We talk about pickles ALL the time on the Hospitality Hangout. 9 out of 10 C-suite leaders we've had on the show say pickles are HOT. So we figured, who better to settle this once and for all than the actual Pickle King himself? We asked Alan Kaufman from The…
We hit Lawrence Longo with the quick fire round: How does he take his bagel? He said pizza bagel. The man runs one of the most iconic pizza brands in New York and he put pizza ON his bagel. We don't know whether to be impressed or concerned. 🥯🍕
The restaurant guy meets the pickle king. The Flavor Safari headed down to the Lower East Side to visit Alan Kaufman, founder of THE PICKLE GUYS INC, the last remaining pickle store in all of New York City. Back in the 80s this block was home to the legendary Guss's…
Hot or Not? Prebiotic soda, zero-proof cocktails, ghost peppers, matcha, and ube. Is ube really hotter than matcha right now? #HospitalityHangout #HotOrNot #Ube #Matcha
Forget cucumbers. We've moved on. 🥒 THE PICKLE GUYS INC in NYC pickle over 65 different things. Watermelon. Pineapple. Okra. Beets. Asparagus. Half sours. Full sours. The list never ends. And me? I tried all of it! We had to ask the big question: what CAN'T you pickle? #Pickles #NYC…
Quickfire with Pepsi’s DRIPS team: go-to crafted drinks, everything bagels, lox and capers, and Uber ratings. Scott Finlow and Alison Dempsey reveal their picks. #HospitalityHangout #DRIPSbyPepsi #Quickfire #BeverageTrends
He ate a burger. Every single day. For an entire year. And it wasn't just a personal challenge. Lawrence Longo had a mission. Nobody had a definitive, documented, serious burger list. No real authority on who's actually making the best burger. So Lawrence decided to become that authority eating his…
Gen Z is not just buying drinks. They are buying little experiences. DRIPS by Pepsi is built around crafted beverages, bold flavors, and everyday “little luxuries” that turn a drink into something worth sharing, returning for, and building a brand around. #HospitalityHangout #DRIPSbyPepsi #GenZ #BeverageTrends
We played Hot or Not with Lawrence Longo, CEO of Prince Street Pizza, Irv's Burgers, Off The Menu and one of the most creative minds in food and he did NOT hold back. Drone delivery? HOT. Web3 food collabs? HOT. Food of the month clubs? Not. Ghost kitchens? NO WAY.…
Pizza Hut perfume, Arby’s French fry vodka, or an $18 side of ice cubes. Two restaurant headlines are real. One is fake. Can you spot it? #HospitalityHangout #HospitalityHeadlines #FoodNews #RestaurantIndustry
Custom drinks are no longer just an add-on. DRIPS by Pepsi shows how flavor, menu design, pricing, and shareable presentation can turn a restaurant beverage program into revenue, organic marketing, and repeat visits. #HospitalityHangout #DRIPSbyPepsi #RestaurantMarketing #BeverageTrends
At what point do dirty soda, cold foam, popping boba, and custom drinks become more than a trend and start functioning as a real restaurant growth strategy? PepsiCo’s Scott Finlow and Alison Dempsey explain how DRIPS by Pepsi is bringing crafted, personalized beverages to restaurants, theaters, and QSRs, and why…
Jimmy wants a sauce-off with the pizza robot—even if the robot wins. Perfect portions in seconds vs. human “ridges and valleys.” Who are you taking? #HospitalityHangout #PizzaRobot #RestaurantAutomation
Burger King’s Nightmare Burger, Pizza Hut jetpack delivery, and a Michelin-starred bowl of Frosted Flakes. Two happened. One did not. Can you spot the fake? #HospitalityHangout #HospitalityHeadlines #BurgerKing #FoodNews
Jimmy Frischling is NEVER on time for the airport. For everything else in life? Punctual. Professional. On it. But airports? He lives for the rush. The sprint through security. The gate closing behind him. The adrenaline. Schatzy on the other hand? Lounge. Drink in hand. Feet up. Relaxed. …Yes, Jimmy…
Hot or Not? Mushroom coffee, protein everything, Spam, ketchup on hot dogs, pickle flavor, private dining clubs and pineapple on pizza. Donatos says pineapple pizza has been on the menu for more than 30 years. Where do you land? #HospitalityHangout #Donatos #PineapplePizza #FoodTrends
This pizza robot sauce a perfect pie in 7 seconds! This restaurant automation tool delivers a precise sauce portion every time, helping teams focus less on repetitive prep and more on the guest experience. #HospitalityHangout #PizzaRobot #RestaurantAutomation
Donatos Pizza President and CEO Kevin King joins Hospitality Hangout to share the people-first growth playbook behind one of America’s most enduring pizza brands. From 100 pieces of pepperoni on every large pizza to sauce automation, employee retention, restaurant technology, and scaling a legacy brand without losing its identity, this…
1. Lawrence created the world's largest chicken tender festival 2. Lawrence created the Krabby Patty 3. Lawrence ate a burger every single day for a year Lawrence Longo brought Katz's Delicatessen to LA, launched Tenderfest, revived Irv's Burgers and collaborated with Travis Scott and SpongeBob. So at this point, we'd…
Burgers, chicken, and pizza are crowded. Boba tea is still wide open. Chris Noffze of Gong cha Americas explains why multi-unit franchise operators are looking at bubble tea: streamlined operations, customizable drinks, and a category built for growth. #BobaTea #Franchising #RestaurantGrowth
Gong cha’s Chris Noffze explains why bubble tea continues to grow, why younger consumers keep coming back for customizable drinks, and why the category is becoming a serious part of the restaurant beverage business. #BobaTea #BubbleTea #FoodTrends
Boba tea is still hot. But what about dirty soda, mushroom coffee, protein everything, pickle flavors, and K-pop collaborations? Gong cha Americas’ Chris Noffze puts the biggest food and beverage trends through Hospitality Hangout’s Hot or Not rapid fire. #BobaTea #DirtySoda #FoodTrends
Why are multi-unit franchise operators looking beyond burgers, chicken, pizza, and coffee? We break down why experienced QSR and multi-brand operators are paying attention to bubble tea, how Gong cha supports franchise growth, and why operational simplicity matters when expanding a restaurant portfolio.
What does a Gong cha director actually order when he walks into the store? Chris Noffze goes with a Dirty Brown Sugar Milk Tea with Pearls — then gets put on the spot about Tokyo, Wagyu, and his 4.98 Uber rating. #GongCha #BobaTea #BubbleTea