Liz Solomon Dwyer's guest appearances

Liz Solomon Dwyer

Restaurant Unstoppable with Eric Cacciatore

The Modern Retail Podcast

Chefs Without Restaurants

OwlTail

David Tacos

Liz Solomon Dwyer is the Founder and CEO od King David Tacos. Known for Austin-style breakfast tacos at carts and cafes across the city, King David Tacos was founded by Austin, TX native Liz Solomon Dwyer. She applied her decade of experience in advertising to launch King David Tacos in 2016—inspired by her Austin upbringing, Jewish heritage and her late father, fondly known as “King David”—and she leads the business full-time. King David Tacos recently launched its first brick + mortar location and headquarters at 611 Bergen St in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights, enabling its network of over 80 cafe retailers around the city; newly sustainable, zero-emissions  taco + coffee carts (now Powered by Blank Street); as well as its recent launch into select NYC area Whole Foods Markets in the prepared foods section. 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:  "If it was easy, everyone would be doing it."  In this episode with Liz Solomon Dwyer we will discuss:  Marketing and advertising Trust and partnerships Dealing with difficult people and situations Social and emotional intelligence Establishing an LLC Pop ups and catering How to name your restaurant/branding Scaling and growth Consulting, mentorship Food carts Retail Wholesale  Today's sponsor: At Popmenu, we know that in today’s world, a great hospitality experience usually begins online. Keeping the conversation with guests going beyond the meal also requires simple, powerful, fun technology capable of expression through all kinds of channels. Our team takes pride in helping restaurants put their best foot forward digitally so they can focus on what they do best. We think PDF menus are super boring, we believe 3rd party platforms have had too much say in how consumers find their next dining experience and we deeply feel that sharing your beautiful menu doesn’t have to be so difficult, time-consuming and expensive. As a listener of the Restaurant Unstoppable, you'll receive $100 off your first month of Popmenu!   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. Real hospitality and restaurant industry veterans, the My Restaurant CFO team understands the daily frustrations restaurant owners experience managing their establishments. By partnering to create a custom solution, we streamline your flow of financial information, create a clear picture of your overall financial health, use your historical data to forecast your financial needs, and suggest ways to cut costs and increase revenue. My Restaurant CFO - Let us help you achieve your goals. Knowledge bombs  Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?  I don't accept the status quo   What is your biggest weakness?  Impatience   What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview?  The desire to make things better and not accept the status quo   What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?  Figuring out how to get out of my own way   Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.  Treat others how you'd like to be treated   What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?  Recognizing regulars, have conversations with guests   What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?  Blood, Bones, and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton 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?   OptimoRoute - Online Route Planner   Name one service you've hired.  Totrillas - Fiesta Tortillas in Austin, TX   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, what would they be?  Take time off Eat good food Don't be too hard on yourself    Contact info: Instagram: @kingdavidtacos Website: http://kingdavidtacos.com Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Liz Solomon Dwyer for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

Liz Solomon Dwyer is the Founder and CEO od King David Tacos. Known for Austin-style breakfast tacos at carts and cafes across the city, King David Tacos was founded by Austin, TX native Liz Solomon Dwyer. She applied her decade of experience in advertising to launch King David Tacos in 2016—inspired by her Austin upbringing, Jewish heritage and her late father, fondly known as “King David”—and she leads the business full-time. King David Tacos recently launched its first brick + mortar location and headquarters at 611 Bergen St in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights, enabling its network of over 80 cafe retailers around the city; newly sustainable, zero-emissions  taco + coffee carts (now Powered by <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/10/13/general-catalyst-tiger-global-lead-25m-investment-into-blank-streets-micro-specialty-coffee-shops/?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABgN3uE9-GSp0LKBbB2B3hs2tDe1ZW3Y_0u5rGQJNmnBzZXHxv55vKdAWhOWiQdlVt4DU_I3EjUDYSg_DsM6spIuvX5K2xM1jbmnSA60xbMlJWVJZp3hry3WTcWUWj5mif7epQzaaHnIfwe79D79IehIZLCW7H3QWqQN2QTkxsOZ" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Blank Street</a>); as well as its recent launch into select NYC area Whole Foods Markets in the prepared foods section. Today’s feature affiliate: Bentobox. In need of a restaurant website? Click <a href="https://getbento.com/signup/?ref=Resta18" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this link</a> to find out why so many of my guests use Bentobox! Show notes… Calls to ACTION!!! <ul> <li>Join <a href="https://www.restaurantunstoppablenetwork.com/plans/47357?bundle_token=17a3bdca1ccbc19303dff68d05df5ab2&amp;utm_source=manual" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Restaurant Unstoppable Network</a> and get your first 30 days on me!  Connect with my past guest and a community of superfans.</li> <li>Subscribe to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJSERtxnAE3V7T9PQ19w_Og" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Restaurant Unstoppable YouTube Channel</a></li> <li>Join the private <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/493649961457862/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Unstoppable Facebook Group</a></li> <li>Join the email list! (Scroll Down to get the Vendor List!)</li> </ul> Favorite success quote or mantra: <ul> <li>"If it was easy, everyone would be doing it."</li> </ul> In this episode with Liz Solomon Dwyer we will discuss: <ul> <li>Marketing and advertising</li> <li>Trust and partnerships</li> <li>Dealing with difficult people and situations</li> <li>Social and emotional intelligence</li> <li>Establishing an LLC</li> <li>Pop ups and catering</li> <li>How to name your restaurant/branding</li> <li>Scaling and growth</li> <li>Consulting, mentorship</li> <li>Food carts</li> <li>Retail</li> <li>Wholesale</li> </ul> Today's sponsor: At <a href="http://popmenu.com/unstoppable" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Popmenu</a>, we know that in today’s world, a great hospitality experience usually begins online. Keeping the conversation with guests going beyond the meal also requires simple, powerful, fun technology capable of expression through all kinds of channels. Our team takes pride in helping restaurants put their best foot forward digitally so they can focus on what they do best. We think PDF menus are super boring, we believe 3rd party platforms have had too much say in how consumers find their next dining experience and we deeply feel that sharing your beautiful menu doesn’t have to be so difficult, time-consuming and expensive. As a listener of the Restaurant Unstoppable, you'll receive $100 off your first month of Popmenu! 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 <a href="https://www.7shifts.com/unstoppable" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">3 months, absolutely free.</a> Real hospitality and restaurant industry veterans, the <a href="https://myrestaurantcfo.com/unstoppable/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Restaurant CFO</a> team understands the daily frustrations restaurant owners experience managing their establishments. By partnering to create a custom solution, we streamline your flow of financial information, create a clear picture of your overall financial health, use your historical data to forecast your financial needs, and suggest ways to cut costs and increase revenue. <a href="https://myrestaurantcfo.com/unstoppable/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Restaurant CFO</a> - Let us help you achieve your goals. Knowledge bombs <ol> <li>Which "it factor" habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success? <ul> <li>I don't accept the status quo</li> </ul> </li> <li>What is your biggest weakness? <ul> <li>Impatience</li> </ul> </li> <li>What's one question you ask or thing you look for during an interview? <ul> <li>The desire to make things better and not accept the status quo</li> </ul> </li> <li>What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it? <ul> <li>Figuring out how to get out of my own way</li> </ul> </li> <li>Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team. <ul> <li>Treat others how you'd like to be treated</li> </ul> </li> <li>What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff? <ul> <li>Recognizing regulars, have conversations with guests</li> </ul> </li> <li>What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner? <ul> <li><a href="https://amzn.to/3uWWFaq" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blood, Bones, and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton</a></li> <li>GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT <a href="http://audibletrial.com/unstoppable" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AUDIBLE.COM </a></li> </ul> </li> <li>What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations? <ul> <li><a href="https://optimoroute.com/?utm_or_cid=1622146548&amp;utm_or_agid=62337205155&amp;utm_or_fiid=&amp;utm_or_tid=kwd-474736610298&amp;utm_or_loc=1021925&amp;utm_or_mt=b&amp;utm_or_n=g&amp;utm_or_crid=309586588946&amp;utm_or_kw=%2Boptimoroute&amp;utm_or_pl=&amp;utm_or_tgt=&amp;utm_or_pos=&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjw5s6WBhA4EiwACGncZS3vZWhBnt0vDJrH1Z0gBT202JW0DNUu6K9IJ5_e39Um2d2sdkEmgxoCtasQAvD_BwE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> OptimoRoute</a> - Online Route Planner</li> </ul> </li> <li>Name one service you've hired. <ul> <li>Totrillas - <a href="https://www.fiestatortillas.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fiesta Tortillas</a> in Austin, TX</li> </ul> </li> <li>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, what would they be? <ul> <li>Take time off</li> <li>Eat good food</li> <li>Don't be too hard on yourself</li> </ul> </li> </ol> Contact info: Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kingdavidtacos/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kingdavidtacos</a> Website: <a href="http://kingdavidtacos.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://kingdavidtacos.com</a> Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for joining today! Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the top of the post. Also, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-unstoppable-eric/id834368356?mt=2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">please leave an honest review for the Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast on iTunes</a>! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-unstoppable-eric/id834368356?mt=2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes </a>to get automatic updates. Huge thanks to Liz Solomon Dwyer for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time! Restaurant Unstoppable is a free podcast. One of the ways I'm able to make it free is by earning a commission when sharing certain products with you. I've made it a core value to only share tools, resources, and services my guest mentors have recommend, first. If you're finding value in my podcast, please use my links!

908: Liz Solomon Dwyer Founder & CEO at King David Tacos

King David Tacos began as a Brooklyn-based taco cart and has expanded to dozens of locations, and has big expansion ambitions beyond New York City.According to founder and CEO Liz Solomon Dwyer, this is thanks to its persistent branding and ability to grow a rapt customer base. She joined this week's Modern Retail Podcast and spoke about the company's growth and ambitions.King David began in 2016 after Solomon Dwyer quit her job in advertising and made the bold move to go into the food business. She grew up in Texas and believed there to be a big hole in the breakfast taco market in New York.As she described, her father told her that she should open a taco stand in Times Square. "I thought that was an absurd idea," she said. Her father's response was that "it's just weird that they're not there. And it seems like so perfect for the New York morning."The idea stuck with her. It first began as a catering company, and then started an outdoor cart. Today, King David Tacos is available in over 60 retail locations, its own brick-and-mortar restaurant and even in the hot bar section of select Whole Foods locations.The most important aspect to get right, according to Solomon Dwyer, was the branding. Tex Mex food, she realized, had never quite made it in New York City -- and that's likely because of the way the restaurants messaged themselves."I feel like part of the reason that breakfast tacos had struggled to take hold here was because everything was all Texas-theme, Southern-themed," she said "It's theme-y theme-y, gimmick gimmick." And for her, she wanted King David's to be more authentic. It helped, of course, that she had advertising experience in her back pocket.With this playbook, business is quickly picking up -- though Solomon Dwyer is still figuring out ways to evolve the overall model. For example, the tacos are now available in Whole Foods's hot bar, and she is trying to figure out a way to make her products stand out in a usually un-branded section of the store. "It's been a challenge," she said.But she does have one important piece of advice for people trying to learn the ropes; the most important way to build a business like hers is to become a cult. "The way you sell a lot of tacos is you become a destination," she said.

King David Tacos began as a Brooklyn-based taco cart and has expanded to dozens of locations, and has big expansion ambitions beyond New York City.According to founder and CEO Liz Solomon Dwyer, this is thanks to its persistent branding and ability to grow a rapt customer base. She joined this week's Modern Retail Podcast and spoke about the company's growth and ambitions.King David began in 2016 after Solomon Dwyer quit her job in advertising and made the bold move to go into the food business. She grew up in Texas and believed there to be a big hole in the breakfast taco market in New York.As she described, her father told her that she should open a taco stand in Times Square. "I thought that was an absurd idea," she said. Her father's response was that "it's just weird that they're not there. And it seems like so perfect for the New York morning."The idea stuck with her. It first began as a catering company, and then started an outdoor cart. Today, King David Tacos is available in over 60 retail locations, its own brick-and-mortar restaurant and even in the hot bar section of select Whole Foods locations.The most important aspect to get right, according to Solomon Dwyer, was the branding. Tex Mex food, she realized, had never quite made it in New York City -- and that's likely because of the way the restaurants messaged themselves."I feel like part of the reason that breakfast tacos had struggled to take hold here was because everything was all Texas-theme, Southern-themed," she said "It's theme-y theme-y, gimmick gimmick." And for her, she wanted King David's to be more authentic. It helped, of course, that she had advertising experience in her back pocket.With this playbook, business is quickly picking up -- though Solomon Dwyer is still figuring out ways to evolve the overall model. For example, the tacos are now available in Whole Foods's hot bar, and she is trying to figure out a way to make her products stand out in a usually un-branded section of the store. "It's been a challenge," she said.But she does have one important piece of advice for people trying to learn the ropes; the most important way to build a business like hers is to become a cult. "The way you sell a lot of tacos is you become a destination," she said.

King David Taco's Liz Solomon Dwyer on growing a cult New York food brand

This week I’m talking breakfast tacos with Liz Solomon Dwyer, founder of King David Tacos. An Austin native, Liz brought her love of the breakfast taco to NYC. What started as a drop-off catering business, then grew from two breakfast taco carts to over 50 locations across NYC. Her tacos can now be found at retail partners like Whole Foods and Stumptown, as well as their brick-and-mortar location. We talk about what makes a good breakfast taco, the challenges of hot-holding eggs, and working with retail partners. We discuss building and growing her business, scaling from two carts to over 50 locations in just a handful of years? We also talk about sticking to a vision. Liz has really stuck to her guns when it comes to only making breakfast tacos, and also not doing any made-to-order food. She’s firmly dedicated to making the best breakfast taco and sticking with just that. Sponsor- The United States Personal Chef AssociationWhile the pandemic certainly upended the restaurant experience, it provided an avenue for personal chefs to close that dining gap.  Central to all of that is the United States Personal Chef Association. USPCA provides a strategic backbone for those chefs that includes liability insurance, training, communications, certification, and more. One of the upcoming events for USPCA is their annual conference scheduled for July 7-10 at the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota, FL. Featuring speakers and classes, the conference allows chefs to hone their skills and network, and is open to all chefs in the industry.For those who supply the industry, it’s a chance to reach decision-makers and the buyers of products. Chefs Without Restaurants listeners can use promo code CWR50 to save $50 on registration. Please contact Angela at aprather@uspca.com for information on becoming a member, attending the conferences, or exhibiting. Sponsor- Vosteed KnivesAre you looking for top quality kitchen knives? With over two decades of experience, Vosteed knives are durable, well-balanced and comfortable to use. You’ll find that these knives have a razor sharp edge, robust and strong full-tang construction, and perfectly engineered ergonomics. These high carbon steel blades will definitely get the job done in the kitchen.  Right now, you can use discount code VOSTEED15 to get 15% off your order. Go to the Vosteed store on Amazon to order yours now. Check out the Vosteed website, Instagram page and Facebook group.LIZ SOLOMON DWYER King David Tacos Instagram King David Tacos WebsiteCHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTSIf you enjoy the show, and would like to support it financially, check out our Patreon, or you can donate through Venmo or Buy Me a Coffee. Get the Chefs Without Restaurants Newsletter Visit Our Amazon Store (we get paid when you buy stuff)Private Facebook groupChefs Without Restaurants InstagramFounder Chris Spear’s personal chef business Support the show

This week I’m talking breakfast tacos with Liz Solomon Dwyer, founder of King David Tacos. An Austin native, Liz brought her love of the breakfast taco to NYC. What started as a drop-off catering business, then grew from two breakfast taco carts to over 50 locations across NYC. Her tacos can now be found at retail partners like Whole Foods and Stumptown, as well as their brick-and-mortar location. We talk about what makes a good breakfast taco, the challenges of hot-holding eggs, and working with retail partners. We discuss building and growing her business, scaling from two carts to over 50 locations in just a handful of years? We also talk about sticking to a vision. Liz has really stuck to her guns when it comes to only making breakfast tacos, and also not doing any made-to-order food. She’s firmly dedicated to making the best breakfast taco and sticking with just that. Sponsor- The United States Personal Chef Association While the pandemic certainly upended the restaurant experience, it provided an avenue for personal chefs to close that dining gap.  Central to all of that is the United States Personal Chef Association. USPCA provides a strategic backbone for those chefs that includes liability insurance, training, communications, certification, and more. One of the upcoming events for USPCA is their annual conference scheduled for July 7-10 at the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota, FL. Featuring speakers and classes, the conference allows chefs to hone their skills and network, and is open to all chefs in the industry.For those who supply the industry, it’s a chance to reach decision-makers and the buyers of products. Chefs Without Restaurants listeners can use promo code CWR50 to save $50 on registration. Please contact Angela at <a href="mailto:aprather@uspca.com">aprather@uspca.com</a> for information on becoming a member, attending the conferences, or exhibiting. Sponsor- Vosteed KnivesAre you looking for top quality kitchen knives? With over two decades of experience, Vosteed knives are durable, well-balanced and comfortable to use. You’ll find that these knives have a razor sharp edge, robust and strong full-tang construction, and perfectly engineered ergonomics. These high carbon steel blades will definitely get the job done in the kitchen.  Right now, you can use discount code VOSTEED15 to get 15% off your order. Go to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Vosteed/page/3E953537-6F6D-4DA3-8E2B-C3915ADB345D?ref_=ast_bln&amp;tag=local002-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Vosteed store on Amazon</a> to order yours now. Check out the <a href="https://www.vosteed.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vosteed website</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vosteed_cutlery/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> page and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/vosteed/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook group</a>. LIZ SOLOMON DWYER <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kingdavidtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">King David Tacos Instagram</a> <a href="http://kingdavidtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">King David Tacos Website</a> CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTSIf you enjoy the show, and would like to support it financially, check out our <a href="https://www.patreon.com/chefswithoutrestaurants" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon</a>, or you can donate through <a href="https://venmo.com/ChefWoRestos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Venmo</a> or <a href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chefsworestos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy Me a Coffee</a>. <a href="https://mailchi.mp/fe0d8a0cc7a6/chefs-without-restaurants-email-list" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Get the Chefs Without Restaurants Newsletter</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/shop/perfectlittlebites?isVisitor=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Visit Our Amazon Store (we get paid when you buy stuff)</a><a href="https://urlgeni.us/facebook/GWRgroup" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Private Facebook group</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/chefswithoutrestaurants/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chefs Without Restaurants Instagram</a>Founder Chris Spear’s personal chef business <a href="https://perfectlittlebites.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/725607/support" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>