In this episode, Ray discusses the controversies surrounding the Michelin Guide, the impact of economic challenges, and the benefits of AI on employee recruitment. Ray then discusses the recent Whole Foods hack, the meteoric rise of Nerds Gummy Clusters, and the recent Restaurant Performance Index. In this episode, Raymond Delucci and Bryan Sparks, Executive Chef of Wandering Vine, discuss the evolving landscape of the culinary industry, focusing on the importance of familiarity in restaurant success. They explore how chefs can create memorable dining experiences by connecting with customers through familiar flavors while navigating the complexities of the food supply chain.
National Restaurant Association: https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/research/restaurant-economic-insights/restaurant-performance-index/
Axios: https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2025/04/14/michelin-guide-dc-star-restaurants-virginia-declines
Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-10/whole-foods-supplier-hack-leaves-empty-shelves-stalls-forklifts?srnd=phx-industries
Food Dive: https://www.fooddive.com/news/how-nerds-gummy-clusters-became-the-candy-aisles-biggest-hit/748865/
NRN: https://www.nrn.com/expert-opinions/using-ai-to-write-help-wanted-posts-that-actually-work