Episodes
Peter Newlin – Chief Vision Officer of Gastamo Group
Peter Newlin is the Chief Vision Officer of Gastamo Group and a driving force behind some of Denver’s most community-rooted and experience-focused restaurant concepts. He also brings a unique perspective to the restaurant industry that fuses brand creation, tech innovation and guest connection.
On this episode of Forktales, Peter shares why restaurants should serve the communities they’re in, not just their bottom lines. He talks about launching with a startup mindset, using AI to reduce risk and improve operations, and why loyalty programs should prioritize recognition over rewards.
Stephanie Jaeger – President of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI)
Women make up more than half of the hospitality workforce, yet hold only a small fraction of leadership roles. Stephanie Jaeger wants to change that. Stephanie currently serves as President of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI), a global organization dedicated to supporting and elevating women in food, beverage, and hospitality.
In this episode of Forktales, Stephanie shares how she got involved with LDEI, the power of mentorship, the need for representation in culinary leadership and how LDEI is expanding its global impact. She also highlights barriers women still face in today’s hospitality industry.
Yanni Hufnagel – Founder of Lemon Perfect
Yanni Hufnagel knows how to build a winning team, whether on the basketball court as a former assistant coach for powerhouse programs like Harvard, Vanderbilt, and Nevada or in the beverage aisle. As the founder of Lemon Perfect, he’s turned a simple idea into one of the fastest-growing brands in the industry, proving that great taste and better-for-you ingredients can go hand in hand.
In this episode of Forktales, Michael and Yanni talk about the parallels between coaching and entrepreneurship, how an unplanned endorsement from Beyonce gave the brand a boost, moving the brand from Los Angeles to Atlanta (just a few miles from Coca-Cola) and a sneak peek at the new Lemon Perfect packaging.
Jeff Broadhurst – CEO of Eat’n Park Hospitality Group
Jeff Broadhurst has built a career centered on creating memorable dining experiences and bringing joy to guests with Eat’n Park’s iconic smiley cookies. As CEO, he’s helped shape Eat’n Park into more than just a restaurant, it’s a place where smiles are always on the menu.
In this episode of Forktales, Michael and Jeff talk about the success of the Eat’n Park and Parkhurst Dining brands, the joys of working in a family business, the importance of taking care of your team and some of the best things on the Eat’n Park menu.
Clara Paye – Founder & CEO of UNiTE Food
In this episode, we sit down with Clara Paye, founder and CEO of UNiTE Food, a company shaking up the protein bar industry with globally inspired flavors like Churro and Mexican Hot Chocolate.
Clara shares her journey from the plumbing industry to entrepreneurship, highlighting her mission to create a more inclusive wellness community by offering diverse and nostalgic tastes that resonate with a wide range of consumers.
Season 7 highlights
Season 7 of Forktales was a feast of stories and insights from food industry trailblazers. We explored how Biscuitville’s secret recipe became a Southern staple, how Rubix Foods stays one step ahead of flavor trends and how RoboBurger reinvented the burger experience.
Highlights also included Ben Jacobs’ mission to elevate Native cuisine, Doug Renfro’s spicy salsa innovations, and Andy Gellert’s global food import expertise. From mastering hospitality in airports to preserving the glitz of Vegas’ Golden Steer, each guest brought something extraordinary to the table.
Stephen Baldi – President of Baldi Management Group
People in airports are travelling for a variety of reasons. The common denominator? They all have to eat. That’s where Stephen Baldi and Baldi Management Group (BMG) comes in. BMG is an airport concessions and management consulting company that manages restaurants like Dunkin’, Smashburger and Jamba Juice in Reagan National Airport, JFK International Airport and Dulles International Airport.
In this episode, Michael and Stephen talk about the importance of hospitality and good customer service (especially in airports), the value of mentorship, how to hire good managers and how a pair of Air Jordans changed Stephen’s life.
Nick McMillan and Amanda Signorelli – Managing Partners of the Golden Steer
The Golden Steer is more than just a steakhouse, it’s a piece of Las Vegas history. Sinatra, Muhammad Ali and Elvis dined there. Mob bosses held dinner meetings in dimly lit Golden Steer booths, coming and going through a secret back entrance. Nick McMillan and Amanda Signorelli are the husband and wife team managing the legendary restaurant.
In this episode, Michael talks to Nick and Amanda about the importance of top-notch hospitality, the best way to cook a steak and how they’ve preserved the Golden Steer’s status as a living monument to the glitz, grit, and glamor of classic Vegas.
Anand Gala – Managing Partner of Gala Capital Group
Anand’s life in the restaurant industry started at a very young age when his mother became one of the first franchisees for Jack-in-the-Box. Although he tried to escape the family business with a degree in biology from USC, the lure of the restaurant industry drew him back in.
Today, Anand is managing partner of Gala Capital Partners, an investment and holding company whose portfolio includes CiCi’s Pizza, Famous Dave’s Barbeque, Rusty Taco and MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes.
In this episode of Forktales, Michael and Anand discuss the process for choosing a successful franchise, what you can learn from conversations with franchisees, the five core restaurant categories to invest in and which menu items Anand prefers at some of the restaurants in his current portfolio.
Andy Gellert – President of Gellert Global Group
Gellert Global Group imports more than 5,500 unique food items from more than 60 countries and is one of the largest food importers in the world. Andy Gellert sits at the helm of that family owned and operated business where he leads the company’s vision of being a part of every food experience.
In this episode of Forktales, Michael and Andy talk about how to avoid conflict in a family-owned business, the benefits of networks like the Young Presidents’ Organizations (YPO), the impact of inflation on the import business and the role of trends in identifying new imports.
Ep 88: Shannon O’Shields / VP of Marketing for Rubix Foods and Gen Z whisperer
Rubix Foods has its finger on the pulse of the hottest flavor trends and brings those trends to life for roughly 70% of the top QSR and FSR restaurant brands in the nation. Shannon O’Shields is the VP of marketing for Rubix and offers a sneak peek at how the company helps restaurants stay one bite ahead of the competition.
Among the topics Michael and Shannon dig into in this episode: Why it’s important to act quickly when responding to a trend, how social media helps Rubix identify trends, the impact of Gen Z on today’s menus, and Shannon’s quick take on a variety of up-and-coming flavor trends.
Ep 87: Doug Renfro / President of Renfro Foods and Salsa Creator Extraordinaire
This episode of Forktales is a spicy one thanks to Doug Renfro of Renfro Foods. Doug and his cousins oversee Mrs. Renfro’s salsas, a brand that has grown into one of the largest salsa names in the nation and the brand with the most unique selection of flavors.
On the menu, Michael and Doug talk about the benefits (and struggles) of family ownership, trend spotting, flavor development and eating ghost peppers for breakfast.
