Southern Smoke Festival 2026 | Vol. 1: Building Better Restaurants
Why This Episode Matters
Can restaurants offer exceptional food and hospitality while giving their employees a better life? These owners explain how they’re doing it.
Birdie’s challenges the traditional fine dining model with counter service, a serious wine program and meaningful employee benefits.
Shuai Wang shares how Top Chef helped him rediscover his inspiration through collaboration with other chefs.
Ayu Bakehouse teaches employees the business skills to pursue their own ideas—and pays them to learn.
The Conversation
Recorded at Southern Smoke Festival in Houston, these conversations…
The skinny
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