JP Ngo sits down with Remi DeMatteo, the operator behind Hayride Scandal and Pelican to Mars, for a conversation about hospitality leadership, bar operations, nightlife culture, entrepreneurship, and the realities of building businesses inside the restaurant and hospitality industry.

With decades of experience spanning New Orleans hotels, cocktail bars, nightlife venues, and Baton Rouge hospitality concepts, Remi shares operational lessons from every stage of the industry — from bartending at 18 years old to helping build some of Louisiana’s most recognizable bar and entertainment spaces.

Throughout the episode, the conversation explores how hospitality culture has changed over time, how younger generations approach nightlife differently, and why leadership, mentorship, communication, and workplace culture matter more than ever inside restaurants, bars, and service-based businesses.

The episode also dives into staffing challenges, operator development, customer experience, recruiting, social media’s impact on hospitality, alcohol trends, cocktail culture, whiskey programs, and the pressure of managing teams inside fast-moving nightlife environments. Remi explains why simplicity often outperforms pretentiousness, why customer behavior continues evolving, and how strong operators adapt without losing the identity of their business.

This is a grounded conversation about hospitality leadership, operational systems, entrepreneurship, nightlife management, communication, team culture, and the responsibility experienced operators have to help develop the next generation entering the industry.

Guests:

JP Ngo — Owner of Our Mom’s Restaurant & Bar

Remi DeMatteo — Operator of Hayride Scandal and Pelican to Mars

Topics Covered:

Hospitality leadership

Bar and nightlife operations

Restaurant management

Entrepreneurship

Cocktail culture

Whiskey programs

Customer experience

Workplace culture

Leadership and mentorship

Operator development

Communication and management

Recruiting and retention

Social media and nightlife culture

Generational behavior shifts

Staffing challenges

Scaling hospitality businesses

Service industry realities

Business growth

Team leadership

Operational systems