Are you SICK and TIRED of scrolling through your social media feeds and not seeing your business anywhere? On the new Restaurant Influencers podcast, top leaders in the restaurant and hospitality industries share their secrets to Smartphone Storytelling and showing up where your customers are spending time online. The weekly digital series is hosted by Cali BBQ Media Founder Shawn P. Walchef and presented by Entrepreneur Media, Yelp, and the Restaurant Point of Sale company Toast.

How does someone like me become the (unofficial) “Toast Unboxing Guy?” By sharing my Toast story with the world.***Because I was willing to tell our Cali BBQ story about switching to Toast with videos on social media, a bunch of new people saw why the all-in-one POS system is a game-changing solution for restaurants like mine.The reason we created Cali BBQ Media was to tell stories like our Toast “unboxing.” Stories are how we learn lessons. One of the big lesson we learned since becoming a media company is that the world needs more stories.Stories make big things happen. ***What started with a YouTube unboxing video led to a great relationship built around continuing to tell the world about why we believe Toast is the best tech tool a restaurant can find.We launched the Restaurant Influencers streaming series on Entrepreneur.com in 2022 with Toast as a title sponsor. Since that time, the show has reached over 29 million people and published more than 100 episodes. Now we have teamed up again with Toast to create “Family Style,” a restaurant travel show that highlights stories of some of the most innovative places using Toast. It’s mind-blowing to think of how far we’ve come — and how much further we have to go.🤯🚀We are always looking for the best Toast stories and are happy to collaborate if you know of a restaurant who should be featured in some of our projects. Get in touch with us anytime at @calibbqmedia and podcast@calibbq.media

Composed of strategic-oriented thought leaders from across our customer community, the Customer Advisory Board is a team of advisors delivering trusted advice and guidance on the future of Toast and the restaurant community.

Digital Hospitality is more than just a new video podcast for restaurant owner Shawn Walchef — it’s a way of life.Since 2008, Shawn has owned Cali Comfort BBQ in East San Diego County. In order to survive, Shawn knew early on to operate his family restaurant and sports bar like a media company. Whether it’s his annual #BETonBBQ Turf and Surf tasting event in August, or his expanding catering empire in San Diego, Shawn’s many business ventures all incorporate technology, especially the kind you use everyday on their cell phone.That’s how he discovered podcasting. Since Shawn first started a business and BBQ-themed podcast almost three years ago, he’s watched podcasting grow, with many shows popping up that he’s helped inspire. Shawn said he’s proud to have had a part in getting so many fellow BBQ business owners into podcasting.“A rising tide lifts all ships,” Shawn said.On his Digital Hospitality podcast, Shawn guides viewers and listeners through an ever-evolving digital world to help fellow restaurant and business owners adapt and succeed. No topic is off-limits.Shawn and his guests get personal and truthful about what it takes to truly thrive in business, sharing advice about social media, blogs, and other digital tips and tricks. The show also explores topics that aren’t usually discussed on a business podcast like health and wellness.“Location, location, location is no longer enough to succeed in business. Digital, digital, digital is the only way that small businesses can differentiate themselves over the next decade."

Are you SICK and TIRED of scrolling through your social media feeds and not seeing your business anywhere? On the new Restaurant Influencers podcast, top leaders in the restaurant and hospitality industries share their secrets to Smartphone Storytelling and showing up where your customers are spending time online. The weekly digital series is hosted by Cali BBQ Media Founder Shawn P. Walchef and presented by Entrepreneur Media, Yelp, and the Restaurant Point of Sale company Toast.

Cali Comfort BBQ was named the Small Business of the Year 2016 by Assemblymember Brain Jones!Rooted in Bulgarian family traditions of hospitality, Shawn and Rositsa Walchef, the owners of Cali Comfort BBQ, have worked hard to create a welcoming village atmosphere in Spring Valley where close friends gather to eat slow smoked California barbecue, drink specialty spirits, cheer on their favorite sports teams and laugh over shared stories. Winners of the UT’s San Diego’s BEST Brunch and BEST Sports Bar awards, this East County hidden gem has dedicated the last six years to the Low-N-Slow Barbecue craft under the mentorship of local award winning Barbecue Culinary Director, Gene Goycochea. Under the leadership of General Manager, Eric Olafsen, this San Diego Sports Bar has evolved into a must-see Fight Night destination and local happy hour & craft beer hangout. Cali Comfort BBQ has been recognized for their slow smoked Pork Ribs, BBQ Wedding Beans, “Wicked” Peach Cobbler, California Tri-Tip dishes, their Weekend BBQ Brunch and their annual Amateur Tailgate & BBQ Festival. Our Slow Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich was also named a “Top 5” Sandwich in the San Diego Union Tribune. Find out more about Cali Comfort BBQ on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Yelp @CaliComfortBBQ.