The Restaurant Guys

Latest Episodes:

Marcus Samuelsson on The Soul of a New Cuisine May 01, 2025

Show notes

This is a Vintage Selection from 2007

The Banter

The Guys talk about restaurants being an integral part of emerging downtowns and about a yogurt shop that needs a bouncer.

The Conversation

The Restaurant Guys host Marcus Sammuelson to talk about cuisines all over the world, particularly the regions of Africa. He wants to open people’s eyes to the delicious flavors of African cuisine and expresses interest in opening an African restaurant someday. This dream finally happened in 2024!

The Inside Track

The Guys and Marcus discuss the uniqueness of the restaurant business and the power of food to communicate.

“Food is an incredible thing! Through food, people can see your passion and your culture. You can teach people where you're from and what you believe in, which not every business can really do,” Marcus Sammuelson on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2007

Bio

Marcus Samuelsson is the chef behind many restaurants worldwide, including Red Rooster Harlem and Red Rooster Overtown in Miami; Hav & Mar in the Chelsea Arts District; Metropolis at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in lower Manhattan; “Marcus” restaurants in Atlanta and New Jersey, plus several international locations. His latest venture, Marcus DC debuts Spring 2025 at The Morrow in Washington DC.

In 2023, Marcus earned an Emmy Award for the Short Form Program “My Mark.” He is a longstanding judge and TV personality on the hit Food Network show Chopped, head judge of Top Chef: Family Style, and an Iron Chef on Netflix’s rebooted Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend, and makes frequent appearances on Scandinavian TV. He is the author of multiple books including The New York Times bestseller Yes, Chef: A Memoir as well as the critically acclaimed The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food.

Samuelsson is co-chair of Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), which focuses on helping underserved youth.

Samuelsson was the youngest person ever to receive a three-star review from the New York Times. He has won eight James Beard Foundation Awards.

Info

Marcus Addi (his African restaurant)

https://www.marcusaddis.com/about/

Marcus’ book

The Soul Of A New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa

UNICEF (Marcus has been an Ambassador since 2000)

https://www.unicefusa.org/

C-Cap, Culinary Careers Program

https://culinarycareers.org/

Oct 26-31 - Spooky Bar at Stage Left Steak

https://www.stageleft.com/event/spooky-bar-1026-1031/

Oct 27, Tuesday - Robert Simonson book signing cocktail party

More info - https://www.stageleft.com/events/

Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regular

https://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/

Magyar Bank

https://www.magbank.com/

Stage Left Wine Shop

https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Our Places

Stage Left Steak
https://www.stageleft.com/

Catherine Lombardi Restaurant
https://www.catherinelombardi.com/

Stage Left Wineshop
https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Reach Out to The Guys!
TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com

Scott Conant on The Restaurant Guys LIVE! Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

The Conversation

The Restaurant Guys welcome Scott Conant to a conversation LIVE at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. They talk about Scott’s origin story, what it’s like being a television personality as a host, judge and competitor and why he's going to upgrade the Italian products you can use at home: it’s all about soul.

The Inside Track

The Guys have enjoyed Scott’s cooking and vision since they ate his food at his NYC restaurants and had Scott as a guest on The Restaurant Guys in 2005. Scott has uttered Mark’s favorite line spoken on television. (It was directed at one of their former chefs. You’ll want to hear it!)

Scott explains what has guided him throughout his life and advises young chefs to do the same.

“When I identify bullshit, I walk away from it. I think that's been really difficult for me at certain times in my career. It's always served me in the end because I only choose the things that I love to do, but I do it with full commitment, with no expectation of result except the love and the passion that I have for it,”Scott Conant on The Restaurant Guys LIVE 2025

Bio

Scott opened L'Impero in NYC. Following L'Impero, Scott went on to open Alto. Scott left L'Impero and Alto in 2007 and, in 2008, launched Scarpetta in Manhattan. Later, Cellaio in Monticello, NY then The Americano in Atlanta, GA.

Scott is known as a judge on Chopped for over a decade and frequent co-host on Beat Bobby Flay. His newest show, House of Knives, debuted in 2025. In addition, Scott has made frequent guest appearances on The Today Show, Rachael Ray Show, and Good Morning America, and others.

Scott's most recent cookbook is Peace, Love, and Pasta: Simple and Elegant Recipes from a Chef's Home Kitchen.

He is opening up several new eateries and launching a consumer products line in 2025.

Links

House of Knives on Food Network

https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/house-of-knives/articles/house-of-knives-announcement-food-network

Scott Conant

https://www.scottconant.com/

Promise Culinary School

https://elijahspromise.org/promise-culinary/

Oct 26-31 - Spooky Bar at Stage Left Steak

https://www.stageleft.com/event/spooky-bar-1026-1031/

Oct 27, Tuesday - Robert Simonson book signing cocktail party

More info - https://www.stageleft.com/events/

Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regular

https://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/

Magyar Bank

https://www.magbank.com/

Stage Left Wine Shop

https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Our Places

Stage Left Steak
https://www.stageleft.com/

Catherine Lombardi Restaurant
https://www.catherinelombardi.com/

Stage Left Wineshop
https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Reach Out to The Guys!
TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com

Hell’s Backbone Grill with A Measure of Grace Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

This is a Vintage Selection from 2005

The Banter

The Guys discuss the joy and ridiculousness of weddings.

The Conversation

The Restaurant guys are joined by Blake Spalding and Jennifer Castle of Hell’s Backbone Grill in Boulder, Utah. They talk about how they got there, how they became part of their community and how they’ve created something truly special in the middle of nowhere.

The Inside Track

The Guys heard about their book and became enchanted with their story. They discuss how vision and passion can create relationships and fulfillment for themselves and their staff.

“To give people work that has meaning, where they feel like they're part of something larger. We have a mission that doesn't have much to do with making money. That's why people come back year after year and give us their hearts and their souls…and work themselves to the bone to make it happen,” Blake Spalding on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2005

Bio

Blake Spalding and Jennifer Castle both started as river chefs. In the year 2000, the opportunity to own Hell’s Backbone Grill presented itself, and they moved to Boulder, Utah.

Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm was selected as a James Beard Awards semifinalist in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and advanced to nominee in 2020, the year the awards were canceled due to the pandemic. Spalding and Castle were honored most recently by the restaurant’s inclusion as semi-finalists for Outstanding Restaurant for both 2022 and 2023.

Co-owners Jen Castle and Blake Spalding have also created a retail line of food and two acclaimed cookbooks, With a Measure of Grace, the Stories and Recipes of a Small Town Restaurant, and This Immeasurable Place, Food and Farming from the Edge of Wilderness.

They operate a food truck dubbed “Little Bone.”

They, along with investors and donors, very recently acquired the Boulder Mountain Lodge property in Boulder, Utah.

Info

Hell’s Backbone Grill, Boulder, Utah

https://www.hellsbackbonegrill.com/

With a Measure of Grace: The Story and Recipes of a Small Town Restaurant

by Blake Spalding, Jennifer Castle and Livinia Spalding

https://www.hellsbackbonegrill.com/shop/p/with-a-measure-of-grace

Oct 26-31 - Spooky Bar at Stage Left Steak

https://www.stageleft.com/event/spooky-bar-1026-1031/

Oct 27, Tuesday - Robert Simonson book signing cocktail party

More info - https://www.stageleft.com/events/

Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regular

https://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/

Magyar Bank

https://www.magbank.com/

Stage Left Wine Shop

https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Our Places

Stage Left Steak
https://www.stageleft.com/

Catherine Lombardi Restaurant
https://www.catherinelombardi.com/

Stage Left Wineshop
https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Reach Out to The Guys!
TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com

Jillian Vose: The Apple of Hazel & Apple in Charleston Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

The Banter

The Guys talk about their visit to one of their new favorite cities: Charleston, SC.

The Conversation

The Restaurant Guys catch up with cocktail creator and bar operator Jillian Vose in her Charleston home as she prepares to open up her newest venture, Hazel and Apple, with business partner Sean Muldoon. Jillian tells her story of where she’s been and where she’s going (which is pretty exciting!)

The Inside Track

The Guys have known Jillian from Death & Co. and The Dead Rabbit (NYC) and were happy to meet up while they were in Charleston. Jillian shares some of what she is looking forward to about running her soon-to-open bar Hazel and Apple.

“Knowing that people want to work, they want to do a good job, and hiring the right people and investing in people, having a great education program and giving people opportunities not only helps yourself, but them. That is what I want to achieve and create: a great community and a great working environment,” Jillian Vose on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2025

Bio

Jillian Vose is a renowned mixologist and entrepreneur, celebrated for her innovative approach to cocktails and her influential presence in the beverage industry. After starting out in AZ, she quickly ascended the ranks, contributing significantly to establishments like Clover Club, Maison Premiere, Death & Co., and notably, The Dead Rabbit in NYC. Her latest venture, Hazel and Apple in Charleston, SC, is set to bring a fresh perspective to the city's vibrant bar scene.

Co-authored Mixology & Mayhem and Paddy Drinks: The World of Modern Irish Whiskey Cocktails

Named one of the 10 Best American Bartenders in 2017 by the Spirited Awards from Tales of The Cocktail.

Info

Hazel and Apple, Charleston, SC

https://www.hazelandapple.com/

Badger Bevs

https://badgerbevs.com/

Oct 26-31 - Spooky Bar at Stage Left Steak

https://www.stageleft.com/event/spooky-bar-1026-1031/

Oct 27, Tuesday - Robert Simonson book signing cocktail party

More info - https://www.stageleft.com/events/

Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regular

https://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/

Magyar Bank

https://www.magbank.com/

Stage Left Wine Shop

https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Our Places

Stage Left Steak
https://www.stageleft.com/

Catherine Lombardi Restaurant
https://www.catherinelombardi.com/

Stage Left Wineshop
https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Reach Out to The Guys!
TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com

TEASER! David Page: Home at Shinn Estate Vineyards Apr 19, 2025

Show notes

This is a Vintage Selection from 2007

The Conversation

The Restaurant Guys share this conversation Francis had with chef and winemaker David Page at the opening weekend of his new bed & breakfast on Shinn Estate Vineyards. He talks about growing and sourcing food on Long Island, ovens that cook for days and the differences between hosting a guest for a couple of hours or a couple of days.

The Inside Track

The Guys knew David from The Red Meat Club (a monthly gathering of NYC restaurateurs) and his restaurant Home which he ran with wife Barbara Shinn. The couple bought a vineyard and taught themselves how to grow grapes and make wine. He talks about immersing themselves in their lives as farmers, winemakers and proprietors of a bed & breakfast.

“We love our lifestyle. We really, truly, truly do. It doesn't mean that every second of every day we're in ecstasy, but we love our lifestyle. And when you find something that you love, it's worth doing. So yes, we do wake up very early and we do spend the entirety of our day immersed in this lifestyle, and there's not anything else that we can think that we really want to do other than have a nice glass of wine at the end of the day and have a good dinner.

And we retire and we start all over the next day,” David Page on The Restaurant Guys 2007

David Page no longer owns Shinn Estate Vineyards.

Oct 26-31 - Spooky Bar at Stage Left Steak

https://www.stageleft.com/event/spooky-bar-1026-1031/

Oct 27, Tuesday - Robert Simonson book signing cocktail party

More info - https://www.stageleft.com/events/

Our Places

Stage Left Steak
https://www.stageleft.com/

Catherine Lombardi Restaurant
https://www.catherinelombardi.com/

Stage Left Wineshop
https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Reach Out to The Guys!
TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com

Barbara Shinn on Biodynamic Viticulture Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

This is a Vintage Selection from 2007

The Conversation

The Restaurant Guy, Francis, visits viticulturist Barbara Shinn at her vineyard in Long Island, NY. As they walk the fields, they discuss how she became a biodynamic farmer and how that is expressed in the wine. She uses a variety of methods from fish guts to laser planters with sublime results.

The Inside Track

The Guys knew Barbara from The Red Meat Club (a monthly gathering of NYC restaurateurs) and her restaurant Home which she ran with husband David Page. The couple bought a vineyard and taught themselves how to grow grapes and make wine. Barbara talks about forging her own path to create a sustainable vineyard with excellent wines.

“ My philosophy before we planted the vines was to make very, very high quality wine and to be as organic as possible. Our best winemaker friends and our best manager friends and even the viticultural section of Cornell University flat out said to us, ‘You cannot do both things at once. Here on the East Coast, we have too much disease pressure. It's too humid. You cannot be organic in this environment. So if you wanna make high quality wines, do that. You'll be lucky if two to 3% of the materials that you use in your vineyard are organic.’

And this year, well, I proved them wrong,” Barbara Shinn on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2007

Info

Barbara no longer owns Shinn Estate Vineyards

Oct 26-31 - Spooky Bar at Stage Left Steak

https://www.stageleft.com/event/spooky-bar-1026-1031/

Oct 27, Tuesday - Robert Simonson book signing cocktail party

More info - https://www.stageleft.com/events/

Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regular

https://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/

Magyar Bank

https://www.magbank.com/

Stage Left Wine Shop

https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Our Places

Stage Left Steak
https://www.stageleft.com/

Catherine Lombardi Restaurant
https://www.catherinelombardi.com/

Stage Left Wineshop
https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Reach Out to The Guys!
TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com

Peter Byck: Roots So Deep Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

The Banter

The Guys discuss wine dinners and tasting menus and how it’s fun to cede control of your dinner and be swept away.

The Conversation

The Restaurant Guys are thrilled to hear from Peter Byck, documentary filmmaker and advocate for climate solutions in cattle farming. Peter explains how we created the problem and how (relatively) easy it can be to repair it. Fascinating stuff!

The Inside Track

The Guys have promoted sustainable farming practices for decades, believing that solutions can be found that benefit both nature and the people involved. When they came across Peter’s work they had to have him on the show!

“We were doing research to find out if a method of grazing animals could be beneficial for the farmer, beneficial for the land, and beneficial for the climate. Those were our questions and, and we're finding that yes, it can be, and that's our focus,” Peter Byck on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2025

Bio

Peter Byck is a professor at Arizona State University where he teaches students to make short documentary films about sustainability solutions. He is the director, producer and writer of carbon nation, a documentary film about climate change solutions. In 2020, he completed carbon cowboys, a 10-part documentary short film series, focused on regenerative grazing.
Peter is currently helping to lead a $10 million research project comparing Adaptive Multi-Paddock (AMP) grazing with conventional grazing; collaborating with 20 scientists and 10 farm families, focused on soil health & soil carbon storage, microbial/bug/bird biodiversity, and much more. The research also includes a new, 4-part docuseries called “Roots So Deep (you can see the devil down there),” directed by Peter, which is all about the inventive farmers and maverick scientists building a path to solving climate change.

Info

Peter’s film Roots so Deep (You Can See the Devil Down There)

https://rootssodeep.org/

Carbon Cowboys YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@carboncowboys

Oct 26-31 - Spooky Bar at Stage Left Steak

https://www.stageleft.com/event/spooky-bar-1026-1031/

Oct 27, Tuesday - Robert Simonson book signing cocktail party

More info - https://www.stageleft.com/events/

Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regular

https://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/

Magyar Bank

https://www.magbank.com/

Stage Left Wine Shop

https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Our Places

Stage Left Steak
https://www.stageleft.com/

Catherine Lombardi Restaurant
https://www.catherinelombardi.com/

Stage Left Wineshop
https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Reach Out to The Guys!
TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com

Melissa Clark: Chef Interrupted Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

The Banter

The Guys talk about Francis’ decadent evening the night before with some industry mavens and a hog’s head.

The Conversation

The Restaurant Guys talk with writer Melissa Clark about her new cookbook Chef Interrupted which simplifies chef’s recipes for the home cook. The discuss cooking shortcuts, macaroni and cheese and kitchen gadgets that make your meal preparation easier and prettier.

The Inside Track

The Guys are loyal readers of Melissa’s articles and they love the concept of her new cookbook. Mark even gave her a tip.

Mark: The fact that water should never touch your pepper was one of those things we just classically learned in my family. In my family, we would wash with olive oil.

Melissa: That is such a good idea! If I had a recipe from you in this book, that's the kind of thing that would come out in the conversation we'd have. And I'd write it down because I think that's brilliant!

Melissa Clark on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2006

Bio

Melissa Clark is an American food writer, cookbook author and New York Times columnist. Clark has been a regular guest on television series such as Today show, Rachael Ray and Iron Chef America and on several radio programmes. In her early career, Clark was a freelance writer for various publications, including the New York Times. In 2007, she began her weekly "A Good Appetite" column at the New York Times and she became a full-time staff writer at the Times in 2012.

Melissa has written more than 40 cookbooks.

She’s won two James Beard Foundation awards and two IACP awards (International Association of Culinary Professionals) Her work has also been selected for the Best American Food Writing series.

Info

Melissa’s book
Chef, Interrupted: Delicious Chefs' Recipes That You Can Actually Make at Home

Melissa’s site

https://www.melissaclark.net/

Benriner Super Standard Mandoline Slicer
https://a.co/d/5flNuvv

Oct 26-31 - Spooky Bar at Stage Left Steak

https://www.stageleft.com/event/spooky-bar-1026-1031/

Oct 27, Tuesday - Robert Simonson book signing cocktail party

More info - https://www.stageleft.com/events/

Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regular

https://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/

Magyar Bank

https://www.magbank.com/

Stage Left Wine Shop

https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Our Places

Stage Left Steak
https://www.stageleft.com/

Catherine Lombardi Restaurant
https://www.catherinelombardi.com/

Stage Left Wineshop
https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Reach Out to The Guys!
TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com

Genevieve Yam: What Happened to The Honeycrisps? Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

The Banter

The Guys talk about the drive of hospitality and it isn’t what some folks say it is.

The Conversations

The Restaurant Guys welcome writer Genevieve Yam to discuss the decline in quality of Honeycrisp apples. Genevieve, who has investigated this issue, shares what happened and how we can keep other varieties from following suit.

The Inside Track

The Guys have been fans of Honeycrisp apples since the 1990s and even gave them as birthday gifts. Genevieve’s article about the apple’s origin, rise and “crapification” intrigued them so they had Genevieve on to tell them about it.

“Dr. David Bedford and Dr. Jim Luby, two scientists working at the University of Minnesota's fruit breeding program came across a tree that was actually slated for the trash. Bedford was extremely curious about this tree. He thought that it had not been given a fair chance and decided to do a little bit of research and what he did changed the course of apple history because what would have ended up in the trash ultimately has become one of the most popular apple varieties here in the United States,” Genevieve Yam on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2025

Bio

Genevieve Yam is a writer and editor based in New York. After graduating with a degree in politics and a brief stint in the start-up world, she enrolled in the International Culinary Center in New York City and cooked at Blue Hill at Stone Barns and Per Se. After that, she became a freelance food stylist, a recipe tester and editor for the new edition of The Essential New York Times Cookbook, a personal chef, and a contributor to various publications. Most recently, she was an editor at Epicurious. Genevieve is currently an editor at Serious Eats, where she writes, edits, and develops recipes.

Info

Genevieve’s Honeycrisp article

https://www.seriouseats.com/how-honeycrisp-apples-went-from-marvel-to-mediocre-8753117

Genevieve’s site

https://genevieveyam.com/

The origin story of Honeycrisp apples

https://youtu.be/boirGUJk8yA

Oct 26-31 - Spooky Bar at Stage Left Steak

https://www.stageleft.com/event/spooky-bar-1026-1031/

Oct 27, Tuesday - Robert Simonson book signing cocktail party

More info - https://www.stageleft.com/events/

Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regular

https://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/

Magyar Bank

https://www.magbank.com/

Stage Left Wine Shop

https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Our Places

Stage Left Steak
https://www.stageleft.com/

Catherine Lombardi Restaurant
https://www.catherinelombardi.com/

Stage Left Wineshop
https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Reach Out to The Guys!
TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com

Pinot Noir and Pacific Northwest Wine | Tony Soter | Preview Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

This is just a teaser from a bonus episode for our subscribers. If you'd like to become a Restaurant Guys' Regular and listen to the entire episode and other commercial-free episodes, subscribe here

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2401692/subscribe

This is a Vintage Selection from 2007

The Banter

The Guys tell how being a regular at a restaurant can be a wise investment.

The Conversation

The Restaurant Guys host Tony Soter of Etude Wines and Soter Vineyard about the joys and challenges of creating cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and sparkling wines and how Tony has been able to find success in both California and Oregon.

The Inside Track

The Guys reminisce about a particular bottle of Tony’s pinot noir that may have changed Francis’ life and talk about the true purpose of wine: enjoyment.

“The ultimate satisfaction is when you can sit there and watch the bottle go down and watch the smiles on people's faces,” Tony Soter on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2007

Bio

Tony Soter is the founder, with his late wife Michelle, of Soter Vineyards at Mineral Springs Ranch in Yamhill-Carlton, Oregon. Soter is a Portland, Oregon, native who began his remarkable 40-year winemaking career in the Napa Valley. After graduating from Pomono College in southern California with a degree in philosophy, Soter joined the staff at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in 1975 to learn the trade. By 1982, he released his own wine under the Etude label, selling the winery almost 20 years later. In the meantime, Soter worked as consulting winemaker for such world-famous Napa estates as Araujo (now Eisele), Chappellet, Dalla Valle, Shafer, and Spottswoode, among others. After almost 30 years in California, Soter moved back to Oregon and founded Soter Vineyards in 1997, where he is still making some of the most heralded pinot noirs in the state.

Info

Soter Vineyards

https://www.sotervineyards.com/

Oct 26-31 - Spooky Bar at Stage Left Steak

https://www.stageleft.com/event/spooky-bar-1026-1031/

Oct 27, Tuesday - Robert Simonson book signing cocktail party

More info - https://www.stageleft.com/events/

Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regular

https://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/

Magyar Bank

https://www.magbank.com/

Stage Left Wine Shop