The Industry

This weeks guest is Nadia Hrkać, a Toronto based Luxury Food Importer who works closely with farms and producers in Europe - mainly Italy, to create custom recipes, and private labels. She will introduce you to the highest quality artisanal products from around the world. Nadia has been importing Fresh Truffles particularly from Italy, Croatia, Spain, France and Australia for many years and supplying restaurants, hotels and specialty food shops in Canada. Nadia’s catalogue of products also includes extra virgin olive oils and vinegars, caviar, sea water spirits, and wine plus many other artisanal foods. Given her Holistic Nutrition background, Nadia is also very conscious of ingredients when selecting items for her catalogue. You can find more information on Nadia's product line at nadiyya.com A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Vanessa Gouachi who joins us for in person interview. With over two decades in the industry, Vanessa has enjoyed a long and storied career. Initially starting as a dishwasher, Vanessa moved to numerous roles in the family business from back of house, to front of house and eventually bartending. Eventually Vanessa moved to Toronto for school and continued in the Industry by working in corporate restaurants, night clubs and events. Eventually, Vanessa moved out west and left the industry.  After experiencing difficulty getting a suitable job in the industry despite the wealth of experience, Vanessa landed a job working at a hotel and discovered a new world of hospitality. Since that time, Vanessa has worked at numerous hotels that have allowed her to work in locations such as Pender Island in British Columbia, Muskoka in Ontario and the Cayman Islands.  Vanessa eventually moved back to south western Ontario, and has spent the last decade opening restaurants, developing cocktail menus, and training bar teams. Today, you can find her running the beverage program for the Charcoal Legacy group as the beverage manager for the Charcoal complex in Kitchener which includes - Del’s Italian Kitchen, Martini’s Bar & Patio and the Charcoal Steakhouse. @nesstothesess @muddypawstreatco A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Chef Franck Desplechin, author of the new book Relentless Growth: Cultivating a Chef’s Mindset for Professional Fulfillment. Chef Franck is not just another chef with battle scars from the kitchen. He has a remarkable journey: entering kitchens at 15, dedicating over 25 years to leading Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hotels, and now helping professionals unlock deeper fulfillment through his consulting firm, Incrementum. Relentless Growth skips the usual surface-level advice and goes straight into the real world pressures, resilience, and mindset that drive authentic leadership. Franck’s perspective is as direct as it is motivating—he understands that technical skills get you started, but it is the relentless pursuit of growth that carries a career to the next level. He’s passionate about showing how grit and adaptability aren’t just survival tactics, but the keys to evolving in any industry. cheffranck.com @chef_franck_84 Franck Desplechin Relentless Growth: Cultivating a Chef’s Mindset for Professional Fulfillment A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Jasmyne Colín who joins us from Denver, Colorado. Jasmyne aka “Malort Mami” is a self-proclaimed “bar-activist”. She has competed in many competitions such as Speed Rack and won the Malort competition Denver. While Jasmyn loves bartending and the freedom it gives her to be creative, her passion lies in activism. Jasmyne received her degree in Political Science and Ethnic Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2021, right around the time she joined the industry. Jasmyne’s ethos as a bartender is centred around community and connection. Over the past year and a half, Jasmyne has found ways to blend her two passions of activism and bartending, proving that the two are not mutually exclusive. One such as example was hosting the first ever Latine focused party at PDXCW, that centred culture and community. Jasmyne strongly believes that as members of the service industry, we are stronger together and that we have the power to impact our communities in a profound and unique way. Currently, Jasmyne bartends and is the Social Media Manager at Pony Up Denver. @malort_mami @ponyupdenver A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

On this weeks episode of The Industry podcast, Garrett Stewart joins us for an in-person interview. Gary has been bartending for 4 years at an “upscale casual” restaurant that focuses on local, sustainable and ethical products. Over the course of his career, Gary has taught kindergarten, worked in youth shelters, was employed as a carpenter, a tree planter, and a cherry picker, but he  always somehow wound end up in hospitality.  Gary landed his first job in the industry at 16 and most of his experience has been in pubs and dive bars. He never really started exploring the art of bartending until his current job. This year Gary entered his first cocktail competition and won the coveted “Golden Shaker” award from Elora Distilling.  Gary is also currently in the process of launching his Uncle Gator brand which is focussed on event curation, menu development, and consultation - basically the elements he loves about his chosen profession. Gary also plays in a band called LUVR with an incredible group of friends. In his spare time he snowboards, makes silly art, and spends time reading at the bar. @unclegator666 @luvrmusic A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Blake Canning who joins us from Toronto, Ontario. Blake is the National Canadian Brand Ambassador for Bearface Whisky. In his role as a Brand Ambassador, Blake has travelled across this great country educating on all that his brand and Canada have to offer. From unique cask blends to the patented Elemental Aging Process, Blake always attempts to share what makes Bearface and Canadian whisky so unique and important, @bearface.blake @thebitterendbar @bearfacewhisky A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Angelo Solimando who joins us from Costa Rica. Currently, Angelo is the Bar Manager at the brand new 2 Michelin Keys Resort Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. With Italian roots and a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel & Hospitality Management, Angelo has over 20 years in the industry, nine of which have been with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. He has held key roles at prestigious properties, including The Ritz-Carlton Abama in Tenerife and The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, gaining deep expertise in luxury hospitality. A certified WSET Level 3 wine and spirits professional, Angelo has earned global recognition for his mixology skills, including being named Diageo World Class Cayman Islands Champion and a Global Finalist in Shanghai (2024). He was also featured at Tales of the Cocktail 2022 within the Marriott International Events and placed second globally at the Mount Gay International Competition in Barbados in the same year. At Blue by Eric Ripert within The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, Angelo contributed to the restaurant’s #1 ranking in La Liste Caribbean & Latin America and its Forbes 5-Star award—helping the resort become the Caribbean’s first and only Forbes Triple Five-Star property. Angelo’s favourite cocktail is the Negroni. Favourite spirit: Bourbon. Beside his passion for the bar world and the sustainable practices behind the bar, Angelo loves scuba diving, long hikes, and photography. @angelosolimando A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Brenton Mowforth who joins us from Toronto, Ontario. Since creating Cheers to Happy Hour in 2017, and Wander Thirsty in 2021, Brenton Mowforth has become the authority on where to drink and how to drink. His mission is to influence people to share in his passion for 'drinking better, not more' by taking a more thoughtful approach to what we consume. Celebrating flavour and savouring the moments that are usually accompanied by craft cocktails and spirits defines the business and mindset of Brenton's day-to-day operations. Brenton's online community is immersed in the Farm-to-Glass / Liquid-to-Lips culture that has imbibers across the world abuzz with libation filled conversations. Brenton's passion for cocktails and the hospitality industry have been recognized by the 50 Best Bars organization, Forbes, Toronto Star, Destination Toronto and Liqour.com, among others, and he continues to be a one-man encyclopedia on the subject of libations. Brenton is currently focusing on creating artisanal yet approachable cocktails that inspire his audience to take a closer look at the ingredients and the creativity that goes into modern cocktails and spirits. @cheerstohappyhour @wander.thirsty A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Shawn Flanagan. Shawn is a Kitchener native and hospitality professional with over 20 years experience working throughout the region. Starting as a dishwasher at thirteen, then assisting with prep, he’s worked near every position in the restaurant industry; from line cook to kitchen manager; from serving and bartending to management. Shawn’s been involved in the successful start-up of four restaurants within the region, and is now on his fifth at his current role as Operations Manager and partner of The Boathouse DTK, a vibrant modernized build out of a local historic site. Outside of his profession, Shawn has a strong passion for linguistic arts, earning an MA in Rhetoric and Communication Design from the University of Waterloo with a focus on organizational and interpersonal communication. Shawn utilizes this background to take an interdisciplinary approach to restaurant management, in which the communications between guests, staff, atmosphere, and infrastructure are understood as perpetually negotiated. @boathousedtk boathousedtk.com A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Amanda Jones, who joins us from Austin, Texas. Amanda is a 19-year veteran of the bar and restaurant industry and the 5 year GM of Nickel City, one of the country’s most beloved neighborhood bars. A 2025 Spirited Awards Top 10 U.S. Bartender nominee, Amanda is known for her leadership, hospitality expertise, and dedication to creating welcoming, community-driven spaces. @juicebyjonesy A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Amanda Colomb who is a whiskey educator and content creator with nearly 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Amanda has spent a good portion of her career helping people discover new spirits and enjoy memorable experiences. She uses that background to make whiskey approachable, fun and a little bit cheeky. Her goal is to take intimidation out of whiskey and replace it with humour, stories and knowledge that help people drink smarter and laugh a little along the way. Whether is bourbon, scotch or that mystery bottle on your shelf that you’re not sure how to pronounce - Amanda will probably have something to say about it! You can find Amanda on Instagram @bourbon_and_bikinis A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Arianna Hone who joins us from Park City, Utah. Arianna is currently the Head Bartender at High West Saloon in Park City. Arianna has competed multiple times in Speedrack a speed bartending competition for femmes/women and was a top 5 national finalist in 2021. She is a Tales of The Cocktail CAP alumni and has worked in their program multiple times. Arianna is also a BAR 5 day graduate and is featured in the 2025 documentary ‘BAR’ , a true look into our industry as craft cocktail and hospitality professionals. Ariana hosted her own pop up series Womxn Crush Wednesday from 2017-2020 platforming female/femme bartenders in SLC and donating to women focused non profits. She has been a Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards judge as well as a Punch Bartender in Residence. Arianna continues to seek out excellence in her craft and the spirits industry and loves mentoring the up and coming bartenders at High West. In her free time, Arianna likes to hike with her dog, splitboard, camp, travel, and volunteer for the Salt Lake Film Society. @ariannacicely_ The Alchemist is presenting the Toronto Cocktail Festival which is occurring from October 22-26, 2025. The first annual Toronto Cocktail Festival will be a toast to the art of the cocktail and so much more. It will be a destination event that celebrates the vibrant culture of food and drink in a city that is a hub of culinary and cocktail creativity. The city’s multi-award-winning bartenders, brand ambassadors and chefs make this an exciting culinary event that will give them the showcase they deserve—and serve up delicious fun for consumers, too. A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Calliope Draper who joins us from Montreal, Quebec. Calliope has dedicated herself to building a brighter and more inclusive hospitality sector. Her vision to provide unfailingly warm hospitality to LGBTQ+ folks, and her passion for educating those both in front of and behind the bar is baked into everything she does. In 2024, Callie founded Places You are Welcome, a spirited award nominated cocktail-zine devoted to spotlighting queer stories and excellence across the hospitality industry. A regular speaker at cocktail events and conferences across Canada, and the global winner of the 50 Best Bars Roku Scholarship 2024, Callie has become a rising star in hospitality. As the first ever transgender person to win a global cocktail competition she has traveled the world on a mission to make every bar a gay bar and spread some good old fashioned Canadian hospitality. Now you can find her at Montreal's iconic Bisou Bisou sharing her love of sherry, apéritifs and the city of Montreal. @non_barnary @placesyouarewelcomzine placesyouarewelcom.com The Alchemist is presenting the Toronto Cocktail Festival which is occurring from October 22-26, 2025. The first annual Toronto Cocktail Festival will be a toast to the art of the cocktail and so much more. It will be a destination event that celebrates the vibrant culture of food and drink in a city that is a hub of culinary and cocktail creativity. The city’s multi-award-winning bartenders, brand ambassadors and chefs make this an exciting culinary event that will give them the showcase they deserve—and serve up delicious fun for consumers, too. A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

Lia Niskanen is dedicated to the power of storytelling and is a passionate whiskey advocate. She is an Executive Bourbon Steward (Stave and Thief Society), holds an advanced Diploma in Single Malt Whisky from the Edinburgh Whisky Academy, and is an award-winning distillery visitor experience professional with a deep passion for whiskey history. She is the founder of Barrel Strength Talent, a whiskey events and education business based in Brooklyn, NY, and an approved course provider for the Edinburgh Whisky Academy who currently teaches the EWA Certificate Course in Sensory Appreciation in NYC. Lia also spearheaded the tour program for Fort Hamilton Distillery in Brooklyn, New York. Prior to that, Lia was the first manager of tours and events for Kings County Distillery in Brooklyn. Lia created and developed KCD’s onsite distillery tour, winning the TripAdvisor “Certificate of Excellence” in 2017, 2018, and 2019. During her tenure at KCD, Lia also executed a wide roster of other educational activities including private tours, tastings, classes, and large events. Pivoting during the pandemic shutdowns, she created a virtual whiskey tasting program for a range of corporate and private guests. In the years before her tenure at Kings County Distillery, Lia developed and conducted day long tours of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail for Mint Julep Tours in Louisville Ky, and National Historic Landmark Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. Lia lives in Brooklyn, New York. When her nose isn't buried in a good whiskey book (or a dram!) she enjoys fast talking film noir gangster flicks and attending tastings with Drammers Club NYC, of which she is a member. @barrelstrengthtalent barrelstrengthtalent.com The Alchemist is presenting the Toronto Cocktail Festival which is occurring from October 22-26, 2025. The first annual Toronto Cocktail Festival will be a toast to the art of the cocktail and so much more. It will be a destination event that celebrates the vibrant culture of food and drink in a city that is a hub of culinary and cocktail creativity. The city’s multi-award-winning bartenders, brand ambassadors and chefs make this an exciting culinary event that will give them the showcase they deserve—and serve up delicious fun for consumers, too. A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Gail Nugent, who joins us from Vancouver, British Columbia. Gail is the publisher of The Alchemist - a magazine devoted to the dynamic, increasingly diverse world of micro-distillers and craft cocktails. Gail is also the publisher of Vitis Wine Culture Magazine and The Growler Craft Beer Magazine. Furthermore, Gail is the founder and Producer of Vancouver Cocktail Week and the Toronto Cocktail Festival. The Alchemist is presenting the Toronto Cocktail Festival which is occurring from October 22-26, 2025. The first annual Toronto Cocktail Festival will be a toast to the art of the cocktail and so much more. It will be a destination event that celebrates the vibrant culture of food and drink in a city that is a hub of culinary and cocktail creativity. The city’s multi-award-winning bartenders, brand ambassadors and chefs make this an exciting culinary event that will give them the showcase they deserve—and serve up delicious fun for consumers, too. TCF 2025 presented by The Alchemist magazine will celebrate the city’s cocktail culture with five days of events designed to appeal to industry, consumers, visitors and media alike. These events also offer brands, venues, retailers and agents an opportunity to showcase their establishments and products. International in scope but with a local emphasis, the aim of The Alchemist is to entertain and inform readers with stories about the passionate, talented people who are changing what and how we drink for the better. The writers and photographers at The Alchemist deliver readers authoritative and stylish commentary on the fascinating characters and brands that all play their part in elevating the timeless ritual of enjoying a cocktail. Beautifully designed and smartly portable, our seasonal magazine is made to be a keepsake. Find this all at thealchemistmagazine.ca, where they share information about and stories from the print issues, as well as exclusive web-only content that includes recipes, spirit recommendations, breaking industry news and other timely features that don’t make it into print. @thealchemistmag thealchemistmagazone.ca Toronto Cocktail Festival @vitismag A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Jessica Neblina who joins us from Los Angeles, California. Jessica started her hospitality career in her teens and has worn many hats since. Currently, Jessica is running her own bar in Riverside, California called Bar Ni Modo which has been a concept and project in the works for the last two years. Over the last three years, Jessica has also been a participant in the Cocktail Apprenticeship Program (CAP), a long standing program by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation completing her second year as a grey coat. Jessica has also started a collective called La Raza Raza, highlighting under represented communities in the bar industry - providing mentorship to bartenders that have never been given an opportunity to showcase their creative talents. Jessica is continuously trying to work and create places for the LatinX community to thrive. @_jessbunny @bar_nimodo @raza_raza.la A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Looking for a Bartending Service? Or a private bartender to run your next corporate or personal event? Need help crafting a bar program for your restaurant? Contact Alchemist Alie for all your bartending needs: @alchemist.alie If you're hungry for lunch - check out the best sandwiches in town @harpersdeli Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Bethany Nardi who joins us from Granite Bay, California. Bethany’s maiden initials are BAR so it seems that a career in the hospitality industry was always meant to be. Bethany started in the industry in 2006 as a server in a little family run Italian restaurant called Strings. At that time, Bethany was working towards her fashion design degree at Sierra College in Rocklin, California. Bethany found passion in the fashion industry and quickly became the fashion club president at the age of 19. She ran the club for two years where she designed future trends, ran modeling calls, fundraised, budgeted funds, and put on fashion shows. Although she earned her certificate in design, it turned out the restaurant industry had captivated her heart and that became her career path. In 2011, Bethany started bartending at a corporate restaurant called Red Robin. She was obsessed with being behind the bar! Bethany enjoyed leveraging her previous years of serving to foster more personal connections with guests at her bar. Before she knew it, eight years had passed and, in that time, Bethany not only honed her bartending skills but also tied the knot with her husband and welcomed two out of her three kids into the world. Like many, life threw a few changes her way, and she realized she needed and wanted something more. Bethany embarked on a journey, gaining valuable experiences at various fine dining establishments from Lincoln to Sacramento, eventually landing in Granite Bay, where she currently bartends. In 2021, Bethany secured a spot at Hawks Restaurant in Granite Bay just as the restaurant began to reopen after pandemic shutdowns. She quickly fell in love with the overall concept, serving classically prepared, seasonal dishes and drinks with fine dining execution. Bethany was graciously welcomed by Mike Fagnoni and Molly Hawks (chef owners and operators of Hawks) and proved herself quickly, creatively developing drinks for the bar program. They inspired Bethany to intertwine her design talents and love for the craft. Just like the dinner tasting menu at Hawks, Bethany's cocktails follow the seasons as well, with fresh ingredients provided by local vendors. Bethany styles each cocktail in a way that is both well-balanced and visually stunning! Since the pandemic the perception of the food and cocktail world has changed and, in Bethany's opinion, people want to taste with their eyes first and want a photo-worthy experience. Bethany thinks the guests “want to feel special with a gorgeous drink in front of them, as if that drink was conceived with them in mind.” During her journey at Hawks Restaurant, Bethany welcomed her 3rd baby. Like most of us in the industry she couldn’t do what she does behind the bar without her amazing bar team. Hawks has allowed Bethany to grow tremendously and for that she is very grateful. After 18 years in the industry and 13 years as a bartender, Bethany decided to enter the Barboss competition where she quickly realized how many people love to see her creations. Bethany was incredibly humbled to make it into the semifinals where she was able to create her cocktail using Dos Hombres Mezcal. The feedback and support Bethany received was overwhelming, and she is very appreciative for the opportunity to share her craft with the world! @bartender_bethany @hawksrestaurantgranitebay A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Looking for a Bartending Service? Or a private bartender to run your next corporate or personal event? Need help crafting a bar program for your restaurant? Contact Alchemist Alie for all your bartending needs: @alchemist.alie If you're hungry for lunch - check out the best sandwiches in town @harpersdeli Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Mara Mullen who joins us from Dunwoody, Georgia. Mara is currently the Beverage Manager at Politan Row at Ashford Lane, where she oversees Bar Politan, Okay Anny’s Cocktail Bar and Streaker’s Pub. With over 15 years behind the bar and a background in science, Mara bring a blend of curiosity, creativity, and precision to everything she does. Her passion lies in the stories behind classic cocktails, crafting drinks tailored to the individual, and building bar programs rooted in both historical depth and modern flair. One of Mara’s proudest accomplishments was mentoring and growing a team of bartenders into confident, skilled professionals who care as much about the craft as she does. Outside of work, Mara stays moving—whether it’s swimming, walking her dogs, or leaning into her master’s in exercise physiology at the gym. And when the shaker’s down, Mara’s probably tapping lands: Mara and her husband host Magic: The Gathering Commander nights at Streaker’s, turning the bar into a gathering place for drinks, strategy, and a little friendly chaos. @bitterisinthename @okayannysbar @streakerspub A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Looking for a Bartending Service? Or a private bartender to run your next corporate or personal event? Need help crafting a bar program for your restaurant? Contact Alchemist Alie for all your bartending needs: @alchemist.alie If you're hungry for lunch - check out the best sandwiches in town @harpersdeli Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Evelina Girling who joins us from London, England. Evelina is a remarkable entrepreneur and one of the few women leading in London’s nightlife and hospitality sector. She’s the co-founder and CEO of The London Cabaret Club — the capital’s longest-running cabaret — which she launched in 2013 after transitioning from a career in finance. Under her leadership, The London Cabaret Club has grown from a one-off pop-up into a permanent fixture in London’s nightlife, expanded internationally to Dubai, and is now celebrating 10 years with plans for further global growth. thelondoncabaretclub.com @thelondoncabaretclub Facebook: The London Cabaret Club A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Looking for a Bartending Service? Or a private bartender to run your next corporate or personal event? Need help crafting a bar program for your restaurant? Contact Alchemist Alie for all your bartending needs: @alchemist.alie If you're hungry for lunch - check out the best sandwiches in town @harpersdeli Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Gabriela Holzer, who joins us from Cleveland, Ohio. Gabriela has been in the hospitality industry since 2015, upon graduating from university, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Gaby moved to Cleveland in 2017, where she began her journey in the cocktail world. Gaby has helmed a variety of cocktail bars and restaurants around the city, and has been the lead bartender at Thyme Table for 4.5 years, which includes codeveloping cocktail menus, training new bar team members, and setting the standard for bar hospitality. Gabriela has also competed in a variety of national cocktail competitions, and has been a part of the Cocktail Apprentice Program at Tales of the Cocktail as a Red Coat in 2023 and returned as a Grey Coat in 2024. More recently, she has been featured by StarChefs in their visit to the Rust Belt Region, and awarded as one of two Rising Star Bartenders of the Rust Belt 2025 class. These experiences have been instrumental to her broader understanding of the bar industry, and fuelled her drive to create something unique in Cleveland. Gaby's tenure at Thyme Table is coming to a close this year as she gears up to open her first solo venture, located on the west side of Cleveland, called Hereafter. Hereafter will be an intimate cocktail bar and restaurant that will focus on creating with intention and welcoming guests with mindful hospitality. The design of Hereafter will be a minimalist space that allows guests to feel calm, and therefore be more present in their experience. Every detail at Hereafter is meant to elevate the guest experience to feel precious, while still maintaining a feeling of warmth, comfort, and home. It is projected to open December 2025. Gabriela’s degree in Fine Art informs much of her creative process for Hereafter. She is involved with every aspect of creative direction, from cocktail design, to interior design, as well as creating artwork for the bar. Realizing the dream that is Hereafter is a new and grand frontier to her artmaking. To influence not only the way someone feels through visual art, but also through flavor, function, and interpersonal connection, really allows Gabriela to fine tune every aspect of the environment for her guests. @hereafterbar herafterbar.com @gabyholzer A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out! Looking for a Bartending Service? Or a private bartender to run your next corporate or personal event? Need help crafting a bar program for your restaurant? Contact Alchemist Alie for all your bartending needs: @alchemist.alie If you're hungry for lunch - check out the best sandwiches in town @harpersdeli Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club