessionhttps://a.co/d/14ECV1FBen’s Restaurant Atticahttps://www.attica.com.au/Chef’s Table on NetflixSeason 1, Episode 5https://www.netflix.com/title/80007945LinksBen’s restaurant Atticahttps://www.instagram.com/atticamelbourne/The NJ Wine & Food Festival @ Crystal Springs May 1-3The Restaurant Guys will be podcasting from there May 2. Come see us!https://shop.crystalgolfresort.com/collections/14th-annual-new-jersey-wine-food-festivalOur 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.com

This is a vintage episode from 2012 with special introduction by Sother Teague in 2024The BanterThe Guys invite mixologist Sother Teague to introduce this vintage selection about his and America’s favorite bartender of the 1970s Isaac from The Love Boat, actor Ted Lange. After some reminiscing, Sother shares where Isaac has left his mark on pop-culture and where we hope we may encounter that likeness and mustache again.The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys interview beloved television bartender Ted Lange who played Isaac on The Love Boat. He discusses his ground-breaking character and the impact it had on television. They chat about celebrities,  favorite cocktails and the one characteristic that’s imperative for a good bartender to have. The Inside Track The Guys happen to be at Tales of the Cocktail in 2012 at the same time as Ted Lange who was giving a talk on his work to become the first iconic television bartender. They come up with an idea for a phenomenal joint project. (On being cast in a racially integrated television show and its influence)Ted Lange: So the idea of having an ethnic person in there as a bartender was a sharp idea. Smart idea.Then some of the Princess Cruise Lines had to start doing that. And the bartenders had to grow mustaches! Francis: I gotta tell you, that was a spectacular mustache with that signature smile.Ted Lange on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2012BioAfter debuting on Broadway in Hair, Ted was in some other live productions as well as a few television roles. He made history by becoming the first recurring bartender character on one of the first racially integrated television shows The Love Boat. He’s a Shakespearean actor, writer and director. He has been in show business for over 50 years. For his work theater directing, Lange received the NAACP's Renaissance Man Theatre Award, the Heroes and Legends HAL Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Dramalogue Award. Lange has also been the recipient of the James Cagney Directing Fellow Scholarship Award from the American Film Institute along with the Paul Robeson Award from Oakland's Ensemble TheatreInfoTed Lange’s IMdbhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0486198/The NJ Wine & Food Festival @ Crystal Springs May 1-3The Restaurant Guys will be podcasting from there May 2. Come see us!https://shop.crystalgolfresort.com/collections/14th-annual-new-jersey-wine-food-festivalOur 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.com

The BanterThe Guys discuss the pros and cons of “Best of” lists and how they would rank some colorful local watering holes.The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys welcome acclaimed writer Robert Simonson,  a cocktail enthusiast and expert. They devise a dream team of restaurant reviewers, bond over a love of hot dogs and discuss an exclusive gin that might be worth its price.The Presidential Stormy Porn Star MartiniA mash up of three cocktails★ El Presidente (Rum, Curacao)★ Dark and Stormy (Black Seal Rum, Ginger)★ Pornstar Martini (Passion Fruit, Vanilla Vodka)Ingredients1    oz  Goslings Black Seal Bermuda Rum.75 oz  Chinoa Passion Fruit Liqueur.75 oz  Pierre Ferrand Orange Curacao.5   oz  Stolichnaya Vanilla Vodka.25 oz  Poire Williams (Purkhart).5   oz Ginger Syrup (same as for Penicillin - see sub recipe below)Combine all above ingredients in a mixing glass.Stir over ice until completely chilled.  Strain into coup.Dash Regan's Orange BittersDash DeGroff Bitters (Sub Angostura Bitters if necessary)Garnish: Flag of Candied Ginger and Cherry               The Inside TrackThe Guys have known Robert for a long time and have hosted a couple of book signings to share Robert’s knowledge and expertise with others. After much research, Robert has deemed The Guys’ restaurant Stage Left Steak the oldest continuously running craft cocktail bar.“Cocktails come with an attached culture and I don't think I would have spent so many years writing about cocktails if that culture wasn't so fascinating,” Robert Simonson on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2024BioRobert Simonson writes about cocktails, spirits, bars, and bartenders for the New York Times and is the creator and author of the Substack newsletter The Mix with Robert Simonson. He has been nominated and won numerous awards for his work. Most recently, he and his co-writer Mary Kate Murray won a Digital Media Award from the IACP in the Food Writing category of Beverage-Focused Column in 2024 for The Mix with Robert Simonson. InfoRobert’s Website (where you can get his books and link to his articles) https://robertsimonson.net/Robert’s Substack column The Mix with Robert Simonsonhttps://robertsimonson.substack.com/The NJ Wine & Food Festival @ Crystal Springs May 1-3The Restaurant Guys will be podcasting from there May 2. Come see us!https://shop.crystalgolfresort.com/collections/14th-annual-new-jersey-wine-food-festivalOur 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.com

This is a vintage selection from 2006 The BanterThe Guys discuss their recent trip to the Bastianichs’ relatively new restaurant Del Posto in NYC. It manages to be opulent, friendly and “New York” all at once while serving delicious meals.The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys connect with soul food royalty Lindsey Williams author of Neo Soul: Taking Soul Food to a Whole 'Nutha Level about his upbringing, rise, fall and what it’s like being back on top. Lindsey has found a way to continue family tradition with healthy versions of the soul food he was raised on to keep body and soul together a little bit longer.The Inside TrackThe Guys were impressed by Lindsey’s success in food, music and now as a cookbook author and how he draws on all of his experiences for his most recent gig. He made a lot of connections while in the music industry and he’s now a caterer to the stars.Lindsey: Doing catering, doing an event, it's like almost shooting a video. You come up with the concept of the theme of the party and you give them that atmosphere. Francis: So not only do you have the food skills, you've also got LL Cool J's cell phone number, so that really helps.-Lindsey Williams on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2006BioLindsey Williams, is the grandson of Harlem's matriarch of soul food, Sylvia Woods. He grew up in the kitchen of his grandmother's legendary eatery, Sylvia's Restaurant, where he learned the art of authentic soul food cooking. He became a successful music producer and Executive Vice President of Urban Music at EMI Records before returning to the hospitality industry as a caterer.Realizing that he could not continue living well at over 400 pounds, he completely changed his lifestyle and his diet, lost more than half his weight, and created his own brand of healthy soul food cooking. He wrote a cookbook Neo Soul: Taking Soul Food to a Whole 'Nutha Level.He is a student at The Natural Gourmet Cooking School in New York City, and the owner of Neo Soul Events and Catering.InfoLindsey’s bookNeo Soul: Taking Soul Food to a Whole 'Nutha LevelThe NJ Wine & Food Festival @ Crystal Springs May 1-3The Restaurant Guys will be podcasting from there May 2. Come see us!https://shop.crystalgolfresort.com/collections/14th-annual-new-jersey-wine-food-festivalOur 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.com

The BanterThe Guys discuss the most sought-after restaurant in France which is probably not what you think.The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys are thrilled to meet soul food royalty Melba Wilson.  Melba recounts her childhood centered around food and frugality which is what led her to where she is today. She brought gospel brunch to Windows on the World and helped revitalize a Harlem neighborhood by bringing folks together over home cooking at her restaurant Melba’s. There may be a Melba’s coming closer to you. Find out where!The Inside TrackThe Guys knew Melba was a go-getter, but they were not expecting such a powerhouse! They were so taken with her they decided to attend her gospel brunch shortly after this conversation. “Well, I look at my story truly as the American dream. That's my life story. I'm someone who was born, bred and buttered, right here in the village of Harlem that had a dream,” Melba Wilson 2024 on The Restaurant Guys PodcastBioAfter some experience at her aunt Sylvia’s restaurant, the iconic Sylvia’s, she struck out on her own in Harlem serving soul food to big wigs and regular folks. She created gospel brunch on Sundays first at Windows on the World then at her own place, Melba’s, which she opened in 2005. She appeared on the Food Network shows Beat Bobby Flay, Worst Cooks in America, and Throwdown! with Bobby FlayHer book is Melba's American Comfort: 100 Recipes From My Heart to Your Kitchen InfoMelba’s Restauranthttps://www.melbasrestaurant.com/Le Grande Buffet in Narbonne, Francehttps://www.lesgrandsbuffets.com/enBoulom (Paris Buffet Restaurant)https://www.boulom.net/The NJ Wine & Food Festival @ Crystal Springs May 1-3The Restaurant Guys will be podcasting from there May 2. Come see us!https://shop.crystalgolfresort.com/collections/14th-annual-new-jersey-wine-food-festivalOur 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.com

This is a Vintage Selection from 2007The BanterThe Guys talk about the idea of “forbidden foods” and the ethics of whether to seek them out as a travel article suggests. The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys dig into the details (and a box) of chocolate with chocolatier Jacques Torres. They discuss sourcing, technique, perishability and the transcendent power of chocolate. How is a chocolatier like a winemaker? Find out.The Inside TrackThe Guys are fans of Jacques Torres chocolates and were excited to have a  high-energy chat about all things chocolate. Jacques makes hot chocolate like Mark’s grandmother and he gives a tip for making it spectacular."The best chocolate is the chocolate that you prefer to eat. Let's be very honest. It's not because you have a brand on it. It's not because you have a name on the, on the, on the tablet of chocolate that the chocolate is going to be the one that you prefer. There's different chocolates. The one that you prefer. It's the best chocolate," Jacques Torres on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2007 BioJacques Torres, affectionately known as Mr. Chocolate, is an expert in the field of chocolate and beyond.  He worked at Le Cirque, as the Executive Pastry Chef.  In 2000, Torres left Le Cirque and opened his own chocolate factory and retail shop in Brooklyn. Eventually, He went on to open seven shops, including two chocolate factories and an ice cream shop. Jacques was a pioneer in the bean to bar movement, he was the first artisan chocolatier in New York City to start from cocoa beans and make his own chocolate. He has received numerous awards over the years as well as The James Beard Pastry Chef of the Year Award in 1994, and inducted in The James Beard Who’s Who of American Food & Beverage Award in 2003.  In 2016, Dessert Professional Magazine inducted him in the Chocolate Hall of Fame and also the same year was awarded the highest honor in France, The Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.  He authored several cookbooks and has been the head judge on “Nailed It!”. The show has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Competition Program.  InfoJacques Torres Chocolateswww.mrchocolate.comJacques' BooksDessert Circus: Extraordinary Desserts You Can Make At HomeDessert Circus At Home A Year in ChocolateThe NJ Wine & Food Festival @ Crystal Springs May 1-3The Restaurant Guys will be podcasting from there May 2. Come see us!https://shop.crystalgolfresort.com/collections/14th-annual-new-jersey-wine-food-festivalOur 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.com

The BanterThe Guys discuss the fall of one of Mark’s old employers where you may have enjoyed a "fest."The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys have a talk with Jacques Torres, Mr. Chocolate, while enjoying the fruits of his labor. They discuss sourcing high quality ingredients, the future of the cacao bean and why his hot chocolate is so incredible. The Inside TrackThe Guys hosted Jacques Torres on their radio show back in 2007 and are thrilled to speak with him again. They are long-time fans of both his and his chocolate.“Chocolate and pastry. This is my life. This is what I do. I've got that in my veins,” Jacques Torres on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2024BioJacques Torres, affectionately known as Mr. Chocolate, is an expert in the field of chocolate and beyond.  In 1988, he came to the U.S. as the Corporate Pastry Chef for Ritz Carlton Hotels.  After a year, Sirio Maccioni invited Jacques to New York City to work at his restaurant, Le Cirque, as the Executive Pastry Chef.  In 2000, Torres left Le Cirque and opened his own chocolate factory and retail shop in Brooklyn. Eventually, he went on to open seven shops, including two chocolate factories and an ice cream shop. Jacques was a pioneer in the bean to bar movement, he was the first artisan chocolatier in New York City to start from cocoa beans and make his own chocolate. He has received numerous awards over the years as well as The James Beard Pastry Chef of the Year Award in 1994, and inducted in The James Beard Who’s Who of American Food & Beverage Award in 2003.  In 2016, Dessert Professional Magazine inducted him in the Chocolate Hall of Fame and also the same year was awarded the highest honor in France, The Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.  Jacques has been the head judge on “Nailed It!”. The show has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Competition Program.  He also hosted a television series, Chocolate with Jacques Torres, on the Food Network.His cookbooks:  Dessert Circus: Extraordinary Desserts You Can Make At Home , and Dessert Circus At Home, A Year in Chocolate .InfoJacques Torres’ Shophttps://mrchocolate.com/Cacao Trace videohttps://youtu.be/KCCLPWVk6PY?feature=sharedThe NJ Wine & Food Festival @ Crystal Springs May 1-3The Restaurant Guys will be podcasting from there May 2. Come see us!https://shop.crystalgolfresort.com/collections/14th-annual-new-jersey-wine-food-festivalOur 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.com

The BanterThe Guys reply to a listener email about a faux pas in his favorite restaurant. They address how to craft a complaint for the best result including ingratiating yourself with the management. The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys welcome back Chef Charlie Trotter to hear what’s going on in Chicago and Las Vegas, especially during challenging economic times. You’ll hear Chef Trotter’s advice on culinary school, making stocks at home and many things in between. The Inside TrackThe Guys welcome Charlie Trotter on their show for a second time. They were pleased to know that Chef Trotter played his previous interview on The Restaurant Guys Podcast to his staff. “I've told so many people that this (podcast) is basically Car Talk for food,” Charlie Trotter on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2009BioCharlie Trotter opened Charlie Trotter’s Restaurant in 1987. Twice it received two Michelin stars and other acclaim. He closed it in 2012. Restaurant Charlie in Las Vegas received the Michelin Guide One Star Award as well as the James Beard Foundation Award for Best New Restaurant. He opened other concepts such as a high-end delicatessen store and a seafood restaurant in Mexico.He received multiple James Beard Foundation Awards including Humanitarian of the Year Award for his philanthropic work.Trotter was the host of the 1999 PBS cooking show The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter, InfoCharlie’s BooksHome Cooking with Charlie Trotter by Charlie TrotterLessons in Excellence from Charlie TrotterLessons in Service from Charlie TrotterLessons in Wine Service by Charlie TrotterThe NJ Wine & Food Festival @ Crystal Springs May 1-3The Restaurant Guys will be podcasting from there May 2. Come see us!https://shop.crystalgolfresort.com/collections/14th-annual-new-jersey-wine-food-festivalOur 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.com

The BanterThe Guys talk about fast food and the Super Size Me guy, Morgan Spurlock, a former guest on the show whose work impacted their lives. The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys catch up with Chef Jose Garces in his busy kitchen to discuss his story from Spain to New York to Philadelphia. Chef and The Guys both opened up restaurants in October 2005 named after their grandmothers! The Inside TrackThe Guys and Chef Garces have crossed paths over the past several decades and held friends in common, but never met. “I think it was a turning point for me as a chef, I realized then that I could drive traffic with just consistent food, consistent, fresh, delicious food day in and day out,” Chef Jose Garces on The Restaurant Guys 2024BioChef Jose Garces is known as a leading culinary authority of Spanish and Latin-American food from the Spanish tapas at Amada, his first restaurant, to the playful Japanese street food at Okatshe in Atlantic City, Chef Garces continually pushes the boundaries of culinary excellence.To help provide ongoing and actionable assistance to the immigrant community, Chef Garces co-founded The Garces Foundation in 2011. The Garces Foundation provides services, including community health days, English language skills classes, and a providing food supplies to the food insecure.Chef Garces won James Beard Foundation Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic as well as the title Iron Chef.He is the author of two cookbooks, Latin Evolution and The Latin Road HomeInfoChef’s Projectswww.chefgarces.comChef’s Restaurantshttps://garcesgroup.com/Morgan Spurlock’s Book & MovieDon't Eat This Book: Fast Food and the Supersizing of America by Morgan SpurlockSuper Size MeJamon Iberico de Bellotahttps://www.tienda.com/The NJ Wine & Food Festival @ Crystal Springs May 1-3The Restaurant Guys will be podcasting from there May 2. Come see us!https://shop.crystalgolfresort.com/collections/14th-annual-new-jersey-wine-food-festivalOur 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.com

The BanterThe Guys talk about Calvados, what makes it special and why we should taste a wide range of spirits to find the ones you truly enjoy. To this end they run The Spirits Project at their restaurant where they offer samplings of high-end spirits at cost to consumers to further community and conversation. It’s still happening in 2024. If you’re near central NJ, join us! The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys talk with Jim Meehan,  an accomplished bartender and operator of Please Don’t Tell speakeasy and now author of The PDT Cocktail book. The Guys are taken with the recipes, artwork and beauty of the book. Hear about Jim’s inspirations behind it all.The Inside TrackThe Guys are so friendly with Jim he has a special nickname for Francis. "You guys, thank you so much. It's been such an inspiration to me to come to your restaurants over the years.  To not only get to know you guys as restaurateurs, but to get to know you guys as friends.  So, it's really exciting for me to share this with you on your great show,” Jim Meehan on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2011BioIn 2007 Jim Meehan, a seasoned bartender, opened Please Don’t Tell speakeasy bar in the East Village (NYC) which garnered much acclaim. Jim has been awarded numerous Spirited Awards from Tales of the Cocktail including American Bartender of the Year, World’s Best Cocktail Bar, Best New Cocktail Book, and Best Bar Mentor. He received James Beard Foundation Awards for Outstanding Bar Program and Best Beverage Book as well as numerous other accolades. He has written countless articles and three books. The most recent is The Bartender’s Pantry: A Beverage Handbook for the Universal Bar. InfoJim’s Book mentioned in the podcastThe PDT Cocktail Book: The Complete Bartender's Guide from the Celebrated Speakeasy by Jim Meehan and Chris GallJim’s Instagram@mixographyThe NJ Wine & Food Festival @ Crystal Springs May 1-3The Restaurant Guys will be podcasting from there May 2. Come see us!https://shop.crystalgolfresort.com/collections/14th-annual-new-jersey-wine-food-festivalOur 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.com