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
1246: Jordan Ware and Cindi Kozak, Co-Owners of Frankie's [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01:57
Jordan Ware and Cindi Kozak are the chef-and-general manager team behind Frankie's in Burlington, Vermont, a 70-seat, seafood-forward, farm-to-table restaurant in the former Penny Cluse Café space that has quickly become…
1245: Eric Scheffer, Founder and CEO of The Scheffer Group [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:04:29
Eric Scheffer is the Founder and CEO of The Scheffer Group, based in Asheville, North Carolina. Eric comes from a family that worked in the entertainment business in NYC and LA and he too joined them in that business at…
1242: Leonard Botello, Pit Master and Owner at Truth BBQ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:42
Leonard Botello is the owner and Pit Master of Truth BBQ, which currently has two locations in Houston and Brenham, TX. Leonard grew up in restaurants with his family and went on to study Biology at A&M. He pivoted to BB…
1241: Ope Amosu, Chef/Owner/Blok Captain of ChòpnBlọk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44:42
Ope Amosu is the chef/owner of ChòpnBlọk located in Houston, Texas. Ope began his career working in oil and gas all over the globe. The son of Nigerian parents, Ope found that no matter where he travelled, it was difficu…
1240: Neil Chand, Co-Founder of FoodServiceIQ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:42
FoodServiceIQ is based in Austin, Texas and helps specifically independant restaurants reduce food costs by an average of 5-7% on a 100% performance basis. To use their services, please email Eric at eric@restaurantunsto…
1239: Willet Feng and Diane Wu Feng, Co-Owners of burger-chan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59:51
Willet Feng and Diane Wu Feng are the Co-Owners of burger-chan, a "mom and pop burger shop" founded in 2016 and located in Houston, Texas. Chef Ryan Stewart of Silver Linings Hospitality recently partnered with them and…
1238: Charles Clark, Owner of Clark Concepts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:12
Charles Clark is the owner of Clark Concepts, based in Houston, TX. Charles was on the show for episode 666 back in 2019 and quite a lot has changed since then. In 2019, he had 6 concepts and a partner. He and his partne…