I am fascinated by technology. Admittedly, I don't always understand it, but nevertheless, It fascinates me - especially when it can make everyday tasks easier. I don't support AI creating artwork, but I'm all in if it can help me find something faster. My guest for this episode, Gregg Foster, feels a similar way. That is why he co-founded WALDO, a hospitality tech company that aims to assist beverage programs with product tracking, training, and much more! What else, you ask? Well, that's a question for him, as WALDO is in its infancy but has some mighty big goals laid out ahead of it to explore. So please enjoy this wonderfully curious new episode! Cheers.

The Best Ceats Podcast brings unprecedented access to the Orange County hospitality industry each and every episode. Bringing you the best stories, and the people behind them with every interview, The Best Ceats Podcast showcases the very best of Southern California’s bars, restaurants, and beyond.

You can find more information at https://thebestceats.com

Follow Host Crawford McCarthy at https://www.instagram.com/thebestceats/

To support content like The Best Ceats Podcast, as well as gain access to the exclusive bonus episodes, and more, please consider supporting The Best Ceats, at:

https://patreon.com/thebestceats

To learn more about Ali Coyle, as well as her debut track “Trust Me,” please see her official website:

https://alicoylemusic.com

To find out more about our sponsors for this episode, please visit the following:

https://www.heirloompotager.com

https://www.trattoriatrullo.com

For all the bad that 2020 brought to the hospitality industry, there were some moments of good. In San Clemente, CA, Gibroni's was a perfect example of this. I say "was" because their original pop-up location is no more - but fear not - because my guest, founder and owner Tony Gioutsos, returns to The Best Ceats Podcast to share all about the new brick-and-mortar location for Gibroni's. From finding the space to expanding upon his dream and more, this episode truly is a success story long in the making. Enjoy.

The Best Ceats Podcast brings unprecedented access to the Orange County hospitality industry each and every episode. Bringing you the best stories, and the people behind them with every interview, The Best Ceats Podcast showcases the very best of Southern California’s bars, restaurants, and beyond.

You can find more information at https://thebestceats.com

Follow Host Crawford McCarthy at https://www.instagram.com/thebestceats/

To support content like The Best Ceats Podcast, as well as gain access to the exclusive bonus episodes, and more, please consider supporting The Best Ceats, at:

https://patreon.com/thebestceats

To learn more about Ali Coyle, as well as her debut track “Trust Me,” please see her official website:

https://alicoylemusic.com

To find out more about our sponsors for this episode, please visit the following:

https://www.heirloompotager.com

https://www.trattoriatrullo.com

My guest this episode is truly a wonderful person, and chef. He recently shot into the stratosphere of stardom after a stellar season on the critically acclaimed show, Hell's Kitchen. Nestled in a bustling Long Beach food oasis sits Bar Becky, and at its helm, Chef Johnathan Benvenuti. The chef joins the show to discuss his time on the show, the fame that comes following it, his family-inspired menu, and how Bar Becky came to be. This is a very heartfelt episode, and one I am, as always, very proud of. Enjoy.

The Best Ceats Podcast brings unprecedented access to the Orange County hospitality industry each and every episode. Bringing you the best stories, and the people behind them with every interview, The Best Ceats Podcast showcases the very best of Southern California’s bars, restaurants, and beyond.

You can find more information at https://thebestceats.com

Follow Host Crawford McCarthy at https://www.instagram.com/thebestceats/

To support content like The Best Ceats Podcast, as well as gain access to the exclusive bonus episodes, and more, please consider supporting The Best Ceats, at:

https://patreon.com/thebestceats

To learn more about Ali Coyle, as well as her debut track “Trust Me,” please see her official website:

https://alicoylemusic.com

To find out more about our sponsors for this episode, please visit the following:

https://www.heirloompotager.com

https://www.trattoriatrullo.com

In this episode, we get to learn just what it takes to put on one of the biggest wine festivals in the Southland - LAWineFest. The woman behind the behemoth, CEO and Fest Director, Scherr Lillico joins me digitally to discuss what it takes to put on an event like this. How do you find wines, food, parking, and everything else that comes with a major event almost 20 years old? Well, my friends, that's what we are about to find out.

As a bonus, should you want to purchase tickets, you can save 20% by using the code BESTCEATS at checkout!

The Best Ceats Podcast brings unprecedented access to the Orange County hospitality industry each and every episode. Bringing you the best stories, and the people behind them with every interview, The Best Ceats Podcast showcases the very best of Southern California’s bars, restaurants, and beyond.

You can find more information at https://thebestceats.com

Follow Host Crawford McCarthy at https://www.instagram.com/thebestceats/

To support content like The Best Ceats Podcast, as well as gain access to the exclusive bonus episodes, and more, please consider supporting The Best Ceats, at:

https://patreon.com/thebestceats

To learn more about Ali Coyle, as well as her debut track “Trust Me,” please see her official website:

https://alicoylemusic.com

To find out more about our sponsors for this episode, please visit the following:

https://www.heirloompotager.com

https://www.lawinefest.com

https://www.trattoriatrullo.com

For this episode, we are heading back to Santa Barbara Wine Country - one of my favorite places on Earth - to talk about the legacy, inspiration, and quality of grapes Winemaker Megan McGrath Gates gets to work with every day. Megan was appointed winemaker for Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards in 2007, and hasn't looked back since. She brings a wealth of knowledge to a winemaking landscape she knows incredibly well, and does it with grace, style, and an enduring commitment to getting the very best out of each and every grape. We discuss her history, approach to wine, the history and quality of Lucas and Lewellen, and much more. Enjoy!

The Best Ceats Podcast brings unprecedented access to the Orange County hospitality industry each and every episode. Bringing you the best stories, and the people behind them with every interview, The Best Ceats Podcast showcases the very best of Southern California’s bars, restaurants, and beyond.

You can find more information at https://thebestceats.com

Follow Host Crawford McCarthy at https://www.instagram.com/thebestceats/

To support content like The Best Ceats Podcast, as well as gain access to the exclusive bonus episodes, and more, please consider supporting The Best Ceats, at:

https://patreon.com/thebestceats

To learn more about Ali Coyle, as well as her debut track “Trust Me,” please see her official website:

https://alicoylemusic.com

To find out more about our sponsors for this episode, please visit the following:

https://www.heirloompotager.com

https://www.lawinefest.com

https://www.trattoriatrullo.com

We live in a digital age of constant creation, evolving algorithms, and a bombardment of content and information - so how can you stand out from the crowd? My friend Brooke Martin joins me from Utah to talk about this and a lot more! Brooke is the founder of The Brooke Blend and works deep in the wine industry as an educator, broker, and more. On top of all of this, though, she has also garnished a massive, totally organic social media following with creative and fun content she creates regularly. We sit down to talk about her various endeavors, the world of wine, and being an influencer in today's ever-evolving world. Enjoy!

The Best Ceats Podcast brings unprecedented access to the Orange County hospitality industry each and every episode. Bringing you the best stories, and the people behind them with every interview, The Best Ceats Podcast showcases the very best of Southern California’s bars, restaurants, and beyond.

You can find more information at https://thebestceats.com

Follow Host Crawford McCarthy at https://www.instagram.com/thebestceats/

To support content like The Best Ceats Podcast, as well as gain access to the exclusive bonus episodes, and more, please consider supporting The Best Ceats, at:

https://patreon.com/thebestceats

To learn more about Ali Coyle, as well as her debut track “Trust Me,” please see her official website:

https://alicoylemusic.com

To find out more about our sponsors for this episode, please visit the following:

https://www.heirloompotager.com

https://www.lawinefest.com

https://www.trattoriatrullo.com

The best part about running your own show like this is being able to decide who you highlight and have on. In an industry with so many people constantly working hard to deliver great experiences to guests, it is hard to tell every story out there, but I can try. In this episode, my friend Brandon Howard joins me. Brandon is a great bartender and friend, and can be found behind the stick at the ever-popular StillWater Spirits & Sounds in Dana Point, CA. This bar/restaurant/live music venue is a South County staple, and Brandon handles his duties there with some serious skill. We sit down to talk about his time in the industry, day-to-day life at StillWater, and why he is exactly the type of person this podcast was designed to highlight - enjoy!

The Best Ceats Podcast brings unprecedented access to the Orange County hospitality industry each and every episode. Bringing you the best stories, and the people behind them with every interview, The Best Ceats Podcast showcases the very best of Southern California’s bars, restaurants, and beyond.

You can find more information at https://thebestceats.com

Follow Host Crawford McCarthy at https://www.instagram.com/thebestceats/

To support content like The Best Ceats Podcast, as well as gain access to the exclusive bonus episodes, and more, please consider supporting The Best Ceats, at:

https://patreon.com/thebestceats

To learn more about Ali Coyle, as well as her debut track “Trust Me,” please see her official website:

https://alicoylemusic.com

To find out more about our sponsors for this episode, please visit the following:

https://www.heirloompotager.com

When it comes to the world of cocktails, creativity makes something simple into a magical experience for guests. Embedding emotion into drinks is a special talent that my guest, Jade Bustamante, excels at with abandon. She is wildly talented, and the drinks she slings at Broadway by Amar Santana just hit differently. In this brand-new episode, we sit down to discuss her techniques, inspirations, approach to cocktails, and more.

The Best Ceats Podcast brings unprecedented access to the Orange County hospitality industry each and every episode. Bringing you the best stories, and the people behind them with every interview, The Best Ceats Podcast showcases the very best of Southern California’s bars, restaurants, and beyond.

You can find more information at https://thebestceats.com

Follow Host Crawford McCarthy at https://www.instagram.com/thebestceats/

To support content like The Best Ceats Podcast, as well as gain access to the exclusive bonus episodes, and more, please consider supporting The Best Ceats, at:

https://patreon.com/thebestceats

To learn more about Ali Coyle, as well as her debut track “Trust Me,” please see her official website:

https://alicoylemusic.com

To find out more about our sponsors for this episode, please visit the following:

https://www.heirloompotager.com