Maxim Atanassov on Mentorship, Wine, and Rethinking the Restaurant Model
In this episode of The Late Night Restaurant Podcast, host Jay Ashton welcomes Maxim Atanassov—entrepreneur, investor, and founding partner of Future Ventures—for a powerful, free-flowing conversation that covers everything from natural wine to venture studios to the emotional side of leadership. Maxim shares his journey from Bulgaria to Canada, launching multiple businesses, and why mentorship and vulnerability are now at the core of how he builds companies. The two dig deep into the outdated 1765 restaurant model, building new revenue streams, storytelling as a superpower, and how doing just 10% more can double your business using the Rule of 72.Packed with insights, laughter, and fresh ideas for anyone in hospitality or entrepreneurship—this episode will leave you rethinking what’s possible for your business.
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Inside FIXE: The Bookkeeping Solution Restaurants Have Been Waiting For
In this powerful episode of The Late Night Restaurant Podcast, Jay sits down with Ryan Handel, founder of FIXE, the innovative bookkeeping platform created by restaurant pros, for restaurant pros. They dive deep into the real financial challenges operators face every day — from cash flow crunches and POS headaches to why so many restaurants are still using outdated systems that don’t scale.Ryan explains how FIXE streamlines everything from invoice capture to real-time financial reporting, offering restaurant-specific insights through a modern dashboard and hands-on support from dedicated account managers. Whether you’re a single-location operator or a growing group, this episode will change how you think about your numbers.Practical, honest, and full of real-world advice — this is the restaurant finance conversation we all wish we had years ago.
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41:03
Pokko Chips & Grit, Sasha Rajamani’s Wild Ride from Goats to Greatness
In this unforgettable episode of The Late Night Restaurant Show, the crew welcomes Sasha Rajamani, the founder of Pokko Chips — a bold, South Asian–inspired snack brand built from rice, chickpeas, and sheer determination. Sasha shares his unfiltered journey from milking goats in Alberta and scraping pig fat in a Toronto slaughterhouse to launching a breakout brand that’s now found in cafes, airports, and office snack programs across Canada. Along the way, the hosts dive into ADHD and spicy food, DIY food manufacturing, and Sasha’s startup grind during COVID with a newborn at home.From Ziploc sales in government offices to rejecting the traditional retail route in favor of foodservice disruption, Sasha opens up about building a business with heart, cultural pride, and zero shortcuts. Expect laughter, real lessons in entrepreneurship, and maybe even a few product ideas (Pokko puffs, anyone?).Authentic, hilarious, and deeply inspiring — this one’s for the makers, the grinders, and the dreamers.
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51:04
NEXT Level: Reinventing Food Shows with Heart, Humor, and Hospitality
In this special episode of The Late Night Restaurant Podcast, Jay and Dom go behind the scenes with Kandrix Foong, the co-founder of NEXT Food Expo, set to take Western Canada by storm this September 8–9 at the BMO Centre in Calgary. From Comic Expo origins to chef parades, vendor sleepovers, and why shag carpet still sparks debate, this conversation is packed with laughs, inspiration, and a fresh perspective on what a trade show should be. Kandrix shares his journey from fandom to foodservice disruption, why affordability and inclusivity are baked into NEXT’s DNA, and how this expo is designed for restaurateurs, tech leaders, chefs, creators, and the entire hospitality industry. If you've ever hated paying $400 for power at a booth or dreamt of building community at a show that truly “gets it,” this episode is for you.
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Balancing the Books, Late Night with Scott Carruthers
In this hilariously insightful episode of The Late Night Restaurant Podcast, Jay, Dom, and Beck welcome guest Scott Carruthers — a former chef turned restaurant bookkeeper and coach — who takes us on a wild ride from mustard-making in London, Ontario to modern-day financial strategy for hospitality businesses. Packed with gut-busting laughs, dad jokes, and real-talk on budgeting, waste, menu engineering, and the struggle of change in restaurants, this episode blends comedy with consulting gold. If you're in foodservice and not thinking about your break-even, you're already behind. Don’t miss this perfect mix of roasting chefs (lovingly), roasting mustard seeds (literally), and roasting financial chaos into clarity.
Welcome to "The Late Night Restaurant Show" with Canada’s Restaurant Guy, Domenic Pedulla, and Michael Beck!
The ultimate podcast for those who live and breathe the restaurant industry. Hosted by Canada’s Restaurant Guy, Domenic Pedulla, and Michael Beck, we dive into the real conversations shaping food and hospitality today.
Shot LIVE – Unfiltered & Real
Each episode tackles the biggest issues in restaurants—labor, digital marketing, sustainability, and emerging trends—all with an edutainment approach: informative, engaging, and fun.
Canada - english