Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Damian Sansonetti is the Chef and Co-Owner of Chaval and Ugly Duckling, both located in Portland, ME. Damian is the husband of previous guest Ilma Lopez, who was featured on episodes 1148 and 1156. Damian's father was a chef and he grew interested in the profession while in college. He attended Pennsyvania Culinary Institute and quickly began working in well-known restaurants and for high profile restaurateurs in NYC, such as Daniel Boulud and Myriad Restaurant Group. He and Ilma married in 2009 and they decided to move to Portland to open their first restaurant in 2013. Today, they own Ugly Duckling and Chaval.  Restaurant Unstoppable - EVOLVE! - Eric of Restaurant Unstoppable is now taking consultation and coaching calls! Book a consultation today! Schedule your call to become UNSTOPPABLE! Check out the website for more details: https://www.restaurantunstoppable.com/evolve Today's sponsors: Restaurant Systems Pro: When you join Restaurant Systems Pro through February of 2025, They will handle your 2024 books at no charge. Here’s what you get: Organization of all invoices and expenses;AI Scanning of products so you know the usage; Reconciling your accounts; Tracking inventory and labor costs; and Providing detailed P&L reports Head to RestaurantUnstoppable.com/RSP and be sure to mention this special offer.   Let’s make 2025 the year your restaurant thrives. Contact the guest: Chaval website: https://www.chavalmaine.com Ugly Duckling website: https://www.uglyducklingmaine.com Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share!  We are on Youtube: @RestaurantUnstoppable

This is a very special round table conversation with 4 restaurant owners in the Portland, Maine area. Eric sits down with Piage Gould, owner of Central Provitions, Tipo, and Finestkind, Ilma Lopez, owner of Chaval and Ugly Duckling, Michelle Corry, owner of Fifty Five-Five, and Theresa Chan, owner of Empire Chinese Kitchen. They will be dscussing the importance of finding a group friends/mentors to discuss problems and solutions, as well as brainstorm ways to move into the future intentionally within the restaurant industry.  Join the Restaurant Unstoppable Network TODAY! Restaurant Unstoppable - EVOLVE! - Eric of Restaurant Unstoppable is now taking consultation and coaching calls! Book a consultation today! Schedule your call to become UNSTOPPABLE! Check out the website for more details: https://www.restaurantunstoppable.com/evolve Today's sponsors: Restaurant Systems Pro: When you join Restaurant Systems Pro through February of 2025, They will handle your 2024 books at no charge. Here’s what you get: Organization of all invoices and expenses;AI Scanning of products so you know the usage; Reconciling your accounts; Tracking inventory and labor costs; and Providing detailed P&L reports Head to RestaurantUnstoppable.com/RSP and be sure to mention this special offer.   Let’s make 2025 the year your restaurant thrives. Contact the guests: Paige Gould: http://www.central-provisions.com -OR- http://www.tiporestaurant.com  Ilma Lopez: https://www.chavalmaine.com -OR- https://www.uglyducklingmaine.com Michelle Corry: https://www.555-north.com Theresa Chan: https://www.portlandempire.com Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share!  We are on Youtube: @RestaurantUnstoppable

Paige Gould is the Co-Owner of Central Provisions, Tipo, and Finestkind, all located in or near Portland, Maine. Paige was previously on the show for episode 547 back in 2018, when she only owned Central Provisions and Tipo. In September of 2024, she and her husband/partner opened their newest venture, Finestkind. Join the Restaurant Unstoppable NETWORK! Restaurant Unstoppable - EVOLVE! - Eric of Restaurant Unstoppable is now taking consultation and coaching calls! Book a consultation today! Schedule your call to become UNSTOPPABLE! Check out the website for more details: https://www.restaurantunstoppable.com/evolve Today's sponsors: Meez: Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional kitchens? meez is built just for you. Organize, share, prep, and scale recipes like never before. Plus, engineer your menu in real-time and get accurate food costs. Sign up for free today and get 2 FREE months of invoice processing as a listener of the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast. Visit getmeez.com/unstoppable to learn more. Restaurant Systems Pro: When you join Restaurant Systems Pro through February of 2025, They will handle your 2024 books at no charge. Here’s what you get: Organization of all invoices and expenses;AI Scanning of products so you know the usage; Reconciling your accounts; Tracking inventory and labor costs; and Providing detailed P&L reports Head to RestaurantUnstoppable.com/RSP and be sure to mention this special offer.   Let’s make 2025 the year your restaurant thrives. Today's guest recommends these tools: Resy - reservations Lightspeed - POS Square - POS Contact the guest: Central Provisions website: http://www.central-provisions.com Central Provisions on Instragram: @_centralprovisions_ Tipo website: http://www.tiporestaurant.com Tipo on Instgram: @tipomaine Finestkind website: https://www.finestkindmaine.com Finestkind on Instagram: @finestkindmaine Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share!  We are on Youtube: @RestaurantUnstoppable

Emily Curry is the Co-Founder, GM, and Head of Marketing at Big Trouble, located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Emily began working in restaurants in the early 2010's, when she was in her very early 20's. She worked at Southern Prohibition, a brewery in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and became their CEO from 2018-2022 when she and her 4 partners began the process of opening Big Trouble. Big Trouble is to day just over 1 year old!  Restaurant Unstoppable - EVOLVE! - Eric of Restaurant Unstoppable is now taking consultation and coaching calls! Book a consultation today! Schedule your call to become UNSTOPPABLE! Check out the website for more details: https://www.restaurantunstoppable.com/evolve Today's sponsors: Meez: Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional kitchens? meez is built just for you. Organize, share, prep, and scale recipes like never before. Plus, engineer your menu in real-time and get accurate food costs. Sign up for free today and get 2 FREE months of invoice processing as a listener of the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast. Visit getmeez.com/unstoppable to learn more. Restaurant Systems Pro: When you join Restaurant Systems Pro through February of 2025, They will handle your 2024 books at no charge. Here’s what you get: Organization of all invoices and expenses;AI Scanning of products so you know the usage; Reconciling your accounts; Tracking inventory and labor costs; and Providing detailed P&L reports Head to RestaurantUnstoppable.com/RSP and be sure to mention this special offer.   Let’s make 2025 the year your restaurant thrives. Today's guest recommends these tools: Toast - POS Sling - Scheduling Contact the guest: Website: https://www.eatbigtrouble.com/ Instagram: @emily_andstuff -OR- @eatbigtrouble Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share!  We are on Youtube: @RestaurantUnstoppable

Robert St. John grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. At age 19, Robert entered the restaurant industry at a delicatessen where he became the manager. During his very first shift at that job, he decided that he wanted to make restaurants his career. After struggling with substance abuse in his early adulthood, Robert got completely clean in 1983 and went to school to study the industry and in 1987 he opened his first restaurant, The Purple Parrot, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He opened that restaurant with 2 other partners, and he believes partnerships are the right way to go toward success in this industry, still to this day. His restaurant group, New South Restaurant Group, now has 7 unique concepts throughout Mississippi. This is Robert's second time on the Restaurant Unstoppable show, previously he joined us for episode 923. Restaurant Unstoppable - EVOLVE! - Eric of Restaurant Unstoppable is now taking consultation and coaching calls! Book a consultation today! Schedule your call to become UNSTOPPABLE! Check out the website for more details: https://www.restaurantunstoppable.com/evolve Today's sponsors: Restaurant Systems Pro: When you join Restaurant Systems Pro through February of 2025, They will handle your 2024 books at no charge. Here’s what you get: Organization of all invoices and expenses;AI Scanning of products so you know the usage; Reconciling your accounts; Tracking inventory and labor costs; and Providing detailed P&L reports Head to RestaurantUnstoppable.com/RSP and be sure to mention this special offer.   Let’s make 2025 the year your restaurant thrives. Today's guest recommends these tools: Restaurant Systems Pro: http://restaurantunstoppable.com/RSP  Contact the guest: Website: https://robertstjohn.com  Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share!  We are on Youtube: @RestaurantUnstoppable

Fred Langley is the CEO of Restaurant Systems Pro. Fred got his first job in the restaurant industry at the age of 12 as a dishwasher. He worked his way up the ranks and became a restaurateur, opening his first restaurant at the age of 27. He opened his second restaurant only 4 years later. Fred joined Restaurant Systems Pro, formerly known as The Restaurant Expert, in 2004, and became the company's CEO in 2006.  Restaurant Unstoppable - EVOLVE! - Eric of Restaurant Unstoppable is now taking consultation and coaching calls! Book a consultation today! Schedule your call to become UNSTOPPABLE! Check out the website for more details: https://www.restaurantunstoppable.com/evolve Today's sponsors: Restaurant Systems Pro: When you join Restaurant Systems Pro through February of 2025, They will handle your 2024 books at no charge. Here’s what you get: Organization of all invoices and expenses;AI Scanning of products so you know the usage; Reconciling your accounts; Tracking inventory and labor costs; and Providing detailed P&L reports Head to RestaurantUnstoppable.com/RSP and be sure to mention this special offer.   Let’s make 2025 the year your restaurant thrives. Today's guest recommends these tools: Meez: https://www.getmeez.com/unstoppable Spot On: https://www.spoton.com/  Contact the guest: Check out RSP here: http://restaurantunstoppable.com/RSP Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share!  We are on Youtube: @RestaurantUnstoppable

Jason Sobocinski is the Co-Owner and President of Haven Hot Chicken. Jason grew up loving food and business. He got two degrees, travelled the world, then returned to New Haven, his hometown, and opened his first business in 2008. He then opened several businesses over the years, partnered with various people who operated those businesses, and in 2020, he opened Haven Hot Chicken in New Haven, Connecticut. From 2020-2024 he opened 4 locations. In the year of 2024, he opened 5 more. Restaurant Unstoppable - EVOLVE! - Eric of Restaurant Unstoppable is now taking consultation and coaching calls! Book a consultation today! Schedule your call to become UNSTOPPABLE! Check out the website for more details: https://www.restaurantunstoppable.com/evolve Today's sponsors: Meez: Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional kitchens? meez is built just for you. Organize, share, prep, and scale recipes like never before. Plus, engineer your menu in real-time and get accurate food costs. Sign up for free today and get 2 FREE months of invoice processing as a listener of the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast. Visit getmeez.com/unstoppable to learn more. Restaurant Systems Pro: When you join Restaurant Systems Pro through February of 2025, They will handle your 2024 books at no charge. Here’s what you get: Organization of all invoices and expenses;AI Scanning of products so you know the usage; Reconciling your accounts; Tracking inventory and labor costs; and Providing detailed P&L reports Head to RestaurantUnstoppable.com/RSP and be sure to mention this special offer.   Let’s make 2025 the year your restaurant thrives. Today's guest recommends these tools: Ovation Bikki Contact the guest: Email: jason@havenhotchicken.com Instagram: @havenhotchicken Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share!  We are on Youtube: @RestaurantUnstoppable

David Vargas was previously on the show for episode 755 back in 2020. David Vargas is a chef who co-owns Vida Cantina, a Mexican restaurant in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He is also a partner in Ore Nell's, a Texas BBQ restaurant in Kittery, ME with a brand new location in Biddeford, ME. David is also the Vice President of a non-profit called Cultivate. Restaurant Unstoppable - EVOLVE! - Eric of Restaurant Unstoppable is now taking consultation and coaching calls! Book a consultation today! Schedule your call to become UNSTOPPABLE! Check out the website for more details: https://www.restaurantunstoppable.com/evolve Today's sponsors: Meez: Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional kitchens? meez is built just for you. Organize, share, prep, and scale recipes like never before. Plus, engineer your menu in real-time and get accurate food costs. Sign up for free today and get 2 FREE months of invoice processing as a listener of the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast. Visit getmeez.com/unstoppable to learn more. Restaurant Systems Pro: When you join Restaurant Systems Pro through February of 2025, They will handle your 2024 books at no charge. Here’s what you get: Organization of all invoices and expenses;AI Scanning of products so you know the usage; Reconciling your accounts; Tracking inventory and labor costs; and Providing detailed P&L reports Head to RestaurantUnstoppable.com/RSP and be sure to mention this special offer.   Let’s make 2025 the year your restaurant thrives. Contact the guest: Website: https://www.vidacantinanh.com Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share!  We are on Youtube: @RestaurantUnstoppable

Deb Simmons went studied nutritional science and biology in college and went on to work with Americorps and the Peace Corps. When she left those jobs, she started working in restaurants in the seacoast NH area. She worked for Row 34 and became a GM and then for The Green Elephant, becoming a GM there as well. Then, in 2019, she started cake. vegan bakery. Restaurant Unstoppable - EVOLVE! - Eric of Restaurant Unstoppable is now taking consultation and coaching calls! Book a consultation today! Schedule your call to become UNSTOPPABLE! Check out the website for more details: https://www.restaurantunstoppable.com/evolve Today's sponsors: Meez: Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional kitchens? meez is built just for you. Organize, share, prep, and scale recipes like never before. Plus, engineer your menu in real-time and get accurate food costs. Sign up for free today and get 2 FREE months of invoice processing as a listener of the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast. Visit getmeez.com/unstoppable to learn more. Restaurant Systems Pro: When you join Restaurant Systems Pro through February of 2025, They will handle your 2024 books at no charge. Here’s what you get: Organization of all invoices and expenses;AI Scanning of products so you know the usage; Reconciling your accounts; Tracking inventory and labor costs; and Providing detailed P&L reports Head to RestaurantUnstoppable.com/RSP and be sure to mention this special offer.   Let’s make 2025 the year your restaurant thrives. Contact the guest: Website: https://cakeveganbakery.com Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share!  We are on Youtube: @RestaurantUnstoppable

Ilma Lopez is from Venezuela and moved to the US in 2001 to go to school. She ended up going to culinary school in NYC and worked there for high profile chefs like Daniel Boulud and others. She worked in Spain for a year and then worked a cruise ship for a year as well. She and her husband moved to 2011 and opened their first restaurant, Piccolo, in 2013. She then opened Chaval and closed Piccolo in 2020. Ugly Duckling was opened in 2023. The two restaurants gross 2 million in revenue. Restaurant Unstoppable - EVOLVE! - Eric of Restaurant Unstoppable is now taking consultation and coaching calls! Book a consultation today! Schedule your call to become UNSTOPPABLE! Check out the website for more details: https://www.restaurantunstoppable.com/evolve Today's sponsors: Restaurant Systems Pro: When you join Restaurant Systems Pro through February of 2025, They will handle your 2024 books at no charge. Here’s what you get: Organization of all invoices and expenses;AI Scanning of products so you know the usage; Reconciling your accounts; Tracking inventory and labor costs; and Providing detailed P&L reports Head to RestaurantUnstoppable.com/RSP and be sure to mention this special offer.   Let’s make 2025 the year your restaurant thrives. Contact the guest: Ugly Duckling website: https://www.uglyducklingmaine.com Chaval website: https://www.chavalmaine.com Thanks for listening! Rate the podcast, subscribe, and share!  We are on Youtube: @RestaurantUnstoppable