1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:00,720 Speaker 1: Hi. 2 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 2: I am Rashan McDonald host the weekly Money Making Conversation 3 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 2: Masterclass show. The interviews and information that this show provides 4 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:10,480 Speaker 2: are for everyone. It's time to stop reading other people's 5 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 2: success stories and start living your own. If you want 6 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 2: to be a guest on my show, please visit our website, 7 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 2: Moneymaking Conversations dot com and clip the be a guest 8 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 2: button priss submit and information will come directly to me. 9 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 2: Now let's get this show started. My guest is redefining 10 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 2: the dining landscape by making affordable luxury accessible to every 11 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 2: day consumer. I'm talking about food, eating eating now. The 12 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 2: reference I was doing football feed me, feed me, feed me. 13 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 2: His company's mission is to bring elevated culinary experiences to 14 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 2: the community, ensuring that exceptional hospitality and high quality cuisine 15 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 2: are within reach for everyone without the need to travel far. 16 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 2: Please welcome to Money Making Conversation Masterclass. Love A. How 17 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 2: you doing, sir? 18 00:00:58,440 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: How you doing, Russauran? How you doing? 19 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 2: Pretty good? 20 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: Man? 21 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:05,040 Speaker 2: When you say travel far and I'm from the neighborhood, okay, 22 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 2: affordable affordable, you know, affordable barbecue, stayd you know, uh 23 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 2: go round now, man, give me some subway, can give 24 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:17,119 Speaker 2: me some ribs at the end of the night club. 25 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,680 Speaker 2: Man at the link, Man outside, I'm at the barber shop, 26 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 2: the boot and man, he ain't on me at the barbershop. Okay, 27 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 2: you know I'm talking about that. That's affordable living. That's 28 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,399 Speaker 2: affordable eating for me. Brother, Okay, what are you talking about, 29 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 2: Levey Man. 30 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: We are talking about Redondo Beach. 31 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 2: Affordable luxury as DNDA Beach, California, right right down outside 32 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 2: of Yep, just south of Los Angeles, Yep. 33 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: Dnald Beach, California, next to Manhattan Beach, Mossa Beach, north 34 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: of Palace Verda's Peninsula. And what we're doing is we're 35 00:01:55,720 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: talking about affordable luxury where we have designed our concept, 36 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: which from my time spent in Long Island Easthampton's montacu 37 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: which we have designed this concept to provide a better 38 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: dining experience than what traditionally exists in the territory. As 39 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 1: you know from being a resident here for years, the 40 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:33,239 Speaker 1: territory doesn't normally consist of fine dining restaurants. It's very casual, 41 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:37,079 Speaker 1: very casual. People here, very casual. They like their flip flops, 42 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 1: they like their trucker cats. Man, and you try to do, 43 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: they will go crazy, So you got to be mindful 44 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: of that. But at the same time, there is an 45 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: audience here that is looking for a more sophisticated dining experience, 46 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: especially when it comes to brunches and dinner service. 47 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 2: It's really interesting you say all this, Levey, because I've 48 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 2: lived in La Los Angeles for fifteen years, and so 49 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:10,799 Speaker 2: when you start sliding down to the Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, 50 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 2: that's like you're going to San Diego. Everybody, if you 51 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,359 Speaker 2: going to San Diego, you're gonna go right past all 52 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 2: these places. Okay, And you know, as they said, growing up, 53 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 2: high falluting. That's high polluting country down there, you know. 54 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 2: And so but you're telling me, Rashwan, casual dining is 55 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 2: what people really is what populates the area. 56 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: Correct, Yes it does. And there's a lot of fine 57 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: dying sorry casual dining here, but there's less fine dining. 58 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: Why is that? 59 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 2: That's what That's what That's what started me because you 60 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 2: know that area down there that they got money, they 61 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 2: got money. 62 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: Well, well, the thing is a lot of people have 63 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: that misconception of the beach territories is just full of money. Right, Yes, 64 00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 1: there are very there are very affluent people here in 65 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: the South Bay, but there's also a large scale middle. 66 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 2: Class people, a large every time, a large, brother, giant, big, 67 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 2: it's huge. Don't get confused here with that little small 68 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 2: area of people. I'm trying to reach that big group 69 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 2: of people who can afford affordable luxury dining. And that's 70 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 2: what you want to bring to the table. 71 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 1: Correct exactly, And a lot of them want it like 72 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:33,039 Speaker 1: they're there. So what I learned about the territory is 73 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 1: that there are affluent people here, who financially affluent people here, 74 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:44,239 Speaker 1: and what they're they're looking for the option. They want 75 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 1: the option to be able to go to the uh 76 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 1: uh casual spot or pop up into something that's a 77 00:04:55,480 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: little bit more sophisticated, and it's it's I ever really 78 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: been given to them. I think when Sea Milan's was here, 79 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: the old set Milans over by where Bristol Farms used 80 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: to be, on the corner of pch and Palace Verdi's Boulevard, 81 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: I think when that was about. 82 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:19,359 Speaker 2: Pacific Coast Highway. I'm tell you, brother, you're talking to 83 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 2: everybody in the country here. You're not talking to your 84 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 2: cousin down the street now, pH now I gotta stop you, Levey. 85 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 2: That's Pacific Coast Highway. Everyone. I'm about to translate. I'm 86 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 2: moving forward. He just said, Dando Beach like everybody knew 87 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 2: we Rodondo Beach Rhdando Beach, California. Manha In Beach, California. 88 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 2: I'm gonna get on you, brother, because I know why 89 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 2: I'm bringing you on the air, because I know you know, 90 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 2: because you know when you talk about five course meals, 91 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 2: you know a lot of people don't know what that means. 92 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 2: When you talking about brunch, a lot of people understand 93 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 2: what that means. There's so many different versions, so let's 94 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 2: start with you. Was talking about what exactly is a 95 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 2: five course meal? And it varies in different places, But 96 00:05:58,279 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 2: what is your version of a five course meal? 97 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: So so back in back in two thousand and twenty ten, 98 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: twenty eleven, I created a concept with the McAllen Scotch 99 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 1: called the five Course Menu of the Evening And this 100 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: concept was designed for me to help educate the community 101 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:30,839 Speaker 1: on Singa Moore scotches and spirits with the McAllen, which 102 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:34,600 Speaker 1: is the most collectible single Moore scotch in the world. 103 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:41,239 Speaker 1: And when I created the experience, I myself didn't really 104 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 1: understand the five course menu concept. I'm like, all I 105 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: know is I like to eat, right, you say this 106 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: five courses were good like So, so when I started 107 00:06:55,560 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 1: understanding more about the the object of consumption, food consumption 108 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:08,160 Speaker 1: and dining, I said, you know what I said, man, 109 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: this is very interesting because the average consumer, especially in 110 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: our community, in the African American community, we don't look 111 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 1: at five courses. That's just being five courses that are educational. 112 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: So when I created the five course minion of the 113 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: Evening with a really good friend of mine, Kieran Elliott, 114 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: who was the national ambassador for at the time, he 115 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: was just the national ambassador for the McCallan Scotch for 116 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: the United States of America, and we were putting this 117 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: concept together. He said, you do whatever you want to do, 118 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 1: just let me know, blah blah blah. So I put 119 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: this concert together and I'm learning from these chefs and 120 00:07:54,280 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: we're talking to these different restaurants, and what I gathered was, Okay, 121 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: the average person that drinks singamore Scotch or goes out 122 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:11,559 Speaker 1: to dinner doesn't understand that each part of that meal 123 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: is a course. So, for instance, if you go to 124 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:20,119 Speaker 1: a restaurant and you have if you go to a 125 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 1: roof Chris or back in they had the claim jumpers, 126 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: and if you have, you order a dish and it 127 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: has you know, a protein, a vegetable, this or that, 128 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 1: blah blah. I said, man, that's like three courses in 129 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: one dish. So I said, you know what, we should 130 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: make it the five course menu of the evening, because 131 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: what happens is we can spread out the offering and 132 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 1: it could be number one healthier, but it could also 133 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: give the person a chance to taste different flavors and 134 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 1: varieties to better suit their needs. And they could also 135 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,560 Speaker 1: pair it with these expressions of this single mare that 136 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 1: they seem to want to have access to. Everyone wanted 137 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:16,319 Speaker 1: to have access to the McCallen, especially on our side 138 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: of things. So you look at most African Americans, they 139 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 1: would look at Hennessy and they would look at Hennessy 140 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 1: as a go to And I'd say, man, you know, 141 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 1: once I learned how things work, I said, man, you know, 142 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: there's more to just to spirits than just drinking it. 143 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:39,319 Speaker 1: There's also the collectible aspect of it. There is the 144 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: aspect of pairing. And so when I was while I 145 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 1: was designing the five course and I said, man, what 146 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 1: can we do to make the five course meaning of 147 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 1: the evening more approachable but at the same time still educational. 148 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: And so what I did was, I said, you know, hey, 149 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:03,079 Speaker 1: let's take this dinner and let's uh move it around 150 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 1: to different restaurants and work with different chefs, and let's 151 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 1: try different cuisine, and let's also use this to educate 152 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:20,200 Speaker 1: the people or the attendees about spirits and about singamore 153 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 1: Scotts and why this particular Scots is different than the 154 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 1: other Scotts. 155 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 2: So so that was tied more into the liquor experience 156 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 2: more so than the food experience. 157 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: Well, well it was, it was, It was really, it 158 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 1: was tied into It was tied into both. It was 159 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: tied into liquor, and it was also tied into food 160 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 1: particular restaurant that at that particular restaurant. Yeah, we've done 161 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 1: some some some bomb places. We've done Darren's and Manhattan Beach. 162 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:57,560 Speaker 1: We've done Brooke Williamson, who's a celebrity top chef who's 163 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:01,959 Speaker 1: a friend of mine, who's on Food Network every other day, Uh, 164 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: apply provisions. We started with her. Actually we've done Vibrado 165 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: Herbouperts Jazz Grill in Beverly, Glenn. We we I've done 166 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 1: too with Ed and his daughter there because it was 167 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 1: such a big hit there. 168 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 2: So this is this is something you started. Now, A 169 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 2: traditional five course meal basically is a derv correct and 170 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 2: then and I'm talking on the food side, is an observed? 171 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 2: Then there's an appetizer, and then it's a salad, and 172 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 2: then it's the main entrade. Is that incorrect? And then 173 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 2: a dessert? Is that tradition? 174 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 3: Yeah? 175 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 1: That not necessarily cool. 176 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 2: That's why that's what I'm saying. Educate me. 177 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:40,959 Speaker 1: Now. 178 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 2: I know they are different. 179 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 1: Aud It's based around the chef. So the chef. The 180 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 1: chef pretty much says, okay, you know, I'm pairing this 181 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: particular It could be wine, it could be Scotts, it 182 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: can be whatever. And they say, I'm pairing. I'm doing 183 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:03,959 Speaker 1: five courses which beverage, whether it be a Scotch or 184 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 1: a wine or a bourbon. What makes sense for this 185 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:17,199 Speaker 1: dish and what's also not going to I guess I 186 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:23,200 Speaker 1: would say push the diner over the edge, or overwhelm them, 187 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,559 Speaker 1: or overwhelm the diner. So you say, okay, for instance, 188 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 1: most of our dinners like we just recently completed the 189 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: Dalmore Dinner over at Pacific Center Prime here in Bredondo 190 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:40,959 Speaker 1: and the Dalmore Dinner Dal Morris is also another high 191 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: end Singamore Scotts who we have a great partnership withness 192 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 1: owned by a company called Witton Mackay in Scotland. 193 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 3: Please don't go anywhere, We'll be right back with more 194 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 3: money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to the Money Making Conversation. 195 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 3: He's Masterclass hosted by Rashaan McDonald. Money Making Conversations. Masterclass 196 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 3: continues online at Moneymakingconversations dot com and follow money Making 197 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:13,959 Speaker 3: Conversations Masterclass on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 198 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:18,560 Speaker 2: Now, so, but these are affordable though, you know, because 199 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 2: you keep using the word all affordable, iv HI and affordable. 200 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 2: I've never seen them in the same sentence. That's all 201 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 2: I'm saying. 202 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: If you know what you're doing, okay. 203 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 2: Understanding the brands, Okay. 204 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: They can all be affordable. Great, If you know what 205 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 1: you're doing, you don't gotta go get the ten thousand 206 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: dollars bottle of Scotch. You can rock. You can rock 207 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: with the with a three hundred dollars bottle of Scotch 208 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: and still be considered affordable because again you're thinking about 209 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 1: health and wellness too, So you're not You're not gonna 210 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:54,719 Speaker 1: take a three hundred dollar bttle of Scott's drinking the 211 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: whole bottle one night, you know, you know, I mean 212 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 1: some people do, but know not all of us. You 213 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 1: know you. 214 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 2: Could take it, and you like you can't, but you can't. 215 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,679 Speaker 1: You take the bottle and you say, Okay, this free 216 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: in our bottle of scott You're sipping it. You're drinking 217 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 1: little shots of it, and you're but you're sipping those 218 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: shots out of fine crystal. We prefer the Ralph Lauren 219 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 1: Lee Hey crystal uh Phutson glasses which we use. We're 220 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: gonna using that Montak and you say yeah, you say, 221 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 1: you say, hey, I'll take a little shot of this. 222 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 1: So when you go back to to how the whole 223 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: h affordable, UH will find dining works. We just did 224 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: the Dial Moore dinner there. Uh was our last dinner. 225 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 1: We're going to do more, but're right now. I think 226 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: the bulk of them will be at Montak. A lot 227 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 1: of are the people that came, a lot of people 228 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 1: that that participated in the dinner. These folks know what 229 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 1: they're doing, so they know they're not drinking the highest 230 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: of the highest end. But they also know the sophistication 231 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: of parent how the food is being paired. They understand 232 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: the value of the food that's being paired with Scott Cigamore, Scot, I'm. 233 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 2: Gonna tell you your boy has never eaten like this. 234 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:24,360 Speaker 1: Now. 235 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 2: My wife, she's a wine connoisseur. Okay, oh, when she 236 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 2: sits down, you know, I can't have your wine, men, 237 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 2: And then she goes down her list picks it out, 238 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 2: so you know, right now, she's in love with this conversation. 239 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 2: Right now I am. I am a water and lemonade. 240 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 1: And we gotta we go there. So we're gonna have 241 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 1: to put her on some of this stuff. So some 242 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 1: of the stuff we're pouring here at montok will be 243 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: pouring like the nineteen eighty two shot My Leave, we 244 00:15:57,280 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 1: have loads of which is a super brilliant wine, and 245 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 1: we'll be pouring the bron continc He's. 246 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 2: Based in southern California, a place I'm very familiar with 247 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 2: because I lived in Los Angeles, California for fifteen years. 248 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 2: And he's down just south of Los Angeles and Redondo Beach. 249 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 2: Tell me about Montalk. 250 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: So. Montalk is our newest concept at Peninsula Hospitality Concepts. 251 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 1: It's based around East Hampton's Long Island, New York. And 252 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: one of the things we wanted to do is we 253 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: wanted to create an experience that was different from the 254 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 1: other properties here in the South Bay. And a lot 255 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: of stuff in the territory is very rustic coastal and 256 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 1: we noticed that. And I noticed that from day one. 257 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 1: I said, man, why does everything look the same? Why 258 00:16:55,320 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 1: does everything look the same? Why is everything I have 259 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: the same vibe? And when we were going into the design, 260 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: I said, I talked to my friend Latissa Moodie, who 261 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 1: is a big designer. She designs all of Gordon Ramsay stuff. 262 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:19,200 Speaker 1: Uh and so I said, you know what, Latita, I 263 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,480 Speaker 1: love Gordon, but I don't want my places to look 264 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 1: like he is. You know, I said, don't tell him. 265 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:31,680 Speaker 1: I said, so and so and so she came back 266 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 1: and she said, well, what do you want to do? 267 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:35,159 Speaker 1: And I said, you know what I want to do. 268 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:38,880 Speaker 1: I said, I have a great relationship with the Lawrence 269 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: Ralph Lauren and his family. I said, I respect everything 270 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 1: that they've built, and I said, I would really like 271 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 1: for my place to reflect what their stores look like, 272 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 1: what his homes look like. And I said, I think 273 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:03,119 Speaker 1: that would give me more of an advantage when it 274 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 1: came to consumers who wanted a place that felt more 275 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:11,919 Speaker 1: like home versus like I'm going to the restaurant. I 276 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 1: wanted them to come into Montaque and feel warmth and coziness. 277 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 1: And also I wanted the service to reflect what they've 278 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: done as a family with their brand and the products, 279 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 1: which is the stores, the restaurants. Did you know the 280 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: polo bar all so I said, okay, you know what, 281 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:35,479 Speaker 1: we don't have that here. You know, it exists in 282 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 1: New York, in Chicago, in Paris and London, but it 283 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 1: doesn't exist here. And you know, they could easily open 284 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 1: up something in California and especially in la They you know, 285 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:48,639 Speaker 1: they can do whatever they want. And so as we 286 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 1: were designing this, I had first started out with my 287 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:56,120 Speaker 1: friend Teresa Fatino in Manhattan Beach who used to work 288 00:18:56,160 --> 00:19:00,639 Speaker 1: for Ralph Lauren and she did a concert with a 289 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 1: friend of mine, David Slay in Manhattan Beach, who who's 290 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 1: place it's similar to mine, but not close that's my boy, 291 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:11,400 Speaker 1: but he ain't. He not doing it like this. That's 292 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 1: my boy boy. I just talked you of the day, 293 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 1: but he ain't doing like this and so so uh, 294 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:20,200 Speaker 1: him and his wife Gail are really good friends of mine, 295 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 1: but I always talked to that to him. And so 296 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:31,920 Speaker 1: we we built Montalk for it to be a luxurious spot, 297 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:35,200 Speaker 1: and we wanted it to be approachable. But then we say, 298 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:38,400 Speaker 1: you know, what else can we do with mon Talk 299 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: to separate it from any other restaurant. We know it's 300 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,360 Speaker 1: gonna look better and feel better, but what else can 301 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 1: we do? So I got in touch with a friend 302 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:50,520 Speaker 1: of mine, Doug Green, over at both Professional and I said, 303 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:55,920 Speaker 1: you know, I want to do my jazz lounge. I said. 304 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 1: I talked to Edon Albert over at Vibrato and I 305 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:01,560 Speaker 1: told her I wanted to open up a big jazz 306 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:04,679 Speaker 1: club like she has, jazz restaurant like he has. And 307 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:07,440 Speaker 1: of course he said, Levey, you're crazy. That's a lot 308 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:10,359 Speaker 1: of money. You're crazy as a lot. And I said, okay. Well, 309 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 1: then when I came back to reality after I fell 310 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 1: off the planet, I said, you know what, I'm going 311 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:21,800 Speaker 1: to do something smaller. So I talked to Hussein, who 312 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: is Herbalfert's bass player, and I said, we say, what 313 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 1: can I do? He said, brother, just start off small. 314 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,680 Speaker 1: Just start off small, And so I dumped it down. 315 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: I said, I'm in Verdondo Beats. Everybody said, you're in 316 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,439 Speaker 1: Verdondo Beat. You can't just go crazy big. So I said, Okay, 317 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: you know what I'm gonna do with this backspace. I'm 318 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 1: going to make it into a jazz lounge. But I'm 319 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 1: going to make it into a jazz lounge that's respectful 320 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: to the community, but not just dress wise like. So 321 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 1: you know, most people here they want to just roll 322 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 1: up in the spot and the flip flops and the 323 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 1: T shirt and disc. I said, you know what, I'm 324 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 1: gonna eliminate that because there are more sophisticated diners and 325 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: and uh doors of town that would appreciate me really 326 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:17,720 Speaker 1: keeping this in line with what it needs to be 327 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:23,160 Speaker 1: to best represent uh the culture of jazz and light 328 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 1: blues and so Montalk. That's how Montalk became. As it 329 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 1: became Okay, I'll have the fine dining restaurant in the front, 330 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 1: not too pretentious. I'm not saying you gotta be wearing 331 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: a tuxxedo and all time. But I'm just saying, hey. 332 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:42,440 Speaker 2: When you come on, shirt, let's. 333 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 1: Come on man, let's be a little presentable. And if 334 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:49,400 Speaker 1: you want to go do something else, you can wear 335 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 1: the same outfit you wear here and go down the 336 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 1: street to the other places. They're not gonna be mad 337 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 1: at you. They're gonna serve you whatever you want. 338 00:21:58,040 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 2: I love it. 339 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:00,199 Speaker 1: You know they gonna be happy. 340 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 2: Levey, you are a I would say, your character, man, 341 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 2: your character, your personality. You got me hungry by the way, 342 00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 2: I'm hungry. I'm hungry now. But the fact that jazz, 343 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:14,200 Speaker 2: the fact that food, the fact that elevating, and I've 344 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 2: been to places where they've told me circle your movie 345 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:21,200 Speaker 2: hat circul You know, those type of genes are allowed 346 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:23,439 Speaker 2: in here, you know, over the years, and so when 347 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:25,639 Speaker 2: you start setting the standards, you get a certain audience, 348 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:28,480 Speaker 2: and a certain audience expects when they sit across from somebody, 349 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 2: they being met and treated the same. You know what 350 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:33,719 Speaker 2: I'm saying, You can't just you know, or I'll let 351 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:36,119 Speaker 2: you in this time. Then somebody gonna see that. Then 352 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:39,480 Speaker 2: they gonna realize that, Okay, you're as they say, wishy 353 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:44,600 Speaker 2: washy with your pretensious behavior, trying to build affordable luxury 354 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:47,480 Speaker 2: and you're letting anybody yes, And so Levey, can you 355 00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:49,280 Speaker 2: tell everybody where your restaurant's act And I'm a rap 356 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:50,479 Speaker 2: up this conversation with you. 357 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 1: Okay, My restaurant is in Redondo Beach, sixteen eleven South 358 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 1: Carolina Avenue. It's known as the Village. It is the 359 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 1: Village is the heart of Rodondo Beats, California. We are 360 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: you know, uh, north of Palas Vernes, south of Hermosa 361 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 1: and Manhattan Beach have Torrance is next to us, and 362 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:20,159 Speaker 1: we are a community of one. Everyone respects each other here. 363 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 1: We have a great walking and cycling and restaurants and bars, 364 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:31,959 Speaker 1: and we are here to serve the community, to provide 365 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 1: a product that best represents everyone who are who want 366 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: a different experience and want to enjoy like live Jazz, 367 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 1: in which the den will open a month or two 368 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 1: later after the restaurant, but still the restaurant itself will 369 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:54,280 Speaker 1: still provide and experience to people that we think will 370 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:55,240 Speaker 1: be memorable. 371 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 2: Thanks for coming on the show we talked to. 372 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 1: Okay, yes, sir, thank you so much. 373 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 2: This has been another edition of money Making Conversation Masterclass 374 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:05,959 Speaker 2: hosted by me Rashawn McDonald. Thank you to our guests 375 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 2: on the show today, and thank you for listening to 376 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:09,920 Speaker 2: the audience now. If you want to listen to any 377 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 2: episode or want to be a guest on the show, 378 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:16,679 Speaker 2: please visit Moneymakingconversations dot com. Our social media handle is 379 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 2: money Making Conversation. Join us next week and remember to 380 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 2: always leave with your gifts. Keep winning.