The Voice of Foodservice, Amplified.
The MENU Unplugged Podcast is back with a new format, new hosts, and fresh momentum.
The MENU Unplugged Podcast has returned—with new purpose, edge and relevance.
Restaurants Canada relaunched the podcast in early June in collaboration with hospitality consulting firm Benchmark Sixty, founded by Jim Taylor, who now co-hosts the show with Derek Smith, founder of Canopy Metrics.
MENU Unplugged Podcast Hosts
“We’re always evolving how we show up for our members and the broader foodservice community,” says Tracy Macgregor, Restaurants Canada’s Chief Operating Officer. “The new approach to the MENU Unplugged podcast is part of a larger strategy to meet operators where they are—offering content that’s not only timely and relevant, but also accessible and action-oriented. Whether you’re an independent restaurateur, a multi-unit leader, or a supplier navigating the same economic headwinds, we want this podcast to be a space where real conversations happen. It’s about amplifying diverse voices, surfacing practical insights, and building a deeper sense of connection across our industry.”
Taylor and Smith bring complementary expertise to the mic, aiming to elevate conversations that matter to Canada’s foodservice operators with a tone that’s candid, constructive, and Canada-centric. Taylor is a seasoned operator, co-owner of Vancouver’s Le Crocodile, and a respected consultant known for surfacing real-world insights. Smith, an industry veteran turned data analyst, translates complex metrics into actionable strategies that restaurateurs can use. Their shared goal: to cut through the noise and deliver content that offers operators clarity, direction, and support.
Like many great collabs, Taylor’s journey to the host’s chair was a happy accident borne out of a casual conversation with Restaurants Canada President and CEO, Kelly Higginson. “We were chatting about the podcast, and I just said, ‘Would you like us to host for you?’” he recalls. “The industry doesn’t need more top 100 lists. It needs a mirror—and a microphone. We want to make sure there’s a really good balance of celebrating the positive that’s happening in the industry… and deep discussion about real challenges.”
The new podcast dropped in early June with a candid, “state-of-the-foodservice-nation” conversation featuring Kelly Higginson. The launch package also included on-site recordings from RC Show 2025 with Debbie Shing, founder of boutique wine agency Quvé, WSET educator, and co-founder of Vinequity; Chef Joel Gray and Hannah Harradine of Down Home Restaurant, (a Michelin-recommended spot in Ontario’s Grey Bruce region), and David Hopkins, President of The Fifteen Group, restaurant profit maximalization experts.
Taylor and Smith work closely with Restaurants Canada’s content team to source and shape industry stories through a structure inspired by MENU magazine—but delivered with the immediacy and intimacy of audio. Episodes often conclude with Taylor’s signature closer: “If I’m an independent operator, how do I apply what you just said in my business?” That spirit of practicality guides each episode, ensuring that whether the guest is a multinational CEO or a first-time café owner, listeners leave with something they can actually use.
“We know what keeps operators up at night,” says Smith. “We want each listener to walk away with something they can try—tomorrow—in their business. Restaurants Canada is as big as it gets, and what excites me most about MENU Unplugged is the opportunity to have Canadian conversations about Canadian issues—with operators who truly understand this market.”
The hosts are especially passionate about supporting independent operators—the backbone of
Canada’s foodservice economy. “The majority of restaurants in Canada are small businesses without internal analysts or big marketing teams,” Smith notes. “They’re doing their own scheduling, ordering, and P&Ls. They deserve content made for them.”
Unlike the overly scripted conversations common to industry podcasts, MENU Unplugged keeps it real. Smith’s own background helps keep the tone accessible. A former server turned analyst, he co-founded a “Profit Committee” during his time at Cactus Club that analyzed everything from labour hours to janitorial fees, driving measurable margin gains. Today, he works with operators across Canada to help them make sense of their data—and their opportunities. “Because we’re used to working with restaurants directly, we can keep it casual but impactful,” says Smith. “You’re not going to need a dictionary or an MBA to follow along. We break down technical terms and avoid jargon so that even operators with limited time and resources can tune in and benefit.”
While the show’s guests will range from independent chefs and chain executives to economists and sustainability leaders, every conversation is rooted in what operators need right now: clarity, confidence, and connection. “We’re focused on real talk for real operators,” says Taylor. “And part of that is talking about wins—not just challenges. There’s still a lot of innovation and optimism out there.”
The 2025 lineup features powerhouse guests like Sash Simpson, Mo Jessa, and Meeru Dhalwala, diving into essential topics such as labour cost strategies, guest experience, economic forecasting, and leadership development. The podcast will also spotlight intersectional stories shaping the future of hospitality—from women in foodservice to Indigenous culinary leadership.
“The industry’s tough, but you don’t have to go it alone,” says Smith. “This podcast is about peer-to-peer mentorship—real operators sharing what works, what doesn’t, and what’s next.”
Keep Your Ears to the Ground
Streaming now on Spotify, MENU Unplugged is more than a podcast—it’s a growing community of operators navigating challenges together and celebrating what makes this industry worth fighting for.
GET:
Hear from the frontlines of Canadian foodservice.
Gain direct access to unfiltered conversations with operators, leaders, and innovators across the country—sharing what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s coming next.
Walk away with ideas you can use.
Each episode is designed to deliver practical, actionable insights—whether it’s a new strategy, a shift in perspective, or a better way to navigate daily challenges.
Join a conversation that reflects your reality.
Hear candid, relatable conversation grounded in the real experiences of Canadian operators, experts and changemakers.at makes this industry worth fighting for.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE MENU UNPLUGGED PODCAST
Listen now on Spotify and subscribe for regular episodes that highlight the real stories, challenges, opportunities, and wins of Canadian foodservice.
