Feeding Your Passion

Izzy's Restaurant Franklin, TN Serving: Feel Good Food Brad & Harland left 5 Star Corporate dining in order to pursue a passion for their family and for Freedom on their own terms. They are serving their local community in their newly established Restaurant! Listen today to hear the areas that they are knocking it out of the park! CHEF DRIVEN MENU We are serious about good food and we love it, but we want you to love it too. Together with our talented chef, we are creating dishes that we would want to treat our own families with. Join Us For Live Music We love living in Franklin and can't wait to share with you the talented folks we have come to know and love. We regularly host local talent, young and old...and everyone in-between. Open mic night anyone? SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Bring the kids, bring a date, bring Memaw! We can't wait to treat you to an experience filled with genuine hospitality. After working a few decades in the food industry, we know how to give guests 5-star service.

Siler Chapman Owner of King of Fire Pizza Chef Siler Chapman's goal is like no other: to offer a unique catering experience for any occasion, making only the very best pizzas he's perfected from scratch. And perfected he has. He is a 3x World Pizza Champion, founding member of the World Pizza Champions and PerfectingPizza.com. In addition, He is a professional pizza acrobat and champion dough thrower and has appeared on the Food Network, the Today show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Steve Harvey Show, and Good Morning America.  His sleek mobile wood fire catering company, King of Fire, brings great tasting food across the Carolinas and beyond. It is a family run business which understands the importance of a well run event and great food.  If anyone is the King of Fire, it's Siler Chapman.

Siler Chapman Owner of King of Fire Pizza Chef Siler Chapman's goal is like no other: to offer a unique catering experience for any occasion, making only the very best pizzas he's perfected from scratch. And perfected he has. He is a 3x World Pizza Champion, founding member of the World Pizza Champions and PerfectingPizza.com. In addition, He is a professional pizza acrobat and champion dough thrower and has appeared on the Food Network, the Today show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Steve Harvey Show, and Good Morning America.  His sleek mobile wood fire catering company, King of Fire, brings great tasting food across the Carolinas and beyond. It is a family run business which understands the importance of a well run event and great food.  If anyone is the King of Fire, it's Siler Chapman.

Anna Dolce Hospitality Expert Miami, FL Anna Dolce is a life and business strategist, hospitality expert, writer and keynote speaker. Originally from Georgia (Europe), Anna was an entrepreneur at the age of 17 and then by the age of 18 she had won 2 national titles as Miss Georgia and was nominated for the Georgia Business Mind Of The Year award. Since then, Anna relocated to the United States and entered the hospitality industry, where she led multiple restaurant operations before owning her own. Anna has spoken from the TEDx stage and is a freelance writer to several publications in the hospitality industry. She speaks at major conferences and industry shows on the topics of service vs hospitality, entrepreneurship, leadership, sales and organizational culture.

John Wilson Sophie’s Cork & Ale Lexington, NC  Chef John Wilson is 31 years old. He has lived in Lexington, NC since he was 9. He started out washing dishes at a local country club in high school when he was 16. He was always intrigued by what was going on restaurant while he was scrubbing the dishes. Eventually a cook left and he asked if he could step up and learn that role. He Instantly made friendships in that country club that would eventually help him get to where he is today as a restaurant owner. He cooked at a couple of country clubs, was promoted to sous chef, eventually landed another sous chef job in Greensboro, NC at the Iron Hen Cafe, then made he made his way to Willow's Bistro where his education flourished under Chef Travis Myers (2018 NC Chef of the Year). Chef John lives in a very small town, that is trying to be more progressive these days and bring a spark back to the small town. He learned of a Wine bar opening in Lexington, NC and they would be serving food. He got his first Head Chef Job and after three years was offered to buy it from the original owners. Chef John has been the owner since April 2019. He is also a graduate of Guilford Technical Community College with his associates in culinary arts. He won best chef under 30 in 2018 in the Piedmont Traid (NC).

Jason Collins I Love Juice Bar Franklin, TN Jason Collins grew up in Nashville, TN, a veteran of Desert Storm & spent 15 years in Global product and business development with offices in Amsterdam and Los Angeles. Developed the first Snowboard boots for the Olympic snowboarding team. Jason has several product and method patents as well. In 2005 he moved his family back to TN settling in Franklin. Then in 2015 he launched one of the first Juice Bar Franchises.

Shawn Walchef Owner of Cali BBQ & Creator of the Digital Hospitality Podcast San Diego (Spring Valley), CA PART 2 Shawn Walchef, Founder of Cali BBQ Media, Digital Hospitality Podcast Host, Restaurateur, New Dad and Sports Entertainment Fanatic. As owners/operators of Cali BBQ in San Diego, Shawn Walchef and his wife Rositsa have evolved over the dozen year run of their restaurant to swiftly shift with the times, while always staying true to the community. They opened Cali BBQ in 2008 at the height of the economic recession with the goal of making a family friendly sports entertainment destination. They’ve created a unique place where you can go and have Sunday brunch and watch NFL Sunday ticket, bring your wife, your kids and your grandparents. After 12 years of business and even after COVID-19, the mission remains the same for Cali BBQ: help the community they’ve long called home. Now even more growth is on the horizon as Cali BBQ plans to expand outside of their first location in Spring Valley. Giving back to their community is a huge part of the mission of Cali BBQ. Donating time, money and equipment to youth sports programs and young athletes in need, Cali BBQ is a family fun sports bar built off BBQ and community. http://www.calibbq.media/ (www.calibbq.media)

Shawn Walchef Owner of Cali BBQ & Creator of the Digital Hospitality Podcast San Diego (Spring Valley), CA PART 1 Shawn Walchef, Founder of Cali BBQ Media, Digital Hospitality Podcast Host, Restaurateur, New Dad and Sports Entertainment Fanatic. As owners/operators of Cali BBQ in San Diego, Shawn Walchef and his wife Rositsa have evolved over the dozen year run of their restaurant to swiftly shift with the times, while always staying true to the community. They opened Cali BBQ in 2008 at the height of the economic recession with the goal of making a family friendly sports entertainment destination. They’ve created a unique place where you can go and have Sunday brunch and watch NFL Sunday ticket, bring your wife, your kids and your grandparents. After 12 years of business and even after COVID-19, the mission remains the same for Cali BBQ: help the community they’ve long called home. Now even more growth is on the horizon as Cali BBQ plans to expand outside of their first location in Spring Valley. Giving back to their community is a huge part of the mission of Cali BBQ. Donating time, money and equipment to youth sports programs and young athletes in need, Cali BBQ is a family fun sports bar built off BBQ and community. http://www.calibbq.media (www.calibbq.media)

Steven Smithing, Owner of Green Hills Grille in Nashville, TN & Mere Bulles in Brentwood, TN Restaurateur Steven Smithing is the owner of Green Hills Grille in Nashville, TN and Mere Bulles in Brentwood TN. He is no stranger to hard work having worked at Green Hills Grille in the 90s as a server and bartender and ultimately as general manager. Steven has worked in the restaurant business since his first dishwashing job at age 16. He decided to go independent and bought his first Restaurant which was a well known and established hospitality icon in the Nashville Restaurant scene, Mere Bulles. Since the original had closed, Steven then decided to revitalize and re-open Green Hills Grille which had been a staple for many dates, anniversaries and business dinners in Nashville, TN over a period of 20 years. http://ghgrille.com/ (http://ghgrille.com/) http://www.merebulles.com/ (http://www.merebulles.com/)

Josh Kopel, Owner of Preux & Proper in Los Angeles, CA Josh Kopel is an entrepreneur, Michelin-rated restaurateur, and Podcast Host. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he was bred for the hospitality industry. Throughout Kopel’s 20+ year career in food and beverage he has managed venues ranging from dive bars to Hollywood nightclubs to fine dining restaurants. Kopel went independent in 2010, opening his first concept Five0Four, a New Orleans-inspired bar, on the Walk of Fame in the heart of Hollywood. Four years later he opened Preux & Proper downtown Los Angeles, CA. He is also the creator of the FLO virtual reservationist service and the host of the FULL COMP Podcast. https://www.preuxandproper.com/ (https://www.preuxandproper.com/) https://www.joshkopel.com/ (https://www.joshkopel.com/) = Full Comp Podcast https://justcallflo.com/ (https://justcallflo.com/) = FLO virtual reservationist service

Carey Bringle, Owner of Peg Leg Porker in Nashville, TN About Peg Leg Porker and Owner, Carey Bringle: Nashville native, Pit-master Carey Bringle, has been competing in barbecue contests for more than 25 years, and he has the blue ribbons to prove it. With a deep southern background built around family values and valuing a good meal, Bringle founded Peg Leg Porker in 2013. Peg Leg Porker is named after Bringle himself and his greatest win, a cancer battle that he triumphed over at the age of 17. With his win, he lost his leg, which led him to create a new name, and only added more fire to his passion for success. Upon opening its doors in the heart of Nashville, Peg Leg Porker was quickly named one of the hottest BBQ Joints in the country by media outlet after media outlet - including Food Network, The Travel Channel, BBC, Southern Living Magazine, Texas Monthly, GQ, Garden & Gun Magazine and many more. Peg Leg Porker is known for its juicy, smoked to perfection pork ribs, drenched with a spicy dry rub *after* being cooked, as well as Its homemade yet playful sides like Kool-Aid Pickles and Pork Rind Nachos. All things Peg leg feel and taste like home. Peg Leg Bourbon: In 2016, Bringle founded Peg Leg Bourbon, the world’s only Bourbon brand owned by a pit-master himself. The rich smoky notes are unmatched as created by a man who knows smoke better than most. Peg Leg Bourbon can be found across the country in New York, Tennessee and Oklahoma and tasted on-site at the Peg Leg headquarters in The Gulch in Nashville. With more than six years of various industry nominations of “The Best BBQ” in both media and by peers, the name Carey Bringle and the Peg Leg Porker brand has grown from a must- stop barbecue place in Tennessee to a way of life! https://www.peglegporker.com/ (https://www.peglegporker.com/)

Joanna Heart the Owner of The Palm Coffee Bar located in Burbank, CA Joanna Heart was born & grew up just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She grew up studying art and music later moving to Los Angeles California where she attended Musicians institute for computer recording and LA ORT for graphic design.  She spent the next 15 years in the fashion industry as a recruiter, Hiring digital creatives and working with some of the world’s top talent for some of LA’s coolest fortune 500s.  Combining all of her talents & gifts… art, marketing, graphic design, creative direction, and her love for recruiting and people development over a conversation on New Year’s Eve it occurred to her that a coffee shop may be a perfect space to fulfill all of her dreams in one. The Palm Coffee Bar was born February 17, 2018 it has quickly been one of the hottest, buzzing, small coffee shops in the LA area.  https://www.thepalmcoffeebar.com/ (https://www.thepalmcoffeebar.com/)

Chef Andy Gonzales Owner / Partner of Steinbeck’s Ale House & The Companion & Oakhurst Market Chef Andy Gonzales is Chef-Partner in Steinbeck’s Ale House & The Companion & Oakhurst Market in the Atlanta area. He brings with him an extensive amount of experience in Atlanta’s culinary scene to create the distinctive comfort food that is his hallmark. In addition to his culinary skills, Gonzales also benefits from a professional-level knowledge of beer and wine to assist all of his businesses. https://www.steinbecksbar.com/ (https://www.steinbecksbar.com/) https://www.facebook.com/TheCompanionBar/ (https://www.facebook.com/TheCompanionBar/) https://www.oakhurstmarket.com/ (https://www.oakhurstmarket.com/)

Hey Passion Nation! Welcome to the first ever episode of Feeding Your Passion! This is episode 00. This is the precursor to all other episodes. Feeding Your Passion is a podcast for the Entrepreneur and the Food Connoisseur. This episode will be about 15 minutes long and it's just you and me today. Starting in our next episode, I’ll be interviewing amazing Restaurant owners week in and week out. Today, my goal is to share with you my vision & inspiration for the podcast and then wrap up by telling you a little bit about myself. Before you get rolling on the next episode, I would love for you to visit my website FeedingYourPassion.com where you can sign up for our email list so that we can deliver the podcast to your inbox every week. By going to our website, we can connect and work together to build PASSION NATION….. Now, prepare to be FED! (transition sound effect or music) Hey everyone, Eric Martin here and I want to thank you for joining me for episode 00 of FeedingYourPassion.com. Every week I will be interviewing the most exciting and inspiring Restaurant Owners of today. Each interview will be captivating in its own right as it will be a virtual VIP dining experience where you join the head-table with our celebrity guest restauranteur in their establishment. I’m excited about producing a new 25-minute episode for you each week. So what this means for you is that Feeding Your Passion will be awaiting you, at the beginning of the week, for your commute to work, your morning jog or any weekly activity that requires an extra dose of inspiration. We will follow a clear concise format on every show so that you will know exactly what to expect day in and day out. Have I got your attention? If so, then keep listening and I’ll dive into the interview flow before moving on to tell you a little bit about myself, your host, Eric Martin. Ok… Food Connoisseurs pull up a chair, this part was designed for you. We start with our Front of the House virtual VIP Dining Experience where you will personally get to know the spotlighted Restaurant Owner, you will hear in their own words what inspired them to open their restaurant and what they feel sets them apart with the dining experience they’ve created for you. Next you’ll learn, with mouthwatering detail, their most popular, must try and favorite culinary creations! Whether it’s your next date night or dinner with a client, I want to facilitate a connection between you and these amazing Restaurant Owners. The next segment is geared toward the entrepreneur but stick around for the entire show and you just might receive a VIP ticket with a special offer directly from the owner of the restaurant. (Free Dessert) Whether you’re a current or aspiring Restaurant Owner, manager or Chef the Back of the House segment was designed with you in mind. We will now take a deeper dive to learn more from our guest by asking questions like: 1.     What is one thing you feel like you have done really well in the development of your Restaurant(s) 2.     What is one thing you NOW know that you wish you would have known when you started your foodservice journey? 3.     And much more! All of these questions let us learn from their valuable experience as a Restaurant Owner. Then, as we walk through their challenges, we will have the opportunity to benefit from what they learned and what they did to overcome. At this point, we’ve reached my favorite part, the Final Crumb (from the table of a winner)! One of my favorite quotes is that “I’d rather eat a crumb from the table of a winner than to eat a full meal from the table of a looser” The final crumb segment is a lightning round segment that probes deep into the mind of the restaurant owner to extract priceless nuggets of knowledge. I know the answers to these questions will contain valuable information that every foodservice professional...