Episode 1: Matt LaBonte

Welcome to the very first episode of The 6 1 6 Ten Podcast—I’m your host, Michael Elli.Now, if you’re tuning in, odds are you’re either a Grand Rapidian yourself or at least Grand Rapids curious. Either way, you’re in the right spot. This show started from a simple question: Where should we eat tonight? My family and I moved to Grand Rapids not too long ago, and like anyone new to the area, we asked around. What we got in return was an avalanche of recommendations—everywhere from “You have to try this burger” to “That place changed my life.”And that’s when the lightbulb went off. What if we created ten carefully crafted questions to ask locals—about food, coffee, cocktails, beer, and all the consumables that make Grand Rapids taste like home? What if we packaged up those answers for anyone curious about the culinary soul of this city?That’s what the 6 1 6 10 is all about: 10 questions, one guest, and an insider’s guide to the best bites and sips in Grand Rapids. Whether you’ve lived here your whole life, just got here last week, or you’re thinking about making the move—this is for you.And speaking of insiders, our first guest is someone who’s brave enough to be guest number one: wine guy, west-sider, content creator, and smooth operator—Matt Labonte. I met Matt at Crushed Grape when I needed a wine recommendation in a hurry. He nailed it. And ever since, he’s been my go-to for anything fermented.So let's get into it. Matt's in the hot seat. We've got our 10 questions queued up. And yes, historical answers are allowed. Let's go.