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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

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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.

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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

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In this exciting drop we welcome Kelly Rozny, the force behind The Pro Wino, a platform redefining how we think about and experience wine education.

Kelly brings years of hospitality expertise into the wine world, bridging the gap between industry professionals and enthusiasts with an approach that is conscious, approachable, and sincere.

Together, we dive into her career journey, her pivotal moments in wine, and the mission behind The Pro Wino - making wine education engaging, inclusive, and accessible.

This interactive tasting-inspired conversation explores how hospitality shaped Kelly’s vision for wine consulting and education while also exploring why she founded The Pro Wino and what she aims to bring to the community.

In addition, breaking down misconceptions that make wine feel intimidating, what industry training through The Pro Wino looks like and key takeaways for hospitality participants.

We also discuss sustainability and ethical practices in wine through her work with Verivine, the evolving wine landscape post-COVID while balancing her many roles as an educator, consultant, and entrepreneur.

This is a masterclass of how authentic, human-centered education can reshape the industry.

As always, we thank Blind Barber Chicago for hosting this necessary conversation and a wine discussion that speaks the language of the industry.

We'll see you soon.

- The T o S Crew

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Absolutely honored to sit down with Sam Zeitlin, the founder of Zeitlin’s Delicatessen, a nontraditional yet undeniably cool Jewish deli that’s reshaping how Chicago experiences cultural food traditions.

From his early pop-up successes to the much-anticipated opening of his first brick-and-mortar in Lincoln Park, Sam opens up about the tension between honoring legacy and reimagining it for today.

For him, building a deli has never been about nostalgia alone; it’s about creating a living room for the city, a place where food, memory, and migration intersect.

We discuss how Sam’s upbringing and cultural identity shaped his hospitality lens long before he entered the industry.

The challenges and wins of balancing tradition with innovation in Jewish food, how Zeitlin’s is more than a deli, it’s a home base for community and cultural belonging.

We also explore the importance of integrating business with his passion for his family and being a responsible cultural steward in a city where culinary identity is ever-evolving.

Sam reminds us that food can be a love letter—to heritage, to place, and to the people. In this narrative where culture meets craft, this is a representation of the commitment we all share to ensure that hospitality is not built for one person but for all communities in which they serve.

Follow along on their exciting journey, pop ups and if able - throw them some support for their next chapter here.

As always, we want to thank our partners at Blind Barber Chicago for hosting this necessary conversation.

See you out there,

The T o S Crew

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In this robust drop we sit down with FINO Tequila co-Founders Vikram Kumar, Chief Revenue Officer, and Jana Iyer, the visionary behind FINO’s design and experiential narrative.

Together with their fellow partners and co-founders, they’ve built a brand rooted in the ethos that Failure Is Not an Option—the very phrase behind the FINO name.

We explore the rich history of FINO Tequila — from its additive-free, 100% Blue Weber Agave production to its bold entry into the ultra-premium spirits space —and how Jana’s love for Mexican culture, its agave-rich farms, and her vision to produce a clean tequila have shaped FINO’s visual identity and cultural positioning.

As well as Vikram’s journey from technology to tequila, and how operational discipline and global strategy shaped the company’s growth and discuss the impact of Chicago as FINO’s U.S. launchpad and how that informed the brand’s growth ambitions.

We also discuss FINO’s unique approach to authenticity in a market saturated with celebrity-backed spirits that often feel increasing familiar.

Jana and Vikram discuss opportunities and challenges of bringing tequila to India, balancing global luxury positioning with local consumer culture and FINO’s vision for building legacy not just through the bottle but storytelling, experiences, and community.

This episode is a masterclass in ownership, innovation, and the quiet power of building a brand with intention.

As always, we want to thank our partners at Blind Barber Chicago for hosting this necessary conversation and our guests for this wildly impactful narrative.

See you soon,

The T o S Crew

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In this new drop, we sit down with the duo behind Morning Jay’s, led by Justen x Nate that redefines what breakfast can be.

What began as a living room project has grown into a pop-up series that blends food, design, and community into one cohesive experience.

We explore the brilliance of how their roots anchored in the intimacy of home craft the spirit of Morning Jay’s.

From a kitchen table where ideas first sparked, to curated menus and partnerships across the city, they’ve carried the essence of connection and creativity into every detail.

Our conversation dives into how their love for one another found a collaboration that inspire their community-driven culinary experience; the balance of intentionality and surprise in their menus and how their ethos to "make breakfast different" effortlessly resonates.

Morning Jay’s isn’t a pop-up, it’s a reminder that food at its best is both intimate and expansive, rooted in memory but always reaching for new horizons.

As always, we want to thank our partners at Blind Barber Chicago for hosting this necessary conversation, the community and our new friends for the warm hug that was their presence.

See you all soon,

The T o S Crew

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For this surprise drop from us at T o S - we sit down with Jake Tepperman, founder of Chicago Food Rescue, an organization dedicated to bridging the gap between food waste and food insecurity.

What began as a mission to redirect surplus food away from landfills has grown into a community-driven movement that reshapes food access and reduces climate impact across Chicago.

In this conversation, we explore the founding story of Chicago Food Rescue and what inspired Jake to take action.

How CFR helps volunteers get involved rescuing surplus food and ensures safe, equitable distribution to communities in need.

The role of technology, including their app, powered by Food Rescue Hero, in scaling volunteer engagement and streamlining pickups, deliveries and collaborative efforts with organizations such as The Love Fridge, Nourishing Hope, and others.

The everyday steps we can all take to reduce food waste in our own lives and in the industry.

Chicago Food Rescue’s future goals and vision for a city where good food never goes to waste.

Whether you’re in hospitality, foodservice, or simply care about the future of your community, this episode sheds light on the power of innovation, collaboration, and people showing up for each other.

S/o to Blind Barber Chicago for hosting this necessary conversation, our entire production crew, editing team and community for supporting this impactful narrative.

We're back later this week - see you soon.

- The T o S Crew

Learn more and get involved below.

• Chicago Food Rescue Website
• Chicago Food Rescue on Instagram
• Follow Jake Tepperman

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.