On today’s episode, we’re kicking off the new year with an incredible guest—Stephen Faust, Chef and Partner at McGuffin Catering. Stephen takes us behind the scenes of life on film sets, sharing fascinating stories from the culinary world of entertainment. We also dive into his inspiring journey of 28 years of sobriety and discuss the challenges he faced evacuating his home during the California fires.

But that’s not all! In the intro, I’ll catch you up on everything I’ve been up to lately, introduce some exciting new sponsors, and share details about a brand-new alliance I’m forming. This initiative is all about helping you increase profits and strengthen relationships with our amazing partner vendors.

There’s so much to cover today—so grab your coffee, settle in, and stay tuned to Nashville Restaurant Radio!

In this episode of Nashville Restaurant Radio, we’re thrilled to welcome Ray McBride, CEO of Black Sheep Tequila, a Nashville-based tequila brand that’s making waves in the spirits industry.

Ray brings his high-energy style and passion for tequila as he shares:

• The story behind Black Sheep Tequila and what inspired the brand’s unique name.
• Why their tequila is considered the best in the world, with their Añejo earning double gold at the San Francisco Spirits Competition three years in a row.
• How Nashville became the perfect home base for their operation.

If you’re a tequila enthusiast, a restaurant professional, or just someone who loves hearing about bold ideas and big wins, this episode is for you.

About Our Guest:
Ray McBride is the visionary leader behind Black Sheep Tequila, a brand that’s redefining premium tequila. With a commitment to quality and an unconventional approach, Ray has helped position Black Sheep as a standout in the industry, earning accolades and growing a loyal following.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Miller Chandler and LeeAnn James, the powerhouse duo behind the Chandler-James team at Lee & Associates here in Nashville. Together, they share insights into their work, what drives their passion, and their dedication to helping businesses find the perfect location to grow and thrive. With deep expertise in the Nashville market, they know how to pinpoint the ideal spot for any business.

Miller and LeeAnn discuss the most overrated and underrated areas in Nashville for commercial real estate, giving listeners an insider’s perspective on where to look and where to steer clear. If you're thinking about expanding your business, now is the perfect time to reach out to them to start crafting a strategic plan tailored just for you.

John Stephenson made the difficult decision to close his beloved restaurant Hathorne early this past September. We have never really done an episode where we talk to someone who just closed their place, but John was willing to come on and discuss some of the factors that helped him make that tough decision. We want to say a big thank you to John for the vulnerability to share his experience.

This episode has the longest intro we have ever done, almost 45 minutes. After the intro, we talk with Mike and Marino from Joe Muer Seafood. They tell the story, and a lot of operational content as well. Stay tuned next week for John Stephenson, and The Chandler James Team the following week.

Chris Chamberlain (Nashville Scene Writer) and D. Patrick Rodgers (Editor of the Nashville Scene) join Host Brandon Styll as they talk to Chef's and Restaurant owners about their BON 24 wins, and of course, the acceptance speeches.

Featuring..

Jon and Wilson from NOKO- Best Restaurant (readers pick)

Hrant Arakelian- Owner- Lyra- Best Mediterranean

Andrew and Anne- Owners- The Villager- Best Dart Bar

Andy and Cody- Owners Bad Luck Burger Club- Best Burger. Best Food Truck (with special surprise appearance from Big Daddy Sean Porter of Daddy's Dogs)

Tiffani and Andy- The Catbird Seat- Best New Chef addition

Ben Norton- Chef- Husk- Best Restaurant (writer's pick)

Edger Victoria- Owner/ Chef- Alebrije- Best Chef

Chef V joins the show to talk about his new line of sauces called The Flavorsmith. Crystal and Brandon also taste them all. Chef V also tells his story of coming up through the ranks of Jean-Georges, and moving to Nashville to open Maneet Chauhan's first restaurant Chauhan Ale & Masala house. He left there to pursue a restaurant called the Hook with Dale Levitski, and ultimately opened several restaurants for the Honest company. His story is awesome, and inspirational, and we are so excited to share it with you today!

Morgan Castillo- Owner- Tin Fish- Newburg, IN 3:14

Ed Schwartzman- Owner Gable's Bagels- 17:00

Eric Jones and Jason Smith- Smokeshow BBQ-29:22

Bad Luck Burger Club- Andy and Cody- 40:10

Andrea Chaires- Owner- The Rosepepper- 55:00

Howard Jones- Owner- Kingdom Cafe 1:06"30