Welcome to Morsels, your go-to newsletter from MAJC, breaking down hospitality insights into bite-sized chunks.
We want to take a moment to recognize the people who make this community what it is. This season is hard. Guests expect more, teams run hotter, the hours get longer, and the emotional load gets heavier. Yet you continue to show up for your teams, for your guests, and for each other.
We see the care you put into your work. We see the patience it takes to lead through tension. We see the heart it takes to serve during one of the busiest, most demanding times of the year.
Thank you for being here, for contributing, for asking questions, and for helping others navigate challenges you know well. Gratitude is built one interaction at a time, and this community shows what that looks like every day.
Here is what we are listening to, watching, reading, and learning this week.
🎧 LISTEN: Graham Elliot on Building a High-Performing Team Without Losing His Mind
From fine dining to Lollapalooza to MasterChef, Graham Elliot has built a career on creativity, honesty, and a genuine love for people. In this episode, he talks about leading teams the way he builds bands, using empathy as a management tool, and treating teaching as the most lasting form of hospitality. This is a conversation filled with energy, perspective, and real lessons for anyone running a team.
Takeaways:
• Lead teams by recognizing unique talents
• Treat teaching and mentoring as acts of service
• Approach food, music, and media as forms of storytelling
• Embrace change as a driver of growth
📹 WATCH: Katie Flannery on Chef Partnerships That Thrive
Chef partnerships thrive on trust. They are some of the most important relationships in a kitchen, yet they rarely get the airtime they deserve. In this episode of Serving Success, Flannery breaks down how transparency in sourcing and consistency in communication form the backbone of long-term vendor partnerships. These are the relationships that keep quality high, margins steady, and teams supported.
Takeaways:
• Know where your vendors source their products
• Build consistent communication and accountability with suppliers
• Value long-term trust over short-term transactions
📖 READ: Kevin Boehm’s Playbook for Hospitality Excellence
Kevin Boehm’s approach to leadership is rooted in experience, clarity, and a genuine love of hospitality. His new memoir, The Bottomless Cup, adds depth to that story. Here, we highlight the insights from his conversation with MAJC and the practices that can strengthen any team.
This article explores how he hires, trains, leads, and builds teams capable of growing in one of the most demanding industries. It is a guide for anyone committed to long-term excellence.
💡 USE: How to Build Trust and Lead Beside Your Team
This leadership tool is rooted in humility, collaboration, and the same principles that keep great kitchens running. Inspired by Ari Weinzweig’s Serving Success conversation with Matt Jennings, this template helps owners and managers lead beside their teams and bring trust into daily practice.
The approach strengthens team communication, reduces turnover, and improves consistency across shifts. Try it this week: run one shift shoulder to shoulder with your team. Notice what changed when you worked beside them.
Cheers,
Your Friends at MAJC
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