Most people think the restaurant industry starts in the kitchen.

It doesn't.

It starts with sourcing. With buying decisions. With what shows up at the back door.

This week, Carl sits down with Tony Cuba, Buyer for Halpern's Steak and Seafood in Orlando, alongside Chef Cody Tiner, chef-owner of District South.

Tony brings nearly 21 years of distribution experience to the table. From packing product on the warehouse floor to working in outside sales and eventually stepping into buying, he understands sourcing from both sides of the equation.

Chef Cody Tiner brings 17 years of scratch-kitchen experience, classical training, Southern roots, and a deep commitment to community-driven hospitality. At District South, he leads a young team, breaks down whole fish and steaks in-house, and builds a neighborhood restaurant centered on quality without pretension.

Together, this conversation explores:

• How food actually moves from warehouse to dish • What buyers look for before product hits the floor • Why trust between distributor and chef is everything • How sourcing decisions shape menus more than people realize • What the next generation of chefs needs to understand about supply chain

This is an inside look at the invisible system that supports every great plate.

Because without distribution, there is no industry. And without trust, there is no distribution.

Key Takeaways

• Distribution is not transactional — it's relational • Great buyers understand kitchen pressure • Scratch kitchens depend heavily on sourcing consistency • Pricing, availability, and quality are constant tension points • Mentorship and next-gen leadership matter at every level of the industry • The supply chain shapes creativity more than most people realize

Featured Guests

Tony Cuba Buyer – Halpern's Steak and Seafood, Orlando

Chef Cody Tiner Chef-Owner – District South

Partner Mentions & Links

RAK Porcelain USA – Professional tableware used in studio https://www.rakporcelain.com

Metro Foodservice Solutions – Workflow and kitchen support partner https://www.metro.com

Crab Island Seafood https://crabislandseafood.com

Sustainable Supperclub https://sustainablesupper.org/

Operation BBQ Relief https://operationbbqrelief.org/

The Burnt Chef Project https://www.theburntchefproject.com/

Citrus America Citrus America: Perfect Juicers for Any Location

Official Trade Show & Competition Partners 🇺🇸 New York Restaurant Show

Official Media Partner https://www.newyorkrestaurantshow.com/

🌴 Florida Restaurant Show

Official Media Partner https://www.flrestaurantandlodgingshow.com/

🌉 California Restaurant Show

Official Media Partner https://www.californiarestaurantshow.com/

🍕 Pizza Tomorrow Summit

Official Media Partner https://www.pizzatomorrow.com/

🔥 US Culinary Open

Official Media Partner Held in partnership with The NAFEM Show https://www.usculinaryopen.com/

About Walk-In Talk Media

Walk-In Talk Media is an industry-recognized food and hospitality media company focused on chef-driven storytelling.

Founded by Carl Fiadini, Walk-In Talk Media produces podcasts, studio video content, documentary storytelling, and live trade show coverage across the U.S.

The Walk-In Talk Podcast has reached millions of downloads, held the #1 spot in the U.S. Food Podcast category, was a finalist at the People's Choice Podcast Awards, and is officially recognized for its storytelling at the Central Florida Film event and the Folkestone Film Festival. Episodes and projects are also listed on IMDb, reinforcing Walk-In Talk Media's positioning as a broadcast-level media company.