The Voice of Foodservice, Amplified
Restaurants Canada has relaunched the MENU Unplugged Podcast — featuring a fresh format, new hosts and bold conversations that fuel the future of Canadian hospitality.
Hosted by foodservice insiders Jim Taylor, founder of Benchmark Sixty, and Derek Smith, founder of Canopy Metrics, MENU Unplugged delivers real talk for real operators — packed with actionable insights and fresh perspectives from the people shaping the industry.
Each episode offers in-depth interviews with industry leaders, tastemakers, and changemakers as they share the ideas, stories and strategies redefining what’s possible in foodservice today—and tomorrow.
We’re dropping fresh episodes most weeks – follow to stay in the loop!
MENU Unplugged brings you dynamic, no-fluff conversations recorded in studio and on the ground at major industry events like RC Show, offering powerful perspectives and practical takeaways for navigating a rapidly evolving hospitality landscape.
Recent Episodes
Listen to MENU Unplugged on Spotify
HOSTS
JIM TAYLOR
Founder, Benchmark Sixty
Jim Taylor is the Founder and CEO of Benchmark Sixty, a restaurant performance consultancy that helps operators turn data into actionable strategies and lasting profit. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry — spanning executive roles, brand growth, and advisory work across North America and the UK — Jim brings a unique lens to operational efficiency and leadership development. He’s also a partner in Vancouver’s iconic French restaurant, Le Crocodile by Rob Feenie, and the author of Bold Operations: Building the Foundation of Strategic Excellence in Restaurants. Now, as co-host of MENU Unplugged, Jim continues his mission to reframe how restaurants think about productivity, performance, and the future of leadership in hospitality.
DEREK SMITH
Founder, Canopy Metrics
Derek Smith is a restaurant performance authority with more than a decade of experience turning operational data into meaningful, measurable profit. His journey from server to Head of Business Intelligence at a national hospitality group gives him a rare combination of frontline perspective and deep analytical acumen. Today, as the principal of Canopy Metrics, Derek helps restaurant operators decode their numbers through streamlined measurement systems and smart dashboards that reveal the hidden levers inside every P&L. His work empowers leaders to make sharper decisions, improve margins and build healthier, more resilient businesses.
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MENU Unplugged offers unique opportunities to connect with a national audience of hospitality leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators.
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Have a Story to Tell?
We’re always looking for fresh voices and fearless ideas. Pitch a guest, suggest a topic, or reach out to our team at apham@restaurantscanada.org
