Table Talk with Rosanna Caira

83. Beyond the Plate

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:35:37 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with respected Toronto restaurateur Yannick Bigourdan, owner of Lucie, the Carbon Bar and Carbon Snack Bar, the Berczy Tavern, Notte Ristorante, the Social Catering & Co., and a recently launched consultancy called JKTT Restaurant Consulting. The interview touches on Bigourdan’s professional journey, the evolving restaurant industry, and the varied challenges and opportunities of operating in today’s competitive marketplace.

E82. Franchise Foundations

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Tue, 4 Nov 2025 00:49:37 +0000

Franchise Foundations In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Peter Mammas, president and CEO of Foodtastic. The two discuss how the Montreal-based company is fuelling franchise success, staying on top of trends such as AI and working creatively to grow the company's portfolio of brands.

E81. Masters of Hospitality

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 18:17:57 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Toronto chef Nuit Regular and her husband and partner Jeff Regular. The husband-and-wife team discuss how they met in Thailand, the collection of 13 successful restaurants they’ve created together and the secrets that help them succeed both at work and in their personal lives.

E80. Transformative Bytes

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Tue, 8 Jul 2025 14:31:08 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor/publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality, speaks with Karisa Marra, head of Sales at Square Canada, who dives into the world of digital transformation. Discover how Square is re-shaping the way businesses connect with customers and manage payments in an ever-evolving market. With insights on innovative marketing strategies and the future of commerce, this is a must-listen for restaurateurs , marketers, and anyone eager to stay ahead in the digital landscape.

E79. Building a Legacy

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 19:50:00 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor/publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Doug Stephen, owner and operator of Winnipeg-based WOW Hospitality. The conversation focuses on Stephen’s career path, his recent induction into the Manitoba Restaurant & Foodservice Association’s Hall of Fame, and the lasting impact the iconic restaurateur has had over more than 40 years.

E78. Anticipating Change

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 15:35:43 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality, speaks with Tony Elenis, president and CEO of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association, about some of the most important issues his association is dealing with. including labour challenges, wholesale liquor changes in the province, and the uncertainty surrounding the potential impact of tariffs.

E77. Two of a Kind

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 17:18:57 +0000

In this special episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor of Foodservice and Hospitality, speaks with the two restaurateurs behind the successful Osteria Giulia and Giulietta concepts—David Minicucci and chef Rob Rossi. The partners talk about the secrets of their success, a new restaurant concept soon to be launched, and the reasons why their partnership continues to shine.

E76. The Rise of Fast-Casual Restaurants

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 15:00:35 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with industry analyst Vince Sgabellone of Circana. The two discuss the state of the restaurant industry in Canada, with a particular emphasis on the increasing popularity of the fast-casual segment, touching on the opportunities it affords foodservice operators.

E75. Tapping into Trends

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 14:58:47 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with Robert Carter, president of StratonHunter, a consultancy focused on the retail and restaurant industry. The two discuss the state of the Canadian foodservice industry, the salient trends impacting it, and what the outlook for the next year looks like.

E74. A Common Purpose

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Tue, 14 May 2024 11:35:56 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Darcy MacDonell and Simon MacRae, partners of the Common Stove, PICNIC Tapas & Wine and the Hog & Penny Pub in Orillia, Ont. The two restaurateurs discuss how they’re working together to create Orillia’s most popular restaurant, how they’re dealing with the challenges and opportunities of running a trio of eateries, and the lessons learned from working with some of the most successful operators in the foodservice industry.

E 73. Shaping the Minds of Future Leaders

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 19:07:06 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Frank Menezes, Professor & Program Coordinator, Hotel Operations Management, School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, at George Brown College. The two speak about the myriad changes in the education field, the importance of collaboration between colleges and the industry and the challenges of dealing with chronic labour shortages.

E72. A Labour of Love

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 15:59:03 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with chef Jonathan Gushue and former hotelier, Jennifer Belanger, partners of Gushue Belanger Hospitality Services. The partners, whose combined business experience totals 50 years, in both restaurants and hotels, discuss the challenges and opportunities of launching a new partnership in 2022 post pandemic, while also working to launch two new restaurant concepts ―The Gate, and The Vale, in 2024. In addition to discussing the new ventures, the partners also talk about their core business values and their innovative and creative approach to building the business.

E71. A Passion for Humanity

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 19:49:02 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Meeru Dhalwala, co-owner and chef of Vancouver's renowned restaurant Vij's. The chef and restaurateur talks about her love of Indian cuisine, her passion for bringing humanity into her business and cooking practices, and her work at advancing and promoting women in business.

E70. From Sicily with Love

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:51:24 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Jacqueline Nicosia and Chef Roberto Marotta of Ardo Restaurant, Dova and Vivi Imports about their passion for promoting Sicilian food and ingredients. The co-owners of this thriving Toronto-based hospitality business group shares their story of entrepreneurship with a focus on the challenges and opportunities of running several different business while also being life partners.

E69. Setting a New Standard

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 13:19:08 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Kris Hall, founder of the London-England based Burnt Chef Project and Imrun Texeira, chef and Canadian ambassador of the project. The two speak about the impressive growth of this important movement that aims to tackle the stigma of mental health within the global hospitality industry, while improving the industry and the health of those that work within it.

E68. A Passion for Cooking

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 10:27:53 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with two of KML’s recent Top 30 under 30 winners about what made them want to become chefs, their love for the hospitality industry and what can be improved to make hospitality the industry of choice.

E67. The Shifting Marketplace

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Mon, 29 May 2023 16:46:07 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with Vince Sgabellone, of Circana (formerly the NPD Group) about how the foodservice industry is faring, where growth is taking place and the post-pandemic trends that are changing the landscape of the foodservice and hospitality industry.

E66. Money Matters

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 14:39:28 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Jacob Mancini, VP, Restaurants & Breweries with Canadian Western Bank, (CWB) about the state of the industry, the possibility of an impending recession and what restaurant operators can expect when dealing with the banking community in 2023.

E65. Changing the Narrative

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 11:49:25 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with chef/restaurateur Trevor Lui about the challenges of running a restaurant post pandemic, about his entrepreneurial dream of creating unique dining experiences and about his role as co-founder of Quell, an agency representing food and drink talent with a focus on broadening BIPOC work and leadership.

E64. Champions of Canadian Cuisine

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 16:42:02 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Chefs Jamie Kennedy and Michael Stadtlander, two of Canada’s most well-known chefs, who were instrumental in helping to develop Canadian Cuisine as well as the use of organic, sustainable and locally sourced foods while promoting the farm-to-table experience. The duo speak about their rise to fame, their role in shaping culinary activism and the state of today’s industry.

E63. Finding the Right Fit

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 12:02:29 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Scott Bellhouse, president of Bellhouse Hospitality about the current recruitment challenges being faced in the hospitality industry, how the pandemic exacerbated an already challenging area, and what operators can do to find and retain candidates.

E62. A Journey of Learning

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 16:35:50 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Vancouver chef/restaurateur Vikram Vij about the changes fuelled by the pandemic, the impact on his restaurants and the lessons learned by having to re-structure his business to move forward in a post-pandemic world.

E61. Coming Together

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 12:14:47 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Rudi Fischbacher, Dean of Toronto’s George Brown College Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts about his new role as Dean, his plans for continuing to deliver quality education and his views on how the industry and the college system can better work together to deliver quality education to today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders.

E60. Creating a Safer Workplace

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 11:15:30 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Hassel Aviles, director of the non-profit organization Not 9 to 5 about the importance of challenging old systems to create a safer work environment where the voices of employees are heard and where mental health challenges are minimized.

E59. Stronger than Ever

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 14:05:16 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality, speaks with Nick Di Donato, president and CEO of Liberty Entertainment Group, about how his company has overcome the challenges experienced during the pandemic through a renewed commitment to focus on its core business while taking care of its staff.

E58. Creating a Safe Haven

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Sat, 30 Jul 2022 14:09:33 +0000

As part this episode of this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Chris Locke, executive chef of Toronto’s Marben Restaurant. Locke speaks about his food philosophy and evolution as a chef, the myriad changes spurred by the lingering pandemic, and his journey to be a better leader while creating a more welcoming and hospitable environment for his team.

E57. Staying Ahead of the Curve

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 11:43:27 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Kyle Brown, co-founder of Unified Data Labs and an established entrepreneur specializing in food and information technology. The discussion focuses on the role that data analysis can play in better understanding the complex foodservice market while also helping operators effectively build their business.

E56. Higher Learning

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 10:44:18 +0000

In this edition of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with a quartet of educators about the state of hospitality education in Canada, examining how the pandemic forced major shifts in the delivery model of education to today’s students and what that means for tomorrow’s leaders and the hospitality industry.

E55. Advocating for Change

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Tue, 10 May 2022 15:52:45 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with chef/educator Bashir Munye about being a passionate advocate for promoting quality foods representative of Toronto’s multi-cultural community and his quest to make the foodservice and hospitality industry a more diverse, better and equitable industry.

E54. A Love of Cooking

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 17:57:56 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality, speaks with chef Imrun Texeira about his passion for the culinary arts, his new business curating menus for consumers in their own homes, and about his desire to make the industry a more hospitable and healthier place in which to work.

E53. Leading with Purpose

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Thu, 3 Mar 2022 18:20:38 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with Matt Rolfe, coach, speaker, author, and entrepreneur about the importance of building high-performing teams and creating a winning culture through solid leadership and communication.

E52. Forging her Own Path

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Wed, 2 Feb 2022 13:06:33 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Suzanne Barr, chef and social advocate about the state of the foodservice industry and the barriers she’d had to overcome to find her way in the culinary world.

E51. Under one Roof

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 18:13:37 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Adam Armelad and Oren Boravitch, co-founders of Kitchen Hub, Canada’s first Virtual Food Hall about how ghost kitchens are revolutionizing the takeout industry in Canada and the benefits and opportunities of having various food brands located under one roof.

E50. The Power of Pizza

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 17:39:16 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Domenic Primucci, president of Pizza Nova about the changes fueled by the pandemic, how the business continues to grow and evolve and what future opportunities might look like in the post-pandemic landscape.

E49. Building the Brand

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 17:55:17 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks to Toronto celebrity chef Matt Basile, founder of Fidel Gastro’s, about the challenges and opportunities of starting an underground sandwich pop up to an internationally recognized food brand.

E48. The Dynamics of Pricing

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Tue, 6 Jul 2021 10:57:48 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Frazer Nagy, tech entrepreneur and president of Transparent Kitchen, about the importance of pricing your physical table real estate to ensure a profitable restaurant model.

E47. The Road to (Food) Recovery

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 11:44:30 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Lori Nickels, CEO of Second Harvest about her company’s social and environmental justice issues related to food recovery and how she has help build a local food charity that distributes healthy food into a national food support network.

E46. A Roller Coaster Ride

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Sun, 30 May 2021 13:47:21 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Adrian Niman, founder and executive chef of Toronto’s Food Dudes, about the ups and downs of running a successful restaurant and catering company through by the lingering COVID-19 pandemic.

E45. Thinking outside the Pizza Box

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 04:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with Rocco Agostino, co-owner of Toronto’s Pizzeria Libretto and owner of Enoteca Sociale about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted his restaurants and how he’s been able to become more innovative in the face of adversity.

E44. NEXT Level

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Kostuch Media Ltd.) — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Chef Michael Blackie of NEXT restaurant in Ottawa about his unique and creative approach to marketing his restaurant during the difficult days of the pandemic.

E43. Raising the Bar

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Christina Veira, Rosanna Caira) — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality, speaks with Christina Veira, general manager of Bar Mordecai in Toronto, about her varied experiences in the hospitality industry -- from being a spirits educator with WSET, a consultant and a restaurant general manager to being one of the 100 most influential figures in the global bar industry.

E42. Elevating the Guest Experience

drae@kostuchmedia.com (David Hopkins, Rosanna Caira) — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with David Hopkins, president of The Fifteen Group Consultancy, about how COVID-19 is changing the restaurant experience and guest expectations.

E41. Situation Critical

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Rosanna Caira) — Thu, 4 Mar 2021 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with restaurateur Hal Roback about how COVID-19 fuelled the permanent closure of his popular and successful Frankie Tomatto's in Markham, Ont.

E40. Investing in Excellence

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Daniel Hadida, Rosanna Caira) — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with Daniel Hadida, chef at The Restaurant at Pearl Morisette in Jordan Station, in the heart of the Niagara region, about his guiding motivation to create a restaurant that delights restaurant goers while challenging the status quo.

E39. Time for Change

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality, speaks with three leading independent restaurant operators and chefs (Donna Dooher, Carl Heinrich and Patrick Saurette) about the impacts of COVID on their businesses and the need for change across the Canadian foodservice landscape.

E38. Food Forward

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Dan Morrow, Rosanna Caira) — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 17:59:03 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with Dan Morrow, vice-president, Food & Beverage, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment to examine how the iconic sports and entertainment complex has dealt with the impacts of COVID-19 and how the MLSE team is navigating a new NHL season amidst a different world.

E37. The Top 30 under 30 Awards Roundtable

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Rosanna Caira, Bruce McAdams) — Tue, 9 Feb 2021 13:00:00 +0000

In this edition of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, Editor & Publisher of Kostuch Media Ltd. and Bruce McAdams, Associate Professor, of Hospitality, Food & Tourism Management at the University of Guelph, moderate a panel of this year's Top-30-under-30 winners as Kostuch Media celebrates achievement and excellence in the industry's young professionals. The Top 30 recognition program was established in 2006 by the Ontario Hostelry Institute, under the guidance of J. Charles Grieco, to recognize young professionals in Canada who have made an outstanding contribution early in their professional careers.

E36. In Search of Hospitality

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Rosanna Caira, Andy Hickl-Szabo) — Thu, 4 Feb 2021 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with Andy Hickl-Szabo, professor at George Brown College in Toronto, to examine some of the structural problems that exist in the foodservice and hospitality industry and what can be done to fix them.

E35. The Empathetic Entrepreneur

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Rosanna Caira, Mohamad Fakih) — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with Mohamad Fakih, president of Paramount Fine Foods to examine how his company has dealt with the burden of the pandemic while continuing his philanthropic quest to help the community.

E34. Eradicating Racism – Part 2

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 17:04:47 +0000

While the foodservice and hospitality industry is home to a diverse workforce, barriers to equality continue to exist in restaurants and hotels alike. On August 11, 2020 KML in partnership with Easton’s Group of Hotels, assembled a group of industry leaders to discuss what the industry needs to do in order to dismantle those barriers to ensure discrimination is eradicated, true equality is achieved and that everyone is treated with the respect they deserve. Last week, five months after that webinar, we once again assembled a panel of leaders culled from that first roundtable to determine what kind of progress has been made on this front, to examine the initiatives being introduced by various leading hospitality companies to ensure a discrimination-free environment and to introduce goals and directives for the industry so that it can become home to a diverse and inclusive workforce that is welcoming and hospitable to all.

E33. Responding to Change

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Susan Senecal, Rosanna Caira) — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with Susan Senecal, president and CEO of A&W Restaurants to examine how the QSR company has navigated the COVID-19 crisis and how the year ahead is shaping up.

E32. Lending a Hand

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Todd Barclay, Rosanna Caira) — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 14:19:29 +0000

In this episode of the Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Todd Barclay, president and CEO of Restaurants Canada about how COVID-19 has impacted the association’s membership and what the association is doing to advocate for its membership base.

E31. Hospitality Heroes

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Amy Bostock, Rosanna Caira) — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine and Amy Bostock, managing editor, speak with this year’s Hospitality Heroes as part of a webcast Roundtable, highlighting the community initiatives introduced by 11 hospitality leaders during this year’s COVID-19 pandemic.

E30. Survival Mode

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Rosanna Caira, Tony Elenis, Ian Tostenson) — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Tony Elenis, president and CEO of the Ontario Restaurant, Hotel, Motel Association and Ian Tostenson, president of the B.C. Restaurant Association to assess how COVID-19 has impacted their membership and what the associations are doing to advocate for their members as well as educate the government with regard to surviving through this lingering pandemic.

E29. Saving Hospitality

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Rosanna Caira, John Sinopoli) — Thu, 3 Dec 2020 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with John Sinopoli, president of the Ascari Group to examine how his restaurant company has dealt with the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and about his efforts to found SAVE HOSPITALITY.

E28. Food for Thought

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Christine Couvelier, Rossana Caira) — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Christine Couvelier, president of Culinary Concierge about food trends, and how COVID-19 is changing our relationship with food both as consumers and as restaurant goers.

E27. The Educators

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 18:37:05 +0000

COVID-19 hasn’t spared any business and for educational institutes, the challenges have been both varied and impactful. In this episode of the Table Talk podcast, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with five leading educators to find out how the global pandemic has changed their offerings, and what the future looks like for higher learning.

E26. Taste of Place

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Rosanna Caira, Ned Bell) — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 20:11:35 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with well-respected and renowned chef Ned Bell about the challenges and successes of opening a new business ─ the Naramata Inn in B.C.’s Okanagan ─ during a global pandemic.

E25. Taking Back the Tray

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Rosanna Caira, Joshna Maharaj) — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Toronto chef and food activist Joshna Maharaj about the state of Canada's food systems and how by working together we can build a value-based foodservice industry that prioritizes good food, hospitality and sustainability.

E24. Passion Play

drae@kostuchmedia.com (John Jackson, Connie de Sousa, Rosanna Caira) — Mon, 5 Oct 2020 12:00:00 +0000

In this edition of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Connie de Sousa and John Jackson, co-chefs and partners of one of Calgary's most successful restaurant groups. The partners speak about the challenges and opportunities of running four restaurants amidst a global pandemic.

E23. Shifting Gears

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Rosanna Caira, Ted Corrado) — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 12:00:12 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with chef Ted Corrado about the state of the restaurant industry, as well as how his attempts to create elevated experiences for customers with cannabis as a starring role on the menu got thwarted by the onset of COVID-19.

E22. The Long Haul

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Rosanna Caira, Ryan Smolkin) — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 14:30:37 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Ryan Smolkin, founder and president of Smoke's Poutinerie about the challenges of operating during the early days of the pandemic and what his company is doing to keep the business sustainable moving forward.

E21. Building a Food Community

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Rosanna Caira, Arlene Stein) — Thu, 3 Sep 2020 17:28:06 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with Arlene Stein, founder and executive director of the Terroir symposium to discuss how the international foodservice community has been affected by COVID-19 and what North Americans can learn from the European experience.

E20. Leading through Crisis

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Andrew Oliver, Rosanna Caira) — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 12:43:34 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with Andrew Oliver, president of Oliver Bonacini Restaurants to examine how his multi-unit foodservice company has handled the COVID-19 crisis and what the future looks like as we slowly move to the fall season and into Month Six of the global pandemic.

E19. The New Reality: How COVID-19 Is impacting Independent Restaurateurs.

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Ivana Raca, Rosanna Caira, Jennifer Cobourn) — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 15:56:19 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality magazine speaks with Ivana Raca, chef and co-owner and Jennifer Cobourn, co-owner of Toronto’s Ufficio Restaurant to find out how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their restaurant and what it means to live with uncertainty.

E18. Leading through Change: The Chef's Perspective

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Rosanna Caira, Scott Vivian) — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 15:08:51 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with chef/owner Scott Vivian of Beast Restaurant in Toronto to discuss the challenges of operating an independent restaurant during COVID-19 and how he's planning to move forward in this New Normal.

E17: Jay Ashton Talks About How the Distributor Is Becoming More Than Just A Purveyor of Food Products.

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Jay Ashton, Rosanna Caira) — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 19:54:18 +0000

In this episode, Jay Ashton from Sysco talks about the expanded services that the broadline distributor offers to restaurants, and how these services are helping position itself as more than just a distributor. While food distribution is the core of the company’s business, the distributor also sees itself as an important resource for menu ideas, research and culinary development.

E16. Making a Difference - Action Plan for Mental Health

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Paula Allen, Rosanna Caira) — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 13:26:56 +0000

As COVID-19 continues to change every aspect of our lives, both personally and professionally, the incidence of mental-health issues continues to grow. In this Table Talk podcast, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality speaks with Paula Allen, senior vice-president of Research, Senior Vice President of Research, Analytics and Innovation at Morneau Shepell to find out what actions companies can take to promote positive mental health in the workplace, and in the process, create a healthy workplace environment.

E15. The Leadership Roundtable: Coming Together

Thu, 4 Jun 2020 19:39:28 +0000

Foodservice and Hospitality magazine assembled a group of 11 foodservice leaders from across Canada, as part of a Leadership Roundtable, to discuss an action plan of what the industry needs and how it can move forward. The panel included: Mike Hancock, COO, Tim Hortons Jason Brading, COO, QSR, MTY Group, Montreal Ken Otto, CEO, Redberry Nick Di Donato, President & CEO, Liberty Group Entertainment Ryan Smolkin, Founder & CEO, Smokes Poutinerie Alex Rechichi, President, Crave it Restaurant Group Michael Doyle, President, Top Table Restaurants, Vancouver Mohamad Fakih, CEO, Paramount Fine Foods Charles Khabouth, CEO, INK Entertainment Ramy Sallal, President, Arlington Estate, Vaughan, Ont. Domenic Primucci, President, Pizza Nova The panelists represent various segments of the foodservice industry ─ from QSRs to casual dining to delivery concepts and event venues. Each segment faces a distinct and unique set of challenges, perspectives and approaches, but their message is unified — more needs to be done and it needs to done NOW.

E14. COVID-19: The Next Phase

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Eric Lefebvre, Rosanna Caira, Domenic Primucci) — Thu, 28 May 2020 13:14:29 +0000

After almost three months in lockdown, the foodservice industry continues to reel from the effects of this global pandemic. Now as markets across the country slowly re-open, what are franchisors doing to get ready for the next phase while ensuring the survival of their brands. In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality, talks to Eric Lefebvre, president and CEO of MTY Group and Domenic Primucci, president of Pizza Nova, to find out how the QSR and casual-dining segments are faring during this crisis.

E13. Moving Forward

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Rosanna Caira, Mohamad Fakih, Hemant Bhagwani) — Mon, 25 May 2020 15:30:03 +0000

What does the foodservice industry look like moving forward as restaurants get ready to re-open and transition to the “New Normal.” In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality. interviews entrepreneurs Mohamad Fakih, founder and president of Paramount Fine Foods and Hemant Bhagwani, chef/owner of Amaya Group, Goa Indian, Good Kharma and Popa, to discuss some of the major issues arising from COVID-19, while examining how restaurants will change and what operators can expect moving forward.

E12. Coping with Corona

Tue, 19 May 2020 19:49:42 +0000

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the restaurant industry and how will the industry move forward once restaurants are allowed to reopen? In this episode of Table Talk, Foodservice and Hospitality magazine editor and publisher Rosanna Caira speaks with restaurateurs Nick Di Donato, of Liberty Entertainment, Charles Khabouth, of INK Entertainment, Janet Zuccarini, of Gusto 54 and Grant van Gameren, of OverBudget Inc. to find out how these entrepreneurs have been coping with the implications of the Coronavirus and how they’re planning to move forward in this “New Normal.”

E11. Saving the Industry One Takeout Meal at a Time

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Sean Beckingham, Marian Staresinic, Rosanna Caira) — Thu, 7 May 2020 15:06:52 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher, Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, speaks with Marian Staresinic and Sean Beckingham, co-partners of Branding and Buzzing agency, to learn how their efforts to galvanize consumers and industry alike to buy takeout foods once a week has spawned a popular and successful initiative called Canada Takeout, which is helping to build restaurant sales and raise community spirit.

E10. The New Restaurant Model

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 13:27:05 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher, Foodservice and Hospitality magazine looks at the growing popularity of Ghost Kitchens, Virtual Kitchens and Food Halls, and other hybrid models of Takeout and Delivery, with three leading industry experts: Oren Borovitch, co-founder of Kitchen Hub, John Lettieri, president and CEO of Hero Burger and George Jacobs, founder of Accelerate. Learn how COVID-19 could potentially fuel growing interest in this new off-premise restaurant model.

E9. COVID-19 Supply Chain Dynamics

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 20:29:06 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, Rosanna Caira , editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality, talks with Steve Kampstra, president of Gordon Food Service, Canada, as well as Mike von Massow, professor and food economist at the University of Guelph, and Sylvain Charlebois, professor at Dalhousie University and director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab, to delve into supply chain dynamics and assess the impact of COVID-19 on our food distribution system.

E8. COVID-19 - ONE TABLE Unites Stakeholders to Save Industry

Wed, 1 Apr 2020 19:31:34 +0000

In this special COVID-19 edition of Foodservice and Hospitality's Table Talk podcast, editor and publisher Rosanna Caira speaks with Frank Hennessey, president and CEO of Recipe Unlimited, Alex Rechichi, president of Crave It Restaurants and Anita Mancuso, owner of Toronto's Sotto Voce restaurant to discuss a new industry-led coalition called One Table and its efforts to unite restaurant operators and suppliers in asking for government assistance during this unprecedented global health crisis.

E7: COVID-19: Pivoting to Take-Out and Delivery

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Rosanna Caira, John Lettieri, Ken Otto) — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 20:21:58 +0000

In this special edition of Table Talk, editor and publisher Rosanna Caira talks to Hero Burger's president & CEO John Lettieri and Redberry's CEO Ken Otto to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the company's take-out and delivery business.

E6: COVID-19 - The Industry Stands Together

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 18:48:25 +0000

In this episode of Table Talk, editor/publisher Rosanna Caira speaks with several leading experts in the foodservice and hospitality industry to assess how COVID-19 is impacting restaurants and hotels across Canada, while examining the efforts being taken to help the industry survive during this unprecedented time.

E5: Creating a turnkey solution for food recovery for restaurants and hotels.

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Jean-Francois Archambault, Rosanna Caira) — Sun, 1 Mar 2020 13:00:13 +0000

In this episode, Jean-Francois Archambault, founder of La Tablee des Chef, talks about the importance of food-recovery systems as a way to reduce food waste while helping those in need. In 2002, the former hotel sales manager created a turnkey solution to food recovery, making it easy for chefs to send their surplus of prepared food into communities that need it.

E4: How Can the Foodservice Industry Improve Its Treatment of Women in the Industry?

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Rosanna Caira, Missy Hui) — Mon, 2 Dec 2019 14:00:14 +0000

In this episode chef Missy Hui talks about being a woman in a male-dominated industry. From working in the kitchens of some of the most successful restaurants to now scouting new locations for her first solo venture, Hui talks about the importance of having confidence in yourself, standing up for your convictions and stretching your horizons.

E3: How Can the Foodservice Industry Improve Its Efforts to Attract Employees?

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Rosanna Caira, Bruce McAdams) — Fri, 8 Nov 2019 16:07:58 +0000

In this episode, University of Guelph associate professor Bruce McAdams examines some of the challenges that have consistently plagued the hospitality industry — from recruitment and retention to low wages and long hours. McAdams looks at what companies need to do to effectively change the prevailing attitudes and perceptions in order to appeal to changing demographics all the while enhancing the industry’s professional image.

E2: John Higgins Takes a Look at Restaurant Trends and Canada’s Culinary Coming of Age

drae@kostuchmedia.com (John Higgins, Rosanna Caira) — Fri, 8 Nov 2019 16:02:57 +0000

In this episode John Higgins, director of the Centre for Hospitality & Culinary Arts Centre at George Brown College, talks about Canada’s culinary coming of age, touching on how restaurants have changed to mirror the growing sophistication of today’s customer base. Find out how today’s chefs are impacting the restaurant industry using local product while promoting global favours to create a distinctly Canadian experience.

E1: Mark McEwan Talks Restaurant Trends, Retail Concepts and Expansion Plans

drae@kostuchmedia.com (Mark McEwan, Rosanna Caira) — Fri, 8 Nov 2019 15:58:49 +0000