#67 - Sommelier Christopher Bates of F.L.X. Hospitality

On this episode of the Spoon Mob Podcast, Ray chats with master sommelier/winemaker/executive chef/restaurant owner Christopher Bates of F.L.X. Hospitality about eating sushi at 3 years old, why he chose to work in BOH, why he chose to enroll at Cornell’s hospitality school, scotch, his deep dive into the world of wine, moving overseas learn winemaking in Mosel, opening his first restaurant in Italy, how he wound up as the GM at The Inn at Dos Brisas in Texas, starting Element Winery with his dad, the biggest challenge of being a winemaker, moving to Pennsylvania to run Hotel Voucher, reaching a point where he was ready to open his own business, why he participated in wine competitions, defining failure, his experience taking the master sommelier exam, deciding to move back home, why the first F.L.X. restaurant he opened was the casual wienery, how he uses the space to decide what concept he wants to open, opening three concepts in the same building during the pandemic, staffing challenges, the latest on F.L.X. Fry Bird, launching his passion project F.L.X. Culture House, the Court of Master Sommeliers, how the wine industry is changing, what’s next professionally, answers the question left behind from chef Zack Weiner of Jollity, and more before taking on the "burning grill" questions! For more on master sommelier Christopher Bates, visit spoonmob.com/christopherbates and follow him on Instagram @sommelierbates, @flxhospitality, @flxwienery, @flxtable, @flxprovisions, @flxfrybird, @flxculturehouse, @thequincyexchange, @feastandco.catering & @elementwines. Visit flxhospitality.com for restaurant location details, career opportunities, consulting information, and online shopping. Visit flxwienery.com for location and menu details. Visit flxtable.com for menu details & reservations. Visit flxprovisions.com for menu details & online shopping. Visit flx-frybird for menu details. Visit quincyexchange.com for menu details and reservations. Visit flxfeastandco.com for event information. Visit elementwin