Alev Ersoy — the charismatic managing partner of Eddie V’s Fort Lauderdale — joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a passionate, high‑energy conversation about hospitality, culture, leadership, and what it really takes to run one of South Florida’s busiest luxury dining destinations.

Born in France to Turkish parents and starting in the restaurant industry as a young busboy who barely spoke English, Alev shares his journey from Orlando’s fine‑dining scene to managing partner roles at The Capital Grille and now Eddie V’s. He talks about how his multicultural background shaped his approach to hospitality: the warmth and generosity of Turkish culture mixed with the sophistication and elegance of French dining.

Alev breaks down what makes Eddie V’s special — the “culture of indulgence,” the live nightly music, the award‑winning wine list, prime steaks, elite seafood sourcing, and the effortless glamor woven into every detail. He reveals the behind‑the‑scenes preparation that goes into delivering “the ultimate luxury guest experience,” from personalized menus for CEOs to custom runway‑themed table setups, roses at the table, and remembering guests by association, story, and instinct.

The conversation goes deeper into the heart of restaurant leadership: hiring with intention, building deep loyalty among staff, shaping culture, managing 87 employees, maintaining standards, handling mistakes with generosity (“you fix it fast, and then you plus‑one it”), and why people — not plates — are the soul of a successful restaurant.

Hidden Florida & Beyond… where the real stories live beneath the surface.

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Criminal defense attorney Eric Schwartzreich joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for a fast‑talking, unfiltered conversation that dives deep into the adrenaline, chaos, and strategy behind some of Florida’s wildest courtrooms.

From being wrongly accused at boarding school to defending judges, celebrities, cartel members, cops, and true Florida‑man characters, Eric shares how he built a 30‑year career on creativity, instinct, and the belief that any case can be won if you find the right angle. He opens up about early losses, hard lessons, and the moment he realized being a trial lawyer meant being part‑performer, part‑psychologist, and part‑magician.

Eric breaks down the real meaning of “not guilty,” the power of charm in front of a jury, and why authenticity matters more than theatrics. He talks about NDAs that don’t hold up, jurors who fall asleep mid‑trial, dangerous clients, mob and cartel cases, stand‑your‑ground battles that went all the way to the Florida Supreme Court, and how he once dismantled a prosecution by blowing up a photo of a late‑night sex shop called “Booby’s Love Trap.”

Hidden Florida & Beyond…where the real stories live beneath the surface.

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Fashion icon Zola Keller joins Hidden Florida & Beyond for one of the funniest, most unfiltered conversations we’ve ever had.

Known for her over‑the‑top gowns, bold colors, feathers, beads, and runway‑level drama, Zola breaks down what “special occasion wear” really means and why her designs stand out in a world of identical dresses. She talks about celebrity stylist secrets, brides making tragic gown mistakes, booby‑drawer miracles, red‑wine disasters, and the fearless honesty she’s known for.

She shares what trends she loves, which ones she can’t stand, why Europeans flock to her shop for glam they can’t get overseas, and why she refuses to let social media dictate her designs.

Hidden Florida & Beyond… where the real stories live beneath the surface.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.