672: Will Pacio on Preparation and Opportunity

672: Will Pacio on Preparation and Opportunity

Author: Inspiring interviews with todays most successful restaurateurs 2-days a wee December 2, 2019 Duration: 1:02:47

After graduating from Stanford, Will decided to go to culinary school instead of medical school. From there he went on to join the opening team of Thomas Keller's Per Se in New York City.

Following NYC he would come back to California to cook at The French Laundry in Yountville. Eventually, Thomas Keller saw Will's talent for tech and asked him to run all of IT for the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group.

After learning from the best, Will pursued his dream and opened his own chain of fast-casual restaurants as founder and CEO of Spice Kit restaurants in 2007 which scaled to multiple locations in the Bay Area.

Today, Will serves as founder and CEO of Pared, a leading hospitality and restaurant network with over 100,000 members.

Show notes…

Favorite success quote or mantra:

  • "Luck is where preparation meets opportunity."

In today's episode with Will Pacio we will discuss:

  • Setting yourself up for opportunity
  • Passion for food
  • Taking risks
  • Working for free in order to learn
  • What you do and don't learn in culinary school
  • Collaboration
  • Establishing good culture
  • The culture of Per Se
  • Cooking for a food critic
  • How a good review affects business
  • What is Pared?
  • How clients changed the direction of Pared
  • Labor issues today

 


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
1028: Yianni Karapanagiotis Founder of Kara Restaurant Group [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:23:19
Yianni Karapanagiotis is the Founder of Kara Restaurant Group. Yianni opened his first restaurant in 2002. Before that, he learned systems, processes, and procedures from working at T.G.I. Friday's. He opened his first r…
1027: Sean Finter CEO and Head Coach at Finter Group [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:27:30
Sean Finter is the Founder of Barmetrix, CEO + Head Coach at Finter Group, and Owner of the Franklin House. Sean got his start in the industry at 12 where he grew up in Canada. He worked for the Hard Rock Cafe in England…
1026: Adriel Lubarsky Director of Sales at GreenPlaces [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54:10
Adriel Lubarsky is Director of Sales at GreenPlaces. GreenPlaces helps companies measure their carbon footprint, reduce emissions, go carbon neutral or net zero and promote success to investors, employees, and customers.…
1025: 1025: Q + A with Prakash Karamchandani [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:27
Prakash Karamchandani is the Co-Founder of Balance Grille in Ohio. Prakash Karamchandani (PK) met his best friend and business partner, HoChan Jang (CJ), in college. Once they graduated and had not much luck finding thei…
1024: REPUBLISH: Kasey Anton & Michael Michalowicz on Profit First [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:29
REPUBLISHED EPISODE: Today we're going to talk about why you need to pay yourself, FIRST! We're also diving into how. Joining us for the conversation are two of the best qualified: Kasey Anton and Mike Michalowicz. Mike…
1023: Matt Lombardo Chef/Owner Pink Door Catering + Market [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:09
Matt Lombardo is the Chef/Owner of Pink Door Catering & Market in Mashpee, MA. Chef Matt grew up on Cape Cod and got his first job in the industry as a teenager. He moved to Jackson Hole, WY after college and lived there…
1022: Jack McGarry Founder & Managing Partner at The Dead Rabbit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:25:00
Jack McGarry is the Founder/Owner/Managing partner at The Dead Rabbit in Manhattan. Jack got his start in a bar in Ireland at the age of 14. He has been a barman ever since. From '06-'09 he worked in the famed The Mercha…
1021: Chip Klose Restaurant Coach/Host of Restaurant Strategy Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:12
Chip Klose is a restaurant coach, speaker, and podcast host. Chip began his restaurant career in FOH and management opening some very famous and profitable restaurants in NYC in the 2000s and 2010s. He then transitioned…
1020: Noah Glass Founder and CEO of Olo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:09:39
Noah Glass is the Founder & CEO of Olo (NYSE: OLO), a leading open SaaS platform for restaurants. He began working in the foodservice industry twenty years ago, serving as a cashier, server, bartender, and delivery drive…
1019: Michelle Politano Chef/Owner of Pianta [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:04:07
Michelle Politano is the Chef/Owner of PiANTA Vegan Restaurant in Providence, RI. Michelle began her career working in the travel industry and was laid off due to COVID in 2020. She then decided to develop her passion fo…