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
1235: Dan Weinberger, Founder of Weinberger's Deli [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:25
Dan Weinberger is the Founder of Weinberger's Deli located in Grapevine, Texas. Dan's parents opened and operated 5 deli's in Chicago from 1952 until 2000. Dan worked in his parent's stores growing up and eventually went…
1234: Addie and Dustin Teague, Owners of Relish Restaurant and Bar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:05:21
Addie and Dustin Teague are the owners of Relish Restaurant and Bar located in Houston, TX. The pair are married and are both from Houston originally. Dustin worked in restaurants in Las Vegas and New York before returni…
1233: David Denis, Chef/Owner of Bistro Mistral [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47:48
Chef David Denis was born and raised in France with a grandmother and mother who both owned restaurants and cafes. David became a chef and ended up in Houston for a private chef gig and stayed. He opened his first restau…
1232: Brian Reece and Steve Crowley, Co-Founders of Service Physics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01:21
Brian Reece and Steve Crowley are the co-founders of Service Physics. Service Physics is a multi-unit restaurant service consultant company based in NYC. The company was organically recommended by Haven Hot Chicken for f…
1231: Dan Carr, CEO and Co-Owner of Visconti's Hospitality Group [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:16:29
Dan Carr is the Co-Owner of Visconti's Hospitality Group. The original Visconti's was opened in 1985 in Wenatchee, WA. Dan moved to Wenatchee from the midwest in 1991 and started working in Visconti's in 1993 after meeti…
1230: What you need to know about L.T.O.'s with Anna Neave [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:32
This is a Restaurant Unstoppable Network LIVE event all about Limited Time Offers (L.T.O.'s) and how to best utilize them in your business, as presented by Anna Neave. Anna is the owner of Good Kind Consulting and Sweet…
1228: 7 Phases of Menu Engineering with Sean Willard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:55:17
Sean Willard has two decades of hospitality experience. He started in the business in his teens in a steakhouse and quickly moved through nearly all positions (FOH and BOH) until he landed at menu engineering. He then at…