We sat down with restaurant veteran Leo Verdes — and somehow the conversation spiraled from washing dishes to earn his very first car... to running some of the biggest restaurants in America, opening legendary steakhouses, traveling the world, and why true hospitality is becoming a lost art.

We're talking unforgettable wine dinners, New Orleans restaurant history, Commander's Palace, Del Frisco's, hidden restaurant tricks, crazy customer stories, million-dollar wine programs, travel adventures, the lunches that somehow became dinner, and why one simple lesson from Leo's father changed the course of his entire life.

Hope you enjoy this episode.

If you like this video, share it with your foodie friends and don't forget to subscribe:

https://www.youtube.com/@TwoDudesAndPodcast

🎙 GUEST INFO

Guest: Leo Verdes

Episode Focus: Restaurant leadership, hospitality, wine culture, fine dining, New Orleans food history, family, entrepreneurship & unforgettable life stories.

Also featuring: Tommy, Danny & the Two Dudes crew.

📣 CALL TO ACTION

If you've ever worked in a restaurant... love great food... or believe the best life lessons happen around the dinner table... this episode is for you.

Hit Subscribe, leave a Like, and comment one of these below so we know you watched until the end:

🍷 "LUNCH TO DINNER" — if you've ever accidentally stayed at a restaurant all day.

🥩 "DISHWASHER TO LEGEND" — if Leo's story inspired you.

🍾 "HOSPITALITY MATTERS" — if customer service is becoming a lost art.

=============================

🎬 Suggested OTHER VIDEOS:

👉 The Day We Drank at 10:45AM in Saint Thomas

https://youtu.be/

👉 Supper Club Secrets! | The Steak & The Waffle House

https://youtu.be/

👉 Private Jets, Maldives Resorts & Travel Chaos

https://youtu.be/

👉 The Craziest Vacation Stories We've Ever Told

https://youtu.be/

=============================

For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:

📩 Email:

📌 Don't forget to Like, Comment and Subscribe.

Share your favorite restaurant, wine, or travel story in the comments!

🔔 CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/@TwoDudesAndPodcast

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© Two Dudes Podcast

We sat down with the mastermind behind Supper Club — and somehow the conversation spiraled from million-dollar steaks and secret bison ribeyes… to Waffle House grits being served as revenge.
the vibe, the obsession with perfection, the “Vegas dropped into Baton Rouge” energy… and the kind of intentionality that makes people drive across states just for dinner.

We’re talking hidden menu items, secret steaks that aren’t even printed on the menu, Michelin-level conversations, crazy hospitality stories, dressing up just to eat fries, and why some people literally fly in for ONE specific cut of meat.

And of course…
Tommy vs Supper Club continues.

Hope you enjoy this episode.
If you like this video, share it with your foodie friends and don’t forget to subscribe:
https://www.youtube.com/@TwoDudesAndPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

🎙 GUEST INFO

Guest: Chef Leighton Carbo

Episode focus: Supper Club, restaurant culture, hidden menu stories, hospitality philosophy & insane food sourcing

Also featuring: Tommy, Danny & the Two Dudes crew

📣 CALL TO ACTION

If you’ve ever had a restaurant experience so good you couldn’t stop talking about it… this episode is for you.

Hit subscribe, drop a like, and comment one of these below so we know you made it to the end:

“WAFFLE HOUSE GRITS” — if that prank was legendary 😂

“BISON RIBEYE” — if you’d order the hidden steak immediately

“INTENTIONALITY” — if you finally understand why Supper Club feels different

=============================

🎬 Suggested OTHER VIDEOS:

👉 The Day We Drank at 10:45AM in Saint Thomas
https://youtu.be/

👉 Private Jets, Maldives Resorts & Travel Chaos
https://youtu.be/

👉 The Travel Experience That Changed Everything
https://youtu.be/

👉 The Craziest Vacation Stories We’ve Ever Told
https://youtu.be/

=============================

For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:
📩 Email:

📌 Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe.
Share your opinions and favorite restaurant stories in the comments.

🔔 CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/@TwoDudesAndPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

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© Two Dudes And Podcast

No guest today. No agenda. No carefully planned topic.

Just Tommy, Danny, a few bottles of incredible wine, a room full of unsuspecting producers, and a stack of questions that send the conversation in every possible direction.

What starts as a simple "pick a question and answer it" episode quickly turns into stories about legendary wine collections, expensive mistakes, embarrassing travel moments, Italy adventures, entrepreneurship lessons, and enough behind-the-scenes podcast chaos to keep everyone on their toes.

Somehow we go from discussing world-class Barbaresco and Florentine steaks to throwing people through windows, naming the production crew, and debating whether taking massive risks is the only way to succeed.

As usual, things get a little out of hand.

🔥 WHAT YOU’LL HEAR

How a simple random-question episode immediately becomes complete chaos

The shocking truth about an $8,000 bottle of wine that wasn’t worth the hype

The legendary wine night featuring bottles most people only read about

Why some $11 wines can be better than bottles worth thousands

The unforgettable Florence steakhouse hidden beneath a massive wine cellar

A Caribbean trip that involved way too much alcohol and even worse decisions

The Airbnb story that somehow required throwing someone through a window

Why embarrassment becomes impossible after a certain age

The random nickname challenge that gets the entire production crew involved

Business advice every young entrepreneur needs to hear

Why successful people often make decisions before they feel ready

The difference between taking reckless risks and educated risks

How fear of making the wrong decision keeps most people stuck

Behind-the-scenes stories from recording the podcast that never make the final cut

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Welcome back + random question day begins

01:20 – Wine of the day: Gaia Barbaresco

02:30 – Future wine-themed podcast ideas

03:00 – Dessert, wine, and studio chaos

04:45 – Meet the crew behind the cameras

06:00 – First random question: most expensive wine ever purchased

07:00 – The $8,000 bottle story

09:00 – Legendary wine night with rare bottles

12:15 – Florence, Italy and unforgettable food experiences

14:30 – Wine cellar adventures beneath a famous steakhouse

16:15 – Drunkest and most embarrassing moments

17:00 – The Saint Thomas story returns

18:30 – Locked out of the Airbnb

20:30 – Random nickname challenge

22:30 – Naming the production crew

25:20 – Best advice for young entrepreneurs

26:00 – Why taking risks matters

27:00 – The power of making decisions quickly

📌 CONNECT WITH US

(Add your official Two Dudes Podcast links here — YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Instagram, website, etc.)

🎙 EPISODE INFO

Episode focus: Random questions, outrageous stories, wine, entrepreneurship, and unfiltered conversation

Featuring: Tommy, Danny, and the Two Dudes Podcast crew

📣 CALL TO ACTION

If you've ever started a simple conversation that somehow turned into complete chaos, hit subscribe, leave a like, and share this episode with the friend who's always responsible for the bad ideas.

Comment one of these so we know you made it to the end:

“$8K WINE” — if you'd never spend that much on a bottle

“AIRBNB” — if that story made you nervous

“PUSH ALL IN” — if you're taking Tommy's entrepreneur advice seriously

Fast.

This episode starts simple — sit down at Nino’s Italian restaurant, make some bruschetta, drink some wine, and talk about food.

But somewhere between house-made ricotta, truffle balsamic strawberries, and stories from Dubai to Baton Rouge…
we ended up unpacking what it really takes to build a restaurant from the ground up.

We’re calling this one: Kitchen to Ownership™ — where recipes meet real life, and behind-the-scenes hustle takes center stage.

Because this isn’t just about food.

It’s about:

How restaurant owners actually get started (and survive)
What corporate restaurant life teaches you (and what it doesn’t)
Why making everything from scratch is way harder than it looks
The real economics behind running a restaurant
How passion, risk, and timing all collide in the food industry

From building a simple bruschetta with stracciatella and marinated tomatoes…
to creating a strawberry + truffle balsamic ricotta dish…
to breaking down how Nino’s went from takeover to transformation…

This one is funny, honest, and way more real than you’d expect.

If you’ve ever sat in a restaurant and thought, “I could do this”…
this episode shows you what it actually takes.

🔥 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

How restaurant owners go from corporate jobs to owning their own place
Why homemade pasta and bread change everything
The reality of restaurant profits (and why margins are tight)
How chefs develop recipes without formal Italian training
Why team culture matters more than you think
How to build a great wine list without overpricing it

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – “What are we even talking about right now?”
00:30 – Welcome to Nino’s & introducing the owners
02:30 – Making bruschetta: stracciatella, tomatoes & olive oil
05:00 – Strawberry + truffle balsamic ricotta creation
08:30 – Kitchen chaos, cooking fails & real talk
12:00 – Jason’s journey: from Texas to Dubai to restaurants
17:00 – Cheesecake Factory stories & career growth
22:00 – Shannon’s story: from waitress to restaurant owner
27:00 – The reality of working in restaurants
32:00 – How Nino’s was discovered & purchased
36:00 – Homemade pasta, bread & kitchen philosophy
41:00 – Why they didn’t expand (yet)
45:00 – Restaurant money talk: profits & risks
49:00 – Wine list strategy & pricing psychology
53:00 – Baton Rouge food scene & dining habits
56:00 – Final thoughts, food reactions & wrap-up

🎙️ GUEST INFO

🍝 Shannon & Jason — Owners of Nino’s Italian Restaurant
Bringing real experience from corporate chains, global openings, and hands-on restaurant ownership.

📣 CALL TO ACTION

If you’ve ever:

👉 Thought about opening your own restaurant
👉 Wondered what happens behind the kitchen doors
👉 Or just love food, wine, and real stories

This episode is for you.

Comment below:

“PASTA” — if you love homemade Italian food
“WINE” — if you’re here for the drinks
“RESPECT” — if you now understand how hard restaurants really are

🎬 SUGGESTED VIDEOS:

👉 Cocktails, Chaos & Bartender Secrets: The Night Drinks Took Over
👉 A Giant Ball, No Resolutions & Hoping Dubai Doesn’t Arrest Us
👉 Was This Maldives Resort Worth It?

#RestaurantPodcast #FoodIndustry #ItalianFood #Bruschetta #HomemadePasta #WineCulture #ChefLife #RestaurantOwners #FoodStories #BatonRouge

We finally got Miss Lisa in the studio… and let’s just say, if you’ve ever wondered who the real instigator was on that Saint Thomas trip — mystery solved.

This episode is a chaotic, hilarious, and slightly questionable retelling of a beach day that started at 10:30AM… and somehow ended with lost flip flops, floating husbands, tequila shots before noon, and a full-blown “Jesus walking on water” moment.

We’re talking beach bars, painkillers (the drink… mostly), mystery cocktails called “BBC,” hydration debates that make zero sense, and a timeline that nobody fully remembers — because memories got a little… hazy.

And of course…
Miss Lisa vs The Truth.

🔥 WHAT YOU’LL HEAR

How a “relaxing beach day” turned into drinking all day starting at 10:45AM

The real story behind the infamous Saint Thomas bar setup

Why Lisa is 100% the instigator (and still denies it)

The tequila shot that started EVERYTHING

Flip flops getting swapped, lost, and magically reappearing

The “hydration” argument that makes absolutely no sense

The floating-in-the-water moment that turned into near panic

“Closest thing to Jesus walking on water” — and yes, there’s proof

How one beach bar turned into a full-blown party (thanks to Lisa ordering drinks for EVERYONE)

The emotional moment where things got real… before immediately going back off the rails

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Chaos intro + random questions for Lisa
01:07 – Meet Miss Lisa (and the toast begins)
02:00 – Breast cancer survivor story + going to war
03:05 – Lisa joins the chaos officially
04:00 – Favorite color debate (and avoiding every real question)
04:35 – Saint Thomas story begins… the instigator is revealed
07:30 – 10:30AM bar setup + “we thought we’d be here 2 hours”
09:00 – Lisa shows up early… and everything changes
10:45 – The drinks: painkillers, BBCs, and confusion
12:00 – Tequila shots at 10:45AM (the turning point)
13:30 – Flip flop mystery begins
15:00 – “We were drunk… not buzzed… DRUNK”
17:00 – Walking on water vs reality
18:20 – The emotional moment (Lisa crying watching the chaos)
20:00 – “We are drinking professionals”
21:00 – Travel stories: Italy, Greece, Bahamas & more
25:00 – Favorite trips + Florence vs Rome debate
28:00 – Private jet stories (and baggage struggles)
30:00 – The real best part of traveling with friends
32:00 – Wrapping up… and still no clear memory of what actually happened

📌 CONNECT WITH US

(Add your official Two Dudes links here — YouTube, Spotify/Apple, Instagram, website, etc. Drop them and I’ll format cleanly.)

🎙 GUEST INFO

Guest: Miss Lisa Mancuso
Episode focus: Saint Thomas trip chaos + wild travel stories
Also featuring: Tim, Danny, Renee, Melissa, David Mancuso

📣 CALL TO ACTION

If you’ve ever had a “we’ll just have one drink” day that turned into… this — hit subscribe, drop a like, and share this with your most dangerous travel buddy.

Comment one of these so we know you made it to the end:

“HYDRATING” — if Lisa was definitely NOT drinking all day

“WALKING ON WATER” — if you believe that story

“10:45AM” — if that’s when your day would’ve gone downhill too 😅

Fast.

This episode started simple — bring in some bartender friends, mix a few drinks, tell a few stories.

But somewhere between espresso martinis, tequila experiments, and a rye whiskey twist…
we accidentally turned the studio into a cocktail masterclass.

We’re calling this one: Controlled Chaos Bartending™ — where recipes are optional, stories take over, and somehow… everything still tastes incredible.

But this episode goes way deeper than just drinks.

We talk about:

• How bartenders actually think when creating cocktails
• Why some of the best drinks come from improvisation
• The hidden complexity behind “simple” recipes
• Bar culture, industry secrets, and real behind-the-scenes stories
• Why some drinks hit different depending on the moment (and the people)

From crafting a custom espresso martini twist…
to building a tequila-based summer cocktail from scratch…
to breaking down a unique Old Fashioned variation with Licor 43…

This one is funny, chaotic, and unexpectedly insightful.

If you’ve ever sat at a bar and wondered, “How do they come up with this stuff?” —
this episode answers that.

🔥 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• How to create your own signature cocktails at home
• What makes an espresso martini actually good
• Why balance (acid, sweetness, alcohol) is everything
• The difference between shaking vs. stirring (and when it matters)
• How bartenders improvise when things go wrong
• Why some cocktails are perfect for summer vs. late-night sipping

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – “Let’s just start drinking…”
00:40 – Introducing the bartenders & the chaos begins
02:40 – Espresso martini meets London Fog (signature cocktail)
06:00 – Breaking down ingredients & bartender techniques
09:00 – First drink reactions & hangover talk
12:30 – Bar stories, travel, and wild drink experiences
17:00 – Tequila cocktail creation (Endless Vacation vibe)
22:00 – Recipe breakdown: basil, lime & passionfruit mix
27:00 – Old Fashioned twist with Licor 43 explained
31:00 – Bartender secrets & flavor profiles
35:00 – Final drinks, reactions & podcast wrap-up
39:00 – Real talk, stories & overtime chaos

🎙️ GUEST INFO

🍸 Bartenders from Supper Club — bringing real recipes, real techniques, and real bar energy into the studio.

📣 CALL TO ACTION

If you’ve ever:

👉 Tried to make a cocktail at home and failed
👉 Wondered what bartenders actually do behind the bar
👉 Or just love a good drink + good conversation

This episode is for you.

Comment below:

“ESPRESSO” — if you love coffee cocktails
“TEQUILA” — if summer drinks are your thing
“OLD SCHOOL” — if you’re all about classic cocktails

🎬 SUGGESTED VIDEOS:

👉 A Giant Ball, No Resolutions & Hoping Dubai Doesn’t Arrest Us
👉 Was This Maldives Resort Worth It?
👉 From First Class Emirates to Private Island Travel

📩 CONNECT WITH US

👉 Instagram:
👉 Spotify:
👉 Apple Podcasts:

✅ SEO HASHTAGS:

#CocktailPodcast #BartenderLife #Mixology #EspressoMartini #TequilaCocktails #OldFashioned #DrinkRecipes #HomeBartender #CocktailCulture #BarStories #SummerDrinks #CraftCocktails

This episode is all about getting old — and not the polite, Hallmark-card version of aging. We’re talking about the real stuff: waking up already sore, cheaters magically appearing at restaurants, doctor appointments becoming a full-time job, colonoscopy conversations replacing small talk, and realizing your body now runs on maintenance mode.

Danny and I are both 57, and while we’ll be the first to say that 57 isn’t “old-old”… it’s definitely old enough to hurt. From joint pain that predicts the weather to carrying a full pharmacy while traveling, we laugh our way through the reality that aging comes for everyone — whether you’re ready or not.

We also talk wine (obviously), travel, medicine bags, ladders that suddenly feel dangerous, and why the best part of getting older might actually be what comes after the kids — especially if grandkids are involved.

If you’re in your 40s, 50s, or staring down that milestone birthday… this one’s for you.
And if you’re younger? Consider this your warning label.

Pour a glass and hang with us.

🔥 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• The unmistakable signs you’re officially “getting old”
• Why weather suddenly controls your joints
• How cheaters, phones, and menu lighting expose your age
• The evolution of doctor visits after 50
• Why colonoscopies become normal dinner conversation
• How travel changes when your body doesn’t bounce back
• The real upside of getting older (hint: grandkids & perspective)

This episode brings together real talk, zero filters, and a whole lot of laughs as we break down the experience, the moments, and everything that went sideways along the way.

In this episode, we cover:

◼️Why expectations are overrated and experiences matter more
◼️How great food and great wine change the entire night
◼️What actually makes a place worth the trip
◼️The mistakes, surprises, and moments you can’t plan for
◼️Why the best stories usually start unorganized

00:00 Intro
01:18 Setting the scene
05:42 First impressions
10:27 Wine decisions that escalated quickly
16:04 Food that lived up to the hype
22:51 When plans start falling apart
30:10 The moment everything clicked
38:44 Behind-the-scenes stories
47:09 What we’d do differently
54:36 Final verdict
59:40 Closing thoughts

From Two Dudes And Podcast:
◼️Subscribe on YouTube @twodudesandpodcast
◼️Follow on Instagram @twodudesandpodcast
◼️Follow on TikTok @twodudesandpodcast
◼️Find us on Facebook @twodudesandpodcast

Drop a comment with your thoughts, your recommendations, or the spot we should hit next.

Cheers.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you mix boutique Napa reds, big dinners, escargot, Mission: SPACE, and Velocicoaster in one long weekend… this is your episode.

🎙 About This Episode

Meet Tommy Barber, a Louisiana business owner and lifelong hunter, and Danny, a former Navy submariner turned wine-obsessed semi-retiree. After 15+ years of friendship built on wine, travel, and stories they probably shouldn’t tell on camera, they finally launch the podcast they’ve always talked about.

In this premiere episode, they introduce the idea behind Two Dudes And — a show about wine, travel, hunting, restaurants, adventures, and whatever else sounds fun. You’ll also get a sneak peek at future series: Gen X episodes, Wine 101, restaurant takeovers, live music features, and straight-talk financial conversations with real experts.

📚 What You’ll Learn (and Laugh About)

• How a casual idea between two old friends turned into the Two Dudes And podcast
• Why boutique Napa reds became the show’s unofficial third co-host
• The full (and painful) story behind an $8,000 Napa dinner neither of them will ever forget
• What makes the Swan & Dolphin Food & Wine Classic one of the best all-you-can-eat-and-drink tickets in Orlando
• Their booth-by-booth chaos through EPCOT Food & Wine — escargot, lamb, sake, pretzels, grapefruit beer, and regrets
• Why Mission: SPACE might be the worst ride to attempt after a day of drinking
• Which Orlando coasters—Velocicoaster, Tron, Guardians—nearly wrecked them
• Future plans: Wine 101–199, hunting stories, musicians, restaurant episodes, and real-world money chats
• Why they’ll never forget their wives at Food & Wine, and how to survive Disney with friends
• A heartfelt shout-out to veterans that closes every episode
  

🕒 Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome: What is “Two Dudes And”?
02:15 – Meet the Dudes
07:40 – Wine & Friendship
11:30 – The Infamous $8,000 Napa Dinner
18:50 – Future of the Show
24:10 – Swan & Dolphin Food & Wine Classic
31:45 – EPCOT Food & Wine Crawl
39:20 – Mission: SPACE Regrets
44:05 – Universal Coaster Gauntlet
50:30 – Best Desserts in Disney
56:40 – Veterans Shout-Out & Closing Toast