Cooking Up Community Connection with Tim and Lara Boyd of Mustard Seed Bistro

Food does more than just tantalize your taste buds—it can also weave communities together and ignite change. In this episode, host Donna DiMaggio Berger is joined by Tim and Lara Boyd from Mustard Seed Bistro in Plantation to explore how simple community cookouts can spark vital conversations and foster collaboration. They discuss how providing refreshments at gatherings like board and membership meetings often cultivates a more positive atmosphere. 

Many community associations feature amenities such as restaurants, cafes, breakfast bars, and barbecue stations near pools. Even in communities without these services, dining out remains a cherished social activity. Tim and Lara share insights from their experiences in the restaurant industry, discussing how they balance family life with business demands and address post-COVID challenges reshaping the dining scene. From adapting lunch routines to managing increased expenses, they delve into the strategies that keep their restaurant thriving. Whether you're a culinary enthusiast or a business professional, this episode promises a hearty dose of inspiration for your next community or corporate gathering. 

Conversation highlights include:

What inspired Tim and Lara to open their first restaurant Challenges in dealing with outside partners and finicky customersWhere they draw culinary inspirationChallenges in running a restaurant together as a coupleHow Covid changed the restaurant industryYelp and other reviewsStrategies for keeping talentSustainability practices 

BONUS: Find out if you have what it takes to open your own restaurant!