Podcast appearances and mentions of ben leventhal

#93.In this episode, we explore how hospitality is evolving at the intersection of tradition and technology—through the lens of one of the industry's most influential entrepreneurs. Ben Leventhal, Co-Founder of Eater and Resy and now Founder of Blackbird Labs, shares his journey from media to tech and the lessons he's learned along the way. He reflects on the importance of brand identity, the power of storytelling, and the real challenges restaurants face in marketing, management, and scaling.Ben also examines why traditional loyalty programs often fall short and how platforms like Blackbird are reimagining loyalty to strengthen guest relationships and return personalized hospitality to the spotlight. He discusses how feedback can be used to reinforce a brand and build lasting connections, positioning loyalty as a vital part of a restaurant's identity.A central theme is the inclusion of restaurant staff in the loyalty ecosystem—creating a more connected, empowered team and elevating the guest experience across the board.Links and resources

Gm! This week we're joined by Ben Leventhal & Jesse Walden to discuss Blackbird & the launch of Flynet. We deep dive into the Blackbird origin story, launching an L3, how to build a great consumer app, what makes a successful airdrop, advice for founders & more. Enjoy! -- Follow Ben: https://x.com/benleventhal Follow Jesse: https://x.com/jessewldn Follow Jack: https://x.com/whosknave Follow Lightspeed: https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq Subscribe to the Lightspeed Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/lightspeed Join the Lightspeed Manlets Collective Telegram: https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx -- Use Code LIGHTSPEED10 for 10% off tickets to Digital Asset Summit 2025: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2025-new-york -- Ledger, the global leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors the Lightspeed podcast. As Ledger celebrates 10 years of securing 20% of global crypto, it remains the top choice for securing your Solana assets. Buy a LEDGER™ device now and build confidently, knowing your SOL are safe. Buy now on https://shop.ledger.com/?r=1da180a5de00. -- Accurate Crypto Taxes. No Guesswork. Say goodbye to tax season headaches with Crypto Tax Calculator: https://cryptotaxcalculator.io/us/?coupon=BW2025&utm_source=blockworks&utm_medium=referral+&utm_campaign=lightspeedpodcast Generate accurate, CPA-endorsed tax reports fully compliant with IRS rules. Seamlessly integrate with 3000+ wallets, exchanges, and on-chain platforms. Import reports directly into TurboTax or H&R Block, or securely share them with your accountant. Exclusive Offer: Use the code BW2025 to enjoy 30% off all paid plans. Don't miss out - offer expires 15 April 2025! -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- (00:00) Introduction (00:45) What Is Blackbird? (09:02) Launching An L3 (10:22) Building On Base (13:01) Ledger Ad (13:49) Building A Consumer App (17:45) Flynet: Blackbird's Onchain Transaction Network (27:25) Loyalty Apps (31:48) Crypto Tax Calculator (32:19) Ledger Ad (33:07) How To Build A Great Application (38:17) What Makes A Successful Airdrop (45:22) Getting Into Crypto (47:27) Advice For Founders -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Mert, Jack, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

with @benleventhal @AriannaSimpsonWelcome to web3 with a16z. How many of you are regulars at a favorite cafe, bar, or dinner spot? Probably a lot of you — but if you're not, well, our guest today aims to make you one. This episode features Ben Leventhal — the founder and CEO of BlackBird, and formerly the founder of Resy and Eater. In it, he shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur in conversation with a16z crypto General Partner Arianna Simpson.Ben shares hard-won lessons learned in company-building, including navigating in wartime; the difference between measuring vs feeling when it comes to defining success; and more. Today's conversation originally took place in the fall at our CSX Crypto Startup Accelerator in New York. We're currently accepting applications for our next cohort in the spring in San Francisco. Visit a16zcrypto.com/csx for more information and to apply.As a reminder, none of the content should be taken as investment, business, legal, or tax advice. Please see a16z.com/disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments.

When Ben Leventhal first started blogging about New York City's restaurant scene in the early 2000s, he was doing it as a hobby. But as the website Eater gained weight and spread to other cities, it became a snarkily influential voice in the dining world. Recognizing that many restaurants struggle to survive, Ben then co-founded Resy, a booking app that squeezed more value into seats by charging diners higher rates for a hot table. When this business model flopped, Resy made a rapid pivot that eventually paid off, with an acquisition by American Express for $200 million in 2019.This episode was researched and produced by Sam Paulson with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by Neva Grant. Our engineers were Robert Rodriguez and James Willetts.You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram and sign up for Guy's free newsletter at guyraz.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the cofounder of online restaurant watchdog and chronicler Eater, as well as reservations booker Resy, Ben Leventhal has been at the center of all things dining out for nearly 20 years. On this episode we catch up with Ben about his latest company, Blackbird, a restaurant loyalty program that is rethinking the way hospitality and online culture converge. We talk about the company's big expansion, what makes a good restaurant diner, burger nights in NYC, and thoughts on the city's most controversial new restaurant: the good, the bad, the froggy. It's always so great having Ben in the studio.Also on the show, it's time to talk about cool new fall cookbooks. All season Aliza and Matt are previewing some of their favorites, category by category. Next up is cuisines and cultures, featuring: The Contemporary African Kitchen by Alexander Smalls, Wafu Cooking by Sonoko Sakai, My Egypt by Michael Mina, The Chinese Way by Betty Liu, Moroseta Kitchen by Giorgia Goggi, Classic German Cooking by Luisa Weiss.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is my conversation with Jesse Pollak (creator of Base), Ben Leventhal (founder/CEO of Blackbird), Julian Holguin (CEO of Doodles), and Yele Bademosi (cofounder/CEO of Onboard).Timestamps:(00:00:00) - intro(00:00:50) - Jesse Pollak, Base(00:09:41) - how the Base team is structured(00:17:25) - how the mission and strategy came together(00:27:43) - the focus in year two(00:35:38) - Ben Leventhal, Blackbird(00:39:35) -  the restaurant P&L(00:43:36) -  identity and payments(00:51:25) - Flynet as an L3(00:53:11) - building an economy(00:55:46) - the current era of crypto(00:57:27) - Julian Holguin, Doodles(00:59:40) - the status quo and the new model(01:09:36) - people want to be a part of something(01:18:22) - Yele Bademosi, Onboard(01:23:48) - being an entrepreneur in Nigeria(01:29:34) - building Onboard(01:34:45) - outroLinks:Jesse Polak: (https://x.com/jessepollak)Base: https://www.coinbase.com/, https://x.com/baseBen Leventhal: https://x.com/benleventhalBlackbird: https://www.blackbird.xyz/, https://x.com/blackbird_xyzJulian Holguin: https://x.com/jholguin Doodles: https://www.doodles.app/, https://x.com/doodles Yele Bademosi: https://x.com/YeleBademosi Onboard: https://www.onboard.xyz/, https://x.com/OnboardGlobalInto the Bytecode:Twitter - https://twitter.com/sinahab Farcaster - https://warpcast.com/sinahab Other episodes - https://intothebytecode.com Disclaimer: this podcast is for informational purposes only. It is not financial advice nor a recommendation to buy or sell securities. The host and guests may hold positions in the projects discussed.

From the Consensus stage, Ben Leventhal shares his philosophy of building consumer-friendly crypto brands by prioritizing user experience over crypto buzzwords.Ben Leventhal, founder of restaurant brands like Eater.com and Resy, joins Sam Ewen on the stage at Consensus to discuss his latest venture, Blackbird, which aims to enhance the relationship between restaurants and customers through loyalty programs and payments built on blockchain technology. They explore Ben's philosophy of prioritizing user experience over crypto jargon and infrastructure when creating consumer-facing products. Ben also shares advice for other entrepreneurs looking to build successful Web3 brands. This episode was recorded live at Consensus 2024 in Austin, TX.Links mentioned from the podcast: Ben on TwitterWatch this episode on video:YouTubeCoinDeskFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3-Safe (formerly Gnosis Safe) is the ownership layer of web3 with the most battle tested smart accounts. Trusted to secure over $100 billion, Safe offers unparalleled usability and security for individuals, DAOs, and institutions. Experience true digital ownership with Safe's flagship web and mobile wallet and its leading account abstraction infrastructure. Get started today at safe.global.-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From the Consensus stage, Ben Leventhal shares his philosophy of building consumer-friendly crypto brands by prioritizing user experience over crypto buzzwords.Ben Leventhal, founder of restaurant brands like Eater.com and Resy, joins Sam Ewen on the stage at Consensus to discuss his latest venture, Blackbird, which aims to enhance the relationship between restaurants and customers through loyalty programs and payments built on blockchain technology. They explore Ben's philosophy of prioritizing user experience over crypto jargon and infrastructure when creating consumer-facing products. Ben also shares advice for other entrepreneurs looking to build successful Web3 brands. This episode was recorded live at Consensus 2024 in Austin, TX.Links mentioned from the podcast: Ben on TwitterWatch this episode on video:YouTubeCoinDeskFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3-Safe (formerly Gnosis Safe) is the ownership layer of web3 with the most battle tested smart accounts. Trusted to secure over $100 billion, Safe offers unparalleled usability and security for individuals, DAOs, and institutions. Experience true digital ownership with Safe's flagship web and mobile wallet and its leading account abstraction infrastructure. Get started today at safe.global.-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Hospitality Hangout, Michael Schatzberg, “The Restaurant Guy,” and Jimmy Frischling, “Finance Guy”, welcome a titan of the restaurant tech industry, Ben Leventhal. Ben a co-founder of Eater, the visionary, co-founder, and former CEO of Resy, and now the co-founder and CEO of Blackbird Labs.Throughout his career, Ben has been at the forefront of technological and marketing revolutions in the restaurant industry. Ben's journey began with Eater, a trailblazing digital media brand dedicated to food culture and enhancing dining experiences, then co-founded Resy, a consumer-facing reservation platform that revolutionized how restaurants and guests interact. Ben shares his latest venture, Blackbird Labs, shaking up the restaurant scene with cutting-edge technology and forging the future in the food service, hospitality, and restaurant industries. Key Takeaways:· Ben touches on Eater, a go-to resource for food enthusiasts, to Resy, a more seamless and efficient experience for both diners and establishments.· The evolution of content in the industry: In the early days with Eater, being quicker than print publications was a defining feature. Compelling storytelling and a strong brand narrative continue to be an enhancement to customer relationships and brand perception.· Blackbird introduces FLY, a revolutionary point system designed to create a unified rewards currency for restaurants. Blackbird empowers independent restaurants to enhance their customer experience and compete on a more level playing field with larger chains and loyalty programs.· Web3: Innovative technology helping restaurant operators scale their businesses and improve their connection with guests and other establishments while reducing transition costs. Blackbird aims to equip independent restaurants with the tools they need to understand the value of immediate and long-term customer engagement.· Ben emphasizes a key lesson from his experience - when developing software, ask restaurants to do as little as possible in terms of implementation, operations, and training.· Reducing Operational Complexity: Blackbird aims to integrate into the existing tech stack, striving to be best-in-class in what they do.· Hot Takes: Ben shares his insight on trends, from TikTok recipes to drone food delivery.· Talking Back: The “Restaurant Guy” and The “Finance Guy” share their views on the introduction of technology in the workplace.· Trivia Tuesday: Separating fact from fiction in a lighthearted battle of wits.

Sam Ewen is the senior vice president, head of media innovation and experience at CoinDesk, and the driving force behind Consensus, one of the largest and most well-known events in the Web3 space.In our conversation, we explore the exciting lineup of speakers, themes, and experiences that await attendees at the upcoming Consensus event in Austin.The diverse range of topics covered, from the future of money and emerging technologies to brand-building and real-world use casesInsights from industry leaders and innovators, including BMW's head of Metaverse, Adidas' Web3 studio lead, and entrepreneurs like Ben Leventhal of Resy and EaterUnique networking opportunities, including invite-only events, lounges, and interactive experiences like the Karate Combats eventTips for attendees to make the most of the event, from preparing for networking to following up effectively post-eventThe vibrant atmosphere of Austin, with its walkable streets, diverse culinary scene, and lively music cultureThis episode was recorded through a Podcastle call on April 23, 2024. Read the blog article and show notes here: https://webdrie.net/why-you-should-join-me-at-consensus-2024-with-sam-ewan-svp-at-coindesk/

In this episode of Empire, Li Jin from Variant Fund and Ben Leventhal from Blackbird and co-founder of Resy, cover the intersection of the consumer market and crypto. They delve into the history of consumer startups, the limitations of traditional businesses in the dining industry, and the potential of crypto to transform ownership. Ben discusses Blackbird and how it addresses issues in the restaurant industry by establishing better connection and understanding between restaurants and customers. To close out Li touches on her vision for consumer crypto leading into 2024. Thanks for tuning in!  - - Follow Li: https://twitter.com/ljin18 Follow Ben: https://twitter.com/benleventhal Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz Follow Santiago: https://twitter.com/santiagoroel Follow Empire: https://twitter.com/theempirepod Subscribe on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/4fdhhb2j Subscribe on Apple: https://tinyurl.com/mv4frfv7 Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/wbaypprw Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/  - - Planning to grant token awards for your team? Toku makes implementing global token compensation and incentive awards simple. With Toku, you get unmatched legal and tax support to grant and administer your global team's tokens. Toku navigates it across the lifecycle — from easy to use token grant award templates through tracking vesting to managing tax withholdings. Make it simple today, at https://www.toku.com/empire - - Timestamps: (00:00) End of Times for Consumer Apps (05:58) Consumer Crypto's Advantage (17:22) Identity Rails for Restaurants (21:23) Balancing Blockchain & Consumer Rights (27:45) Complexity of Building On Web3 (30:00) Toku ad (31:16) Variant Fund Approach to Consumer Crypto (36:23) Why Use Crypto? (41:54) FLY Token & Progressive Ownership (46:44) Mitigating Attack Vectors (50:21) Consumer Crypto in 2024 - - Resources Blackbird Docs https://www.blackbird.xyz/flypaper Li Jin Barrier to Mainstream Adoption https://variant.fund/articles/barrier-to-mainstream-crypto-adoption-is-product-market-fit/ - - Disclaimer: Nothing said on Empire is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Santiago, Jason, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Nobody understands restaurants like Ben Leventhal. From starting Eater and Resy to his new venture, Blackbird, Ben discusses bringing restaurants on-chain and building loyalty.Today's episode is sponsored by Chainalysis.In this episode of the podcast, Avery and Sam chop it up with Ben Leventhal from Blackbird Labs. Ben has been a successful entrepreneur having started Eater, acquired by Vox, and Resy, acquired by Amex, and is now using NFTs and loyalty rewards on-chain to connect restaurants with their best customers with his new venture, Blackbird Labs.Links mentioned from the podcast: Wearable Life Moment Tech Is BackVeeFriend Partnership Game Is StrongBen on TwitterBlackbird WebsiteFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3-From our sponsor:Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services, and research to government agencies, web3 companies, financial institutions, and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance, and business intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world's most high-profile criminal cases. For more information, visit www.chainalysis.com.-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni, with editing by Jonas Huck. Executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nobody understands restaurants like Ben Leventhal. From starting Eater and Resy to his new venture, Blackbird, Ben discusses bringing restaurants on-chain and building loyalty.Today's episode is sponsored by Chainalysis.In this episode of the podcast, Avery and Sam chop it up with Ben Leventhal from Blackbird Labs. Ben has been a successful entrepreneur having started Eater, acquired by Vox, and Resy, acquired by Amex, and is now using NFTs and loyalty rewards on-chain to connect restaurants with their best customers with his new venture, Blackbird Labs.Links mentioned from the podcast: Wearable Life Moment Tech Is BackVeeFriend Partnership Game Is StrongBen on TwitterBlackbird WebsiteFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3-From our sponsor:Chainalysis is the blockchain data platform. We provide data, software, services, and research to government agencies, web3 companies, financial institutions, and insurance and cybersecurity companies. Our data powers investigation, compliance, and business intelligence software that has been used to solve some of the world's most high-profile criminal cases. For more information, visit www.chainalysis.com.-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni, with editing by Jonas Huck. Executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Natasha and Deana have famed hospitality-tech entrepreneur Ben Leventhal on the podcast, founder of Blackbird, a loyalty and membership platform for restaurants. Natasha and Deana talk to Ben about this very real-world application of web3, and about how to bring value to both restauranteurs and diners. Interoperability, loyalty perks beyond discounting, and the restaurant industry's response to a blockchain app are themes. They close out the episode with a Selena Gomez-themed draft tweets session. Boys Club is proudly supported by Kraken. Kraken is a crypto exchange for everyone. 

As the cofounder of online restaurant watchdog and chronicler Eater, as well as reservations booker Resy, Ben Leventhal has been at the center of all things dining out for nearly 20 years. On this episode we catch up with Ben about his latest company, Blackbird, a restaurant loyalty program that is rethinking the way hospitality and online culture converge. We talk about the founding of Blackbird and how restaurants are rapidly changing the way they make money through CPG and brand extension. We also discuss the early days of Eater, the future of controversial Los Angeles restaurant Horses, and the biggest story that nobody is covering. It's great catching up with Ben!Also on the show we catch up with Food & Wine's super talented Senior Drinks Editor Oset Babür-Winter. We talk about summer drinking, New York City restaurants, and what is exciting her in the world of spirits, wine, and cocktails. More From Ben Leventhal and Oset Babür-Winter:He Started Resy: Now He Wants You to Take Restaurant NFTs Seriously [EaterThis Is TASTE 64: Ben Leventhal [TASTE]Why Is Everyone Drinking Chartreuse This Summer? [F&W]We're Calling It Now, the Espresso Tonic Is the Drink of the Summer [F&W]FOLLOW, FOLLOW, FOLLOW:instagram.com/benleventhalinstagram.com/baburosetinstagram.com/mattrodbardinstagram.com/taste

Ben Leventhal has nothing if not good timing.  In 2004 the New York entrepreneur launched Eater at the dawn of the blogging era, back when food media was still mostly legacy publications and message boards.  After selling Eater to Vox, he went on to launch Resy in 2014 just as restaurants were beginning to bristle at the data practices of legacy online reservations systems such as OpenTable. He'd eventually sell his second company to American Express.  And now Leventhal is looking to create his third founder success story with the launch of Blackbird, a company which he describes as “a new loyalty, membership, and payments technology company.” In this episode, we discuss Ben's journey from those early days, how evolution of food media, the changes to reservation and other restaurant tech platforms, and how he envisions Web3 and other new technologies could change the game for small and independent restaurants.  You can find out more about Ben's new company at Blackbird.xyz. 

On today's episode of All in the Industry®, Shari Bayer's guest is Ben Leventhal, founder and CEO of Blackbird Labs, a next generation loyalty, membership and payments company, focused on enhancing direct connectivity between restaurants and their guests. Blackbird will be among the first web3 platforms purpose-built for the hospitality industry. Ben is the co-founder of Eater and Resy, two companies that have transformed the restaurant industry (Eater was acquired by Vox in 2013; Resy by American Express in 2019), and have fundamentally changed the relationship between restaurants and guests. Today's show also features Shari's PR tip to know when to fold 'em; Industry News Discussion on the wine bar concept; and Shari's Solo Dining experience at Major Food Group's Contessa in Miami's Design District.Photo Courtesy of Ben Leventhal.Listen at Heritage Radio Network; subscribe/rate/review our show at iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify. Follow us @allindustry. Thanks for being a part of All in the Industry®. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support All in the Industry by becoming a member!All in the Industry is Powered by Simplecast.

Today's blockchain and cryptocurrency news Bitcoin is up .5% at $20,244 Ethereum is up 1% at $1369 Binance Coin up slightly at $294 South Korea makes its first arrest in the Terra case. USDC burns $9B across the last 3 months Greenidge Generation looks to raise $20M through public stock offering. Ben Leventhal raises $11M seed for Blackbird Celsius' top 3 leaders collectively cashed out $56M in crypto before firm went bankrupt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I've spent a lot of time over the last several months thinking about legacy. I can't help but wonder if my efforts will result in a lasting impact on our industry. Am I able to move the conversation forward? Can I improve the day to day lives of my peers? I look to guys like Ben Leventhal for inspiration. Ben's contributions to food media and tech are undeniable. On the heels of him stepping down as GM of Amex's Global Dining Team, we look back at his legacy and what comes next for him and for the restaurant industry. ____________________________________________________________ Sign Up for Our Weekly Newsletter: https://pineapplepost.news Book time on Josh's personal calendar: https://bit.ly/3otQm8z We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out the FULL COMP media universe by visiting: Full Comp - www.restaurants.yelp.com/fullcomp The Happy Mouth Morning Show - www.restaurants.yelp.com/happy mouth Restaurant Marketing School - www.restaurants.yelp.com/marketingschool Restaurant Influencers: The Playbook - www.restaurants.yelp.com/influencers

Ben Leventhal is the Co-Founder and CEO of Resy, a digital reservation service used by top U.S. restaurants and now part of the American Express family. Learn how he creatively tackled a situation that was hard to swallow, from developing new tools around safely protocols to enabling at-home dining. This episode is hosted by Chris Cracchiolo, SVP/GM of Global Membership Rewards & Loyalty Benefits at American Express. 

We're shining a light on seven restaurants around the globe that aren't afraid to take risks in return for the greatest reward, opening their doors so they can feed people again. Plus, we're sharing a very special edition of #icantwait this week, as Welcome Conference partner Anthony Rudolf interviews Steve Palmer of Ben's Friends and The Indigo Road Hospitality. Together they'll talk about how the newly digitized version of Ben's Friends has reached its largest audience yet. And of course, we're back with This Week in José, with some extra clips from Ben Leventhal's interview with Chef José Andrés.

This week on Weekly Specials, we're inspired by the way grocery stores have partnered with chefs to create to-go meals, like Rouses Markets in Louisiana, H-E-B in Texas, and Spartan Nash in Michigan, raising a significant amount of money in support of their local restaurants. Dimo's Pizza in Chicago is using their ovens to cook up more than just a solid slice, and restaurant regulars support their favorite spots by installing road-side billboards advertising a local spot with the simple message, “We are open.” And in Hong Kong, Black Sheep Restaurant released a reopening playbook that's already been translated to 5 languages and passed around the world. Ben Leventhal spends some quality time with Chef José Andrés in the ultimate version of This Week in José. And our latest segment, #icantwait, continues with Chef Kwame Onwuachi and his team from Kith/Kin joining us on the show to share what they can't wait to get back to doing in their restaurant.

Dave and Chris Ying call up Ben Leventhal, cofounder of Eater and Resy, to discuss how the hospitality industry will change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the cofounder of online restaurant watchdog/chronicler Eater, and reservations booker Resy, Ben Leventhal has been at the center of all things dining out for over a decade. On this episode, we go back to the early days of Eater and talk about the rapid shift toward food as pop culture—which is not to be confused with pop culture’s crossover with food. That is, society’s deep interest in New York City’s Taiwanese restaurant boom, and not what that Foodgod guy is guiding this week. We clarify the difference.Ben also tackles the state of the restaurant reservation, and how restaurant owners are making it work in a very competitive climate. Note: This interview was conducted before Resy was acquired by American Express on May 15.Also on today’s show, Max Falkowitz answers a burning reader question about figs and veganism.

When Resy's Ben Leventhal, who has been involved in at least five food-related start-ups, speaks about entrepreneurship, I am all ears. Here are just a couple of the pearls of wisdom that came out of our in-depth conversation: "What I do try to say to people that haven't been through a couple of cycles is you got to understand how hard this is about to be. People say, 'Oh, I want to start a company. I want to do that. I want to go out on my own.' I say, 'That's great, but it's really fucking hard.'" "It's gruesome. Every day of a startup is gruesome. If it's not gruesome, something is wrong. Something is off...Every day is a battle." And here's Ben on putting together a team: "Well, look, I mean, you got to understand that you have to have the long view. You're building something from scratch. The people that you're lucky enough to have working with you, the people that take a risk with you, the first ten employees, they're taking almost as big a risk as you are, and in some cases, they're taking a bigger risk because they got to trust [you]...That's really important, and you have to make sure that those people feel almost minute to minute like they made the right choice." Ben talks about how he's applied these hard-earned lessons to Resy, a two year-old start-up that so far seems to have successfully taken on OpenTable, the granddaddy of online reservation systems. How exactly did he and his partners do that? You're just going to have to listen to find out.

The members list of the non-existent Digital Food Entrepreneur's Club would be quite small, but it would have to include Ben Leventhal, who is both this and next week's guest on Special Sauce. Ben cofounded Eater in 2005 and is now one of the cofounders of Resy, the popular restaurant reservations app. On this week's episode, he and I reminisce about the good and bad and definitely crazy old days of both Eater and Serious Eats. And even though we really weren't direct competitors then (or even now), it was fun to talk about the battle scars we both suffered in the early days of what was called the Web 2.0 era. I love what Ben has to say about risk: "I think risk tolerance has got to be one of the three most important things you need as an entrepreneur. I think you have to be willing to take risks. You have to have a real understanding of what you're good at and you should take risks on the basis of what you're good at, and you need enough self-awareness to know what's not going to work. And, as Ben and I discuss, you have to have a real optimistic streak. As he puts it, "You've got to have a strategy to get through those days where it looks like it's the last day." If you love to go to restaurants (and who doesn't?) or you've ever thought about taking the entrepreneurial leap into a food-related digital business, this episode of Special Sauce is made especially for you.

Ben Leventhal is the CEO and founder of Resy, a mobile app for people who love eating at great restaurants but hate hassling for reservations. Resy also provides dynamic operational software for restaurants. We will to talk to Ben about food, wine, restaurants, and current trends in the industry.

Every episode of Tech Bites ends with a question. We ask guests for an actionable piece of advice we can all use in real life. Get advice here on everything from running a successful start-up to being a networking super-star to making a great dinner on the fly. Featuring: Episode 6: Ryan Sutton, restaurant critic Eater. Episode 12: Amanda Hesser, CEO and CO-founder Food52. Episode 45: Mitchell Davis, Vice President James Beard Foundation. Episode 52: Ben Leventhal, CEO/Founder Resy. Episode 57: Kerry Diamond and Claudia Wu, Co-Founders Cherry Bombe Magazine, Jubilee & Radio. Episode 71: Khee Lee and Rachna Govani, CEO/Founder Foodstand. Episode 77: Laurie Woolever, Writer, Editor and Bourdain Gatekeeper. Episode 83: David Sax, Writer. Episode 90: Damien Morgavero, Entreprenur and Author.

Now that you’ve got a table – what’s next? Resy launched in 2014 with an initial offering of paid reservations that provoked heated debate in the industry. Two years later – Resy is poised to take on Opentable and become the next gen of restaurant OS and POS. If you don’t know what OS – POS – and PCI Compliant mean, Resy CEO/Co-Founder Ben Leventhal is in-studio to walk you through the Resy 2.0 landscape.

Frustrated that you can’t get a reservation at your favorite restaurant on short notice? Can’t get a table at the hottest new spot in town? Ben Leventhal is out to change that with his new app Resy, a mobile app for people who love eating at great restaurants but hate hassling for reservations. He’s the guest this week on All in the Industry with Shari Bayer and he’s got plenty to share. In addition to starting Resy, he co-founded Eater, one of the most popular food websites in the world. Tune in and hear his inspiration for starting Resy and hear what else he’s been up to lately. This program was brought to you by Edwards VA Ham. “What we did with Eater is take this amazing technology and slap restaurants on it. that’s a thru line in my career – is thinking about tech and restaurants and finding the right and best way to put those two things together.” [14:00] “There’s all this friction and inefficiency that goes into allocating tables. We’d like to fix that with Resy.” [16:00] “The bar on casual cuisine has gone way up.” [29:00] –Ben Leventhal on All in the Industry