Today we’d like to introduce you to Lawrence Longo.
Lawrence, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Toronto, Canada in an Italian family who loved to cook and eat. I played hockey for most of my life winning a Canadian Junior A championship and then playing varsity hockey in my hometown at York University. I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. During my time in entertainment, I worked for the producer of the Matrix, Swordfish, Lethal Weapon as his assistant and then creative executive. I eventually started my own company producing comic books, graphic novels and animated cartoons. I quickly realized my passion for discovering “Off The Menu” items after dining at Spago and learning about Wolfgang Pucks famous secret menu item the smoked salmon pizza. I began developing a TV show based on “Secret menu items at restaurants”…. the show never happened, but the idea changed my life forever and threw me into the thralls of the food industry.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth ride, but it sure has been fun and delicious one. I think moving away from a great family and Country that was very a comfortable living to a new country with no friends or family was very tough. I remember some days crying myself to sleep, but I knew I had to persevere and I didn’t want to be like all the others who had come and gone.
Every day is a struggle because we work directly with the restaurants and the customers, there is always something that comes up that needs to be solved. Communication is the key to having successful campaigns/experiences. Also, navigating the food industry over covid has not been easy. We did lose almost half of our subscribers when the pandemic began but, six months later we saw the most growth our company has ever had.
We’ve been impressed with Off The Menu, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Off The Menu, an app designed to give customers exclusive access to secret menu items at many of the best restaurants across America. Our food discovery platform connects communities to restaurants and enables people to discover new establishments and exclusive dishes daily. With our roots as a digital app cataloging “secret menu” food items, We have been able to grow the company and steer its evolution to a membership club offering unparalleled food discovery opportunities and experiences.
Off The Menu Club members get ONE FREE meal a day at cool local restaurants in Los Angeles for only $20 per month.
With an emphasis on experience, we also began creating unique viral pop-ups, events and digital + delivery experiences. In 2018, we launched Off The Menu’s Showdown Series with The Burger Showdown in Los Angeles. A media-generating smash and sold-out event, the Showdown was staged in Los Angeles with celebrities and chefs paired up competing for a top prize. The following year, Longo held The Burger Showdown as well as launched events in similar fashion and concept; TENDERFEST, where celebrity chefs battle for tender supremacy at the ‘conTENDER competition’; and WINGFEST, an event that brings the best wings from around the country to one spot on National Chicken Wing Day.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Favorite childhood memory was eating my gramma’s meatballs, playing hockey outdoors with friends and going to Toronto Maple Leafs games with my Dad.
Pricing:
- Off the menu club membership $20.00 per month
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.offthemenuco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigshot/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawrence.longo
