We recently had the chance to connect with Tal Blevins and have shared our conversation below.
Tal, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is a normal day like for you right now?
There is no such thing as a normal day when you own two restaurants. Every day is different, but I enjoy that as it keeps me on my toes and certainly doesn’t get mundane or stale.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Tal Blevins, owner of MACHETE and Yokai restaurants in Greensboro, North Carolina,
MACHETE began as a pop-up supper club out of my house that evolved into a full-scale restaurant where we challenge traditional expectations of fine dining, focusing on elevated, creative dishes in a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. It’s less about formality and more about fun, excitement, and a few surprises along the way, both in the food and the experience.
Yokai is our newer izakaya concept that blends a variety of pan-Asian bar and street food staples with a playful fusion twist. From our miso Caesar salad to our cheesy kimchi tots, Philly chicken cheesesteak fried rice, crispy tuna wontons, crab Rangoon dip, and craft cocktails inspired by and named for various Japanese mythological yokai, it’s a vibe that’s meant to be fun, modern, and unexpected.
For Greensboro, these are both unique concepts that add something totally different and new to the local food scene, and we hope to encourage others to do the same!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I’ll let you know when I start listening to the world, because I don’t feel like it’s told me what to be or put me on a specific path. I’ve pretty much been the same person for my whole life, at least when it comes to pursuing things I’m personally interested in and enjoy. I’m a musician, a designer, a writer, a visual artist, and I’ve pretty much just gone with the flow and sought out whatever I was interested in, whether it be working at a sushi bar, playing in a band, learning about urban planning and city morphology, being a journalist, working in the video game industry, and now owning restaurants. Life’s too short to be boxed in and told what to do, and I think everyone should pursue their passions.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
I’m not a rigid thinker and I’m open to a variety of ideas and perspectives, so I change my mind all the time. I’ve learned over the years that just because something worked in the past it doesn’t mean it’s going to work in the future, so you constantly have to change lanes, evolve, and sometimes try something completely different if you want to be successful. I’d rather make a good decision quickly and change things as I go if they’re not working rather than make one “ultimate” decision and stick with it just because of sheer stubbornness. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good!
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I certainly think so, and I feel like I’m my authentic self in both private and public life. I’m neither a good actor nor a good liar, so I’d probably be a horrible politician.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When have you had to bet the company?
Oh man, I think that’s every restaurant owner every day of their lives!
Restaurants are expensive endeavors and incredibly wild rides with no real constants other than chaos and change, We opened MACHETE three weeks before COVID closed everything down, so that was a huge challenge. Thankfully we had already built a bit of a name for our ourselves because of the pop-ups we did for the previous two years, so the community really stepped up and helped us get through with plenty of takeout orders. That support meant so much to us, and thankfully we got through one of the worst times in history for the service industry.
We’re seeing some of the same challenges recently with all the economic chaos and challenges from the ever-changing tariff threats. People aren’t spending as much on dining and entertainment in general because of that, so every day is a constant bet.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://machetegso.com
- Instagram: machetegso
