
Should Fine Dining Exist? My Take After the Debate
From The Repertoire Podcast by Justin Khanna
April 1, 2026 · 49 min
About this episode
Ray discusses the implications of a viral post questioning the existence of fine dining and its impact on the restaurant industry.
In this episode, Ray reacts to a viral Substack post asking, "What if we just got rid of fine dining?" and to the reactions to it. He also discusses policy demands from the National Restaurant Association, how less alcohol consumption is hurting restaurants, and how Rao's gained success as a CPG sauce brand. Links: Khushbu Shah's Original Substack Article Max Shapiro's Substack Response NY Times Alcohol Article National Restaurant Association Policy Demands Rao's Success (Food Dive) Repertoire Newsletter – Get industry insights, links, and podcast extras delivered weekly.🎙 Share the Podcast – Pass it on to your team, group chat, or fellow chefs.📸 Follow us on Instagram – Behind the scenes, quotes, and quick takes. Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through Amazon or other affiliate links provided in this episode. Thanks for listening to Repertoire. 👨🍳🎧
People in this episode
Host: Justin Khanna
Guest: Ray
Topics covered
- fine dining
- restaurant industry
- alcohol consumption
- CPG brands
- policy demands
Keywords
- fine dining
- restaurant policy
- alcohol consumption
- Rao's
- Substack
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: National Restaurant Association, Rao's
Books & works: Khushbu Shah's Original Substack Article, Max Shapiro's Substack Response, NY Times Alcohol Article, Rao's Success (Food Dive)
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