Navigating Foodservice Innovations
Robert Irvine and Lamarr Houston
Don’t miss out on our top podcasts that share restaurant leadership's best practices, strategies, and today’s insights for growth.
Get the latest insights on restaurant management, food fitness, and foodservice technology! Tune into two enthralling episodes on Savor.fm featuring conversations with renowned chef Robert Irvine and former NFL player turned entrepreneur Lamarr Houston. Listen to ‘Hospitality Hangout’ where Irvine discusses his journey, the role of food in his life, his involvement with military veterans, and his take on virtual kitchens. And don’t miss ‘Accelerate’ where Lamarr Houston shares his journey from NFL to food-tech investing, and the challenges he faced while setting up his liquor software business, BoxxTech. Join us for an inspiring and informative journey that will help you accelerate your business in the foodservice and hospitality industries.
Robert Irvine on Hospitality Hangout: A Journey from Kitchen to Philanthropy
Hospitality Hangout, hosts Michael Schatzberg, known as "The Restaurant Guy," and Jimmy Frischling, "The Finance Guy," had a conversation with renowned chef, fitness guru, philanthropist, and restaurateur, Robert Irvine. Irvine, who has appeared or hosted a myriad of television shows including Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America, Next Iron Chef, and ABC’s Body of Proof, is a passionate supporter of the military, attributing his success to the brave men and women who defend our freedoms.
This post is brought to you by:
Irvine shared his journey into the culinary world, which began at the age of eleven in a home economics class, where he was the only boy among thirty girls. He recounted making his first Quiche Lorraine and realizing the joy that cooking brought to others. At fifteen, he joined the military, transitioning from a childhood sailor to a professional chef, describing food as his ultimate passion and a lifestyle that impacts many. Irvine has also been involved with the Gary Sinise Foundation and founded the Robert Irvine Foundation in 2014 to strategically support veterans and veteran causes, focusing on food fitness, mental fitness, and physical health.
Though initially skeptical of virtual kitchens, Irvine changed his stance after a meeting with Robert Earl of Virtual Dining Concepts. Together, they created Robert Irvine’s American Heroes, a virtual sandwich brand aimed at supporting the nation’s military heroes. The conversation also touched on Irvine Spirits, a partnership with Boardroom Spirits, where Irvine handpicks the botanicals used. The episode concluded with discussions on Irvine's successful businesses, dedication to supporting the military, and his FitCrunch Campaign.
Lamarr Houston on Accelerate: A Former NFL Player’s Take on Food-Tech Investing
In the latest episode of ACCELERATE, a podcast hosted by TechNovator Rob Grimes, former NFL player Lamarr Houston discusses his journey from athletics to entrepreneurship and angel investing in the foodservice and food-related technology industries. Houston, who has invested in seven diverse companies, ranging from alcoholic beverage vending machines to semiconductors, shares his experience of transforming a traditional snack vending machine into a tech business, BoxxTech, after realizing a gap in the market for quick and convenient beverage dispensing with age verification and serving limits. Listeners seeking insights and advice on food-tech investing or interested in Houston's entrepreneurial journey and favorite technologies should tune in to this episode of ACCELERATE.