Tales from the pass: Tim Read - Mental Health in Hospitality - Helmet App
Tales From The Pass - A Hospitality Podcast by The Restaurant Association of NZ
Release Date: 02/11/2025
Tales from the Pass: Sophie Gilmour
Tales From The Pass - A Hospitality Podcast by The Restaurant Association of NZ
Sophie Gilmour is passionate about business, food, and hospitality. She has spent the past 15 years helping hospitality businesses thrive. She co-founded Bird on a Wire, co-owns Fatima, and leads Delicious Business where she guides operators towards sustainable growth. Sophie is also committed to community work and is a trustee of the Dine Charitable Trust. In this episode, Sophie shares practical and valuable advice on what it takes to run a successful hospitality business including the importance of having a mentor, managing costs, and understanding profit margins. She also reflects on...
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Tales from the Pass: Marcin Kulak
Tales From The Pass - A Hospitality Podcast by The Restaurant Association of NZ
Marcin Kulak, originally from Poland, is an experienced FOH professional. He began his hospitality journey in 2000 as a section waiter in Poland, then moved to London, where he spent ten years as a General Manager. In 2015, Marcin settled in Auckland with his wife and two sons. He joined Mekong Baby in 2018 as a Duty Manager and became co-owner within a year, alongside his wife and business partner Jackie. In this episode, Marcin talks about what it really takes to succeed in the restaurant industry. He shares why treating your venue as a business and delivering excellent service are the...
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Tales from the Pass: Lisa Levy
Tales From The Pass - A Hospitality Podcast by The Restaurant Association of NZ
Join us on Tales from the Past as we chat with Lisa Levy, co-founder of Christchurch’s acclaimed INATI restaurant. Lisa shares her journey from growing up in Hawke's Bay to working in London’s prestigious restaurants, including catering for the Royal family, before returning to New Zealand to create a memorable dining experience. Hear her insights on hospitality, running a restaurant with her partner, staying creative, and navigating the challenges of the industry, all while staying true to a love of local ingredients and exceptional service. Whether you’re passionate about food, curious...
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Tales from the Pass: Stacey Jones
Tales From The Pass - A Hospitality Podcast by The Restaurant Association of NZ
In this episode, we chatted with Stacey Jones, an award-winning event creative and marketer with over 20 years of experience blending food, innovation, and community. Stacey shares how childhood memories of making meringues with her mum sparked her love for food and bringing people together. She takes us through her career journey, from working in advertising agencies to founding her ventures, Kitchen Takeover and Secret Sauce, where she creates bespoke culinary experiences that delight and inspire. She also discusses her newest venture, The Only Table. We also explored how Stacey turns meals...
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Tales from the Pass: Luis Cabrera
Tales From The Pass - A Hospitality Podcast by The Restaurant Association of NZ
In this episode, we chat with Luis Cabrera, a renowned chef and entrepreneur from Mexico. Inspired by his grandmother’s cooking, Luis developed a passion for food early on, which led him to study Italian cuisine and work in restaurants around the world. In 2009, he opened his own restaurants in Auckland, New Zealand. When the pandemic forced him to close his restaurants, Luis turned his creativity to cocktails, experimenting with tequila to create a unique margarita recipe. This innovation led to Besos Margarita, a ready-to-serve drink that has since won seven international awards. Luis...
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Tales from the pass: Marg Main - Turning Tables
Tales From The Pass - A Hospitality Podcast by The Restaurant Association of NZ
Marg Main brings decades of hospitality expertise to the conversation, from her early hotel days to owning a restaurant in New Zealand. Now the founder of Turning Tables training company and her latest venture, Conversations That Matter, Marg specialises in creating meaningful workplace dialogue and empowering hospitality professionals. In this episode, Marg shares the essential skills that make hospitality leaders successful: reading body language, creating genuine connections, and using humour to build atmosphere. She dives deep into emotional intelligence, communication styles, and the...
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Tales from the pass: Krishna Botica
Tales From The Pass - A Hospitality Podcast by The Restaurant Association of NZ
Krishna Botica is an award-winning restaurateur in New Zealand with over 30 years of experience in the industry. She started her journey at Prego in the '90s and eventually opened her own venues under the group Mensa, including Cafe Hanoi, Ghost Street, and Perch. She has witnessed significant changes in the industry, from its unsophisticated and unprofessional beginnings to its now competitive and diverse landscape. Krishna reflects on the impacts of COVID-19, shares her insights on what customers want and how businesses can succeed by focusing on their strengths, being transparent and...
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Tales from the pass: Tim Read - Mental Health in Hospitality - Helmet App
Tales From The Pass - A Hospitality Podcast by The Restaurant Association of NZ
Tim Read shares his personal journey of working in the hospitality industry and how the industry has changed due to COVID-19. Tim talks with this weeks host Gerrick Newman about experiencing burnout and mental health distress, and how witnessing burnout in his employees and the loss of his best friend to suicide prompted him to launch his mental health and wellbeing initiative, which the Restaurant Association are partnering on, Helmet.
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Tales from the pass: Shane Liu - Sumthin Dumplin
Tales From The Pass - A Hospitality Podcast by The Restaurant Association of NZ
On this week's Restaurant Association of New Zealand podcast, we are joined by Shane, the founder of Somethin Dumplin. Shane talks about his journey as an entrepreneur in the hospitality industry and his vision for the future of his business. He also shares where the idea for Somethin Dumplin came from and some tips for managing a business and the realities of social media.
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Tales From The Pass - Maggie Gray
Tales From The Pass - A Hospitality Podcast by The Restaurant Association of NZ
In this episode of Tales from the Pass Maggie Gray, host of the Food Truck podcast and co-founder of the Auckland Food Truck Collective, shares her inspiring journey from running a single food truck to building a thriving community of mobile culinary entrepreneurs. Maggie dives into what it takes to succeed in the food truck business, from crafting a simple yet impactful menu to leveraging social media and building a loyal customer base. Discover her top tips for navigating challenges, fostering sustainability, and creating unforgettable food experiences. Whether you're a budding food truck...
info_outlineTim Read shares his personal journey of working in the hospitality industry and how the industry has changed due to COVID-19.
Tim talks with this weeks host Gerrick Newman about experiencing burnout and mental health distress, and how witnessing burnout in his employees and the loss of his best friend to suicide prompted him to launch his mental health and wellbeing initiative, which the Restaurant Association are partnering on, Helmet.