Bar Hacks

On this episode, host David Klemt sits down with William Brooks, the Global Brand Ambassador for Tequila Herradura. With a background from Johnson & Wales University and extensive experience in the spirits industry, William shares his fascinating journey from whiskey to agave.Discover the unique qualities of tequila, as William dispels common myths and misconceptions. He dives into the importance of terroir, the differences between lowland and highland agave, and how these factors influence flavor profiles. The conversation also covers the innovative practices at Tequila Herradura, including sustainability efforts, and the creation of the reposado category.Plus, William shares his favorite tequila cocktails, perfect food pairings, and tips on how to properly taste tequila (hint: replace the lime). Whether you're a seasoned agave enthusiast or just starting to explore, this episode is packed with valuable insights and delicious ideas.Cheers!NotesWilliam Brooks IG: @cuppateaquilaTequila Herradura website: Herradura.comTequila Herradura IG: @herradurateqBar Hacks IG: ⁠@barhacks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠@krg.hospitality⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David Klemt IG: ⁠@david.ex.machina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Suomi Design Works is an award-winning hotel design studio dedicated to approaching every hospitality project with an exceptional level of creativity. In fact, Michael Suomi, president of the studio, actively seeks out unique, challenging projects.On this episode of the Bar Hacks podcast, host David Klemt chats with Michael about a number of these extraordinary projects. Further, Michael shares his approach to onboarding clients, building unique teams for exceptional projects, trends he thinks may stand out in 2025 (and which he'd like to see disappear), and more.Cheers!NotesSuomi Design Works: ⁠footprintsuccess.org/⁠⁠Suomi Design Works IG: @suomidesignworksSuomi Design Works FB: @suomidesignworksSuomi Design Works LI: www.linkedin.com/company/suomi-design-worksBar Hacks IG: @barhacks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KRG Hospitality IG: @krg.hospitality⁠⁠⁠KRG Hospitality website: ⁠krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David Klemt IG: @david.ex.machina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We're back! Hosts David Klemt and Bradley Knebel tackle two real-life restaurant and bar situations in the first ReFire of 2025.The two tackle the topic of an operator who's hesitant to believe it when multiple employees claim a culinary team member is rude, hostile, and abusive...but believes that team member when they make the same accusation against a quiet but hard-working back-of-house peer. Don't worry - it gets worse!Then, David and Bradley take a look at a stunning, on-the-spot termination of a bartender who had been in role since day one. The restaurant was busy, the bar was slammed, and the word of a regular got the bartender of five years fired instantly. Something doesn't add up!Look, firing someone is never pleasant. However, it's going to happen. Operators and leadership team members need to have standards in place and communicated clearly, a process for terminations, and the understanding that how they fire people speaks to their credibility and reputation.NotesBar Hacks IG:⁠⁠⁠@barhacks⁠⁠⁠David Klemt IG:⁠⁠⁠@david.ex.machina⁠⁠⁠Bradley Knebel IG:⁠⁠⁠@sommfabulousguy⁠⁠⁠KRG Hospitality IG:⁠⁠⁠@KRG.Hospitality⁠⁠⁠KRG Hospitality website:⁠⁠⁠KRGHospitality.com⁠⁠⁠Empowered Hospitality IG:⁠⁠⁠@empoweredhospitality⁠⁠⁠Empowered Hospitality website:⁠⁠⁠EmpoweredHospitality.com⁠

In 2008, Barbara Harmon volunteered at an outreach program for individuals with mental illness. Half of the patients attending the program wanted to work but were told by their clinical staff that the stress of working would cause more symptoms and more hospitalization. Barbara began researching organizations that helped individuals with mental illness find employment. She read an article about Fountain House in New York City. Fountain House is the first Clubhouse and is the blueprint for 320 Clubhouses around the world. Barbara opened a Clubhouse in Pompano Beach, Florida in 2010. Since starting Foot Print to Success Clubhouse, the organization has offered people with mental illness hope and opportunities to achieve their full potential. On this episode of Bar Hacks, Barbara shares the Foot Print to Success Clubhouse mission, talks about the benefits to program participants and hospitality operators, addresses the stigma of mental illness, and more. Cheers! Notes Foot Print to Success: footprintsuccess.org/⁠ FPTS IG: instagram.com/fptsclubhouse FPTS FB: facebook.com/FootPrintSuccess/ FPTS X: x.com/FPTS_Clubhouse Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/barhacks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/krg.hospitality/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ KRG Hospitality website: krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/david.ex.machina/

Giuseppe Gallo has accomplished a lot in his two decades-plus in the hospitality and beverage spaces: he's a respected vermouth and amaro expert, the winner of the 2014 Spirited Award for Best International Brand Ambassador, an educator and drinks historian, and a bartender's bartender.Among other topics, this episode explores the creation of SAVOIA Americano (and ITALICUS). Giuseppe introduces SAVOIA Orancio, an innovative new aperitivo made with natural orange wine. Throughout the conversation, Gallo emphasizes the importance of bartender insights in shaping successful beverage brands, and the guest experience. Tune into this informative and engaging episode to be inspired by Giuseppe Gallo's story, and learn how you can elevate your own bar or restaurant business. Notes SAVOIA website: https://casa-savoia.com/savoia-orancio/ SAVOIA IG: https://www.instagram.com/casa.savoia/⁠ ITALICUS website: ⁠https://rosolioitalicus.com/ ITALICUS IG: https://www.instagram.com/ItalicusRDB Giuseppe Gallo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giuseppe-gallo-b3a81b14/ Giuseppe Gallo IG: https://www.instagram.com/peppegallo1/ ItalSpirits website: https://italspirits.com/ Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/

Nancy Kuemper is the founding principal interior designer and creative director at Mabel Design Co. based in Halton Hills, which is located within the Greater Toronto Area. Similarly to the approach KRG Hospitality takes to projects, Nancy's approach to interior design is transparent, structured, bold, and client-driven. As you'll learn during this episode of the Bar Hacks podcast, she's enamored with the idea of telling the story of a client's project. You'll also hear about the phased structure Mabel Design Co. brings to each project, when to bring on an interior designer, how to maximize the relationship, design trends Nancy thinks will be popular in 2025, and more. Cheers! Notes Mabel Design Co. website: https://www.mabeldesignco.com Mabel Design Co. IG: https://www.instagram.com/mabeldesignco/ Mabel Design Co. Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/mabeldesignco/ Mabel Design Co. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mabel-design-co/ Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/

On the second episode of Bar Hacks: ReFire, host David Klemt (KRG Hospitality) and co-host Bradley Knebel (Empowered Hospitality) chat about three real-world restaurant and bar situations. The duo discuss guest perception, F&B influencer culture and marketing, "firing" problematic customers (a distinction is made between guest and customer), and more through the analysis of three stories pulled from various platforms. Cheers! Notes Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠@barhacks⁠⁠ David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠@david.ex.machina⁠⁠ Bradley Knebel IG: ⁠⁠@sommfabulousguy⁠⁠ KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠@KRG.Hospitality⁠⁠ KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠KRGHospitality.com⁠⁠ Empowered Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠@empoweredhospitality⁠⁠ Empowered Hospitality website: ⁠⁠EmpoweredHospitality.com⁠

Welcome to the first episode of Bar Hacks: ReFire! We've changed the standard Bar Hacks format to address real-life hospitality industry issues. We're also introducing a co-host to help provide different insights and perspectives: Bradley Knebel, client services director at Empowered Hospitality. Bradley has 20 years of experience in hospitality, including ten years with Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group. On this inaugural episode David and Bradley discuss giving a second chance to a part-time employee hired to join a small culinary team; a bartender who may be experiencing imposter syndrome but who was also only given a single training shift at a high-end venue; and owners, operators, and leadership team members pulling pranks on staff. Notes Bar Hacks IG: @barhacks David Klemt IG: @david.ex.machina Bradley Knebel IG: @sommfabulousguy KRG Hospitality IG: @KRG.Hospitality KRG Hospitality website: KRGHospitality.com Empowered Hospitality IG: @empoweredhospitality Empowered Hospitality website: EmpoweredHospitality.com

Social media can seem daunting to some people. Where do you start? How often should you post? What kind of posts should you put out there? And what channels do you need to use? To answer these questions (and more), we asked Zachary Helsel if he'd come on the podcast. Zack will be the first to tell you that he's made all the mistakes one can make when building their social media presence. However, he learned from those mistakes, has sought expert advice, and led his whynot_ride motorcycle page to more than 466,000 engaged followers. He also operates his own social media marketing agency, complete with a digital creator community. During this conversation, host David Klemt and Zack talk platforms, strategy, mistakes and myths, the importance of learning the fundamentals, two key acronyms Zack has coined, why he's not afraid to pay for expert advice, the services he provides as a social media marketer, and more. Also, for the riders out there, he's giving away a 2023 Honda Grom and a 2024 CF MOTO Papio. Check out the giveaway on his whynot_ride IG page and Why Not Ride community. Cheers! Notes whynot_engage IG: https://www.instagram.com/whynot_engage/ whynot_ride IG: https://www.instagram.com/whynot_ride/ Why Not Ride Skool community: https://www.skool.com/whynotride/about Engagement Academy signup: https://www.engagementacademy.org/opt-in Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/

Just weeks after speaking with design legend Roger Thomas we were given the opportunity to speak with Alex Woogmaster. Alex is one of Roger's protégés, and the former creative director for Wynn Resorts. Toward the end of 2019, Alex founded Woogmaster Studio, the design agency for which he is also creative director. Interestingly, Las Vegas wasn't on his radar. In fact, neither was interior design; he was studying architecture initially. On this episode of the Bar Hacks podcast you'll hear about how Alex found himself in Vegas, working for one of the most influential and successful gaming and hospitality brands in the world; the Woogmaster Studio "gentle manifestos"; his approach to interior design; maximizing the relationship between operator and designer; and more. Cheers! Notes Woogmaster Studio IG: https://www.instagram.com/woogmasterstudio/ Woogmaster Studio website: https://woogmasterstudio.com/ Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/