Standing Reservations

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

Making Room for Grief: Jonathan's Plaque, Kent's Chair

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0400

This episode of Standing Reservations is a love letter to Artisan as Becky and Brad share how the restaurant honored their late-husbands in two deeply meaningful ways. Brad talks about the wooden plaque hanging at Artisan that reads “In loving memory, Jonathan Tuff (The Garber Boys) Cheers.” He walks through Jonathan’s exit from his days in ICU to the honor walk that led to Artisan saving his late-husband’s seat inside the restaurant. Becky talks about Artisan's simple gesture of making space for Kent when he arrived in his power chair. These stories show how this restaurant became essential to their story of grief and belonging.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:13] Intro

[01:01] Lemon drops, sugar rims and B&B Cocktails

[03:42] The story behind the plaque at Artisan

[09:33] Eight days in ICU

[14:22] Photoshoots in an unexpected place

[17:46] Kent chose to be happy everyday

[23:46] Find your Artisan

Connect with us:

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

You Asked For It - Dinner Rolls and Golden Girls

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Standing Reservations, Jess returns to ask Becky and Brad another round of questions from the Artisan staff. Over the B&B cocktail, Becky and Brad talk about the silliest things their husbands were convinced they were right about and what they have learned about themselves since losing their husbands. They also imagine their lives as movies with Brad sharing his dream cast and Becky sharing her “Before and After,” reflecting on her life with Kent.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:13] Intro

[00:31] Jess and the B&B

[09:01] Silly debates

[13:10] What they’ve learned about themselves

[17:37] Find someone that loves you that much

[20:25] If life was a movie

[27:36] Their late husbands’ sponsored ads

Connect with us:

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

Grief - Some Days Are Harder Than Others

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Standing Reservations, Becky and Brad talk about the hardest dates on the calendar. With Kent’s birthday on July 6, Becky reflects on the mixed feelings she feels on special days like this and shares her ritual to commemorate her late-husband on their anniversary. Brad talks about the build up he feels during the “six weeks of hell” – February 20 to March 28 – when birthdays, anniversaries and other monumental dates happen consecutively. He also reminds us that grief appears differently for everyone and that it’s important to find your moments.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:13] Intro

[00:43] Dusty Goose vs. Absolut

[03:23] Behind the podcast’s theme music

[05:20] Our friends of Standing Reservations

[08:00] Special days are hard

[16:21] Anniversary rituals

[21:17] Grief looks different for everyone

[26:15] We’re not looking to get over this pain

Connect with us:

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

Playing the Cards We Were Dealt

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 05:58:00 -0400

In this episode of Standing Reservations, Becky and Brad play a vulnerable card game to help them process their grief. Talking about their late-husbands brings them comfort, so they share memories and stories, such as opening J&B Home Decor & Gifts and their husbands’ clothes they’ve kept, as their way to keep them close. They also introduce a new cocktail that Artisan made for them called the B&B Cocktail, with Grey Goose, Limoncello and topped with bubbles.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:07] Intro

[01:06] The B&B Cocktail

[04:48] This week, we play card game

[07:01] Dealing with grief in the grocery store

[09:14] Opening J&B Home Decor & Gifts

[14:32] What’s been helpful and what hasn’t

[20:07] A robe and socks

[24:10] Who had feelings first?

Connect with us:

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

Mentioned in this episode:

Book Your Table at Artisan

Mention Standing Reservations when you book at Artisan

Book at Artisan

You Asked for it - We’ll Answer (almost) Anything

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Standing Reservations, Becky and Brad answer questions from the Artisan team about their favorite memories with their late husbands, Kent and Jonathan, and what they think Kent and Jonathan would think of this podcast. They also dig into their history with Artisan, sharing their most memorable dish at the restaurant and how it became their home.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:08] Intro

[02:09] Favorite wines and the Brad pour

[05:07] Meet Jess – the GM at Artisan

[07:13] Favorite memories

[14:57] Memorable dish at Artisan

[19:11] Brad and Becky’s friendship

[27:34] “I hope they’re proud of us”

Connect with us:

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

Lost and Found - A Surprise Friendship After Loss

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Standing Reservations, Becky and Brad share the story of how they met. A serendipitous seating arrangement at a birthday party evolved into a friendship that grew after they became widows. Over cocktails, they discuss how grief looks different for everyone and the dark humor that bonds them.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:07] Intro

[00:27] This week’s cocktails

[02:23] How Becky and Brad met

[06:55] A friendship grows through grief

[10:32] Memories in the Christmas decorations

[14:15] Grief should be talked about

[17:05] Cooking is hazardous

[20:28] Still a lot of life to live

[22:55] We want your questions

Connect with us:

FB: Standing Reservations w/Becky & Brad

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

Meet Becky & Brad—They Have a Lot to Say

Wed, 20 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400

In the premiere episode of Standing Reservations, Becky and Brad explore their bonded friendship that was formed by grief. Over cocktails, they share how they’ve helped each other with their bereavement and the role Artisan Restaurant has played as well. Sometimes you just need someone to listen during this time of loss, and Becky and Brad hope to provide that space with Standing Reservations.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:07] Intro

[01:10] How did we get here

[06:00] Grief is such a complex word

[13:15] Our love for Artisan

[19:32] How do we still stand with grief?

[24:45] Tell Artisan we sent you, for a free dessert!

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