Send us Fan Mail

In this inspiring episode, we step inside the soulful world of Cariño, Uptown Chicago’s acclaimed Latin American culinary sanctuary to explore what happens when radical ambition is built upon a foundation of mutual care.

While visionary Chef and Owner Norman Fenton provides the brilliant culinary canvas—celebrating everything from contemporary Mexican cuisine to ancestral heirloom corn with the upcoming Molino Los Hermanos expansion directly next door to his MICHELIN starred restaurant; the true heartbeat of the restaurant lies in its firm culture of support.

Cariño - translating directly to affection, serves as a powerful reminder that no task is too large and no vision is too bold when a team stands shoulder-to-shoulder.

It is within this nurturing ecosystem, stripped of traditional industry ego, that true creative exploration is allowed to flourish and redefine the modern hospitality landscape.

Central to this creative evolution is the inspiring work of Beverage Director Raymond Medina, whose personal journey of discovery and expression takes center stage in our conversation.

Raymond opens up about his robust path of craft development, revealing how the restaurant's supportive environment empowered him to design a beverage program that seamlessly mirrors the complexity of Cariño's multi course tasting menu.

From pushing the boundaries of traditional spirits to curating a highly inventive, deeply thoughtful zero-proof mocktail pairing program, Raymond’s sensory storytelling honors heritage and inspiration in every curation while also empowering curiosity.

His continuous exploration proves that when an individual is fiercely backed by their community, they can transform a beverage program into an elevated art form, illustrating that true mastery is born from curiosity and an unwavering safety net of team solidarity.

This episode reminds us what is possible when we stand alongside one another to create something special - collectively.

We love this episode and it proves that the journey of hospitality isn't linear and you never know where you will end - but the reality is, you will land exactly where you need to be.

We'll see you out there.

- The T o S Crew

Need to catch up?

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel here and show us some love on the reviews - wherever you get your podcasts.

It matters and so do you.

Send us Fan Mail

And just in time for the National Restaurant Association descending upon Chicago - we are thrilled to highlight the inspiring work of our partners at Chicago Chefs Cook during their incredible work of gathering top leaders within the hospitality industry to raise money for five incredible causes at the 2nd Annual 'I Cook For' Benefit at The Four Seasons Chicago.

Throughout this episode we explored protections for our industry, food insecurity, agriculture, heritage and building a legacy for oneself while ensuring no one is left behind.

This episode is a special archive of how all aspects of community can align to produce tremendous results for members of our collective communities.

Sitting down with all aspects of our industry truly exemplified how exciting this work is and truly how communal our impact is.

In closing, we are proud to announce that this incredible event raised $10K for EACH organization highlighted below.

We empower you to look into their missions and support in any way that moves you.

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Camp Kids are Kids Chicago

Soul & Smoke Foundation

Women's Chef Exchange

Frontera Farmer Foundation

From us at Terms of Service - we want to thank our partners at Square and San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna for their support and to you; our listeners.

We'll see you out there.

Need to catch up?

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel here and show us some love on the reviews - wherever you get your podcasts.

It matters and so do you.

Send us Fan Mail

New year, same us.

We have been on a bit of a hiatus as we have been navigating new cultural realities and showing up in real time for our communities.

In this fresh episode of Terms of Service Podcast, we sit with hospitality leader Eric Schuster for a grounded and necessary conversation on conscious hospitality - not as a trend or talking point, but as a leadership responsibility rooted in accountability, awareness, and care.

This dialogue explores what happens when hospitality is examined beyond guest experience and brand optics, and instead through the lived realities of the people who sustain it.

Together, we unpack how legacy systems within hospitality have normalized burnout, emotional labor, and disposability and why intention alone is no longer enough to justify outcomes.

Eric reflects candidly on leadership evolution, power dynamics, and the personal reckoning required to move from growth-at-all-costs thinking toward people-centered decision-making.

We examine the structural roots of burnout in hospitality, challenging the industry’s habit of framing exhaustion as an individual resilience issue rather than a design flaw.

From wage structures and scheduling instability to the emotional toll of service work, this episode centers the human cost that is too often rendered invisible.

The discussion also confronts the tension between capital, growth, and ethics; exploring what it means to say no, slow down, or redefine success when financial pressure conflicts with values.

Eric speaks to the responsibility leaders carry when people’s livelihoods are involved, and the importance of transparency, humility, and accountability in building trust across different verticals of leadership.

This episode is not prescriptive, nor is it performative.

This is a reflective, honest and necessary narrative asking a central question facing the industry today:

If hospitality is built on care, who is responsible for caring for the people who make it possible?

As always - we thank Blind Barber Chicago for hosting this necessary conversation.

See you soon,

- The T o S Crew

Need to catch up?

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel here and show us some love on the reviews - wherever you get your podcasts.

It matters and so do you.