Interview with Steven Hall, Hall PR & The Dining Bond

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Years ago my husband, Lewis, did business and financial public relations for David Bouley. At that time, Lewis met Steven Hall who was Bouley’s publicist. After starting this podcast, Lewis and I were talking about who would be great guests to interview and he immediately said I should reach out to Steven Hall, who not only represents the who’s who in the food and hospitality industry, but has had his finger on the pulse of the industry for over 25 year.

Originally, I thought Steven could hook me up to speak with some of his clients but then I thought who better to talk to was Steven himself! Steven started his company, Hall PR, in 1996. It is a global hospitality & lifestyle public relations, consulting and concept development agency based in New York City. Hall PR works with some of the best restaurateurs, chefs, and food brands in the business.

When we first chatted to schedule the interview, it was before COVID-19 swept the nation and Steven was swamped working on restaurant openings and clients. Then the world stopped and like others in the food service industry, Steven’s company and his clients are enduring great hardships. Just like farmers, nurses and doctors, chefs and the foodservice industry are the lifeline of this country.

In this episode, I talk to Steven about the resilience of the food industry, how it is adjusting, the changes Steven has seen in the industry since he started. Most importantly, we discuss a new initative that Steven and Helen Patrikis has created to help out restaurants around the world called The Dining Bond, a “pay it forward” initiative which pumps needed cash into struggling restaraunts now in exchange for discounted meals in the future. Since launching in mid March there are already 400 restauarants that have signed up worldwide.

Stay listening to my Book to Plate segment where I talk about new and fun ways that everyone is sharing their love of food and cooking while staying at home. #stayinsidemeal