On The Pass

“Tea mind,” as referenced by Steve Schwartz, is the simple, celebratory act of serving tea and has well-documented, powerful health and wellness benefits on a physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional level. Over the years, researchers have discovered how the ingredients in a cup of tea can lift mood, improve focus, and perhaps even ward off depression and dementia.  The combination of this simple act paired with quality ingredients lends itself to a 360 welness experience.   Master Tea Blender and Founder and CEO of Art of Tea, Steve Schwartz, in large part, has based his career on his belief in the powerful benefits of tea and is on a mission to impact as many lives as possible through tea. Steve lost his mother at an early age, and the tragic loss lead him on a path to discover and explore wellness. He found Ayurveda, the ancient Indian medical system based on ancient writings that rely on a “natural” and holistic approach to physical and mental health.   Steve begins our conversation with a proper tea tasting experience, giving both myself and listeners a snapshot of the art of tasting tea. We get properly grounded, present, and activate our tea minds. He shares his own philosophy around healthy living, which he pulls from his studies of Ayurvedic practices. Steve also provides insight into his travels in search of the perfect product, as well as the numerous lives he gets to interact with along the way.   Grab yourself a cup of tea, get grounded, and enjoy episode 61 with Steve Schwartz, Founder and CEO of Art of Tea.   🚀Special offer to On The Pass listeners. 20% off discountable Art of Tea products through June 21st with code ONTHEPASS20   For more info on Art of Tea: http://bit.ly/3nXgqxK     Follow Art of Tea on Instagram: http://bit.ly/3MCHeh3     Check out Steve's Book: http://bit.ly/3o5ikMT     Follow On The Pass on Instagram: http://bit.ly/3Kvgm1n     Follow our Host, Gabriel Ornelas on Instagram: http://bit.ly/3YS964b     Read Gabriel's Articles: http://bit.ly/3SnOsGG     Lets work together! Get in contact: www.gabrielornelas.com        

On this episode of the Hot Spot series, Gabriel Ornelas sits down with entrepreneur and sommelier Kristin Olszewski. Kristin is the Founder and CEO of Nomadica Wine—a premium, sustainably sourced canned wine brand that is looking to make waves in the industry, or as they say on the Nomadica website, they are sourcing universally gratifying wines with flavor profiles that are “serious enough for a glass, but vivacious enough to be sipped out of the can.”   Kristin earned a degree in sustainable agriculture before embarking on pre-med studies at Harvard, but life had different plans for her. She met the owner of a wine bar who sparked her passion for wine, and decided to drop out of Harvard Medical School to earn a Level 3 sommelier certification.    Kristin then spent the next decade working at iconic and award winning establishments like Saison, Osteria Mozza, Gigi’s, Husk and numerous others. Now Kristin is on a mission to disrupt the wine industry and is architecting a plan to draw in younger consumers to the category.   For more info on Nomadica: http://bit.ly/3G07uxZ     Follow Nomadica on Instagram: http://bit.ly/3JTvuE6     Follow Kristin Olszewski on Instgram: https://www.instagram.com/kristin___o/     Follow On The Pass: http://bit.ly/3Kvgm1n     Follow our Host, Gabriel Ornelas: http://bit.ly/3YS964b     Read Gabriel's Articles: http://bit.ly/3SnOsGG     Lets work together! Get in contact: www.gabrielornelas.com      

"Everywhere in the world there are tensions – economic, political, religious. So we need chocolate,” says the great Alain Ducasse—iconic chef, creator, and artisan of living. We couldn’t agree more and believe life is so much better because of chocolate. Chocolate is one of the most beloved foods and ingredients around the world. Almost every culture and society have a passionate love affair with it. There is no limit to the power chocolate has in cultivating emotive reactions, and it often accompanies major milestones throughout our lives.    But have you ever been curious about how chocolate is made? The rich history of chocolate? Ever wonder about the ways chefs and chocolatiers from all over the globe put their own unique, creative twists on this ancient super food? At On The Pass, these are questions we often contemplate on, as we are fortune enough to sit down with the best chefs and creatives in the business. We decided to go straight to the source and have on our next guest.   You may remember on a previous episode, Gabriel was in Mérida, Mexico in November 2022, for Latin America’s 50 Best Awards and got to spend time with Philippe Bongrain. Philippe is the CEO of República del Cacao, a Certified B-Corp creating the most authentic Latin American Chocolate hand-in-hand with local communities.    As Chief Executive of one of the premier chocolate manufacturers based in Quito, Ecuador—the birthplace of the modern domestication of premium fine cacao—Philippe provides in-depth insight into his company’s passion and dedication to the craft and a step-by-step process from cacao seed to chocolate bar. Philippe enthusiastically takes us on a journey through Ecuador, the origins of modern-day chocolate making, and República del Cacao’s mission of creating a chocolate with purpose.    For more info on República del Cacao: http://bit.ly/3ZRoVIv     Follow República del Cacao on Instagram: http://bit.ly/3mGwWBw       Follow Philippe Bongrain on Instgram: http://bit.ly/4211GNM       Follow On The Pass: http://bit.ly/3Kvgm1n       Follow our Host, Gabriel Ornelas: http://bit.ly/3YS964b       Read Gabriel's Articles: http://bit.ly/3SnOsGG     Lets work together! Get in contact: www.gabrielornelas.com    

The journey of an entrepreneur is often layered with numerous challenges and setbacks. It requires a certain level of determination, sacrifice, willingness to learn, and getting used to hearing alot of no’s. Layering on the challenges Black women face in our society adds another element of difficulty. Our next guest speaks to her own entrepreneurial journey as a Black woman, the hurdles she has faced, and her beautiful breakthroughs.   Nina Oduro is an entrepreneur, host, social justice warrior, and Chief Enjoyment Officer, as she proclaims on her Instagram. She is the CEO and Co-founder of Dine Diaspora, an agency connecting people and brands to African food culture through experiential marketing and branding services. She’s also Co-founder of Black Women in Food, an initiative she launched in 2018 that, “identifies, amplifies, and supports Black women in the food and beverage industry."   Nina was born in Ghana, West Africa and was raised in the United States. Her mission is to create a more equitable food system through initiatives that center the African diaspora. She has been recognized by numerous organizations for her work, and her writing has been featured in Black Enterprise Magazine, Cuisine Noir Magazine, and Fields Magazine.   Nina discusses her journey as an entrepreneur into the culinary industry and the many challenges she’s faced. She also touches on the impact and incredible programming she and her co-founders are developing to advance Black creatives and their work, as well as contribute to a more equitable and sustainable food system. Listen now to this inspiring, informative, and fun conversation as Nina takes us through her entrepreneurial journey.     For more info on Dine Diaspora: http://bit.ly/3Irirc6     Follow Dine Diaspora on Instagram: http://bit.ly/3IhKRoW     For More info on Black Women in Food: http://bit.ly/3XRaKSo     Follow Nina on Instagram: http://bit.ly/3KplynE     Follow On The Pass: http://bit.ly/3Kvgm1n     Follow our Host, Gabriel Ornelas: http://bit.ly/3YS964b     Read Gabriel's Articles: http://bit.ly/3SnOsGG     Lets work together! Get in contact: www.gabrielornelas.com  

On this episode of the Hot Spot series, Gabriel Ornelas sits down with Chef Charlie Mitchell, chef and co-owner of Clover Hill, a restaurant in Brooklyn, New York. Charlie is no stranger to the kitchen. Over the past 9 years, the 30-year-old Detroit native has worked sous chef and executive sous chef positions at Eleven Madison Park, Jônt in DC, Bresca in DC, the Greenwich village neighborhood classic Villanelle, and One White Street in Tribeca. An incredible resume for just under a decade in the business.      Only 8 months after Charlie began his first executive chef position at Clover Hill, he made history by becoming the first Black chef in NYC to receive MICHELIN Guide NY 2022 Young Chef Award. And just a week ago, James Beard Foundation announced Charlie as one of the semi-finalists for the 2023 James Beard Awards' Emerging Chef category.     In this episode, Charlie and I discuss his history-making Michelin award and what that means for him, his partners, and his team moving forward. He shares how he stays balanced and grounded, while also pushing forward and continuing to evolve as a chef. We cannot wait to see how Charlie continues to make an impact in NY and around the world as his platform grows.   For more info on Clover Hill: https://www.cloverhillbk.com     Follow Charlie and Clover Hill on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuckgood/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/cloverhillbk/?hl=en     Follow On The Pass: https://bit.ly/3BpHckD     Follow our Host, Gabriel Ornelas: https://bit.ly/3hTpONC     Read Gabriel's recent LinkedIn artcile: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/playa-viva-design-culture-wellness-yes-food-gabriel-ornelas/?trackingId=Up0neKK5SgODudXglUKerQ%3D%3D     Lets work together! Get in contact: www.gabrielornelas.com  

“Fill your life with adventures, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show.” - Unknown  This quote really embodies how Luis Vargas lives his life and runs his business. Luis is one of the worlds premier experiential travel executives and thought leaders. He is Founder and CEO of Modern Adventure, a certified b-corp, climate neutral and award winning travel company based in Portland, Oregon.  Luis and the Modern Adventure team, as they say, are purveyors of joy, and believe that travel can be a force for good in the world, but also how we travel matters. Luis and his team go through a great deal of effort to not just ensure travel clients are satisfied, but also the impact they leave on the local destinations are positive and majority of the money stays within the country.  In 2017 Luis delivered his TEdx talk entitled “Travel more, buy less” where essentially he is encouraging us all to invest in experiences not more stuff, a talk which has since garnered over 1.7M views and growing.  He discusses how travel has shaped his journey and development as a man, a father, a husband and CEO. We explore how his company, Modern Adventure focuses on culinary and chef talent as an integral component of many of the travel experiences they develop. And now as a company, they are moving even deeper into this space, with the recently launched new division, Paragon by Modern Adventure, a collection of the worlds premier culinary, creative and cultural travel experiences.  Clients can experience the best in travel coupled with top tier iconic talent being their guides. A recent, Paragon partnership is with Kyle Cannaughton. Kyle is the Owner/Chef of SingleThread a 3-Michelin star and World’s 50 Best Restaurant in Healdsburg Ca. For example, this program gives clients the opportunity to book an exclusive travel experience to Japan or explore California Wine Country intimately with Kyle. We also touch on some travel trends and what to expect in 2023. Happy Holidays and enjoy!   For more info on Modern Adventure:  https://modernadventure.com     Follow Modern Adventure on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernadventurists/     Follow On The Pass: https://bit.ly/3BpHckD     Follow our Host, Gabriel Ornelas: https://bit.ly/3hTpONC   Lets work together! Get in contact: www.gabrielornelas.com  

Did you know, coffee consumption in the United States rose by 14% from January 2021 through January 2022, according to the National Coffee Association? And demand for top-quality coffee like organic and fair-trade is on a roll in every region of the world.   Coffee was an important part of my early life for many years, but not for the reasons you may think. I wasn’t a consumer, or even the passionate consumer I am today until 2011. From 2002 - 2009 I was a barista at Starbucks, but never drank coffee. At that time, I was just deeply passionate about coffee culture, and how this ritual was impacting people lives. I was so happy to be apart of this 2nd wave, bringing joy into peoples mornings and creating community. It wasn’t until I moved to Venice that I became a consumer and in large part I have to thank Groundwork Coffee for that. I’m just happy my entry point into the category as a consumer was with such a premium, organic and great brand.   I recently met Eddy Cola, CEO of Groundwork Coffee Co at a restaurant in Venice. Being as Groundwork was a catalyst for my early entry point into coffee, I was excited to chat with him. Eddy, is a fascinating person and entrepreneur originally from Montreal Canada. His career started in music, both as a musician and talent mamanger and then developed into a management role at his family business, a beef processing company. He joined Groundwork in 2011, and has been on a mission to build this organically gown, fair-traded coffee brand into the 10 retail cafes, two roasters, a brewery (for cold brew/nitro) and the national network of distribution, it is at today.   In this epiosde, Eddy highlights how Groundwork recently celebrated 3 decades in business and went through a recent rebranding. He discusses his guiding principles of conscious capitalizism and how he leads Groundwork into the future as the category and competition continues to grow.   For On The Pass listeners, Eddy and the team are offering 20% off orders made through their website with the code ONTHEPASS20. Get your coffee supply up for the holidays and take advantage of this generous offer.    For more info on Groundwork Coffee Co: https://www.groundworkcoffee.com     Follow Groundwork Coffee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groundworkcoffee/?hl=en     Follow On The Pass: https://bit.ly/3BpHckD     Follow our Host, Gabriel Ornelas: https://bit.ly/3hTpONC     Gabriel's Article - Old Road Rum Co: A Brand, A History, A Mission (St. Kitts and Nevis): https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/old-road-rum-co-brand-history-mission-gabriel-ornelas/?trackingId=     Lets work together! Get in contact: www.gabrielornelas.com  

This epiosde was recorded in Jan 2020 and released in April 2020. Iconic award-winning Chef-Owner and Restaurateur Daniel Boulud discusses the early days in his career, why building a strong corporate culture is important, and how he’s maintained longevity with over 4 decades in the culinary industry. For more information on Daniel Boulud and his team: https://www.danielboulud.com   Follow Daniel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielboulud/?hl=en   Follow On The Pass: https://bit.ly/3BpHckD   Follow our Host, Gabriel Ornelas: https://bit.ly/3hTpONC   Read Gabriel's recent articles: https://www.gabrielornelas.com/#articles  

On this episode of the Hot Spot series, Gabriel Ornelas sits down with Chef Pyet DeSpain, a rising culinary talent who hit national notoriety as the recent winner of Gordon Ramsey’s "Next Level Chef" Season 1 on Fox Network. Having grown up on a reservation and a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, Pyet collides the cuisine of both her Native American and Mexican heritage.  Having won "Next Level Chef" on national TV, she talks about finding a new sense of identity as a spokesperson to share her knowledge, shine light on the Indigenous community,  and to be proud of the resilience that is engrained in the culture. Listen to this epsidode as we dive into who Pyet really is and explore the cultures that inspire her mission driven work.   For more info on Pyet: https://www.pyetsplate.com/about-me     Follow Pyet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefpyet/?hl=en     Follow On The Pass: https://bit.ly/3BpHckD     Follow our Host, Gabriel Ornelas: https://bit.ly/3hTpONC     Learn more about On The Pass: https://bit.ly/3J2PPXP     Read Gabriel's Articles: http://bit.ly/3SnOsGG     Lets work together! Get in contact: https://www.studioornelas.com www.gabrielornelas.com

It all started in 1902 when Vittorio Fasano, an Italian from Milan arrived in São Paulo, Brazil with a dream to open a restaurant. Since then, the Fasano family — the biggest name in Brazilian hospitality for over a century — has built a legendary portfolio that expands over 26 restaurants and 9 hotels across South America and more recently North America. This episode's conversation takes place in person at Fasano Restaurant in New York, the newest addition to the group's roster, with Gero Fasano, the great grandson of Vittorio and the present-day face behind Fasano Group. Having created culturally relevant scenes that epitomize classic, cool, and timeless since buying the family business back at 19 years old, Gero recalls the impact Fasano had in permeating elevated hospitality throughout South America. He also shares what’s next for the brand as it plans to bring its distinct personal approach of luxury to major cities around the world.   For more information on Fasano: https://www.fasano.com.br     Follow Fasano Group on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fasano/     Follow Gero on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gerofasano/?hl=en     Follow On The Pass: https://bit.ly/3BpHckD     Follow our Host, Gabriel Ornelas: https://bit.ly/3hTpONC     Learn more about On The Pass: https://bit.ly/3J2PPXP     Read Gabriel's Articles: http://bit.ly/3SnOsGG     Lets work together! Get in contact: https://www.studioornelas.com www.gabrielornelas.com