Alan Silverman hails from Brooklyn and has experienced a lifetime of loving and making a living from food. Alan comes from old school fine dining and has worked in some of the greatest restaurants in New York, Chicago, and LA. Today, Alan has settled in Seattle, where he serves as founder and CFO of Festivals, Inc. In this episode we will discuss: Avoiding mediocrity. Innovation. You're going to have to prove yourself to certain people. Making connections with your customers. You have to impress EVERYONE who comes into your restaurant. Start small and expand slowly. You have to be on a mission to learn. As an owner you need to be physically involved in your kitchen and food service.