CULINARY MECHANIC

Burnout Is Bad Business: The Case for Operational Clarity with Patrick Cassata

Burnout isn't a badge. It's a leak. Chef Patrick Cassata and I get under the hood on what actually keeps kitchens running: leadership reps, clean handoffs, and systems that protect people and profit. We talk delegation without martyrdom, expectations that stick, and why hospitality is the job even when tickets stack. Patrick's path from McDonald's rushes to leading an eight-figure operation is a masterclass in operational clarity. If you're an independent restaurant fighting drift, this one's a field manual.  Connect with Patrick Cassata Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefonthehook/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-cassata-b4585425/ Connect with Simon Email: simon@culinarymechanic.com Book a Call: https://calendly.com/culinarymechanic/discovery Website: https://www.culinarymechanic.com

Words That Win Guests. Systems That Keep Teams with Zana Devine

If your team is guessing instead of executing, this episode is your tune-up. Zana Devine grew up inside hotels and restaurants, then spent years building cultures where standards stick, onboarding is consistent, and language turns conflict into loyalty. We break down fundamentals that actually move numbers: one way of doing things, training that equips people to win, and respectful scripts for tough moments. For independent restaurant operators who need operational clarity, this is a playbook you can run tomorrow.    Connect with Zana Devine Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@zanadevinehospitality Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zanahospitality/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zdh-rnr/ Book: "Build to Serve, Train to Lead" on Amazon Connect with Simon Email: simon@culinarymechanic.com Book a Call: https://calendly.com/culinarymechanic/discovery Website: https://www.culinarymechanic.com

Removing Inconveniences Before Guests Notice: A Playbook for Hospitality with Jesus Mendez

You don't scale a taquería with vibes—you scale it with standards. In this episode, Jesus "Chuy" Mendez (Salud, Birmingham) shows how culture plus simple, repeatable systems drive operational clarity you can taste at the table. We get into writing real recipes (no "secret pinch"), rewarding the right behaviors, passing health inspections with confidence, and Chuy's rule of hospitality: remove inconveniences before guests ever notice. This is kitchen leadership for independent restaurants that need consistent food, clean shops, and a crew that gives a damn. You'll learn: How to turn SOPs into pride, not paperwork Why visible recognition beats speeches Fast-casual moves that keep lines tight and standards high Where chef culture helps—or hurts—consistency If you're ready to tighten restaurant systems, lead better, and build a culture that lasts, subscribe for weekly, operator-first tools.     Connect with Jesus "Chuy" Mendez  Website: https://www.saludbham.com/  Salud's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saludbham/?hl=en  Jesús's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmf1988/?hl=en  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesus-mendez-8249971b2/  emaili:chuy@saludbham.com Connect with Simon Email: simon@culinarymechanic.com Book a Call: https://calendly.com/culinarymechanic/discovery Website: https://www.culinarymechanic.com

Restaurant Systems That Win: Covers per Labor Hour, Culture, Clarity with Jeffrey Boland, Sr.

If your labor is "fine" but your profits aren't, you've got a leadership and systems problem—not a math problem. In this episode, Mac's Hospitality's Jeff Boland (9-unit beer-bikes-barbecue group in the Carolinas) gets real about building restaurant systems that actually run, cutting bloaty menus without losing soul, and measuring the right productivity signals (sales per labor hour, covers per labor hour) so your team wins without red-lining. We dig into kitchen leadership that models humility, chef culture that attracts talent, and the operational clarity independents need to grow—plus how to reset incentives so FOH stops staffing for bonuses and starts staffing for guest experience. If you want calmer shifts and better numbers without burning people out, this one's your field manual.   Connect with Jeffrey Boland LinkedIn: Jeffrey Boland  Website: https://www.bolandhs.com/ Company: Mac's Hospitality Connect with Simon Email: simon@culinarymechanic.com Book a Call: https://calendly.com/culinarymechanic/discovery Website: https://www.culinarymechanic.com

Tools That Work, Not Just Look Cool: A Pro's Guide to Real Edges with Josh Donald of Bernal Cutlery

If your knives feel "sharp" but still fight the carrot, this episode will save you time and fingertips. We get into the craft behind truly effective edges with Josh Donald of Bernal Cutlery—what geometry really means, why knives get "wedgy" over time, and how to think about tools like an operator, not a collector. We also hit the real-world stuff: sharpening flows that hold up in busy services, when to thin versus when to replace, and how chef culture drifts into trends that don't actually help you work faster. You'll walk away with plainspoken guidance you can use tonight—better edges, better cuts, calmer prep. Keywords: restaurant systems, kitchen leadership, chef culture, operational clarity, independent restaurant.   Connect with Josh Donald Website: https://www.bernalcutlery.com Instagram: @bernalcutlery Connect with Simon Email: simon@culinarymechanic.com Book a Call: https://calendly.com/culinarymechanic/discovery Website: https://www.culinarymechanic.com