Building Chicago's Thattu | Margaret Pak, Chef/Owner | 050

Great teams make great restaurants. On The Pre-Shift, restaurant operators and industry experts dive into building great restaurant teams. We explore their stories, their strategies, and valuable lessons on running restaurant teams. Hosted by D.J. Costantino. Presented by 7shifts.In the latest episode of the Preshift Podcast, host D.J. Costantino chats with Margaret Pak, chef and co-owner of Thattu in Chicago. Pak shares her inspiring transition from corporate life to culinary arts, detailing her journey from selling spicy ketchup to opening a successful food stall and finally establishing an award-winning restaurant. The episode delves into her passion for Kerala cuisine, her experience with food pop-ups, and her innovative no-tip service model. Pak also discusses the significance of transparent menu pricing, equitable staff wages, and her future plans, including participating in prestigious culinary events and creating retail condiments.00:00 Welcome to the Preshift Podcast00:17 Meet Margaret Pak: Chef and Co-Owner of Thattu01:13 From Corporate to Culinary: Margaret's Journey02:38 Falling in Love with Kerala Cuisine03:41 From Prep Cook to Pop-Up Success07:23 The Birth of Thattu: From Food Stall to Restaurant10:41 Navigating the Pandemic and Reassessing Plans11:59 Reopening and Expanding Through Pop-Ups17:15 Innovative Business Model: No Tips, No Service Charge27:19 Building a Collaborative and Equitable Team31:06 Advice for Aspiring Restaurateurs36:42 What's Next for Thattu?38:21 Closing Remarks and Thank YouSend us Fan Mail📲 Connect with usEmail usFollow on LinkedInMore 7shiftsSpotify | Apple Podcasts | Google PodcastsSubscribe to Food Runner, our Monthly Restaurant Newsletter7shifts on YouTubeFollow us on TikTokRead the 7shifts BlogAbout Us7shifts is a restaurant platform that helps operators and managers hire, train, schedule, pay and retain their restaurant teams. With an easy-to-use platform and industry-specific solutions, 7shifts saves time, reduces errors, and helps keep costs in check for over 55,000 restaurants.