596: Sharon Van Meter on The Best Possible Team

596: Sharon Van Meter on The Best Possible Team

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee March 11, 2019 Duration: 1:14:40

A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France, World Master Chef Sharon Van Meter brings more than 40 years of award-winning and acclaimed culinary experience to the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Chef Van Meter has served the culinary world as Executive Chef of The Ritz-Carlton International, Professor of American Cuisine at Paris' Le Cordon Bleu and Executive Chef in the renowned kitchens of Neiman Marcus, Dallas, Texas. Currently, Sharon is President of SVM Productions, LLC, a leader in television, radio and culinary productions. In Dallas, she runs 30 15 at Trinity Groves and is a partner in Tacos y Vino as well as other ventures.

Show notes…

Favorite success quote or mantra:

Never, never, never, never, never.....give up!

In this episode with Chef Sharon Van Meter, we discuss:

  • Relentlessness.
  • Chef Van Meter's beginnings and how she learned to cook.
  • The pros and cons of fearlessness.
  • Being the only woman in a male-dominated school/profession.
  • Don't let your fears interrupt your success.
  • Tackling obstacles one by one.
  • Letting fear and discomfort motivate you.
  • Kicking back and listening to others before you give your opinion.
  • The best leaders create the best organizations and surround themselves with the best people.
  • All power does not begin and end with one person.
  • Territorializing your kitchen.
  • Letting your individual team members grow.
  • Work/life balance.
  • The importance of family.
  • The generations that come after you and how to judge them.
  • Being more lenient and understanding of your younger team members.
  • Diversifying your interests.
  • Concentrate less on people's faults.
  • The importance of making everyone around you feel their best.
  • Don't just get a little involved, go in 200%.
  • Create YOUR OWN work/life balance.
  • team building 

Today's sponsor:

BentoBox helps restaurants grow their business through a connected suite of tools, offering them an integrated website to connect with their guests and drive revenue online. Restaurant owners and operators are able to easily update menus, promote specials, take catering and event inquiries, sell merchandise, gift cards and more.

Revel Systems integrates front of house and back of house operations into a single dashboard. Designed to increase security, stability, ease of use, and speed of service, Revel's streamlined ecosystem provides businesses with the right tools to grow. Learn more at revelsystems.com/unstoppable.

Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
    • I'm fearless
  2. What is your biggest weakness?
    • I'm fearless
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
    • Loyalty
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
    • Not enough time in the day
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
    • Always put the customer first
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
    • Treat this business like it's yours and it will be one day
  7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
  8. What's the one thing you feel restaurateurs don't know well enough or do often enough?
    • Not consistent enough
    • Training based on consistency
  9. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your four walls restaurant and how has it influenced operations?
    • My iPhone is my office now
  10. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
    • One thing: we need to be better, kinder, more loving people.

Contact info:

3015 At Trinity Groves website

Instagram: 3015tg

Physical Address: 3015 Gulden Lane, Dallas, Texas

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post.

Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates.

Huge thanks to Chef Sharon Van Meter for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

 

Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

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
1018: Ryan Thorman CEO and Co-Founder of Bango Bowls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54:05
Ryan Thorman is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bango Bowls. After getting his business degree and working in some impressive companies, such as LinkedIn, Ryan opened Bango Bowls with childhood friend (and past RU guest) James…
1017: James Bonanno CEO of Upstream Hospitality Group [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:09
James Bonanno is the CEO of Upstream Hospitality Group. James began his hospitality career as a bartender in college. He worked and saved money through his 20s and, in 2011, opened his first bar, The Taproom. He and his…
1016: Nick Mathews CEO and Founder of Mainvest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:34
Nick Matthews is the CEO and Founder of Mainvest. Nick began his career as a ground level Uber employee in 2011. He spent 6.5 years there working in the ares of marketing and community management. In 2019, he left to sta…
1015: Matt Poepsel Author and Vice President at The Predictive Index [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:46
Matt Poepsel spent time in the Marine Corps. before heading off to college and studying psychology and business. He eventually realized his passion is to "guide other leaders as they climb." Today, Matt is there Vice Pre…
1014: James and Johanna Windon Founders of Buena Papa Fry Bar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:57:52
Husband-and-wife team, James and Johanna Windon, founded Buena Papa (Spanish translation, Good Potato) in 2021 in Raleigh, N.C., after the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to temporarily shut down their cleaning business. I…
1013: Jon Seelbinder Founder of Local Icon Hospitality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:10:18
Jon Seelbinder is from the mountains of North Carolina. While growing up, he learned to cook and be a great host and leader through his grandmother. After leaving the Airfare academy, Jon began working in bars. He worked…
1012: Gary Crunkleton Owner of The Crunkleton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:02:02
Gary Crunkleton is the Owner of The Crunkleton, specializing in antique drinks. Gary has been a "barman" since 1992. He is a veteran of the navy and a veteran bar tender. He opened his first location in 2008 with "The Cr…
1011: Kevin Barrett and Drew Schenk Co-Owners of Dram and Draught [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:34
Kevin Barrett and Drew Schenk are the co-owners of Dram and Draught based in and around Raleigh, North Carolina. Drew truly began his restaurant career with Applebees in 1990. he then opened his first restaurant, Remingt…
1010: Wil Brawley Podcast Host, Author, and Co-Owner of Schedulefly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:14
Wil Brawley is the Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Schedulefly, a scheduling software for restaurants. He is also the author of Restaurant Owners Uncorked and Restaurant Owners Uncorked Part II. He is also the host of the Res…
1009: Dave Nitzel and Dave Domzalski Authors of Hospitality DNA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:31
Dave Nitzel is the co-author of Hospitality DNA: Career Journeys with Unprecedented Insights from Industry Award Winners and The Bar Shift: 41 Short Management Lessons You Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way! He left execut…