The Friends in Food Conference 2026 is where hospitality leaders gather to share ideas, celebrate craft, and shape the future of the industry.
Speakers
Roni Mazumdar
CEO of Unapologetic Foods
NY
Roni Mazumdar
CEO of Unapologetic Foods
Taylor Crowley
CMO, Boka Restaurant Group
IL
Taylor Crowley
CMO, Boka Restaurant Group
Michael Stillman
CEO, Quality Branded
TX
Michael Stillman
CEO, Quality Branded
Kyra Burner
VP of Hospitality and Guest Experience, Major Food Group
NY
Kyra Burner
VP of Hospitality and Guest Experience, Major Food Group
Wesley Sohn
Executive Director of Hospitality at Gracious Hospitality
NY
Wesley Sohn
Executive Director of Hospitality at Gracious Hospitality
Santiago Perez
Founder, Santo Taco
IL
Santiago Perez
Founder, Santo Taco
Ellen Yin
Owner, High Street Hospitality
TX
Ellen Yin
Owner, High Street Hospitality
Aaron Ginsberg
Chief Partner Officer at Resy, Tock, and American Express Global Dining
NY
Aaron Ginsberg
Chief Partner Officer at Resy, Tock, and American Express Global Dining
Priya Kumar
Senior Director of BD, Jose Andres Group
NY
Priya Kumar
Senior Director of BD, Jose Andres Group
Tony Greenberg
CEO of Vertice / Co Founder of Singlethread
IL
Tony Greenberg
CEO of Vertice / Co Founder of Singlethread
Maggie Tang
Founder and CEO, Loyalist
TX
Maggie Tang
Founder and CEO, Loyalist
Robyn Tse
Director of Strategy for Santo Taco
NY
Robyn Tse
Director of Strategy for Santo Taco
Cedric Nicaise
Owner, Noortwyck, Oriana
NY
Cedric Nicaise
Owner, Noortwyck, Oriana
Annie Shi
Restaurateur, King, Jupiter, Lei
IL
Annie Shi
Restaurateur, King, Jupiter, Lei
Sam Yoo
Chef, Golden Diner & Golden HOF
TX
Sam Yoo
Chef, Golden Diner & Golden HOF
Elizabeth Tilton
Founder & CEO of Oyster Sunday + OS BENEFITS
NY
Elizabeth Tilton
Founder & CEO of Oyster Sunday + OS BENEFITS
Agenda
10:00_
11:00 am
Popup Bagels & Coffee Chats
11:00_
11:15 am
Welcome & Opening Remarks
11:15 am
12:05 pm
Panel: From One to Many: Growing and Scaling a Restaurant Group
Moderator: Priya Kumar (Senior Director of Business Development, Jose Andres Group) Speakers: Michael Stillman (CEO, Quality Branded), Roni Mazumdar (CEO, Unapologetic Foods), Tony Greenberg (Co-Founder, SingleThread)
12:10_
1:00 pm
Panel: Designing Guest Experiences in the age of Data
Speakers: Kyra Burner (VP of Hospitality and Guest Experience, Major Food Group), Taylor Crowley (CMO, Boka) Moderator: David Cohn (Hundred Acre Wine Group)
1:00_
2:00 pm
Lunch by Santo Taco and Rowdy Rooster
Speakers: Kyra Burner (VP of Hospitality and Guest Experience, Major Food Group), Taylor Crowley (CMO, Boka)
2:00_
2:50 pm
Panel: Opening Your First Restaurant: Learnings and Advice from Along the Way
Moderator: Elizabeth Tilton (Founder of Oyster Sunday)
Speakers: Annie Shi (Restauranteur, King, Jupiter, Lei), Cedric Nicaise (Owner, Noortwyck, Oriana), Sam Yoo (Owner, Golden Diner, Golden HOF)
2:55_
3:45 pm
Panel: Building a Brand, Team, Culture, and Company for the Future
Moderator: Aaron Ginsberg (Chief Partner Officer, Resy & Tock)
Speakers: Santiago Perez (Founder, Santo Taco), Ellen Yin (Owner, High Street Hospitality), Wesley Sohn (Director of Hospitality, Gracious Hospitality)
3:45_
5:00 pm
Closing Remarks, Happy Hour & Desserts from Birdee