In this episode with Chef Jason Alley, we discuss working for the best- even if it means taking a lower ranked or position, getting experience to find your voice, doing work that fulfils you, finding your business partner, the pros of leasing VS owning, benefits in hiring close friends, helping open other people’s restaurants before opening your own, being undercapitalized, asking “what am I really doing?”, paying attention to guest needs and requests, leaning on trust to extend your operation, sharing a vision, molding your employees into partners, how to stay humble, how to stay humble after failure

It is said that Chef Jason Alley started cooking at the young age of 4. After a few short stink at Hardee’s, a Quaker-owned orchard and country club, Chef Alley started to find his passion. Fast forward multiple Sous and Executive chef positions later, in early 2000’s Chef met his Business partner Chris Chandler and by 2003 the pair were opening their first restaurant. Today, Alley is the chef/partner of 3 restaurants Comfort Pasture and Flora.

Show notes…

Favorite Success Quote or Mantra.

“Bring in the love, push out the Jive.”

Today’s Sponsor

Kabbage

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Fivestars

Knowledge bombs

1. Which “it factor” habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?

   • Getting sober.

2. What is your biggest weakness?

   • focus.

3. What’s one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?

   • Ask, “What do you enjoy about other restaurant spaces?”

4. What’s a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?

   • Juggling social media and PR while running 3 restaurants.
     • Chef Jason is dealing with this challenges by scheduling time for it.

5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.

   • Respect.
   • Register for the upcoming SafeSpace® webinar with Rudy Miick

6. What one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff.

   • Anticipate guest needs.

7. Share an online resource or tool.

   • Chefs with issues

8. What’s one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
   GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM 

   • Tender at the Bone
   • My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life
   • Delicious!: A Novel
   • Prune

9. What’s one piece of technology you’ve adopted in your restaurant and how has it influence operations?

   • Breadcrumb-The only restaurant POS created by restaurant people for restaurant people.

10. If you got the news that you’d be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be.

    1. Love who you work with and the work you do
    2. Be humble.
    3. Have fun.

Contact Info

Facebook/jasonalley

instagram:@comfortjasonrva

Thanks for Listening!

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Huge thanks to Jason Alley for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

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