Tradition, Competition, and the Chaos of the Food Industry with Joe Leone | Chef Series

In this Chef Series episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom and Chef Mike are joined by Joe Leone of Joe Leone's Italian Specialties for a conversation about friendship, food, and the realities of the restaurant industry. With Mike and Joe having been friends for over 30 years, the episode dives into everything from starting out in wholesale and chasing payments to how the industry has changed over time. They discuss the chaos that comes with food service, how COVID completely shifted the business, and why employee loyalty looks very different today. The conversation also touches on overrated food trends, underrated traditional flavors, and the importance of cooking food that genuinely makes people happy. Tom, Mike, and Joe break down competition in the industry, why reputation matters, and how a few bad workers can impact everyone around them. This episode is a real behind-the-scenes look at the food world from people who've lived it for decades.