Staying Hungry
Podcast Description
Staying Hungry goes behind the scenes of Long Island’s restaurant industry, tackling the real challenges of hospitality—staffing, compliance, costs, marketing, and more.
Hosted by Vinny Pappalardo and Michael D’Onofrio of Premier Payroll Solutions, this podcast dives into the business behind the restaurant with chefs, owners, and industry pros.
Whether you run a restaurant or just love the business of food, Staying Hungry keeps you informed, inspired, and—most importantly—hungry for success.
👉 Subscribe now!
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on various challenges and realities of the hospitality sector, featuring topics such as staffing, operational costs, compliance issues, and marketing strategies. Specific episodes include insights on adapting to COVID-19, lessons in restaurant management from industry veterans, and the unique history and success factors of legendary establishments like Vincent's Clam Bar.
Staying Hungry goes behind the scenes of Long Island’s restaurant industry, tackling the real challenges of hospitality—staffing, compliance, costs, marketing, and more.
Hosted by Vinny Pappalardo and Michael D’Onofrio of Premier Payroll Solutions, this podcast dives into the business behind the restaurant with chefs, owners, and industry pros.
Whether you run a restaurant or just love the business of food, Staying Hungry keeps you informed, inspired, and—most importantly—hungry for success.
👉 Subscribe now!
Welcome to another soul-stirring episode of Staying Hungry, where legacy meets lunch and grit gets deep-fried. In Episode 107, hosts Vinny and Mike sit down with the incredible Merrill Zorn, third-generation owner of Zorn’s of Bethpage – a Long Island institution that’s been feeding families (and their nostalgia) for over 85 years.
This isn’t just a story about rotisserie chicken. It’s a meditation on tradition, tenacity, and turkey – told through the lens of a woman who's carried a family dream forward, one pot pie at a time. From pioneering takeout in the 1940s to navigating modern food costs and labor shortages, Merrill shares what it takes to preserve a brand that means home for so many New Yorkers.
📍 Whether you’re a foodie, entrepreneur, or just someone who knows the emotional weight of a good chicken leg, this episode will feed more than your stomach. It’ll feed your soul.
⏱️ Timestamps
[00:00] Intro
[05:23] From Turkey Farm to Takeout Pioneer: The Birth of Zorn’s
[12:47] Meryl Zorn on Legacy, Leadership, and Lessons from Her Grandfather
[24:15] Challenges in Modern Hospitality: Labor, Costs, and Staying Authentic
[30:55] Outro
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.