No. 93

The Restaurant Guys On

The Wine Makers Podcast

From The Winer Maker's Podcast

This week, Sam hits the road with MJ Towler—The Black Wine Guy—for a special crossover episode recorded live in New Brunswick, New Jersey. They sit down with legendary restaurateurs and OG podcasters Francis Schott and Mark Pascal, the co-owners of Stage Left Steak and Catherine Lombardi, and hosts of The Restaurant Guys podcast.

Long before podcasts went mainstream, Francis and Mark were pioneering thoughtful, unpretentious conversations in food, wine, and hospitality, straight from their corner of the Garden State. Sam and MJ dive deep into Francis and Mark’s early days in the restaurant industry, the dramatic evolution of hospitality, and how New Brunswick emerged as an unexpected—and underrated—food and wine hotspot.

The conversation also revisits the wild, early days of podcasting, raising a glass to names like DiSpirito, Trotter, and Bourdain. With behind-the-scenes restaurant stories, old-school podcast wisdom, and heartfelt reminders about the timeless power of passion and hospitality, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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THIS EPISODE IS

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The Wine Maker's Podcast

A Podcast from Sonoma, CA featuring experts Brian Casey, Sam Coturri, Bart Hansen & host John Myers. Taking the stuffiness out of wine every Friday!

Sam Coturri of The Wine Makers podcast and Sixteen 60 Wine

MJ Towler of Beats, Vine and Life podcast and The Black Wine Guy Experience

THE INSIDE TRACK

The Guys join co-hosts Sam Coturri and MJ Towler (The Black Wine Guy, Beats Vines & Life) for this special collaboration.

Lettie Teague on

Secret Lives in Wine

A Vintage Selection from 2007

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MARK & FRANCIS INVITE YOU TO BECOME A "RESTAURANT GUYS REGULAR" TO GET ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE EPISODES, BEHIND THE SCENES BONUSES, INVITES TO "REGULARS ONLY" IN-PERSON EVENTS, AND MORE DELICIOUS EXTRAS!