We’ve been a part of more than 350 restaurant openings, and our team has worked with every type of food business you can imagine from candy shops to fast casual to fine dining and everything in between.

Our wide range of services are customized to develop the “recipe of success” for each of our restaurant clients.

Here is a sampling of our most recent work:

Be Well Greens + Juice (plant-based, fast-casual)
Rutherford, NJ

Be Well Greens + Juice

Be Well is on a mission to impact the health and wellness of the community through cold-pressed juices and plant-based foods. They offer healthy and convenient food options that will nourish and fuel your body.

WHAT WE DID:
  • Menu Development
  • Mentoring
  • Staffing Plan and Recruiting Strategy
  • Standard Operating Procedures

The Porch at Christie’s (Fast casual, Non-profit)
Westport, CT

The Porch: The Recipe of SuccessFrom the day Christie’s opened its doors in 1926, one thing remained the same, Christie’s was the go-to spot in the Westport community. With the inviting Porch on the front of the store, it became a place for the community to meet, buy local foods and treat themselves to a delicious ice cream from the adorable ice cream hut.

In early 2020, Bill & Andrea founded the non-profit Sweet P Bakery in Norwalk. Sweet P is dedicated to providing job training and employment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In early November, they had their very first graduating class from their Baking 1 – Foundations class. What has been missing is the employment part of the mission. This has all changed now with the opening of The Porch.

WHAT WE DID:
  • Recipe Development
  • Guest Flow
  • Operations and Training Manual
  • Recruiting, interviewing & Hiring
  • Training
  • POS Selection
  • Post Opening Support

Eco Evolution (retail, eco-friendly)
Norwalk, CT

Eco Evolution Marketplace

Eco-friendly marketplace, meeting space and artisan coop. Because Mama Earth can’t f#!king wait! This is ethical retail – protecting the planet with every purchase.

WHAT WE DID:
  • Design
  • Equipment Specifications
  • Training
  • Mentorship

e.terra kitchen (Hospitality)
Harlem, NY

e.terra kitchene.terra, a flexible culinary workspace solutions company, opened its first flexible commercial kitchen in Harlem, New York in April 2021. Founded by industry veterans Bella Karakis and Joel Rogozinski, e.terra provides community-focused, flexible commercial kitchen solutions and business services to support the growth of food & beverage companies in every stage of development. The Harlem space is 5,600 square feet and features 2 large kitchens, state-of-the-art commercial kitchen equipment and technology, with room to scale while keeping startup costs low. It includes a shared commercial kitchen, a baker’s kitchen, ghost or private kitchen stations, dry and cold storage, office co-working space and full roster of business support services.

WHAT WE DID:
  • Site Selection
  • Kitchen Design
  • Construction Management
  • Equipment Specifications
  • Strategic Planning

Restaurant Clients

Fast Casual/QSR

Be Well – Rutherford, NJ
Dylan’s Candy Bar – Manhattan, NY
Garden Catering – Multi Location, CT
Honey Joe’s Family Coffeehouse – Stamford, CT
Joanne’s Gourmet Pizza – Long Island, NY
Moon Rocks Gourmet Cookies – Hamden, CT
Naked Greens – SONO & Wilton, CT
Organic Krush – Plainview, NY
Rye Ridge Deli – Rye, NY & Stamford, CT
Soul Tasty BBQ – Stamford, CT

Stoner’s Pizza Joint – Georgia, Florida, South Carolina
SuperSandwich.com – Shelton, CT
Subsconscious – Harlem, NY
The Porch at Christie’s – Westport, CT
The Rex Burger & Lobster – Mineola, NY
The Village Roost – Wilmington, VT
Upper Crust Bagel Company – Old Greenwich, CT
Wild Alchemy Café – Wallingford, CT
Zorn’s of Bethpage – Bethpage, NY

Full Serve & Fine Dining

Bodega – Fairfield and Darien, CT
Brick Walk Tavern – Fairfield, CT
Country Club of Darien – Darien, CT
Cull & Pistol – Manhattan, NY
LaPerle – Stamford, CT
Lefteris Gyro – Westchester County

Lunch Box – Weston, CT
Negril Village – Manhattan, NY
Nyack Grill and Bar – Nyack, NY
Pink Sumo – Westport, CT
Rowley’s Grill – Winstead, CT

Hospitality

ARAMARK – New England
BE Chocolat – Fairfield, CT
Beastie Burger – Shelton, CT
ChefNBox – Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Chefscape – Manhattan, NY
Christ Church Greenwich – Greenwich, CT

E. Terra Kitchens – Harlem, NY
Evelyn’s Kitchen – New York, NY
J.B. Percival – Fairfield, CT
Salsa Caterers – Bronx, NY
Wall Street Theater – Norwalk, CT

Testimonials

Food Consultant

We worked with Mark when opening Cafe Xpresso & he was a HUGE help! Mark helped us in testing our recipes to get flavor profiles correct & he helped with organizing our staff & operational procedures. He has a form for anything you might want to accomplish & he really knows about restaurants.

Marie SchlumpOwner/Investor in Café XpressoCafé Xpresso
Opening New Restaurant

In dealing with a first restaurant, I was fortunate to have found Mark through the New Jersey Restaurant Association. His insight; patients and knowledge of the industry proved to be invaluable to the successful opening of our restaurant. Mark’s professionalism and personal attributes are a reminder of the what a true professional is all about in this industry. I would recommend him without hesitation.

Johnathan MetellusCEC, CCE, ACE, FMP
Food Consultant

I own a newly formed Gourmet Cookie company. I know business but I don’t know the food business. Making the decision to work with Mark was one the best moves I have made in business to date. Mark is knowledgeable in ALL areas of my business. Mark is not just a consultant to my business but I consider him a strategic partner. Having the ability to consult with him about the long term strategy, and the short term (down and dirty nitty gritty) is a rare combination. I highly recommend Mark and could not imagine moving forward without him as in integrated part of my business.

Marni EspositoCEO Moon Rocks Gourmet CookiesMoon Rocks Cookies

Mark is a very special high level manager that brings a wealth of restaurant/food operations, leadership and administrative support experience to the table. He performs extremely well under high pressure and high volume situations, keeps his people motivated and delivers results. Mark has a high level of integrity and communicates exceptionally well. He is able to relate to people at all levels and is always seeking a better way to improve quality, sales and service. His organization skills and follow through are outstanding. He understands P&L management and knows how to impact the bottom line. I have known Mark for over 10 years and he is a pleasure to work with.

Stephen CohenCEO & FOunder at National Golf Course Restaurant AssociationNational Golf Course Restaurant Association