‘Best American Bartender’ Kevin Diedrich—owner of San Francisco staples Pacific Cocktail Haven and Kona’s Street Market—joins FSR associate editor Sam Danley for a conversation about identity, heritage, and innovation behind the bar. He shares how reconnecting with his Filipino roots has shaped his approach to bartending, how cultural storytelling is showing up in bar programs today, and why he launched AAPI Cocktail Week.

Nate Hedtke, VP of innovation & customer engagement at the American Egg Board, walks listeners through the state of the avian influenza and its impact on eggs; what restaurant operators need to know to navigate this challenge; and some unique ideas for integrating eggs onto menus in later dayparts.

Thank you to AEB for sponsoring this episode. To learn more, please reach out to Nate at nhedtke@aeb.org or visit www.incredibleegg.org/fso for additional resources.

David Steele, founder of Flour + Water Hospitality Group and CEO of One Wealth Advisors, chats about bridging the worlds of finance and hospitality, building a mission-driven restaurant empire in San Francisco’s competitive market, and how creativity, community, and financial strategy all play a role in redefining what success looks like across multiple industries.

Michelin-starred chef Brandon Sharp shares how his fine-dining background—from The French Laundry to Solbar—shaped the trio of restaurants he now leads in Chapel Hill: Hawthorne & Wood, Bluebird, and the newest, Próximo. He talks about his unlikely path from philosophy major to executive chef, the vision behind his culturally distinct concepts, and why community-rooted hospitality matters more than ever.

Paul Iglesias and Sophia Akbar join FSR editors to talk about creating their Oakland restaurants—Colombian small plates concept Parche and the newly opened contemporary Afghan concept Jaji.

As CEO of the revolutionary restaurant tech company Ziosk, Rhonda Levene sheds light on her unusual career trajectory; how she’s working with big brands like Chili’s, Texas Roadhouse, and Outback Steakhouse to improve operations and the guest experience; AI and its future outlook; and more.

Cai Palmiter—previous FSR cover star—joins editor Callie Evergreen to talk about what it takes to build restaurant brands people actually remember. From her game-changing work with JINYA Ramen Bar to her current role overseeing marketing for a multi-brand franchisee portfolio, Cai shares how storytelling, community connection, and a relentless eye for detail shape everything she does. The conversation dives into the power of authentic partnerships, why localized marketing matters more than ever, and how embracing the little things can set a brand apart in a crowded space.

With 86 restaurants on five continents, Tony Roma’s is evolving into the future with Mina Haque at the helm, the first woman CEO in its five-decade history. Haque shares her insights about global supply chain resilience, strategic market expansion strategies in a challenging economic climate, business leadership lessons; and more.