A dynamic group of Orange County restaurateurs and hospitality professionals came together for an engaging “Accelerate” event hosted by What Now Media Group at Almuerzo Café in Tustin on September 24, 2025. The event provided a collaborative space for local business owners and industry experts to connect, share insights, and explore growth strategies in an increasingly competitive market.
Almuerzo Café, a new brunch concept located at 15761 Tustin Village Way, Ste. 101, hosted a free networking event, welcoming dozens of restaurant owners and operators featured on What Now Orange County. The gathering also included representatives from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners. Guests enjoyed networking, light bites, and beverages before diving into a presentation focused on optimizing growth and sustainability in the restaurant business.
The event was led by Mariah Medley, Director of Events and Partner Engagement at What Now Media Group. She was joined by CJ Compton, the company’s newest event manager, who attended to observe the event firsthand in preparation for hosting the upcoming Accelerate in Los Angeles.
Notable attendees included several Orange County restaurateurs and food entrepreneurs actively growing or launching new locations. Fernando Valencia Jr., COO of Almuerzo Café, welcomed guests to his latest venture, which brings an elevated brunch experience to the Tustin community.
Birtan Cetinoz, co-founder of Immersion Coffee Co., also joined the event, sharing plans for expansion in the region. Known for its slow-drip brewing techniques and sleek café aesthetics, the coffee brand continues to make waves in the Southern California café scene.
Representing the rebranded Costa Mesa venue Casa de Onda, both Alex Petrosian and Jessie Sanchez attended to connect with other industry professionals and share their vision for the refreshed dining experience at Triangle Square.
Gagan Batta, co-franchisee of Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, also joined the group, eager to continue bringing the beloved handcrafted ice cream brand to new communities across Southern California.
Additional restaurant leaders at the event included John Lucas, vice president of development at Farmer Boys, a brand known for its farm-fresh, made-to-order burgers and breakfast plates; Wilson Wang and Ivy Wang of Wushiland Boba, who discussed their rapid franchise growth in the boba market; Phat Truong, franchisee of Pho Hoa, a Vietnamese noodle house expanding into Cypress; Gregory Prudhomme from Racquet Club of Irvine, who recently oversaw a renovation of the club’s dining program; and Tasos Lilis, founder of My Greek Kitchen, who attended to discuss upcoming expansion plans.
Representatives from nine of What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners were also present, offering expert insights and resources to support restaurant operators at every stage of their journey.
From Easy Ice, Gilbert Moreno and Jeremy Thomsen engaged with restaurateurs on how reliable, subscription-based ice solutions can reduce equipment costs and downtime. Ashley Ritzenthaler from OpenTable shared how their reservation platform helps restaurants boost visibility and streamline guest management.
POS and back-office solutions were a major talking point, with Andre McGarry of Global Payments, plus Daniel Kim and Maurice Ehrencron of SpotOn, in attendance to discuss customizable tech solutions that optimize operations. Meanwhile, Emily Fuentes from Heartland discussed scalable payroll services tailored to hospitality businesses.
Marketing and community outreach were also key topics, with Joe Nunziata of Our Town America discussing direct mail strategies that target new movers and drive local foot traffic. Ali Sepehri and Thomas Pham of SLIQUE Media met with attendees to discuss social media, branding, and video strategies that drive customer engagement in crowded markets.
Milena Mirtle, Frank Iniguez, Larry Anaya, and Gene Rotondo from Tagrisk LLC were available throughout the evening to consult with operators on restaurant-specific insurance packages and risk management.
The restaurant owners and industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners shared valuable insights, operational highlights, and expert advice, creating an engaging and informative evening that was both enriching and beneficial for all attendees.
This led Mariah Medley to carry the conversation even deeper by discussing critical business points, such as having an exit plan and efficiently managing operations after expanding to multiple locations. After Mariah and the guests shared their tips, knowledge, and concerns, everyone became quickly interested in learning more about their businesses and how they could help one another.
This event provided a valuable platform for restaurant owners and industry partners to collaborate, brainstorm, and establish new connections. It’s clear that the Orange County restaurant community is eager to continue innovating and evolving, and What Now Media Group’s Accelerate events provide the perfect space for these conversations to take place.
What Now Media Group shares restaurant opening news in 33 cities across North America, breaking news, and provides timely insight into yet-to-open brick-and-mortar businesses. The platform shares news of thousands of openings across all 33 cities annually.
The industry-leading experts in What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners help new businesses open and existing businesses grow.
Stay tuned for future Accelerate events from What Now Media Group in 2025. For more details, see the Accelerate page here.
Click here for a complete list of our partners. To learn more about becoming a preferred partner, click here.
Photo: Official
