Susan Spicer is the Chef/Owner of Bayona, Mondo, and Rosedale in New Orleans. She is a highly respected figure and chef in NOLA, and nationwide. Susan got her start in 1979 at the age of 26 as a cook, and soon after that, she was staging in Paris. In 1982, back in NOLA, she opened Savoire Faire inside a hotel as the Chef De Cuisine. In 1986 she was a part of the opening team at Bistro at Madison de Ville, also in NOLA. After a trip out west to California where she worked mostly catering and events, she returned to NOLA and opened Bayona in 1990. Mondo came later, in 2010. Her most recent restaurant, Rosedale, is a casual concept, again...in NOLA! Today’s feature affiliate: Bentobox. In need of a restaurant website? Click this link to find out why so many of my guests use Bentobox! Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! Join Restaurant Unstoppable Network and get your first 30 days on me!  Connect with my past guest and a community of superfans. Subscribe to the Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel Join the private Unstoppable Facebook Group Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!) Favorite success quote or mantra: "Love what you do and begin with the end in mind." In this episode with Susan Spicer we will discuss: Dining outside Finding a mentor How and where to learn about cooking Being a woman in the industry in the 1980s How to manage people Standards The grind of fine dining Partnerships Turn key operations Food cost, waste, managing numbers Hosting events Closing a business Today's sponsor: Join the 60-day Restaurant Systems Pro FREE TRAINING. This is something that has never been done before. This 60-day event is at no cost to you, but it is not for everyone. Fred Langley, CEO of Restaurant Systems Pro, will lead a group of restaurateurs through the Restaurant Systems Pro software and set up the systems for your restaurant. During the 60 days, Fred will walk you through the Restaurant Systems Pro Process and help you crush the following goals: Recipe Costing Cards; Guidance in your books for accounting; Cash controls; Sales Forecasting(With Accuracy); Checklists; Budgeting for the entire year; Scheduling for profit; More butts in seats and more… Click Here to learn more. 7shifts is a modern labor management platform, designed by restaurateurs, for restaurateurs. Effectively labor management is more important than ever to ensure profitability and restaurant success. Trusted by over 400,000 restaurant professionals, 7shifts gives you the tools you need to streamline labor operations, communicate with your team, and retain your talent. Best of all 7shifts integrates with the POS and Payroll systems you already use and trust (like Toast!) turning labor into a competitive advantage for your business. Restaurant Unstoppable members get 3 months, absolutely free. Knowledge bombs Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? Sincerity What is your biggest weakness? Judgemental What's one thing you ask or look for when interviewing/growing your team? Looking for a spark when food is mentioned or discussed What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? Labor Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. Invested What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? Trying to connect with guests What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? Setting The Table by Danny Meyer GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM  What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations? Resy Toast What is one thing you feel restaurateurs don't do well enough or often enough? Recognize their regulars If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, wh