Many Italians and Italophiles kind of disregard Milan. Because unlike Florence, Rome, Venice, Assissi, etc, it's a newer city. The city is not filled with architectural and artistic artifacts. The city is modern. And I am here to tell you that it is just fabulous. We happened to be there a little less than a week before Milan fashion week so the city was just buzzy with tall, leggy creatures running all over the city to casting calls. Gucci took over the city — especially the Brera District — more about that in a minute. We stayed at the Chateau Monfort (another Relais Chateau property) ideally situated in the Monfort neighborhood (close to the Duomo), which we got a private tour of along with the incredible opera house, La Scala. And we were close to 2 - not one but 2 - Peck's — the food emporiums. Pizza at Giolina — maybe one of the best pizzas I have ever had. Knife & fork Ready. Langosteria — Off the beaten path in the Navigli" nightlife district, this packed restaurant filled with tiny rooms and tons of people serves up seafood obviously — and deliciously I went to Starbucks Milan, so you do not have to. Willy Wonka in real life. Amazing food offerings. Walked the Brera district.. Similar to the Village in NYC. Little streets filled with shops, restaurants, and people .. so alive and fabulous. The modern architecture of the city is just amazing Our last dinner was at the Michelin-starred L'alchimia - an incredible tasting menu, a ridiculous wine cellar, and a 36-yolk pasta topped with freshly shaved truffles. My throat is still closing up. So rich! So that was Milan and the end of my trip …. but you know what you do when you return from a fantastic trip?! You get covid — I mean, we did get Covid! No - you plan your next trip. Details on that travel are coming soon. Okay, I will not tell you where I am going locally today - I will save that for the next show, but I did wind up -pure serendipity- at one of today's guest's restaurants last night! I was at the so so good Japanese restaurant of Michael Schlow Nama Ko, which is just one of his nine concepts across DC & New England. Like all good restaurateurs, Michael began his career in the culinary industry as a dishwasher at age 14 and held every position in the restaurant before eventually attending culinary school. I have had this James Beard Award-winning chef and author on this show and Foodie And The Beast many times. And there's a reason — he has an incredible insight into the state of the restaurant industry. And I love going down a rabbit hole with Michael, and we will do that today. But we are not doing it alone. In 2017, pastry chef extraordinaire Aex Levin joined the Michael Schlow Group and took over the fantastic pastry program AND is also the director of strategic business initiatives. Okay, let's start digging in: Quotes "We have to provide a learning environment in our restaurants. Whether you're the chef, the GM, or a busboy, if you are in a learning environment, you're more apt to stay if you feel like you're getting something beyond tips or a wage." - Michael Schlow "Diverse communities in real estate, balancing large chains and local businesses, are vital for vibrant neighborhoods and minimizing vacancies." - Alex Levin Featured in the episode Nycci Nellis Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nycci-safier-nellis-2703b45/ Michael Schlow Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-schlow-7238aa12/ Alex Levin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-levin-5a32608/ Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:49 - Exciting Updates: Restaurant Launches, Promotions, Radio Show & New Residency 03:22 - Travel Highlight: Stay at Perfectly Located Chateau Montfort 06:47 - Spotlight: Chef Plough Namako & his Restaurant Empire 10:57 - Diverse Roles: From Waiting Tables to Managing Kitchens 12:46 - Cooking Passion: Healthy Habits & Diverse Tastes 16:34 - Calamari Confusion: Exploring Dialect Differences 19:06 - Menu Mastery: Embracing Ingredient and Flavor Diversity 24:02 - Building Connections: The Unbreakable Bond with Michael White 27:07 - Chef Profile: Alex's Talent, Humility and Innovation 28:33 - Success Story: Alex's Pop-Up Stardom and Collaborative Spirit 34:04 - The Secret Sauce: Importance of Employee Retention 35:38 - The Pay-Off: Earnings in Serving Beyond Minimum Wage 38:08 - Goals Unpacked: Creating Communities, Balancing Businesses, and Navigating High Occupancy Costs 43:04 - Business Blues: Closures, Maintenance Issues, and Disappointment 46:10 - Culinary Triumph: From Career Change to Success and Growth 49:26 - Continuous Learning: Evolving for Better Customer Experience and Culture 51:23 - Divergent Journeys: Shared Experiences, Different Outcomes 53:52 - Outro Featuring Nycci Nellis https://www.instagram.com/nyccinellis/ https://www.thelistareyouonit.com/ Produced by Heartcast Media http://www.heartcastmedia.com
