The Banter

The Guys went to a firefighter cook off. It was fantastic! Listen for Mark’s advice on how to elevate any dish.

The Conversation

The Restaurant Guys welcome pillar of California wine country Bettina Sichel of Laurel Glen Vineyard. Bettina talks about the uniqueness of Laurel Glen and the amazing story of her family’s legacy from escaping Germany during the war to owning the best selling wine in the world!

The Inside Track

The Guys took their staff to visit Bettina at Laurel Glen a few years ago. It was great to hear about her work leading up to running Laurel Glen Vineyard.

“Well, it did start small. so I went to work for Augustine Hues who was getting ready to launch his pet project, his very special project Quintessa. And, I was lucky enough to be on there to help him. I was the first director of sales and marketing and I helped to build the reputation and it was a great ride. It was really fun,” Bettina Sichel on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2025

Bio

In 2011, Bettina Sichel, a veteran of the California wine industry, became the steward of Laurel Glen Vineyard after purchasing the iconic estate from founder Patrick Campbell in partnership with a small group of wine lovers. During her 30-plus-year career, she has worked with some of the finest producers of Cabernet Sauvignon. In 1998, Sichel helped launch Quintessa and went on to develop its reputation and profile distribution over the next decade as director of sales and marketing. The daughter of Peter M.F. Sichel, the man responsible for making his family’s Blue Nun a household name in America, Bettina is the fifth generation of the Sichel family to work in the wine business.

Info

Laurel Glen Vineyard

https://laurelglen.com/

Peter Sichel (who passed away Feb 2025)

https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/peter-m-

Friday, March 14 is the first Restaurant Guys LIVE with Chef Rocco DiSpirito at the NBPAC in New Brunswick, NJ (next to The Guys' restaurants!)

Restaurant Guys' Regulars get a discount code for VIP tickets. Become on today!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2401692/subscribe

Get tickets here.

https://secure.nbpac.org/rocco-dispirito/22947

Our Sponsors

The Heldrich Hotel & Conference Center
https://www.theheldrich.com/

Magyar Bank
https://www.magbank.com/

Withum Accounting
https://www.withum.com/

Our Places

Stage Left Steak
https://www.stageleft.com/

Catherine Lombardi Restaurant
https://www.catherinelombardi.com/

Stage Left Wineshop
https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

To hear more about food, wine and the finer things in life:
https://www.instagram.com/restaurantguyspodcast/

https://www.facebook.com/restaurantguys

Reach Out to The Guys!
TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com

**Become a Restaurant Guys Regular and get two bonus episodes per month, bonus content and Regulars Only events.**
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The Banter

The Guys talk about the serious issue of migrant farm workers (yes, back in 2011) and who will pick the food if we don’t let them do it.

The Conversation

The Restaurant Guys meet with Jon Taffer after his first season of the hit show Bar Rescue. He shares how he came to this line of work and they all swap crazy restaurant consulting stories.

The Inside Track

The Restaurant Guys and Jon dig deep into how to attract and maintain a client base and what keeps folks coming back.

“I don't believe guys that we're in a restaurant business. I don't believe we're in a bar business. I don't believe we're in a product business…I bet you guys will agree with me on this cause you obviously get it. That cook in the kitchen isn't making an entree. He's making a reaction. He's achieving it through the entree. I suggest that the plate of food isn't a product at all, it's just a vehicle. The product is the reaction,” Jon Taffer on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2011

Bio

After decades of experience bartending and running nightclubs, Jon Taffer starred on the television show Bar Rescue for over 200 episodes. He owns Taffer’s Tavern in Georgia.

He is a New York Times best-selling author of Don’t Bullsh*t Yourself and authored several books and ebooks.

His latest creation is Taffer’s Browned Butter Bourbon.

Info

Jon Taffer

https://jontaffer.com/

Bar Rescue

https://www.youtube.com/c/BarRescue

Friday, March 14 is the first Restaurant Guys LIVE with Chef Rocco DiSpirito at the NBPAC in New Brunswick, NJ (next to The Guys' restaurants!)

Restaurant Guys' Regulars get a discount code for VIP tickets. Become on today!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2401692/subscribe

Get tickets here.

https://secure.nbpac.org/rocco-dispirito/22947

Our Sponsors

The Heldrich Hotel & Conference Center
https://www.theheldrich.com/

Magyar Bank
https://www.magbank.com/

Withum Accounting
https://www.withum.com/

Our Places

Stage Left Steak
https://www.stageleft.com/

Catherine Lombardi Restaurant
https://www.catherinelombardi.com/

Stage Left Wineshop
https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

To hear more about food, wine and the finer things in life:
https://www.instagram.com/restaurantguyspodcast/

https://www.facebook.com/restaurantguys

Reach Out to The Guys!
TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com

**Become a Restaurant Guys Regular and get two bonus episodes per month, bonus content and Regulars Only events.**
Click Below!

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The Banter

The Guys revisit an incident involving an older Burgundy, a decanter and a difference of opinion.

The Conversation

The Restaurant Guys have Philip Duff on the show to hear about his genever. The conversation winds into Irish whiskey, Batavia Arrack, and a special vodka endorsed by an action film star whom Philip is teaching to bartend.

The Inside Track

The Guys have crossed paths with globe-traveling Philip Duff for decades. Philip has had his hand in many aspects of the bar world and here is what he thinks is the key to making it in this wild and wonderful industry.

“You build something, be it a brand, be it a bar and people are right to tell you it's crazy because if it was a good idea, well, why didn't anybody else do it? But without lunatics, we don't get Teslas and Stage Left Steak and Old Duff Geneva and Door 74, right? A certain degree of lunacy has to be baked in,” Philip Duff on The Restaurant Guys Podcast 2025

Bio

Philip Duff began bartending at 15 in his native Ireland. In addition to working behind bars, he became an educator of spirits, bartending and cocktails and teaches at many spirits and cocktail conventions.

He began Liquid Solutions, the on-trade consultancy. He founded Holland’s first speakeasy bar, Door 74 in Amsterdam, and owns the award-winning Old Duff Genever brand.

Philip has published articles in Drinks International, CLASS magazine, Imbibe UK, Mixology (Germany), Australian Bartender, and Reuters.

He also served as the educational director for Tales of the Cocktail and judged for the IWSR, the World’s 50 Best Bars, and the Spirited Awards.

Info

Old Duff Genever

http://www.oldduffgenever.com/

Philip’s podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-philip-duff-show/id1614308846

Francis demonstrates decanting Burgundy

Friday, March 14 is the first Restaurant Guys LIVE with Chef Rocco DiSpirito at the NBPAC in New Brunswick, NJ (next to The Guys' restaurants!)

Restaurant Guys' Regulars get a discount code for VIP tickets. Become on today!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2401692/subscribe

Get tickets here.

https://secure.nbpac.org/rocco-dispirito/22947

Our Sponsors

The Heldrich Hotel & Conference Center
https://www.theheldrich.com/

Magyar Bank
https://www.magbank.com/

Withum Accounting
https://www.withum.com/

Our Places

Stage Left Steak
https://www.stageleft.com/

Catherine Lombardi Restaurant
https://www.catherinelombardi.com/

Stage Left Wineshop
https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

To hear more about food, wine and the finer things in life:
https://www.instagram.com/restaurantguyspodcast/

https://www.facebook.com/restaurantguys

Reach Out to The Guys!
TheGuys@restaurantguyspodcast.com

**Become a Restaurant Guys Regular and get two bonus episodes per month, bonus content and Regulars Only events.**
Click Below!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2401692/subscribe