Fastest growing healthy QSR brand: Salad & Go with Daniel Patino - Grounded Podcast - Episode #28
Step into the kitchen, and the boardroom, with a visionary chef who’s redefining what fast food can be. Daniel Patino, Co-Founder and Executive Chef at Salad and Go, shares how his early passion for cooking, shaped by his grandmother and his service in the Marine Corps, evolved into a mission to make healthy food accessible to all.
In this episode, Daniel walks through his journey from fine dining at The French Laundry to scaling a drive-thru salad concept across the country. He breaks down how organization, leadership, and consistent presence in the field have helped maintain quality and culinary excellence in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. Whether you're in foodservice, operations, or team leadership, this one’s packed with practical inspiration.
Takeaways:
- How military discipline and leadership skills translated into culinary operations.
- Why produce should be treated as the main event, not a side dish.
- What it takes to shift from fine dining to large-scale food production without losing quality.
- Why customer feedback is essential to menu innovation and long-term success.
- How educating younger generations can shape future food choices and brand loyalty.
Quote of the Show:
- “Presence, will equal your consistency and you're gonna get honest feedback of what's good and what's not” - Daniel Patino
Connect with Daniel:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-patino-741a92121/
- Company website: https://www.saladandgo.com/menu/#featured-menu
Ways to Tune In:
- Transistor: https://www.groundedonthepod.com/
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2I7EoKaVff3SnW3CoIXjJ6
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grounded/id1680909033
- Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/451edb13-5534-43ee-b46c-be36a7581460
- iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-grounded-281280581/
- Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/grounded-5259267
- Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1064441
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The-Grounded-Podcast
Creators and Guests
Host
Lauren Mitchell
Lauren Mitchell is the Director of National Accounts and Custom Distribution at Produce Alliance, LLC. She is a dedicated fresh produce spend & spec maximizer for multi-unit national restaurant chains & groups. She gets to know your brand and infuses your expectation for quality, consistency and transparency to create more reliability in your produce category.
