52 episodes

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses. Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way.

The Pre-Shift Podcast 7shifts

    • Business
    • 3.8 • 6 Ratings

The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses. Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way.

    Chad Mackay, CEO of Fire and Vine Hospitality

    Chad Mackay, CEO of Fire and Vine Hospitality

    The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts is a deep dive into what it takes to run great restaurant teams. 
    Host DJ Costantino covers the restaurant industry with conversations featuring industry leaders and innovators sharing their business growth insights, backgrounds, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams.
    On this episode, we’re joined by Chad Mackay, CEO of Fire & Vine Hospitality in Seattle, WA.
    Chad Mackay, CEO of Fire & Vine Hospitality, leads a multi-concept operator of full-service restaurants and oversees the successful Revelers Club loyalty program, boasting 80K members and contributing 30% to the company’s revenue since its 2011 inception. El Gaucho, the flagship concept founded in 1996, spans five locations, while Fire & Vine owns AQUA by El Gaucho, Aerlume, and the Witness Tree lounge. The Revelers Club extends to independently owned properties like Walla Walla Steak Co., Crossbuck Brewing, and Yellowhawk Resort in Walla Walla, WA. Drawing from two decades of hospitality expertise, Chad founded Brigado, a consulting and technology firm. He actively serves on Oracle's Customer Advisory Board for the Global Food and Beverage Industry Group and has held leadership roles in associations like the Washington Hospitality Association and Visit Seattle. Chad is a sought-after speaker on adapting compensation models for full-service restaurants in response to the $15 minimum wage.
    Links
    Fire & Vine Hospitality
    Brigado


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    Credits
    Host & Executive Producer: D.J. Costantino
    Editor: Fina Charleston
    Producer: Samantha Fung
    Designer: Jake Sinclair

    • 24 min
    Irene Shiang Li, Cofounder of Prepshift & Mei Mei Dumplings

    Irene Shiang Li, Cofounder of Prepshift & Mei Mei Dumplings

    The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts is a deep dive into what it takes to run great restaurant teams. 

    Host DJ Costantino covers the restaurant industry with conversations featuring industry leaders and innovators sharing their business growth insights, backgrounds, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams.
    On this episode, we’re joined by Irene Shiang Li, Cofounder of Prepshift & Mei Mei Dumplings in Boston, Mass.
    Irene Shiang Li co-founded Mei Mei in Boston in 2013 and built the brand around ethical, sustainable sourcing and fair and transparent employment practices, including open book management. Mei Mei is now a dumpling company and Irene is now building Prepshift, a tech-enabled coaching and workforce training firm. Prepshift focuses on aligning food business teams around their common goals and empowering them with education and transparency. Irene believes that in restaurants, everyone can win. She is a Zagat and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, six-time James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef nominee, and 2022 James Beard Foundation Leadership Award winner. In 2023, Irene and her sister co-authored Perfectly Good Food: a totally achievable zero-waste approach to home cooking with W.W. Norton.
    Additional Resources
    Mei Mei DumplingsPrepshiftOne Fair WageFollow Irene LiGet Irene’s BookListen, rate, and subscribe!
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    Apple Podcasts
    Google Podcasts
    YouTube
    TikTok
    7shifts Blog

    Credits
    Host & Executive Producer: D.J. Costantino
    Editor: Fina Charleston
    Producer: Samantha Fung
    Designer: Jake Sinclair

    • 24 min
    Ji Hye Kim, Chef/Owner at Miss Kim | S2E12

    Ji Hye Kim, Chef/Owner at Miss Kim | S2E12

    The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts is a deep dive into what it takes to run great restaurant teams. 

    Host D.J. Costantino covers the restaurant industry with conversations featuring industry leaders and innovators sharing their business growth insights, backgrounds, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams.
    On this episode, we’re joined by Ji Hye Kim, Chef/Owner of Miss Kim in Ann Arbor.
    Ji Hye was awarded one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs in 2021 and a multi-time James Beard Award semifinalist. She also advocates for fair wages in the hospitality industry, working with organizations like One Fair Wage to enact change. We get into how staff are paid above the industry average at Miss Kim, the tools Kim uses to get her teams engaged, and more.
    Additional Resources
    Miss KimZingerman’sZingerman’s Community of BusinessesOne Fair WageRAISE: High Road RestaurantsListen, rate, and subscribe!
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    Apple Podcasts
    Google Podcasts
    YouTube
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    7shifts Blog

    Credits
    Host & Executive Producer: D.J. Costantino
    Editor: Fina Charleston
    Producer: Samantha Fung
    Designer: Jake Sinclair

    • 25 min
    Jason Hammel, Chef and Owner of Lula Cafe

    Jason Hammel, Chef and Owner of Lula Cafe

    The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses.  Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way. 
    On this episode, we’re joined by Jason Hammel, Chef and Owner of Lula Cafe
    Guest Bio
    Chef and owner Jason Hammel grew up in New Haven, CT and is the product of a tight Italian family. He studied writing at Brown University and then traveled in Italy where an accidental stay in an apartment above a produce market left a lasting impact and presaged his career as a chef. Upon returning to the U.S., he received his M.A. in English and moved to Chicago where he met his wife, musician and Lula co-founder, Amalea Tshilds. They live in Logan Square with their two children, Ismene and Cass.   
    Hammel’s writing has appeared in Bon Appetit and Lucky Peach/MAD feed. He is currently working on a cookbook to be released by Phaidon.  

    Additional Resources


    Lula CafeMarisolPilot LightLula Cafe CookbookListen, rate, and subscribe!
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    Apple Podcasts
    Google Podcasts
    YouTube
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    7shifts Blog

    Credits
    Host & Executive Producer: D.J. Costantino
    Editor: Fina Charleston
    Producer: Samantha Fung
    Designer: Jake Sinclair

    • 18 min
    Kwini Reed, Co-owner of Poppy + Rose, Poppy & Seed, and Root of All Foods

    Kwini Reed, Co-owner of Poppy + Rose, Poppy & Seed, and Root of All Foods

    The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses.  Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way. 
    On this episode, we’re joined by Kwini Reed, Co-owner of Poppy + Rose, Poppy & Seed, and Root of All Foods
    Guest Bio
    Kwini Reed is a Southern California native, wife, mother, and entrepreneur. She is the co-owner of brunch restaurant, Poppy + Rose in Downtown Los Angeles, Orange County dining destination, Poppy & Seed, and upscale catering company, Root of All Foods with husband and chef of these concepts, Michael Reed.
    She and her husband Michael Reed have received numerous accolades for these concepts, including Orange Coast Magazine's “Best New Restaurant” (Poppy & Seed); and CBS Los Angeles’ “Best All-Day Breakfast Restaurants in LA” (Poppy + Rose) - among others.
    She pioneers Poppy + Rose and Poppy & Seed's giving back initiatives as well, coordinating meal donations to organizations across LA, supporting first responders, social justice causes, youth development programs, and more. Kwini is active with local nonprofits, such as Brown Bag Lady, which provides meals to people experiencing homelessness in LA. 
    Additional Resources
    Poppy & RosePoppy & SeedRoot of All FoodsKwini ReedListen, rate, and subscribe!
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    Apple Podcasts
    Google Podcasts
    YouTube
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    7shifts Blog

    Credits
    Host & Executive Producer: D.J. Costantino
    Editor: Fina Charleston
    Producer: Samantha Fung
    Designer: Jake Sinclair

    • 32 min
    Joe Kahn and Chris Artinian of Condado Tacos

    Joe Kahn and Chris Artinian of Condado Tacos

    The Pre-Shift Podcast presented by 7shifts breaks down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about running a restaurant better. Conversations with some of the biggest names, newest players, and industry innovators bring key insights into how they grew their businesses.  Host DJ Costantino asks probing questions to get to know restauranteurs, chefs, and executives better and find out where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what lessons they learned along the way. 
    On this episode, we’re joined by Joe Kahn, Founder and CIO of Condado Tacos and Chris Artinian, CEO of Condado Tacos
    Guest Bio
    Joe Kahn is the Founder & Chief Innovation Officer at Condado Tacos. His passion for hospitality started at just 15 years old working at Sizzler and then Pizza Hut. Along the way, he learned to bartend and earned his first management position at The Outpost, a local Chicago venue. After decades of working in all aspects of the restaurant industry, Joe took the plunge to open his own restaurant—which failed. But instead of turning in his apron, he learned from his mistakes, borrowed money from his wife’s 401k, and founded Condado Tacos with several business partners. His focus on creating clean and craveable tacos in an environment that encourages creativity and community was a hit. By 2026, there will be 100 Condado Tacos restaurants! What’s Joe’s secret to success? Treating people well and really great tacos.

    Chris Artinian serves as President & CEO at Condado Tacos. He has over 30 years of restaurant and retail experience with private and public companies and extensive experience in restaurant and consumer services. He first encountered Condado Tacos while working at The Beekman Group and loved the concept so much that he joined the company to help chart the brand’s meteoric growth because he has the chops. Chris previously held CEO titles at TooJay’s Gourmet Deli, Bakery & Restaurant, Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, and Morton’s. He’s recognized by industry peers for his deep operational experience in developing winning strategies and exceptional teams. he also serves on the Board of Directors of Another Broken Egg, Ted’s Cafe Escondido, and Condado Tacos.

    Additional Resources
    Condado TacosCondado Tacos Careers2021’s Breakout Brand of the Year: Condado Tacos Takes the LeadListen, rate, and subscribe!
    Spotify
    Apple Podcasts
    Google Podcasts
    YouTube
    TikTok
    7shifts Blog

    Credits
    Host & Executive Producer: D.J. Costantino
    Editor: Fina Charleston
    Producer: Samantha Fung
    Designer: Jake Sinclair

    • 25 min

Customer Reviews

3.8 out of 5
6 Ratings

6 Ratings

oliviabaker13 ,

Engaging and actionable!

DJ and his guests shine the brightest of lights on the restaurant industry and those inside of it! Engaging conversations, actionable tips to level up your restaurant, and insights into the industry abound in these episodes. Thanks for putting out such a superb show - keep up the great work!

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