In this Restrocast episode, Ashish Tulsian sits down with Jil Assaf, COO at Shawarmer, to trace a career built on grit and reinvention. Jil recalls launching a teenage snack counter in a Beirut billiards hall, the Lebanese hustle shaped by instability, and operating across the Middle East. He describes building the hospitality arm of Qatar’s Pearl Island, why a policy shift forced an exit, and how founding a 15-country consulting firm led to burnout, a reset in Saudi, and a renewed focu...

In this episode, Ashish Tulsian sits down with Alexandre Bachir, Managing Director of Bachir Ice Cream, the man leading the third generation of the iconic Lebanese family brand that has thrived for nearly 90 years. Alexandre shares how the business, founded in 1936 by his grandfather and great-uncle in a small village in Lebanon, grew from a local shop to an international name loved in Lebanon, France, Brazil, and the UAE. He opens up about the challenges of modernizing a family legacy, bridg...

In this episode, Ashish Tulsian sits down with Filippo Sgattoni, CEO of Alamar Group, the master franchisee for Domino’s and Dunkin’ across the Middle East, to explore his remarkable journey from finance to food leadership. Filippo shares how his years at Autogrill shaped his understanding of global operations, cultural intelligence, and the art of balancing numbers with intuition. He opens up about adapting to Saudi Arabia’s evolving market, leading a family-founded company through an IPO, a...

In this episode, Ashish Tulsian sits down with Sherif M., Managing Director at Olayan Group, to unpack his extraordinary 30-year journey shaping some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands from Wimpy and KFC at Americana to Burger King, Texas Chicken, and Buffalo Wild Wings today. Sherif shares powerful lessons from 25 transformative years at Americana, where a people-first culture, with employees prioritized above shareholders, has built a fiercely loyal workforce and achieved industry...

In this episode, Ashish Tulsian sits down with Amjad Barakat, CEO, Brunch & Cake. He went from being $3 million in debt at age 18 to building one of the region’s most popular café brands. He started by helping out in his family’s luxury fashion business on weekends, eventually saving it by the time he was 24. By 27, he had launched a real estate company and then moved to Dubai to explore new opportunities. After gaining experience through consulting and partnerships in Saudi Arabia (inclu...

In this episode, Omar Shihab, founder of BOCA Dubai, takes us inside his journey of rethinking what a restaurant can stand for in a city known for rapid growth and high consumption. He shares the early shocks of entering the industry, from franchise struggles to the daily unpredictability of operations, and how those lessons shaped his people-first leadership style. Omar explains why integrity, transparency, and sustainability became BOCA’s guiding principles, leading to recognition with a Mi...

In this episode of Restrocast, British restaurateur Jasper Reid, Founder & CEO, International Market Management, shares his journey of building global food brands in India’s tough and competitive market. He talks about how he brought Pizza Express to India, beat Reliance to land Jamie Oliver’s brand, and convinced Wendy’s U.S. CEO to launch a ₹29 burger in India. Reid explains that high rents in India can take up 20% of sales, why menus should be based on data and kept under 30 items, an...

In this episode of Restrocast, Chris Demery, CTO of Blaze Pizza, shares his unconventional journey from the U.S. military to leading restaurant tech transformations at Domino’s, Bloomin’ Brands, PF Chang’s, and Blaze Pizza. Chris shares how his military background shaped his leadership style and why listening to frontline teams is the secret to building tech that works. From building Domino’s Pulse and the Pizza Tracker to rolling out Blaze’s new POS system, Chris reveals the real challenges ...

In this Restrocast episode, Rusty Bills, COO of Galardi Group (Wienerschnitzel, Tastee Freez), shares his journey from busboy to the C-suite and everything in between. He opens up about his early days in the kitchen, how hands-on leadership shaped his path, and why building strong relationships with franchisees is the foundation of long-term success. Rusty discusses the realities of running a franchise in today’s environment, from navigating California’s $20/hour wage law to leveraging techno...

In this episode of Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian sits down with Chris Incorvati, CTO at Jack’s Family Restaurants, to explore one of the most unconventional and inspiring journeys in restaurant technology. From a journalism graduate and restaurant GM to leading tech across 270+ QSR locations, Chris shares how curiosity, hands-on learning, and deep operational empathy shaped his rise. The conversation spans pivotal roles at Legal Seafoods, Au Bon Pain, and Panera, where Chris helped roll out earl...

In this episode of Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian sits down with Kyle Mark, a restaurant tech leader whose career has spanned Apple, various startups, and enterprise restaurant operations. Kyle shares how his journey started in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, took root at Apple’s flagship store, and evolved into a career transforming how restaurants use technology. Kyle reflects on transitioning from Apple to the foodservice world through roles at Standard Market, Datum Technologies, and Fresh Kitchen—wher...

In this episode of Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian sits down with Joseph Unger, President and COO of GOSH Enterprises, to trace his inspiring journey through the restaurant industry. From starting as a sandwich artist at Subway to leading 100+ corporate restaurants at Taco Bell, Joe shares how his early exposure to entrepreneurship shaped his career. He discusses the leadership lessons learned from mentors at Yum Brands and his shift to innovation-driven roles at Reef Technology during the r...

In this episode of Restrocast, Chad Mackay, CEO of Fire & Vine Hospitality, shares his journey from growing up around restaurants run by his father to stepping away into the corporate world, only to return with renewed vision and a commitment to do things differently. He talks candidly about the pivotal moments in his leadership journey—surviving the 2008 financial crisis while building a flagship restaurant, learning from failed concepts, and the power of integrity and honoring commitmen...

In this episode of Restrocast, Wing Lam, co-founder of Wahoo’s Fish Tacos, shares the secrets behind building a thriving restaurant brand for over 35 years. From starting small to scaling smart, Wing reveals how his unique approach to marketing, customer engagement, and business resilience has kept Wahoo’s relevant in an ever-changing industry. He dives into influencer marketing before social media, his strategy of partnering with athletes and musicians, and how Wahoo’s became a hotspot for a...

In this episode of Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian sits down with James Walker, a seasoned leader with over three decades of experience in the restaurant industry. Known for thriving in chaotic environments, James shares his journey from managing restaurants to leading transformative initiatives in hospitality. He recounts memorable stories, like working with Chris Elliott at Cinnabon, and highlights the importance of honesty and decisive leadership in challenging situations. James delves i...

In this episode of Restrocast, Samer S. Hamadeh, the visionary entrepreneur behind unique hospitality concepts like Akiba Dori and Stereo Arcade. From organizing a music festival at the age of 15 to designing industry-defining dining and nightlife experiences, Samer shares his journey of relentless creativity and risk-taking. Discover how Samer transitioned from nightlife to the dining scene, building Akiba Dori, a Japanese-inspired street food concept with a modern twist. He delves in...

In this episode of Restrocast, Ashish Tulsian sits down with John Peyton, CEO of Dine Brands Global, to discuss his remarkable journey through consulting, hospitality, and franchising. John shares how mentorship at Starwood Hotels shaped his understanding of leadership and operational excellence, highlighting pivotal moments like implementing Six Sigma and navigating the leap from operations to brand leadership. John delves into the challenges of becoming a first-time CEO at Dine Brand...

In this episode of Restrocast, Eric Slaymaker, the driving force behind Wingers Alehouse, shares his journey from the world of advertising to building a successful restaurant brand. With early roots in marketing for his father’s franchises, Eric developed a unique perspective on branding, which later inspired him to create Wingers. Eric dives into Wingers’ evolution, explaining how he adapted the concept into the popular Alehouse model to meet changing market demands. His conversation c...

In this episode of Restrocast, Phil Friedman, shares his remarkable journey over four decades. From his beginnings as a dishwasher to managing food distribution in Vietnam and scaling major brands like Panda Express and McAlister's Deli, Phil offers invaluable insights into leadership, innovation, and resilience. He discusses the challenges of navigating economic downturns, including the 2009 recession and the recent pandemic, and how adaptability has been key to his success. Phil emph...

In this podcast episode, Saer Imad shares his unique career journey from corporate banking in Lebanon to becoming a key figure in Dubai's food and beverage industry. Saer discusses his early career advising entrepreneurs at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders, where he first gained insights into the F&B world. He then shares how he transitioned from an advisor to a hands-on operator, building and franchising brands like JJ Chicken and Derwendi. Sa...