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813: Aimee Olexy Founder of Talula's Table, Talula's Garden, The Love

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Release Date: 07/19/2021

1239: Willet Feng and Diane Wu Feng, Co-Owners of burger-chan show art 1239: Willet Feng and Diane Wu Feng, Co-Owners of burger-chan

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Willet Feng and Diane Wu Feng are the Co-Owners of , 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 has taken over the major operations of burger-chan so that Willet can focus on is next concept, the still young .   Join RULibrary:  Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our email newsletter: Today's sponsors: : Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional kitchens? meez is built just for you. Organize, share,...

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1238: Charles Clark, Owner of Clark Concepts show art 1238: Charles Clark, Owner of Clark Concepts

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

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 partner recently split amicably so that Charles could solely focus on . In addition to improving Brasserie 19, Charles is currently looking for a location for his next solo concept.  Join RULibrary:  Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our email newsletter: Today's sponsors: - Cerboni is an all-in-one financial solution...

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1237: Maria Degaine and Joshua Santana, Co-Founders of Cerboni Services show art 1237: Maria Degaine and Joshua Santana, Co-Founders of Cerboni Services

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Maria Degaine and Joshua Santana are the Co-Founders of Cerboni Financial Services, based in Houston, TX. Cerboni is an all-in-one financial solution for restaurants. Maria's background is in hospitality and owning restaurants, while Joshua's background is in finance and tech. Together they formed Cerboni Services in 2017 to help independent restaurant manage their financials and lower costs through performance based metrics. Today, Cerboni helps around 800 restaurants nationwide.  Join RULibrary:  Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our...

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1236: Jim Hallers, Founder & Managing Partner of Citizens Grill and Tailgators show art 1236: Jim Hallers, Founder & Managing Partner of Citizens Grill and Tailgators

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Jim Hallers is owner/co-owner of 8 bars and restaurants in the Magnolia/Woodlands Texas area of Texas. He opened his first restaurant, Tailgators, in 2009 at the age of 46 after a long and successful career in Information Technology. Today, his portfolio includes Citizens Grill, The Republic Grille, Good Charlie’s Oyster Bar and Kitchen, 2 distinct dive bars and 4 Tailgators. His 8 restaurants bring in 23 millions dollars in revenue. Join RULibrary:  Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our email newsletter: Today's sponsors: - Cerboni...

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1235: Dan Weinberger, Founder of Weinberger’s Deli show art 1235: Dan Weinberger, Founder of Weinberger’s Deli

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Dan Weinberger is the Founder of located in Grapevine, Texas. Dan's parents opened and operated 5 deli's in Chicago from 1952 until 2000. Dan worked in his parent's stores growing up and eventually went to culinary school and opened his own deli, Weinberger's Deli, in 2002 in Grapevine, TX. Weinberger's Deli is still going strong today with plans to expand the current location's footprint.  Join RULibrary:  Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our email newsletter: Today's sponsors: - Cerboni is an all-in-one financial solution for...

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1234: Addie and Dustin Teague, Owners of Relish Restaurant and Bar show art 1234: Addie and Dustin Teague, Owners of Relish Restaurant and Bar

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Addie and Dustin Teague are the owners of located in Houston, TX. The pair are married and are both from Houston originally. Dustin worked in restaurants in Las Vegas and New York before returning to Houston. Addie attended culinary school and worked in places as revered as Eleven Madison Park in NYC, and also returned to Houston. In 2011, Addie opened Relish as a market and hired Dustin as her chef. The market version of Relish closed in 2015 and was reopened in 2016 as Relish Restaurant and Bar. In 2024, the second location opened. Join RULibrary:  Join RULive: Set Up...

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1233: David Denis, Chef/Owner of Bistro Mistral show art 1233: David Denis, Chef/Owner of Bistro Mistral

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Chef David Denis was born and raised in France with a grandmother and mother who both owned restaurants and cafes. David became a chef and ended up in Houston for a private chef gig and stayed. He opened his first restaurant in Houston in 2001, then opened his second restaurant 7 years later. He later became a consultant and finally in 2020 he bought with his partners. This year he became the sole owner of the restaurant and will rename it Bistro Mistral. He plans to open at least 4 more restaurants in Houston. Join RULibrary:  Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on...

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1232: Brian Reece and Steve Crowley, Co-Founders of Service Physics show art 1232: Brian Reece and Steve Crowley, Co-Founders of Service Physics

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Brian Reece and Steve Crowley are the co-founders of . Service Physics is a multi-unit restaurant service consultant company based in NYC. The company was organically recommended by Haven Hot Chicken for franchising. Brian and Steve are hosting a live on December 9th, 2025. Go to to get a link to join that conversation!  Join RULibrary:  Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our email newsletter: Today's sponsors: : Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional kitchens? meez is built just for you. Organize, share,...

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1231: Dan Carr, CEO and Co-Owner of Visconti’s Hospitality Group show art 1231: Dan Carr, CEO and Co-Owner of Visconti’s Hospitality Group

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

Dan Carr is the Co-Owner of . The original Visconti’s was opened in 1985 in Wenatchee, WA. Dan moved to Wenatchee from the midwest in 1991 and started working in Visconti’s in 1993 after meeting the President and Owner, Candy Mecham. Dan and candy then opened a second Visconti’s in Leavenworth, WA and since then they have opened 6 concepts across 9 locations in Washington. Join RULibrary:  Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our email newsletter: Today's sponsors: : Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional...

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1230: What you need to know about L.T.O.’s with Anna Neave show art 1230: What you need to know about L.T.O.’s with Anna Neave

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

This is a LIVE event all about Limited Time Offers (L.T.O.'s) and how to best utilize them in your business, as presented by Anna Neave. Anna is the owner of and in Austin, Texas! Join RULibrary:  Join RULive: Set Up your RUEvolve 1:1: Subscribe on YouTube: Subscribe to our email newsletter: Today's sponsors: : Are you a chef, owner, operator, or manage recipes in professional kitchens? meez is built just for you. Organize, share, prep, and scale recipes like never before. Plus, engineer your menu in real-time and get accurate food costs. Sign up for free today and get 2 FREE...

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More Episodes

Aimee Olexy Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast

Owner and founder of Talula's Table, and Co-owner and founder of Talula's Garden, Talula's Daily, The Love, Aimee Olexy.

  • One of the pioneering forces behind the farm to table movement, Aimee is Chef/Owner of Talula’s Table, a hybrid gourmet café and BYOB in Kennett Square, PA that hosts nightly 12-person tastings, so incredibly coveted that it has been dubbed it “The Toughest Table in America.”
  • Aimee is also chef and co-owner (in collaboration with STARR Restaurants) of several of Philadelphia’s most notable restaurants: Talula’s GardenTalula’s Daily and The Love.

Check out Tock as mentioned in today's episode.

Check out Google Chrome's Momentum as mentioned in today's episode.

Show notes…

Calls to ACTION!!!

Favorite success quote or mantra:

  • "My body is not a temple." The restaurant industry is hard. Embrace it.

In today's episode with Aimee Olexy we will discuss:

  • Learning EVERY station
  • An interest in small, independant businesses
  • Risk taking in the industry; it's a good thing
  • Learning from corporate hotels
  • Don't serve experiments, serve refined dishes/experiences
  • Hard lessons from opening your first restaurant
  • Selling a business and a concept
  • Documenting and tracking
  • Partnerships

Today's sponsor:

Ovation: Recently voted the #1 guest feedback platform in a nationwide RestaurantOwner.com survey, Ovation uses a SMS-based survey as a “digital table touch” that has redefined guest feedback.  Through frictionless integrations with online ordering platforms and other tools, Ovation allows you to easily collect guest feedback, resolve concerns in real-time, get more 5-star reviews, and uncover insights to improve brand-wide.  As a listener of Restaurant Unstoppable, you’ll receive 2,000 FREE text messages - contact our team!

Ovation Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast

Restaurant365 is a cloud-based, all-in-one, restaurant-specific accounting and back-office platform that seamlessly integrates with POS systems, payroll providers, food and beverage vendors. It generates accurate real-time reporting and analysis in user-friendly dashboards, facilitating immediate, data-driven decision making. Restaurant365 eliminates manual, error-prone processes and is designed to help restaurant businesses grow with functionality that helps optimize labor costs, reduce food costs and increase revenue.

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Ecolab: Streamline your clean with Ecolab’s new EPA-registered 2-in-1 solution, Sink & Surface Cleaner Sanitizer. It will help reduce risk, simplify your procedures and help ensure compliance. This solution cleans and sanitizes hard non-porous surfaces with a single product, eliminates the rinse step and equips your staff to clean more efficiently. Clean simplified, confidence delivered.

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Knowledge bombs

  1. Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
    • Super energized, never tired
  2. What is your biggest weakness?
    • Slow to make change
  3. What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?
    • Do you go the extra mile?
  4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
    • Commuting, parking, urban issues
  5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
    • Smile, be positive
  6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
    • If a guest looks unhappy, we approach them and stay ahead of their needs
  7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
  8. Name one service you've hired.
  9. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influenced operations?
  10. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
    • Be kind
    • Be generous
    • Be curious
  11. Who should be my next Guest Mentor?
    • Steven Starr

Contact info:

Instagram: @talulastable

www.talulastable.com

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!

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Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.

And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates.

Huge thanks to Aimee Olexy for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

 

Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!