The Restaurant Guys

The BanterThe Guys showcase the painting Jill DeGroff created for them with their likenesses captioned “Live Work Sip Rejoice” to celebrate getting to the other side of the pandemic. They recount their adventures of taking their key staff to California to meet with winemakers and to be able to contextualize the place and the people and the wine. The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys speak with esteemed winemaker and long-time friend Paul Hobbs. Hobbs shares stories about his extensive winemaking ventures across the globe, and about the cultural challenges he faced while establishing his wineries, especially in regions with tumultuous political and economic climates. Despite those difficulties, or perhaps because of them, he continues to make outstanding wine. How does he do it? Listen now.The Inside TrackThe Guys met Paul in 1993 at a wine tasting. Through three decades and over 30 annual wine dinners preceded by “the most comprehensive tastings of Paul Hobbs wines anywhere”, they have developed a deep respect and friendship. Francis: I think it's really wild we do this every year for 32 years now we've done a Paul Hobbs wine dinner …our biggest wine dinner of the year. Paul: I think you're being too humble, Francis. It's the biggest wine dinner in the world!Francis: I love you, man.-Paul Hobbs on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2024BioPaul Hobbs is a world-renowned winemaker. Over his 40+ year career, Hobbs has received more than ten 100-point scores across his portfolio. Today, Hobbs is owner and vintner for seven wineries around the world: Paul Hobbs and Crossbarn (Sebastopol, California), Hillick & Hobbs (Finger Lakes, New York), Viña Cobos (Mendoza, Argentina), Crocus (Cahors, France), Yacoubian-Hobbs (Vayots Dzor, Armenia), and Alvaredos-Hobbs (Galicia, Spain)InfoTo get on Stage Left Steak’s mailing list to be notified about the Paul Hobbs Dinner in January(bottom right “email sign up”)www.stageleftsteak.comTo purchase Paul Hobbs wines https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/websearch_results.html?kw=hobbsJill DeGroff’s artwork https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/websearch_results.html?kw=degroffThe 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 Library Selection from 2008The BanterThe Guys talk about a New York Times article by Michael Pollan which illuminates challenges of defining food terms and agribusiness as a whole and where we go from here. Then they reach for a cocktail. The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys chat with renowned mixologist Julie Reiner about her experience in the New York City cocktail scene from Pegu Club to Flat Iron Lounge and to her new bar, which she is about to open in Brooklyn, Clover Club. She asserts that great ingredients, skill and patience are necessary to create the high-level drinks she serves at her establishments. Listen to what has changed and what has stayed the same in the years since. The Inside TrackThe Guys and Julie were mentored by Dale DeGroff and all preach the gospel of classic cocktails with fine ingredients. They Guys frequently visited Julie at Pegu Club and her own Flat Iron Lounge. “Cocktails are hip and cool and, and everybody likes something sophisticated in a glass,” Julie Reiner on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2008BioA cutting-edge mixologist and club owner, Julie Reiner opened Flatiron Lounge, Clover Club, and Milady’s among others. She was a judge on Netflix’s Drink Masters and runs a bar training and consulting company. She was named “Mixologist of the Year” from Wine Enthusiast and accepted several honors from Tales of the Cocktail. InfoClover Clubhttps://www.cloverclubny.com/NYT Article by Michael Pollan https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/magazine/12policy-t.htmlJulie on Instagram@mixtressnycThe 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 chat about acquiring local, seasonal produce which can be harvested from an urban rooftop.The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys welcome their old friend and iconic bartender Julie Reiner to discuss her illustrious career as a pioneer of the craft cocktail movement. She shares about the challenges of her involvement as a judge on  Netflix's Drink Masters and what’s next in the cocktail world. The Inside TrackThe Guys and Julie were students of Dale DeGroff’s cocktail revolution. The Guys have enjoyed Julie’s company and refreshments at her bars since the aughts. “Thank you so much for having me on. This has been a lot of fun. I always love talking to you guys,” Julie Reiner on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2024BioA cutting-edge mixologist and club owner, Julie Reiner opened Flatiron Lounge, Clover Club, and Milady’s among others. She was a judge on Netflix’s Drink Masters and runs a bar training and consulting company. She was named “Mixologist of the Year” from Wine Enthusiast and accepted several honors including a "Lifetime Achievement Award" from Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. InfoMilady’s https://www.miladysnyc.com/Clover Clubhttps://www.cloverclubny.com/Pathfinder Hemp NAhttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/wines/The-Pathfinder-The-Pathfinder-Non-Alcoholic-Hemp-Spirit-w4281311u1Julie’s websitehttps://juliereiner.com/Julie on Instagram@mixtressnycThe 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 Library Selection from 2006The BanterThe Guys discuss etiquette involving uninvited guests and the lost art of the dinner party.The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys have a great time with Anthony Bourdain, chef, author and TV personality discussing food culture, television celebrity and where he finds the most enjoyable dining experiences (Hint: None involve a water sommelier.) He waxes sentimental about the “degenerate subculture” of restaurant employees and wee hour trips to KFC. The Inside TrackThe Guys are grateful to have had a great conversation with such an influential person in their industry and beyond. Francis: Anthony, thanks for coming on the show. You've been great.Anthony: It was fun. I could do it all day with you guys.-Anthony Bourdain on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2006BioKitchen Confidential (2000) and The Nasty Bits (2006) are only two of a dozen books Anthony Bourdain has written. He hosted television series A Cook’s Tour, No Reservations, The Layover, The Mind of a Chef and Parts Unknown. He was an outspoken advocate of travel and experiencing all the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of every locale. InfoAnthony Bourdain’s Portrait by Jill DeGroffhttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/websearch_results.html?kw=jill+degroffAnthony Bourdain’s Bookshttps://www.amazon.com/s?k=anthony+bourdain+books&crid=XQ79YW6G07EI&sprefix=anthony+bourdain+books%2Caps%2C81&ref=nb_sb_noss_1The 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 BanterMark Pascal and Francis Schott are The Restaurant Guys! The Guys are returning to podcasting after a brief 10 year hiatus from their ground-breaking restaurant podcast (one of the first restaurant podcasts ever!) These two old friends are back with their classic banter, a few reminiscences, updates and plans for the future of Food, Wine and The Finer Things In Life!!!The ConversationThe Restaurant Guys re-launch their podcast with the inimitable Jacques Pépin! Chef Pépin tells stories of his life journey culminating in the creation of The Jacques Pépin Foundation which provides culinary training to support the disenfranchised and boasts a tremendous cooking video library. He is a chef, teacher, painter, celebrity, philanthropist….the list goes on! The Inside TrackMark and Francis grew up watching “Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home” and are delighted to host this culinary legend. “That may be the purest expression of love, to cook for your grandchild, or your mother, or your grandmother, or your lover, or whoever,” Jacques Pépin on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2024InfoThe Jacques Pépin Foundation https://jp.foundation/ Promise Culinary School https://elijahspromise.org/promise-culinary/  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