Ok, maybe that was a little clickbait, but it had to be done:)
I wanted to talk today about the fantastic work our team at America’s Best Restaurants and the ABR Roadshow are doing. What this show started in 2018 with me on my cell phone, to our first camera crew in 2021, to what it has become, WOW!
This show was created with one big goal: to create massive attention and excitement for independent restaurants in THEIR communities. I wanted a show that aired on the restaurant’s Facebook page, allowed them to take that content, and ensured everyone in the community knew about their spot.
Now, I want you to see how far it’s come. For this blog, I’ve embedded the YouTube version below, but remember, WE ARE NOT A YOUTUBE COMPANY. 99.9% of our show’s views come on the restaurant’s Facebook page because that’s where the attention needs to be.
Below are my notes about what I saw and what I loved.
1st—The Kitchen segment to start the episode—I LOVE IT! Theo and the owner have great personalities, giving viewers a glimpse into what they can expect when they watch the rest.
2nd—The new show intro is FIRE! I love its 80s feel and the new neon graphics.
3rd – Theo’s humor when he says, “No, not RUSSIA!” LOVE IT. That’s one primary reason I’m not a host anymore. I don’t have that talent.
4th – The B-Roll. That’s the extra footage of the restaurant our videographers film to fill in the gaps and use overtop of what we are talking about. Michael Taylor, who shot this, did a fantastic job!
5th – The owner’s personality, Dave, crushed it. The vibe he puts off on camera is why people want to support local restaurants. He’s likable, has an incredible story, and is passionate about his work.
6th – The editing! Adam and Josh from my team did a phenomenal job. The colors pop, the storytelling matches the footage, and the editing is on point.
7th – The TNT BLT and how a customer gave him the idea for that sandwich; that’s what local mom-and-pop restaurants are all about. Those are the stories we hang onto and what make us want to support a guy like Dave.
8th – Dave brings up his family and his wife’s support. This is the biggest differentiator for a restaurant like this. That’s not what a McDonalds can’t bring to the community.
9th – And last but not least, THE FOOD! Did you see that, Pita, OH MY GOODNESS!
When we created the ABR Roadshow, it was to make sure locals knew of the gems in their backyards and to find places that WE, the ABR Team, would want to eat at weekly. Paradise Cafe, my friends, is a place I would LIVE AT!
Oh, and I’ll let the Facebook launch of this episode speak for itself. CLICK HERE to see what the stats are NOW, but when I typed this blog 12 hours after it debuted, we had 6,100 LOCAL views on their Facebook page (not a useless national cable channel), 60 shares, 25 comments, and 128 likes. I’m sure within a month, these numbers will multiply.
