349: Being grateful with Johnny Ray Zone

349: Being grateful with Johnny Ray Zone

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee July 14, 2017 Duration: 1:15:14

Chef Johnny Ray Zone, an LA native, has worked professionally under some of the best chefs in the world, including Thomas Keller, Gordon Ramsay and Nobu Mat Sue He Sa. In 2014, during a stage at Sean Brock's Husk in Nashville, TN, a local chef introduced Johnny to Nashville Hot Chicken. It was instantaneous love. It is safe to say in the years to follow, Chef Johnny has dedicated is life to mastering the perfect piece of hot fried chicken. You can find his chicken at Howlin' Ray's Nashville Hot Chicken, located in Los Angeles, CA.

In this episode we will discuss: Striving for perfection. Hiring customers. The decision to go or not go to culinary school. Mentors in the restaurant industry. The different mindset of someone leaving culinary school with massive debt. The cost of training an employee. Integrity in the restaurant industry. Transitioning from food truck to restaurant. Do one thing well instead of many things well enough. Making guests happy (and encouraging them to come back) is more important than watching the numbers.


Eric Cacciatore sits down with the people who actually run the show in the world of food service. Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore is built on conversations with established restaurateurs and seasoned professionals who have navigated the intense realities of the industry. Twice a week, these interviews dig past the surface, focusing on the tangible details of leadership, team management, and effective marketing that separate a thriving venue from a struggling one. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of what worked, what didn’t, and the often-overlooked decisions that shape a restaurant's path. This podcast serves as a direct line to collective experience, whether you're dreaming of your first opening or steering a multi-location group. The dialogue is practical, centered on the daily grind and long-term strategy needed to build something lasting. For anyone invested in the business of hospitality, these regular episodes compile a vital resource, turning shared insights into actionable knowledge for your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 1000

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore
Podcast Episodes
966: Sam Caucci Founder & CEO of 1Huddle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:36
Sam Caucci is the Founder and CEO of 1Huddle. Before founding 1Huddle, Sam was in the business of training professional athletes across the US as the General Manager of Perfect Competition. He then became a Strategy Cons…
965: Robert Guarino Owner and Head Coach of 5 Napkin Burger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:33
Robert Guarino is the Owner and head Coach at 5 Napkin Burger in NYC. Robert started in the industry as a teenager bussing tables. He then went to the Cornell Hotel School. In 2001 he met his long-time partner Simon Oren…
964: Keely Beasecker Owner of Niffer's [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:32
Keely Beasecker entered the restaurant industry in 1982. Before that, she was a competitive swimmer at Auburn in Alabama. When she left competitive swimming, she began working at Quincey's Steakhouse in South Carolina. T…
963: Tanner Agar Owner and Creative Director of Apothecary and Rye [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:27:47
Tanner Agar began his hospitality career as a Segway delivery driver in Chicago as a teen. Since then, he has had a very storied career in many avenues and places in the industry. He has worked in 6 countries, including…
962: Sandy Korem Founder and CEO at Festive Kitchen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:20
Sandy Korem is the Founder and CEO of Festive Kitchen in Dallas, TX. Sandy was a nurse long before she was the CEO of a catering company. She left a nursing career because of the hours and raised two kids. Then she began…
961: Kyle and Maggie Gordon CEO and President of Dillas Quesadillas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:49:17
As a student at the University of Texas, Kyle Gorden developed a romance…with quesadillas. In 2006, At the age of 23, Kyle decided to pursue his dream to open his own restaurant– not just any restaurant– a quesadilla res…
960: Fred Langley CEO of Restaurant Systems Pro [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46:49
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 restauran…
959: Jack Gibbons CEO of FB Society [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:56:16
Jack Gibbons is the coo of FB Society in Dallas, TX. Jack Gibbons was a Business major at The University of Dallas. He started working at Pappas Restaurants in 1983 as a server and worked his way up to Concept Leader wit…