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
440: Websites that make money with Krystal Mobayeni [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:38
In this episode with Krystle Mobayeni, Co-Founder and CEO of BentoBox, we discuss: Constant never-ending improvement. Why Krystal went into business for herself. What it was about the restaurant industry that drew Krysta…
439: Get out of your comfort zone with Lauren Culley and Jeff Excell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:21
In this episode with Jeff Excell and Lauren Culley, we discuss: Chasing happy. Living with the intent to learn and grow. Being mindful of being a "jerk barista". Focusing less on the product and more on the people purcha…
438: Disciplined growth with Chris Doody [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:16
In this episode with Chris Doody, we discuss: The significance of surrounding yourself the best. Giving people a shot. Having fun at work. Success being contagious. The power of recognizing your people by name. Giving lo…
437:  MENU ENGINEERING- where to start with David Scott Peters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:10
In this episode with David Scott Peters we discuss: How your menu is like the heart of your business. How menu engineerING all starts with menu costing cards. What a yield test is. Factoring in spice/consumable. Using ba…
436: Loyalty and paying it forward with Cameron Mitchell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:59
In my 2nd interview with Cameron (click her to listener to the first episode) we discuss: How to create win-win situations. How loyalty drives partnerships. How building your reputation is continual work. Serving your co…
435: Letting the individuals brand flourish with Troy Allen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:09
In this episode with Troy Allen, we discuss: Putting yourself in uncomfortable positions. How marketing and branding starts with your audience. How to deliver your personal brand to an audience. Getting clear about what…
434: Say goodbye to traditional training with Jonathan Plowright [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:08
In this episode with Jonathan Plowright, we discuss: The power behind knowing you can choose how you respond to the world around you. Typsy's mission to empower restaurant owners, operators and professionals. The story b…
433: Having bold humility with Joe Deloss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:04
In this episode with Joe Deloss, we discuss: Creating Social change with your business. The concept that your idea is bigger than any one person on the team. How the idea for Hot Chicken Takeover came into frame. The ben…
432: Pushing through it with Brian Pekarcik [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:12
In this episode with Chef Brian Pekarcik, we discuss: How the team dynamic of a kitchen filled the void after Pekarcik's baseball dreams ended. Making your employees feel valued. If you want to be the best you need to wo…