Nina Manchev left her comfort zone to connect with new audiences using video and social media. Watch this interview with Forte Tapas owner Nina Manchev (@fortetapas) about connecting with video, learning to be confident on camera, and appearing on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN on this episode of the Restaurant Influencers podcast, sponsored by the Toast point of sale and restaurant management company? Let us know by leaving a YouTube comment below!
CHAPTERS: [01:15] - Nina Manchev 2-Minute Drill [05:31] - Entering the Hospitality Industry [11:17] - Switching to Toast to Improve Operations [13:15] - Cooking Live on YouTube [21:28] - Importance of Social Media on Brand
Nina Manchev is a Restaurant Influencer —
Being born in Bulgaria, hospitality has been weaved into her character. Sharing that hospitality with others was her initial inspiration for creating something she could call her own.
“Bulgarians are very hospitable people,” Forte Tapas owner Nina Manchev tells Restaurant Influencers podcast host Shawn P. Walchef of https://calibbq.media. “It's a lot about pride in what you do and who you are and then relaying that to somebody else.”
In a competitive world such as the hospitality industry in Las Vegas, creating that environment can be difficult. However, Manchev ensures that each customer at Forte Tapas Bar & Bistro feels the heart that goes into every meal.
That exceptional service is what led to a surprise email from and subsequent appearance on the extremely popular television show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives hosted by Guy Fieri.
Though a naturally shy person, Nina Manchev constantly presses on the edges of her comfort zone in order to grow. That was most apparent when she had to find a way to remain connected to the people during the pandemic shut down.
The answer: live cooking on her YouTube channel. Not only did that bring the customers behind the proverbial curtain of the kitchen and allow them to see just what went into creating the dishes of Forte that they love so much, but it also provided Manchev the opportunity to employ the Bulgarian hospitality that means so much to her.
On a larger scale, Manchev has settled into the confidence that she can just be. She’s learned that she doesn’t need to compete with others or try to prove herself. She understands that asking for help, leading with grace, and letting time and experience be a teacher is the only way to sustainable success.
Summing it up in one phrase, Nina Manchev poignantly states, “Keep going.”
ABOUT NINA MANCHEV (@FORTETAPAS): Forte Tapas in Las Vegas takes inspiration from the rich cuisine of Nina Manchev’s home country of Bulgaria, haute cuisine, and most importantly her family’s traditions and zest for life. Those all have contributed to Forte’s unique culinary dynamic. Forte was inspired by a love for connecting with people through food, drink, and hospitality and the insatiable desire to create something that has never been done before. • Nina Manchev on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-manchev-b272b913/
ABOUT RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS: Welcome to the Restaurant Influencers podcast series. Every week host and restaurant owner Shawn P. Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) talks with leaders in restaurant and hospitality about their secrets to Smartphone Storytelling and how to show up and engage where customers are spending time online. The weekly digital series (audio, video, writing, images) is hosted by Cali BBQ Media Founder Shawn P. Walchef and presented by Entrepreneur Media (@entrepreneur), Yelp (@yelp), and Cali BBQ Media (@calibbqmedia). The entire team at Restaurant Influencers is thankful for Toast for being the primary sponsor of this show and allowing us to share the stories of successful digital first restaurateurs all over the world.
SPONSORED BY TOAST: Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point of sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.
