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
918: Paul Bartolotta Chef & Co-Owner The Bartolotta Restaurants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:02:20
Paul Bartolotta is the Chef and Co-Owner of The Bartolotta Restaurants in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Paul got started in restaurants in his very early teens as a dishwasher and eventually became a prep cook. He decided to pur…
917: Steve Brown El Presidente Busboy Restaurant Group [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:20
Steve brown is El Presidente of Busboy restaurant group. Steve got his start in the restaurant industry as, you guessed it, a busboy, at the age of 15. He then worked in the kitchen and eventually became a host when he w…
916: Kris Schoenberger Founder/Owner at BBQ'd Productions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:10:16
Kris Schoenberger left the police department in 2009 and started a catering business. He and his team worked events, weddings, and festivals all over Illinois and Wisconsin. In 2014, he decided to open his first restaura…
915: Peter Sclafani Partner of Making Raving Fans Hospitality Group [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:00:20
Peter Sclafani is the Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Phil's Oyster Bar and a Partner at Making Raving Fans Hospitality Group. Peter grew up in the restaurant industry. At age 13, he started working FOH in his father's re…
914: Martha Hoover Founder and President at Patachou, Inc [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:21:28
Martha Hoover had zero restaurant experience prior to 1989; up to this point, she was a sex crime prosecutor. Not having any experience did not stop her, and neither did the sexism from her male counterparts. She would s…
913: Rodrigo Souza Chef/Owner of Comeketo Brazilian Steakhouse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:27:39
Rodrigo Souza is Chef/Owner of Comeketo Brazilian Steakhouse and Virtual Kitchen Hall. Originally, Rodrigo is from Brazil. When Rodrigo was in his late teens, his mother was worried that he'd get involved with the wrong…
912: Allan Beetle Co-Owner of Patrick's Pub and Eatery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:56:09
Allan Beetle is the Co-founder of Patrick's Pub. Before opening Patrick's Pub & Eatery, in Gilford, NH, Allan had a successful career in computer technology sales, allowing him to retire at the age of 38. It was in 1994…
910: Kristen Barnett Founder and CEO of Hungry House [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:08
With excitement allow me to introduce today's guest, Founder, and CEO of Hungry House, Kristen Barnett. Hungry House is an 'anti-ghost kitchen' connecting patrons digitally and in person at their two brick-and-mortar loc…
909: Jonathan Sherman Founder and CEO of Sticky's The Finger Joint [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:56:33
Jonathan Sherman is the Founder, and CEO of Sticky's The Finger Joint. Jonathan is a graduate of the University of Michigan where he studied Industrial and Operations Engineering. He'd go on to pursue a career in finance…