Meet the Chef Who Served Donald Trump
Ray Tawil is the founder of PREPT by Ray T, a hospitality business based out of Brooklyn specializing in high-end catering, events, and food delivery. In this episode, Ray opens up about what it's really like to run a hospitality company–and it's not what you think. __________ SPONSORS: • Yazdi Entertainment, New York's premiere event production company. https://www.instagram.com/yazdi_entertainment/ yazdientertainment@gmail.com or (646) 765-5643 • Kosher Media, the #1 advertising network for Jewish communities worldwide: https://koshermedia.com __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMomentumPod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1jOPoArXfY3OU5uv4BpA3h?si=0311640b82154d1b Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/momentum/id1762657981 Instagram: http://instagram.com/momentumpodcast_ __________ GEAR: • Cameras: https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o • Podcast Mics: https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv • Clip-on Mics: https://amzn.to/3H52iwo • Mic Stands: https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL • Lights: https://amzn.to/45lA5up • Tripods: https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI __________ (0:00) Coming up... (1:29) Ray T's catering/cooking accomplishments (1:54) Starting a BBQing business at age 12 (3:42) Working at a restaurant (4:24) Going to the #1 culinary school in the country (6:35) State-of-the-art equipment in college (7:48) What's culinary school like as a religious jew? (9:51) Dealing with the prohibition of mixing meat and milk (10:28) Were you concerned you wouldn't make money as a chef? (12:30) What motivated you to start a business at 12 years old? (13:54) Being different (15:47) "Love what you do" (17:30) Studying in culinary school for 4 years instead of 2 (18:50) Why pursue a 2nd degree in food science? (20:14) Ray's parents' nuanced approach to education (20:31) Yazdi Entertainment (21:31) Expanding his business after college (23:11) How to grow past the 1-man-band stage (24:27) What it's really like to grow a business: skipping parties, sleepless nights (26:18) "I was 2 weeks away from closing my doors" (28:01) Being goal-oriented (28:34) Turning himself into a high-line brand (30:14) How do you scale a brand that requires YOU? (32:28) Ray T's daily routine (34:28) The 3 arms of Ray T's business (35:49) Catering an event with Donald Trump (41:54) Kosher Media (42:41) Getting into catering trips (i.e. Passover, vacations) (45:50) BBQing his 1st trip (48:55) Opening up about how his business almost went bankrupt (49:52) Ray T's marketing (50:41) Increasing customer awareness through marketing (51:24) The origins of "ooh ooh ooh" (52:35) The moment he realized he may have to shut down the business (55:28) Balancing business and family (57:10) Work-life balance on vacation (58:34) Advice to teenagers reluctant to pursue their passion (1:00:00) Should people chase their passion? (1:01:40) Momentum Moment (1:03:29) Takeaway #1: say yes now, figure it out later (1:04:09) Takeaway #2: be smart about following your passion (1:04:31) Takeaway #3: diversify your income streams (1:04:50) Outro