417: Being present with Jonathan Blakeslee

417: Being present with Jonathan Blakeslee

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee December 25, 2017 Duration: 1:28:35

In this episode with Jonathan Blakeslee, we discuss doing something better every day, being patient when waiting for good things to happen, how Blakeslee got his start, calmness, focus, presence, following your passion, selling your passion, starting where you can, scaling from wholesale to retail, choosing transformative relationships over transactional relationships, knowing who you are, focusing on who you are, letting your team weigh in on the decision making and creative processes, becoming a person of value, and using small business centers.

After serving in the United States Coast Gaurd, Jonathan Blakeslee fell in love with Japnese culture and tea. Upon finishing his service, Blakeslee attended the Western Culinary Institute in Portland Oregan, and would eventually find himself working at the Toa of Tea also located in Portland, OR. Homesickness slowly crept in, and Blakeslee moved bake to the east coast where he would start his own wholesale tea operation, White Heron. Today he has scaled that operation to include 40 seat cafe and White Herons own house-roasted organic coffee.


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
1178: Profit First Money Management for Restaurants with Kasey Anton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:24
Kasey Anton is the founder of Spark Business Consulting and a former restaurateur. She is one of the only, if not THE only, Certified Profit First Professionals with extensive restaurant ownership experience. Kasey Anton…
1177: Ronald Hsu & Aaron Phillips, Chef/Partners of Lazy Betty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:09
Ronald Hsu and Aaron Phillips are Chef/Partners of Lazy Betty in Atlanta, GA. Ronald and Aaron met while working together at La Bernadin in NYC in 2009. They decided to work together and opened Lazy Betty in Atlanta in 2…
1176: Must-Have Profit Systems with Fred Langley, Pt. 4: Training [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:14
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…
1174: Must-Have Profit Systems with Fred Langley, Pt. 3: Labor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:52
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…
1173: Amir Mostafavi, Founder and CEO of South Block [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:21:11
Amir Mostafavi is the Founder and CEO of South Block. Amir went to school for graphic design and marketing and soon after graduating decided he wanted to open a juice bar instead. In 2004, he opened his first juice bar t…
1170: Must-Have Profit Systems with Fred Langley, Pt. 1: Budgeting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:26
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…
1169: Josh Sharkey, CEO of Meez [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:51:24
Josh Sharkey is the founder and CEO of Meez. Meez is a current sponsor of Restaurant Unstoppable! Josh was previously on the show for episode 780. Meez is a recipe and back-of-house training tool for professional chefs a…