The Repertoire Podcast

In this episode, Ray breaks down how close to 10% of Americans are using Ozempic, and how this is affecting restaurants. He also breaks down the real reason behind Tesla creating a diner, and how the Pumpkin Spice Latte crushed expectations for Starbucks. He discusses the reporting mistakes made by Beyond Meat, breaks down how restaurants performed in July, examines a major food company breakup, and shares his thoughts on a new beverage trend. (Photo in thumbnail: Ye Fan for The New York Times)Links:Ozempic (NYT)Radio Iowa (Ozempic impact)Fast Company (Culina AI Chef)Tesla Diner (NYT)Starbucks (Pumpkin Spice)Beyond Meat Bankruptcy RumorRestaurant Performance IndexKraft Heinz SplitDirty Soda TrendIf you come across something you ended up having to search for, send us a message to help make these Show Notes better!_____________________Enjoy the pod? Get more from Repertoire:💌 → ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Repertoire Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠🎙 → ⁠⁠⁠⁠Share the Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 → ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠__Disclaimer: We earn commission income through qualifying purchases made via Amazon’s Affiliate program and other affiliate links in this description.🙏Thank you for listening.

In this episode, Justin breaks down how Chefs are now making $100,000 more than ever before and why this trend is a major positive for the industry. He also shares reporting from the LA Times on a new restaurant transitioning from fine dining to casual, a restaurant closure in Washington, D.C., and a Business Insider piece on a Michelin-starred restaurant managing finances during this challenging time.Ray shares about a restaurant in Mexico City that charges customers only what they can afford, and how this is inspiring others in the industry to follow suit. He also shares about a new Netflix cooking competition that is taking place at The Culinary Institute of America, the trend of brand collabs, and how a variety of cabbage is taking over the London food scene.Links:$100K ChefLA Times (Pasjoli)Reverie ClosingMasal y MaizFood CollabsCIA Show (Netflix)Cabbage (NYT)If you come across something you ended up having to search for, send us a message to help make these Show Notes better!_____________________Enjoy the pod? Get more from Repertoire:💌 → ⁠⁠⁠The Repertoire Newsletter⁠⁠⁠🎙 → ⁠⁠⁠Share the Podcast⁠⁠⁠📸 → ⁠⁠⁠Instagram__Disclaimer: We earn commission income through qualifying purchases made via Amazon’s Affiliate program and other affiliate links in this description.🙏Thank you for listening.

In this episode, Ray discusses an article by Chef Nick Curtin of Alouette. He discusses Chef's view on how foraging has impacted the food system of Denmark, and what we can take away from this impact. Ray then discusses how the Federal Takeover of D.C. has destroyed restaurant reservations. He then looks at how fast casual restaurants are not doing well, how honey is taking over consumer diets, and why AI displacements mean more workers in the food industry. (Cover photo from Eater article)Timestamps:0:00 Intro 0:45 Foraging Ruining Restaurants 14:07 DC Restaurants 20:29 Minimal Catch Up 22:13 Fast Casual Dining 28:36 Honey Consumption 30:38 AI Displacement _____________________Links: ⁠Foraging Trend⁠⁠DC Restaurants 1⁠⁠DC Restaurants 2⁠⁠Fast Food⁠⁠Honey⁠⁠AI Chipotle⁠If you come across something you ended up having to search for, send us a message to help make these Show Notes better!_____________________Enjoy the pod? Get more from Repertoire:💌 → ⁠⁠The Repertoire Newsletter⁠⁠🎙 → ⁠⁠Share the Podcast⁠⁠📸 → ⁠⁠Instagram

Eleven Madison Park has decided that meat is back on the menu. Ray and Justin break down why they made this decision, the response from the food world to it, and much more. They also discuss how a Michelin-rated ice cream shop in Taiwan is a litmus test for the upcoming Michelin Guide release, the horrible story of a restaurant being stripped of its Michelin Stars due to the chef being arrested on an alleged assault charge, and much more.Eleven Madison ParkMichelin Ice CreamChef ArrestedBeyond Meat LayoffsBeyond Meat Q2 ReportRestaurant Performance IndexStressed Shopper ArticleIf you come across something you ended up having to search for, send us a message to help make these Show Notes better!_____________________Enjoy the pod? Get more from Repertoire:💌 → ⁠The Repertoire Newsletter⁠🎙 → ⁠Share the Podcast⁠📸 → ⁠Instagram⁠💌 → ⁠The Repertoire Newsletter⁠🎙 → ⁠Share the Podcast⁠📸 → ⁠Instagram

Joshua Weissman is facing a mountain of criticism for alleged poor behavior, plagiarism, and more. Justin and Ray break down the reporting on Joshua Weissman and warn of the lessons learned in the pattern of alleged behavior that has been reported on by one of YouTube's largest food content creators.Ray breaks down Uber's new AI investment, the latest news on beef and poultry pricing, and how agentic AI is being utilized by Walmart. He also examines some industry trends observed at the Fancy Foods Show. Justin breaks down the Wall Street Journal piece on how hotel rooms are getting smaller and how hotel brands are rethinking their approach to hospitality. (Images in YouTube video sourced from Rosenthal reporting.)Links: YouTube LinksWSJ HotelsOther ResourcesJoshua WeissmanWalmart AIUber Eats AIBeef PricesAmazon GroceryFancy FoodsIf you come across something you ended up having to search for, send us a message to help make these Show Notes better!_____________________Enjoy the pod? Get more from Repertoire:💌 → The Repertoire Newsletter🎙 → Share the Podcast📸 → Instagram💌 → The Repertoire Newsletter🎙 → Share the Podcast📸 → Instagram

In this episode of the Repertoire Report, Ray starts by discussing the tragic passing of Anne Burrell, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness in the food industry. He shares personal experiences with mental health struggles in the restaurant industry and stresses the significance of checking in on each other. The second part of the episode addresses the current financial crisis at Johnson and Wales University, analyzing an article that criticizes the school's administration and program offerings. Ray and Justin provide their perspectives on the future of culinary education and the steps needed to ensure its sustainability. The episode concludes with a call to action for mental health support and a discussion on the importance of culinary schools in offering comprehensive education beyond basic cooking skills.Links: If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out for help:988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.) – Call or text 988 for free and confidential support.International Hotlines – Global list of crisis and suicide prevention hotlines.The Burnt Chef Project – Mental health resources tailored for hospitality professionals.Humans of the Kitchen – Peer stories and mental health support for the culinary community.Anne Burrell – Cause of Death (NY Times)The Rise and Fall of Johnson & Wales University (James G. Martin Center)Enjoy the pod? Get more from Repertoire:💌 → The Repertoire Newsletter🎙 → Share the Podcast📸 → InstagramDisclaimer: We earn commission income with qualifying purchases made through Amazon’s Affiliate program and other affiliate links in this description.🙏Thank you for listening

Links: Higher Starting Costs: https://www.foodandwine.com/restaurant-opening-costs-increase-post-pandemic-11776163YouTube: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-21/how-youtube-is-shaping-a-new-generation-of-chefsTravis Kalanick on All In, Discussing Lab Robotics: https://youtu.be/KypnjJSKi4o?si=toidvBcjlt3QF1wpPipedream: https://x.com/thegarrettscott/status/1944801083177505235Nuance In The Gloom: https://x.com/a_food_maniac/status/1947466050485760128 Justin's Instagram: @justinkhannaFollow The Repertoire Podcast on Instagram: @joinrepertoire—What's next? 👇Share the PodcastGet Total Station DominationTake the 5-Day-Kitchen-Productivity ChallengeGet on my Email NewsletterSupport the show for $19 a month via the Repertoire Pro Community for Industry ProfessionalsMy latest upload on YouTubeRate the show on SpotifyLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet in touch with JustinTweet at JustinFollow along on InstagramSign up for one-on-one Coaching with JustinBrowse the gear used to create this💌Send me mail:Justin Khanna5920 MLK Jr. Way SUnit 18272Seattle, WA 98118 USA—

Links: Eater: https://www.eater.com/food-culture/893018/jose-andres-chef-humanitariancomic-book-hero Food Dive 1: https://www.fooddive.com/news/us-ice-cream-makers-commit-to-artificial-dye-phase-out-by-2028/753065/ Food Dive 2: https://www.fooddive.com/news/tariffs-meat-drive-inflation-conagra-cfo-says/752918/ Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-09/chocolate-makers-burned-again-as-shortages-hit-cocoa-powder?srnd=phx-industries-consumer Axios: https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/07/15/korean-food-popularity-sf-ca Justin's Instagram: @justinkhannaFollow The Repertoire Podcast on Instagram: @joinrepertoire—What's next? 👇Share the PodcastGet Total Station DominationTake the 5-Day-Kitchen-Productivity ChallengeGet on my Email NewsletterSupport the show for $19 a month via the Repertoire Pro Community for Industry ProfessionalsMy latest upload on YouTubeRate the show on SpotifyLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet in touch with JustinTweet at JustinFollow along on InstagramSign up for one-on-one Coaching with JustinBrowse the gear used to create this💌Send me mail:Justin Khanna5920 MLK Jr. Way SUnit 18272Seattle, WA 98118 USA—

Links: QSR: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/story/why-back-of-house-clarity-for-restaurants-is-key-to-navigating-an-uncertain-economy/ Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-07/starbucks-menu-news-chain-wants-to-get-rid-of-canola-oil-in-its-food?srnd=phx-industries-consumer Red Lobster: https://www.campaignlive.com/article/popular-ceo-viral-seafood-boils-story-behind-red-lobsters-biz-comeback/1923541 Food Dive: https://www.fooddive.com/news/walmart-case-ready-beef-facility-supply-chain-opening/752325/ Fashion: https://thefashionography.com/fashion/why-fashion-brands-are-suddenly-hungry-for-food-ventures/ Belmond: https://www.belmond.com/trains/europe/uk/britannic-explorer Justin's Instagram: @justinkhannaFollow The Repertoire Podcast on Instagram: @joinrepertoire—What's next? 👇Share the PodcastGet Total Station DominationTake the 5-Day-Kitchen-Productivity ChallengeGet on my Email NewsletterSupport the show for $19 a month via the Repertoire Pro Community for Industry ProfessionalsMy latest upload on YouTubeRate the show on SpotifyLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet in touch with JustinTweet at JustinFollow along on InstagramSign up for one-on-one Coaching with JustinBrowse the gear used to create this💌Send me mail:Justin Khanna5920 MLK Jr. Way SUnit 18272Seattle, WA 98118 USA—

Links: Nissin: https://www.fooddive.com/news/ramen-maker-nissin-launches-brand-to-attract-glp-1-users-health-conscious/751390/ Alinea: https://chicago.eater.com/closings/159756/fire-restaurant-closing-fulton-market-chicago-grant-achatz-alinea-group Food Navigator: https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2025/07/01/glp-1s-food-industry-response/ Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-30/starbucks-beefs-up-hiring-process-in-search-for-best-baristas?srnd=phx-industries-consumer National Restaurant Association: https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/research/restaurant-economic-insights/restaurant-performance-index/ Wingstop: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/story/is-wingstop-on-the-verge-of-another-sales-tear/ Florida's New Law: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/entertainment/restaurants/2025/06/30/tallahassee-restaurants-feel-impact-of-no-shows-support-new-law/84322780007/ Justin's Instagram: @justinkhannaFollow The Repertoire Podcast on Instagram: @joinrepertoire—What's next? 👇Share the PodcastGet Total Station DominationTake the 5-Day-Kitchen-Productivity ChallengeGet on my Email NewsletterSupport the show for $19 a month via the Repertoire Pro Community for Industry ProfessionalsMy latest upload on YouTubeRate the show on SpotifyLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet in touch with JustinTweet at JustinFollow along on InstagramSign up for one-on-one Coaching with JustinBrowse the gear used to create this💌Send me mail:Justin Khanna5920 MLK Jr. Way SUnit 18272Seattle, WA 98118 USA—