Joiners

Episode #7 - Ronnie Kaplan of LTH Forum

This week, the two-top is crashed by Ronnie Kaplan, business-owner, writer, and contributor to the great LTH Forum, a beloved resource for Chicago food enthusiasts and insiders seeking the best neighborhood restaurants and bars throughout Chicagoland. A formative interaction with the late Anthony Bourdain helped him find his place in the hospitality landscape -- and from this one-of-a-kind perspective, he delights us with stories, insights, and recommendations. 

Episode #6 - John Manion of El Che Steakhouse & Bar

This week, we're joined by John Manion, fire-breathing chef and raconteur. He takes us on a journey through his formative years as a Hemingway-inspired youth seeking connection in Brazil, to his salad days navigating kitchens across the US, and how it all lead him his current station: chef-owner of the renowned El Che Steakhouse.

Episode #5 - Charles Joly of Crafthouse Cocktails

This week we have Charles Joly, one of Chicago's most celebrated bartenders who has in many ways done it all. His skills have literally taken him around the world, and now he has a line of ready to drink craft cocktails, called Crafthouse Cocktails. Join us as we discuss Charles ascent from humble barback to World Champion Bartender. 

Episode #4 - Zoe Schor of Split-Rail

This week, we talk to the dynamic Zoe Schor of Split-Rail, a Boston native who cut her culinary teeth in the country's three biggest markets. In addition to telling us a bit about her new venture, Dorothy Downstairs, a neighborhood lesbian bar, she explains the difference between competing on Chopped and being in the weeds at a restaurant on a particularly busy night, and details the relationships she's formed via the food competition circuit. A thorough ribbing of the played-out "menu tour" format, the importance of fostering a culture of mentorship in the culinary space, unconventional pest control strategies: this episode has a little bit of everything. 

Episode #3 - Nicole Alexander of Siren Betty Design

This week we're joined by Nicole Alexander of Siren Betty design. She has designed several beautiful concepts across commercial and residential spaces in Chicago and throughout the country. She tells us about her path, studying art and fashion in college, and finally finding herself in interior design.

Episode #2 - David Posey of Elske

This week we talk to owner and operator David Posey, who could have become a florist, but instead decided to pursue the culinary arts. David attended the Culinary Institute of America before working in some of Chicago's best kitchens. After meeting his future wife and culinary partner Anna, he opened the award-winning, Michelin-starred Elske, a gem in the hospitality landscape. Join us for a delightful conversation that spans food allergies, rye-crust pizza, kitchen drama, and so much more.

Episode #1 - Jenna Liberman of Eye Eaters

For the inaugural episode of Joiners, we take a peek under the proverbial hood of the creative side of marketing and PR with Jenna Liberman. Jenna cut her teeth with beloved Chicago restaurant group One Off Hospitality as their first in-house marketing and PR person. After that, she moved on to a full service agency called Skoog, where she managed several clients. She eventually spun off of that and started her own agency, Slow Down Co., that provides marketing and PR for hospitality clients. She's also half the brain behind creative agency and not-so-secret society, Eye Eaters, which she shares with her partner Paul Octavius. We talk with Jenna about her career path through the hospitality world and what she's learned along the way.