Foodie and the Beast

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show:  ·        Kevin Tien, James Beard finalist and the owner of DC’s award-winning Moon Rabbit, is teaming for the second time with Alan Vo to open Chao Ban, bringing Vietnamese street food to Tysons Galleria. Kevin joins us in the studio;                                                                                                                                                                             ·        Whiskey maker Ari Sussman, the man behind the famous Whiskey JYPSI brand and the Whiskey Network’s“2024 Whiskey Maker of the Year,” joins us for tastes and talk of some of the finest bourbons known to mankind;                                                                                                                          ·    The Canton Disco team is in. Owner  Brian Schram, executive chef Timothy Yu, and yet another James Beard Award finalist, beverage director Brent Kroll, give us the 411 on their new Cantonese-inspired café, restaurant and bar opening on 1st Street SE.                                                                                                                        ·        Then we all join in a panel discussion on the future of distilled spirits at a time of rising prices and diminishing interest in alcoholic beverages.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show:  ·        2026 is the 50th Anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, where – for the first time – two Napa Valley American wines bested French wines in a blind tasting. That huge, seismic moment in wine is part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, and Stephen Velasquez, curator of the  Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History’s Division of Home and Community Life, joins us with all the celebratory details, including the upcoming 2026 Winemaker’s Dinner;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ·        Since the Judgment of Paris is part of today’s conversation, it made sense to also invite Claudia Chamberlain to join us. She’s the U.S. general manager for Berry Bros. & Rudd. Founded in 1698, Berry Bros. & Rudd is the oldest wine and spirits merchant in the United Kingdom and is still family-owned;                                                                                                           ·        Our  buddy, Jarrad Silver, chef/owner of Silver and Sons BBQ in Bethesda, is in with big news -- unless you're a lamb. The Lamb Jam is back as a month-long dine-around in April, where chefs across the country will feature American lamb dishes under $30 and diners are encouraged to explore and vote for their favorites;                                                                                                                                                                                                         ·        Kenia Euceda Canales, Neighborhood Restaurant Group coffee director, ensures that the non-alcoholic program across the group is a cut above the rest. She’s got lots of caffeinated tastes and talk to share, but especially about the one she manages, NRG’s specialty coffee shop, CAMEO in The Roost on Capitol Hill.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show:  ·        We say “Carla Hall” and you say, “ OMG – that’s celebrated chef, author, Top Chef All-Star, co-host of ABC’s The Chew, and former Howard U accounting major!” Then we say, “Micheline Mendelsohn, ” her partner’s name, and you say that she’s deputy CEO at the Sunnyside Restaurant Group, where her brother, celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn, and the rest of the family have the hospitality Midas touch. And then we say, “Bumblebirds on Capitol Hill” and you say, “Thank God we can get Carla’s amazing fried chicken again!” Carla and Micheline join us today;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ·        Erika Polmar, executive director of the  Independent Restaurant Coalition, a national trade association lobbying solely on behalf of independent restaurants and bars – operators working for operators. She’s here to offer the 411 on the coalition’s purpose. But, considering the fragile state of the industry these days across America, Erika also has insights on what the IRC is doing to support restaurant operations today and successful operations tomorrow;                                                                                                                                                                             ·        Emily Brown, owner, Eebee’s Corner Bar, tells her incredible story of building her own business against all odds;·         ·        The National Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the DMV’s great celebrations of the advent of spring. It commemorates the 1912 gift of cherry trees from the people of Tokyo to Washington, DC. Lillian Iversen is the vice president of the festival, in with info about all things cherry blossom here in town;                                                                    Owen Thompson provides the drinks. He is the beverage director for Unfold Hospitality, the company behind Casa Teresa and The Square.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show:·        You’d have to be living under a rock not to know of Marcus Samuelson, a multiple James Beard Foundation award winner. His restaurant here, Marcus DC, opened and instantly became one of The Washington Post’s top five in the city. But Marcus takes global strides and isn’t there all the time -- and his not-so-secret weapon running the place is a Maryland native, Executive Chef Anthony Jones, an exceptional talent who himself is now a James Beard Award semifinalist for Emerging Chef. Chef Anthony joins us;·        We recently spent four glorious days in Jamaica at a condo resort called The West. And the food there was … the BEST! Thanks to restaurateur Sydney Watson -  the generous hospitality, amazing cuisine, and all-around fun to be had at her restaurant in The West Signature, a premier residential community. Syd’s on the Rocks in Negril is beyond outstanding. Syd is gracious, so talented, and she joins us today from Jamaica;        ·        Mike Friedman of  the All-Purpose Hospitality Group is in. He’s an owner, master chef and the culinary spirit behind a bunch of the area’s most outstanding spots – the Red Hen, All-Purpose, the Boundary Stone, as wells as Bethesda’s Aventino Cucina and A-P Pizza Shop. And now the All-Purpose Hospitality has a new baby – Shaw’s Fossette Focacceria – with killer focaccia sandwiches, gelato, wines, and Italian imported goods (pasta, snacks, etc.) Si mangia bene a Fosette Focacceria. By the way, “fossette” is a French term meaning "dimples" or "small cavities" – like on a kid’s cheek or in the crust of your fave focaccia. ·        Stephen Fortier, owner and winemaker, Domaine Fortier Vineyards joins us. Fortier won two gold medals at the Virginia Governor’s Cup wine competition Thursday evening.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show:·        He’s a flavor explorer and a culinary storyteller - Emmanuel Laroche, the noted food and beverage industry executive, creator and host of the podcast “Flavors Unknown,” and author of “Conversations Behind the Kitchen Door” and “A Taste of Madagascar;" ·        Kat Jiang from Seylou, the organic whole-grain bakery and mill in Blagden Alley, is in to introduce the Mid-Atlantic Grain Fair and Conference coming up March 15-16, organized by the Common Grain Alliance, bringing together farmers, millers, bakers, brewers, distillers, and food leaders from across the Middle Atlantic to strengthen the region’s grain economy and reconnect the full grain supply chain from field to finished food;                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ·        Ashley Blake, owner of Prim’s Café in Shaw. A brilliant concept for a beloved neighborhood hang-out, Prim’s features coffee and espresso made with beans sourced from Adee’s Coffee & Bar in Baltimore, matcha, chai, and more -- PLUS fresh pastries that are delivered fresh every morning;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ·        Drink Segment: Rimtang in Georgetown is an outstanding Thai street food restaurant that we’ve featured several times on the show. Today we’re talking cocktails -- and Rimtang’s Kelly Duong is in to mix ‘em up.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show:·        Celebrated for its mouth-watering, slow-smoked meats, Latin-inspired sides, and a no-shortcuts approach to craft, 2Fifty Barbecue is touted by many as the DMV’s best, including Washingtonian’s Top 100 Very Best Restaurants, where it comes in ranked at #22 overall. Not too shabby – so we invited chef/co-owner Fernando Gonzalez in to make him give up all his best-kept culinary secrets;                                                                                                                                                                                                      ·        Speaking of mouth-watering, we also brought in Washington Ramirez,, opening manager of Terra Gaucha Restaurant in Rockville. Terra Gaucha is an authentic, churrasco-style restaurant showcasing traditional flavors from southern Brazil; ·        Formerly with PepsiCo, Liat Kaplan is the co-founder and CEO of WiSP, a cutting-edge wellness and safety platform using new technology to analyze drink contents in real time. Liat’s mission is to support patron safety and personal wellness, empowering people to enjoy food and drink experiences confidently, while minimizing risks like drink-spiking, allergens, and unsafe levels of alcohol consumption;                                                                                                                                                             ·        Kevin Bratt is a partner and the national wine and spirits director for Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Snow Crab. He’s in with tastes and talk of Joe’s wine and spirits programs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show:Geraldine Mendoza is the founder of Taquería Xochi, which just opened a fourth location in the Navy Yard. Not bad for a place that started out as a pandemic-era ghost kitchen. Known for Mexican favorites including tacos, cemitas, tlayudas, and aguas frescas, Taqueria Xochi gets universal praise – even from the hard-to-please Tom Sietsema;  • Back on Foodie and the Beast after years away and years of immense success and growth are Robb Duncan and Violeta Edelman, co-owners of Dolcezza Gelato and Coffee. Dolcezza has a creative lineup of Valentine’s Day-inspired flavors, including the sweet and spicy passionfruit Szechuan pepper matcha, at all 6 DMV shops;  • Downtown Bethesda offers a diverse selection of restaurants ranging from international flavors to American favorites like barbecue, continental cuisine, delicious desserts and more. “Savor Bethesda” Restaurant Week (Thursday, Feb. 19 – Sunday, March 1) is a great opportunity to try something new to eat -- and drink! -- at a great price. We are joined by Stephanie Coppula, director of marketing and communications at the Bethesda Urban Partnership. And mixing up cocktails is Tyler Cotting, bar manager at Pisco y Nazca, one of the restaurants participating in Savor Bethesda.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show: ·        Scott Drewno, partnered with Danny Lee in the Fried Rice Collective, here to take about food for the Big Game and the Upstate New York foods he grew up with that he’s now able to offer;                                                                                                                                                                                                       ·        Yves Lowe, executive chef and gastronomy programming manager for the Montréal en Lumière festival. It is one of the largest winter festivals in the world and the most important food festival in Canada. Attendees enjoy hundreds of activities through gourmet experiences that showcase the best of the city’s culinary scene;                                                                                                                                                                                  ·        America loves a comeback story. Chef Paolo Dungca’s modern Filipino restaurant, Kayu, closed on the H Street Corridor at the end of June. But it didn’t take long to make a comeback. A more streamlined casual version of the restaurant is now open at Dupont Circle;                                                                                                                                                                              ·        Dr. Mamuka Tsereteli, founder of the Georgian Wine House.– The nation of Georgia is possibly the birthplace of wine, with 8000 years of uninterrupted winemaking. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show: ·  Diane Gross, chair of the board, RAMW, She and her husband, Khalid Pitts, have also opened a Cork in Cleveland Park;·         Stephanos Andreou and Constandina Andreou, cofounders of D.C.’s hit, new make-your-own-pasta place, Gigi’s, in the Western Market near The George Washington University. How good is it? They did so well on opening day that they had to go out and buy a second noodle-making machine to keep up with demand;                                                                                                                                                                            ·        Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix are the cofounders of Speed Rack. Now in its 14th year with nearly $2 million raised so far, Speed Rack is the first global competition highlighting the bar industry’s leading women+, with 100% of proceeds going directly to breast cancer education, prevention, and research. And it's happening March 16 at the Howard Theatre;                                                                                                                                                                                                               ·        Jean Carlos Mero is the general manager at Bully, the new Spanish steakhouse in Northwest D.C.’s St. Gregory hotel.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.We’re closing out 2025 with a show we’re calling State of the Plate, because if there’s one thing this year demanded from the hospitality industry, it was honesty. So today, we’re setting the table for an honest, forward-looking conversation:What actually happened in 2025? What’s broken? What’s changing? And what does it take for restaurants not just to survive — but to thrive — in 2026?Our guests are:Shawn Townsend — President & CEO, Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW)Greg Casten — ProFish & Fish & Fire GroupDaniella Senior — Co-Founder, Colada ShopMichael Babin — CEO, Neighborhood Restaurant GroupChris Schmid — Prestige Ledroit See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show: ·        Monica Evans, beverage director, the Coquito Bar, a tropical holiday cocktail oasis inside La Cosecha in the Union Market District;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ·        Joy Johnson, director of visitor experience at the fabulous Folger Shakespeare Library, with inside news about all the cool stuff happening there across the holidays during the 2nd Annual Folger Frost Fair and lots more;        ·        Sarah the Elf. North Pole native. ‘Nuff said. And, oh yeah, there's a big holiday light show and festival up in Baltimore. She tells us all about it;                                                                                                                                                                                               ·        Equal billing for some among us who don't celebrate Christmas, but who also have a cool holiday this time of year! Josh Saltzman is co-owner at the Juneberry Garage. We had Juneberry’s Chris Powers in last week. Josh is also co-owner at Ivy and Coney, where they’re about to celebrate their 9th Annual Hannukah pop-up bar, called Chai-vy and Cohen-y. Josh is here without his mishpocha but … with all the deets;l                                                                                                                                                         &nbsp

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show:·        The SNAP mess created during the recent government shutdown threatened 40 million Americans – among them, 16 million kids – with the loss of desperately needed funding for food. Food they count on for survival. Hunger across America – and across the DC area – remains a challenge. Radha Muthiah is the president and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank. She joins us for an update on the ongoing problem;                                                                                 ·        Former White House pastry chef Susan Limb is co-owner of the Praline Bakery & Bistro in Bethesda and at The Wharf. She’s celebrating Praline’s 20th anniversary in April -- and we’re going to do the run-up celebration today;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ·        Greg Engert – globally famous partner and beer director at NRG – on ways to give during the holidays; ·        Chris Powers, partner/owner at the Juneberry Garage, a tavern-style bar and restaurant in The Parks at Walter Reed;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ·        Eric Lawson, director of food and beverage for the Singing Tiger, the new restaurant and bar recently opened in the lower level of the Hotel Nell in the Union Market District.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show:·        He’s a true Renaissance man in the food world. You’ve seen him on PBS and all sorts of national media … and now Chef Gregorio Fierro is here on Foodie and the Beast. He is a certified master Instructor for the Scuola Italiana Pizzaioli, an authority on Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine, and co-owner of Wagyu Sommelier, a Florida-based purveyor of authentic Japanese Wagyu beef;                                                                                                                                                             ·        Marriott’s Bonvoy Moments. Here to talk about them is Chef Stephen Toevs, VP Culinary, Global Operations, Marriott International;                                                                                                                        ·        Mel Johnson, executive director, The Storehouse, a fresh food bank that started in 2022 in Prince George’s County. It is the nation’s first Black-run food bank;                                                            ·        Gardner Douglas, the "Oyster Ninja," a professional oyster shucker and personality from the Washington, D.C. area,                                                                                                                                                                                                       ·        And we’re talking beer. Kyle Farrelly is here. He’s the GM at Atlas Brew Works and the new Atlas Bridge District Brewery & Tap Room.                   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show: ·        One of the hottest new restaurants in D.C. is K Street’s Barbouzzard, French for “secret agent”. Inspired by the French Riviera, this place is just as hot. Barbouzzard’s creator and principal managing partner, Nasr El Hage, and executive chef and partner – and one of our favorite guys in the world - Cedric Maupillier – join us;                                                                                                                                                                                              ·        Tysons Corner’s Tower Club is a Northern Virginia legend sitting on the 17th Floor of a beltway landmark – the high-rise building that looks like a shopping bag. The Tower Club recently underwent a multi-million-dollar reinvention, including its menu. Vinny Mauriello, City Clubs’ senior VP and national food and beverage director joins us with all the delicious details;                                                                                                                    ·        Caviar is undeniably one of the world’s great delicacies. But what do you really know about it and its origins? Alboroz Tajik, owner of Northern Virginia’s celebrated Merolin Caviar, is in with tastes and talk of his amazing offering of imperial osetra and imperial gold caviar;  ·        And we’re gonna need something good to wash down all that caviar. Fortunately, Anna Valero and Brian McGahey are in with cocktails from District Still and Supply – shh … a speakeasy … that will do the trick.                                                      See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David Nellis.   On today’s show: ·        So timely a guest and a subject. Brian Mulholland, chairman of the John S. Mulholland Family Foundation, whose mission is very straightforward -- to ensure local food pantries have the resources they need to support food-insecure families with dignity and respect. He is joined by Christianne Ricchi; ·        Chef Tadayoshi Motoa of the Omakase Room by Tadayoshi. Chef Tadayoshi has held leadership roles in cities such as Madrid, London, Jakarta, Osaka and Copenhagen. As executive chef at Toki in Madrid he earned a Michelin star within six months of opening. This is Chef’s first U.S. venture;        ·        Moxies is a premium casual restaurant whose menu focuses on house-made ingredients with a "global inspiration." Brandon Thordarson is Moxies’ Washington D.C. franchise owner and a partner at Elevated Hospitality. Moxies has 58 locations in the U.S. and Canada. It is opening an  8,000+ sq. ft. flagship restaurant early in December, in the heart of  D.C.’s Dupont Circle neighborhood;                                                                                                                                            ·        Cynthia Phillipe and Brandon Shackelford join us from the West End’s a.kitchen restaurant+bar.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.On today’s show: ·        A grecophile is someone with a strong affinity for Greek culture. Well, no one has a stronger affinity for Greece -- and Greek and Mediterranean cuisine -- than chef, cookbook author and beloved PBS TV host Diane Kochilas. She has a lot to share -- a new book just out titled “Athens: Food, Stories, Love.” And she just ushered in a new season – Season 5!! - of her beloved PBS show, “My Greek Table;”                                                                                                                                                            ·        National food and travel writer -- and now author -- Stephanie Burnette has a new book, “100 Things to Do in Greenville, SC Before You Die.” – and, as it turns out, there is a whole lot to do;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ·        John Norman is the co-founder and CEO of Norman's Farm Market, one of our favorite and frequent stops.  It’s fresh veggies and fruits, cheeses, yummy breads and lots more. John’s joins us with welcome news about winter markets; ·        Josh Jastrzembski, regional operations director and leader of the kitchen teams at Dig Inn, the fast-casual restaurant brand serving seasonal scratch-cooked comfort food that has just opened its second D.C. location in the West End;                         ·        The Press Club is D.C.’s hot, new record bar and cocktail lounge from the team of Will Patton, Devin Kennedy and Hive Hospitality.     See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show: ·        Dr. David Nutt is the chief scientific officer of both GABA Labs and SENTIA Spirits. A world-renowned neuropsychopharmacologist, he founded GABA Labs in 2016 to develop scientifically validated alternatives to alcohol by targeting the GABA system, the brain’s natural mechanism for relaxation and sociability. And we try some to see just how sociable we can get;                                                                                                                                                   ·        Georgetown continues to hop with new restaurants to try and love. Rimtang is the newest concept from the YUME Hospitality Group, created by culinary director Chef Saran “Peter” Kannasute and his mother,Executive Chef Prapit “Mama” La Femina. We’ll be tasting and talking about Rimtang’s many yummy Thai choices; ·        Husband and wife team David Harris and Megan Draheim are co-founders of the new Song Dog Farm Distillery, 29 acres of fun and hard work in the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve, dedicated to bringing grain-to-glass spirits to Montgomery County;                                                                                                                                                                                                          ·        Michelle Lim Warner, co-founder and CEO of DCanter, a Capitol Hill fixture and a great little wine shop near Eastern Market. We drink some of Michelle’s wines today.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show: ·        Confused about “eating vegan” or what a vegan lifestyle – like beauty, skincare, or clothing - includes and excludes? Not to worry. Joining us is Angela Yvonne, host of Vegan Pop Eats; ·        Viyas Sundaram is the founder of the Middleburg Barrel Company, makers of 1787 Provenance Bourbon, a new brand blending tradition and innovation;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ·        Iesha Holy, board chair at Georgetown Main Street, is in with details on the Fifth Annual Georgetown Cookie Tour - “The Sweetest Tour of Georgetown;”                                                                                                                                                                                                          ·        Nothing warms your belly like rum on a crisp autumn day. So, we’ve invited Jordan Cotton, founder and president of Cotton and Reed, D.C.’s first rum distillery.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show: ·        The mystery man who for 25 years has been The Washington Post’s celebrated food critic, Tom Siestema. He recently announced his impending departure to so he can spend the rest of his life not hiding out… or something like that. You’ll get the whole story when Tom joins us;                                                                                          •      Irena Stein of Baltimore’s celebrated Alma Cocina Latina. It’s said that stepping into Alma feels like entering a vibrant Venezuelan home filled with art, greenery, and warmth; Food writer and restaurant critic David Hagedorn joins us to talk about this year’s Chefs for Equality event;              ·        Richard Hanauer, beverage partner at RPM Italian in D.C., which  has just debuted a collection of three expertly blended single-vineyard wines, available exclusively at RPM Restaurant locations.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show:·        Alyssa Taylor, Director, Brand + Consumer Marketing at Penguin / Random House Publishing. She’s with us to discuss the upcoming Banned Books Week national celebration Oct. 5-11. The goal is to take action, save our stories, and preserve First Amendment rights by giving away free banned books to these communities and beyond;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ·        Mike Curtin, CEO, DC Central Kitchen, is in with all the details of the annual Capital Food Fight, coming up Thursday, Nov. 6 at The Anthem! This year’s celebrity guests include Amanda Freitag, Roy Yamaguchi, Eric Adjepong, Rocco DiSpirito, Ryan Zimmerman and our hosts Spike Mendelsohn and Tommy McFly; ·        Meghan Trossen, Senior Manager, Marketing & Community Affairs, Global Workplace Services, Capital One in to talk about the Capital One Center’s signature programming, community partnerships and the upcoming festival;                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ·        Chef Daniel Perron is with us – he’s formerly the Executive Chef at Charlie Palmer Steakhouse, Trummer's, and Whaley's. Now he has opened his own place. It’s Locavore, a seasonal New American restaurant in historic downtown Fredericksburg;                                                                                                                      ·        Sam Nellia, head bartender at the Silver Lyan, a Rammy Award winner and, maybe even better, a recent selection to the prestigious North America's 50 Best Bars. They recently introduced a new cocktail menu, the result of  months of research and tinkering, and he’s in

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show: ·        Victoria Wu of Cakes by Happy Eatery;·        Selva Chef Giovanni Orellana;·        Louie Jocson of California Fish Grill;·        And, to celebrate the Taste of Bethesda, Stephanie Coppula, director of marketing and communications, Bethesda Urban Partnership, along with Ruslan Falkov, co-founder, and Victoria Bespalchuk, from the award-winning Ruta Ukrainian Restaurant on Cordell Avenue.      See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

• Talk about the Dynamic Argentinian Duo! - Renato “Tato” Giovannoni is one of the world’s most celebrated bartenders. In fact, not long ago, when all lead bartenders from the prestigious, World’s 50 Best Bars were asked to name the one person who has done more to further the art of bartending than any Tato’s name topped the list. • And his partner is Alex Resnik, former senior partner at Wolfgang Puck’s globally acclaimed Fine Dining Group by any measure one of the world’s leading creators of exciting dining experiences – They have joined to bring two spectacular, Argentine hospitality concepts -- Florería & Brasero Atlántico – to DC by way of Buenos Aires, Barcelona, and Bahrain.  Joining them is their chef, Manuela Carbone;      • Werten Bellamy of Great Oak Manor, a delightful, 12-room boutique hotel located in Chestertown, Maryland, overlooking the Bay        • Christian Irabién, chef/owner of DC’s Amparo Fondita. Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off on September 15th, and Mexico’s Independence Day celebrations start September 16th. So, Amparo Fondita is marking the month with a series of special dishes, cocktails, chef collaborations, and a fundraiser.       • Hospitality and spirits consultant Ashley McPherson is in to mix up some tasty cocktails and fill us in on the upcoming 9th Annual BOWSFest – the Black Owned Wine and Spirits Festival back on October 4th. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show: ·        A trip down memory lane - Mary Quillian, owner of Capitol Hill’s legendary Mr. Henry’s, which opened in 1966. It’s where Robert Flack was discovered and there’s a lot still going on there;                                                                                                        ·        Alaska’s Bristol Bay has the world’s most abundant wild sockeye salmon fishery, contributing over half of the global supply. Bristol Bay has been at the center of controversy often  across the past two decades. Home to more than 30 million salmon spawning annually, it is threatened by the Pebble Mine. Casey Coupchiak is a Yup'ik commercial salmon fisher from Togiak, Alaska who has fished in Bristol Bay for 16 years. She’s in with news about the upcoming Bristol Bay Salmon Week, a celebration of the health and wealth of that unique region;                                                                                                                                                  ·        Florencia (Flor) Agrazo is owner of Georgetown’s Flor. Coffee + Books. There you’ll find Buenos Aires–inspired café culture. amazing coffees, snacks and pastries -- and a placid atmosphere for finding and sampling some great reads; ·        Living or hanging out in Clarendon? Check out Westville, the seasonal veggie-forward, but not veggie-exclusive, restaurant founded by Jay Strauss more than 20 years ago in New York City. Jay joins us with his take on balancing tasty vegetable dishes with traditional faves like burgers and mac and cheese.                                                                                                                    Mixing cocktails for us is Devin Felli of 14th Street’s Bresca;        See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show: ·        Shawn Townsend of RAMW on the evolving policing situation in D.C.;                                                                                                                                                                                     ·        Zed Wondemu, a former restaurateur, talking about her first memoir, “Slanted Justice;”                                                                                                                                                                                ·        Urara Iwasaki, the chef-owner of Georgetown’s Koryouri Urara, describes her tasting menu rooted in Japanese homestyle cooking;                                                                                                                                              ·        Greg Heitzig, executive chef and general manager of The Fountain Inn in Georgetown, acquainting us with this 18th-century tavern, reborn as a rare and vintage spirits tasting room, whiskey bar and restaurant;                                                                                                                                         ·         Todd Thrasher, the celebrated barman-turned-rum-distiller, talking about his tiki place at The Wharf.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

 Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show: ·         Cheetie Kumar, chef/owner of award-winning Ajja, in Raleigh, N.C.; Board Member and Vice President, Independent Restaurant Coalition, which is launching two first-of-their-kind grant programs:                               o   The first Disaster Relief Fund designed by and for independent restaurants and;o   An “Innovator Awards” for independent restaurants and bars doing innovative things to help their teams and communities;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ·        There‘s a lot of good chatter about the inventive Thai dishes served at Birdsong. Chef Kitima Boonmala is in and we’re gonna make her tell us all her secrets for tasty Thai cuisine;                                                                                                                         ·        Victoria Simmerling of Scale Hospitality, who is developing the food and beverage program at D.C.’s new Sixty hotel;                                                                                                                                                                ·        Lead bartender Lily Heredia of D.C.’s Gaia Supperclub, which opened in April, offering Mediterranean and Latin fusion cuisine with immersive entertainment inspired by nightlife experiences in Mykonos, Dubai, and Saint-Tropez.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show: ·        Erin Hildreth, VP of communications for Responsibility.org, which works to eliminate both underage drinking and drunk driving and to promote responsible alcohol consumption. They have a cool app --The Virtual Bar -- a great tool to use before your first sip to plan how to pace your imbibing for a safe night out;                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ·        Here’s an old and good friend back on the show - Francesco Amodeo, founder of the acclaimed Italian liqueur distillery Don Ciccio & Figli, is a consultant for the new concept, Tarì Trattoria, in Washington, D.C.’s Union Market District. Two decades in the making, Tari is a love letter to the simple, bold flavors of his hometown of Furore, Italy, on the Amalfi Coast near Salerno;                                                                                                                                                        ·        You know Reid Shilling and his wife, Sara Quinteros, from their waterfront restaurant, the Shilling Canning Company. Not long ago they had a bird-brained idea to also open a stall in the Union Market District to pay homage to the crispy fried chicken that's so famously rooted in Amish culture. It’s Fancy Ranch Amish Fried Chicken. And we’ll be taste-testing it on air!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ·        Unless you live under a ro

 Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show: ·        Paul Carlson of Lulu's Winegarden (three-time RAMMY finalist for "Wine Program of the Year");                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ·        If you’ve been wondering whether there’s a day dedicated to celebrating the almighty, delicious oyster, there is. National Oyster Day is Aug. 5, and Rick Allison, the chef/owner of the King Street Oyster Bar, is in with the details you need;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ·        Gianna Biscontini, a clinical behavior analyst and the founder of Expanded Women’s Health + Wellness, offering a transformative mental health and wellness experience tailored for women, the AFAB community and male allies of female-focused spaces; ·        Gelato is an artisanal gelateria serving the yummiest, fresh gelato and sorbet. There’s a new store coming to 14th Street this winter to join Pitango’s other stores around the DC Metro area. Dinah Bengur, Pitango’s CEO, is in with the sweets and the deets.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.On today’s show: ·        Shawn Townsend. President and CEO of  RAMW on Initiative 82, the RAMMYs and more;                                                        ·        Matt Hetrick, president and owner of accounting firm Harmony Group, the premier restaurant-focused accounting firm in the US. He acts as CFO for more than 150 hospitality businesses around the U.S.;                                                                                ·        Kyle Francis, co-founder and COO of Picnic, a fast-growing startup that acquires small food brands from founders who are looking to hand over the reins;                                                                                                                                                                                ·        Michael Riojas, beveragedDirector at Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen and Bar in Alexandria.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show:·        Agave, baby! Mitchell Linton, CEO, Tony Ajayi, president, and Zachary Spence, CMO – all of 3708 American Agave Spirits –talking the difference between tequila and agave spirits;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ·        They are husband and wife. And they are incredibly talented chefs who are getting handfuls of accolades heaped on them. They are Matt Conroy and Isabel Coss and they’re teamed with our friend, much-admired restaurateur Omar Popal, in two of the city’s most celebrated restaurants, Lutece and Pascual. In the course of things, both Matt and Isabel are themselves in the spotlight with James Beard and Rammy nominations. How do they do it and keep restaurants innovative and love alive? Matt and Isabel join us to reveal all;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ·        Owning a restaurant is in Tim Ma’s blood. Trained as an electrical engineer, he chucked it all, went to culinary school, opened a tiny spot in Vienna, Virginia that blew up and .. the rest is history. Today, Tim has his hands in a lot of projects. The newest is Lucky Danger in Chinatown, billed as an American Chinese restaurant brought to us by a Chinese American chef;                                                                                                                          &n

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show:·        D.C’.s storied Mayflower Hotel is gearing up to celebrate its centennial with all sorts of special activities – and libations. Joe Nacci, the beverage director, and MaCauly Cacioppo, the food and beverage operations manager,  join us;                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ·        Award-winning broadcaster Tommy McFly and his husband, brand marketing guru Chrys Kefalas. Along with their day jobs, these guys are ice cream entrepreneurs, and they’re in with tastes and talk of their Greek yogurt-based ice cream -Yala Greek Ice Cream – and their new brick and mortar opening in Georgetown in about three weeks.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ·        Living online, are you? Then you probably know executive chef and cookbook author Matt Price --but maybe by another name. His millions of Instagram and YouTube followers know him as Mr. Make It Happen. He’s just opened Fraiche (French for “fresh”) on 14thSt. NW in Columbia Heights, offering his take on the fusion of French, Cajun, South American, and Caribbean cuisines – and he’s got some kick-ass ice cream happening there , too;·        And we throw a shout-out to Ruth Gresser of Pizzeria Paradiso fame. She is a truly special person, a D.C. icon, a community-building, delicious food-serving legend.  We congratulate her, as RAMW will bestow the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award on her this year at the RAMMYs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show:·        Carlos Delgado is the celebrated chef/owner of Peruvian restaurants Causa and Amazonia in Blagdon Alley. Last Monday, Chef Carlos won a 2025 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. He's the only D.C. area chef to win a James Beard Award this year and he’s in with us to tell you all about it;.                                                                                                             ·        Meg Schiffman, co-founder and CEO, the Farmside Kitchen, serving up Americana-style greens and grain bowls that are made from scratch and packed with vibrant vegetables, house-made dressings and thoughtfully sourced proteins;                                                                                                                                                                                                ·        Alex Demas, a political reporter for The Dispatch, a conservative online magazine. Conservative or not, Alex obviously has a wilder side, having penned a piece called “In Better Spirits: Meet the Architects of Washington’s Cocktail Renaissance.” We meet Alex, hear about his work and find out how he researched the article and managed to stay upright;                                                                                                                                                                   ·        Proudly putting her own, modern spin on African culinary traditions, Ndidi Agu is the founder and CEO of Silver Spring’s Cafe Shuga, an African-inspired coffee bar, and its sister concept, Shuga x Ice, an African-inspired ice cream and frozen dessert shop.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show:· Jo-Jo Valenzuela, executive chef/ managing partner at Tiki on 18th, a unique cocktail bar that blends Polynesian and Filipino cultures in original cocktails and tiki classics, all complemented by Filipino food favorites; · Leah Culley, founder and head pastry chef of Sweet Almond French macarons; · Fatema Issa, general manager and managing partner of Vera Cocina & Bar, where the menu is a tribute to the unexpected connection between Lebanon and Mexico, inspired by Lebanese migration to Veracruz in the 19th century; · Michelin-starred Chef Masaaki “Uchi” Uchino and co-owner Dean Mosones of Bar Japonais, where blends of Japanese cuisine and French influences delight; · Derek Battle of Flave, an app that rewards users for posting photos of their food and drinks at local restaurants. Tune in to hear about Flave’s Pride Month promotion -- you can turn your food photos into extra rewards and highlight LGBTQ+ owned restaurants.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: · Carol D’Agostino, the Main Street manager for Centreville, on Maryland Crafted, an event formerly known as DrinkMaryland, featuring 40 Free State makers of wine and other alcoholic beverages; · Kiernan Slater, owner and manager of Slater Run Vineyards in Upperville , Virginia, on celebrating 10 years in business; · Nick Pimentel, co-owner, and Tyson Barrett, executive chef, Restaurant Elle in D.C.’s Mount Pleasant, one of the city’s great eateries; · Jennifer McCloud, proprietor of the Ag District, once known as the Chrysalis Vineyards in Middleburg, Virginia, a registered agricultural and forestal district -- now also home to a working dairy and artisanal creamery and a restaurant –on her journey into diversified and integrated farming; · Ryan Ross -- chef, consultant, culinary producer and author – on how a spiral into poor health and challenging pregnancies turned into a mighty rebound, thanks to a physical and mental health regimen that works. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’ show: · We talk about the ICE raids on Washington, D.C. restaurants with Jessica Sidman, food editor for Washingtonian magazine; · Avalon Oona Haas is the Mid-Atlantic regional sales manager for the Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, founded many moons ago by our friends Scott and Becky Harris. We’ll be sipping Catoctin Creek Rye in a range of libations and, if you’re lucky, telling you all about it; · Jon Krinn is the chef/owner at Elyse, a 30-seat “culinary speakeasy” in Fairfax, where Jon says he has fun exploring global products, techniques and combinations he’s never before used. What does the world say about what he’s up to? Well, Tom Sietsema for one says, “Elyse is a cocoon of comfort from a chef at the top of his game;” · Sarah Ahn is America’s Test Kitchen’s social media manager, creator of the Ahnest Kitchen website, and author of The New York Times bestselling cookbook “Umma.” She records her experiences on Instagram and TikTok of living with her Korean immigrant parents, chronicling her mother’s cooking, grocery shopping trips, and more; · Greg Engert is the beer director and partner at the Neighborhood Restaurant Group – the guys with some of your favorite restaurants, like Evening Star, Vermillion, the Iron Gate, the Blue Jacket and Caruso. NRG is participating in this year’s Virginia Wine Festival with chef-driven food pairings that complement the wine selections. Greg’s in to tell us about all the dining to go along with the wining. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’ show: · · Sixteen years ago, who knew that Fatima and Omar Popal would rise to become two of DC’s most prominent restaurateurs? Back then, their now-legendary Café Bonaparte was just finding its way. Today, the Popal Group’s celebrated restaurants include Lapis, Pascual, Lutece and Lapop, three of which are 2025 RAMMY nominees. Their beverage director, Suzy Critchlow, a home run hitter in her own right, is in with the 411 on their RAMMY nominations, news about their new restaurant opening in Adams Morgan this year, and to mix up some of the Popal Group’s most popular cocktails; · If you’re a D.C. small business owner or an entrepreneur with dreams of standing up your dream business, snap to and listen up. Dr. Linda Wharton Boyd, the chief communications officer at the D.C. Health Benefit Exchange Authority, is in with details about the upcoming 11th annual POWER UP DC small business summit. Learn how to access start-up capital and chase D.C. procurement contracts, network for partnering and biz dev opportunities and … more; · We’ve known our friend and neighbor, Jarrad Silver, for years. You’ve known him as the guy whose food truck dishes out all that incredible barbecue. But … do you know that Jarrad is now executive chef and owner of Silver & Sons BBQ, his new brick and mortar restaurant in Bethesda? Jarrad’s in the house today to tell us all about it, accompanied by some of the finest BBQ on the East Coast. And don’t worry – the food truck is still out there;· · Ever felt cruddy and reached out to Prescription Chicken to cure what ails you? We have, thanks to two other old friends of the show, Prescription Chicken’s cofounders,,Valerie Zweig and Taryn Pellicone. They’ve hatched a great new product called Cookstix. These are dehydrated instant stock sticks made with real ingredients. You’ll get the 411 on cooking with Cookstix and some insights on how these two crafty entrepreneurs are succeeding despite the current rocky state of the supply chain and ingredients pricing;· · And last, but hardly least, we have a legend in studio - Domenico Cornacchia, is the executive chef at Jackie’s in the Navy Yard. As many of you know, Chef Domenico spent many, many celebrated years running the kitchen at the Café Milano. Of course, you’ll hear about what he’s cooking up in his new kitchen at Jackie’s. But we’re also hoping to pry some juicy gossip from him about days of old and the nights of celebrity sightings – and canoodling - at the Café Milano. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’ show: · There's a cherry blossom-themed cocktail competition coming your way, sponsored by High Road Spirits Importers. In with the details is Jennifer Nellis, the Mid-Atlantic market manager for High Road Spirits, and competition finalists John Cooper, the general manager at D.C.’s Vagabond Kitchen & Bar and the bar manager at Prost, Lucy Valenti, the bar manager at the Residents Café & Bar, and Kevin Cornejo,the beverage director at Mita; · Our good buddy, Danny Lledó, is the talented chef/owner of the Michelin-starred Taller del Xiquet, where awesome Mediterranean-inspired dishes rule. ChefDanny is in today with a preview of his upcoming Easter menu; · Recent budget cuts by the feds have put a harsh spotlight on the increasingly difficult task of feeding folks living on the margins. Kate Urbank, site director for Food Rescue US – DC , is in with info about Food Waste Prevention Week, April 7–13 -- and local activities that will help raise awareness and save tens of thousands of pounds of food for folks in need; · Another good friend of the show is in. D.C. restaurateur Hakan Ilhan (Brasserie Liberté, Ottoman Taverna, Il Piatto, Al Dente, and more) gives us the 411 on his newest restaurant, Alara, an hommage to cuisine from Turkey, Greece and the Levant. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’ show: · The recent RAMW member survey looking into rising costs due to federal workforce cuts and related customer traffic declines has really gotten people's attention. Shawn Townsend, president and CEO of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, joins us to talk about the state of the business in our region;. · A family-owned and -run business, Loew Vineyards is the fourth oldest winery in Maryland, producing award-winning dry wines and meads. But that’s only the second half of the story. Rachel Loew Lipman of Loew Vineyards is in to pour some great wines and recount a family history you won't want to miss; · We said bye-bye to Booeymongers in Georgetown and wondered what would replace it – and a wonder has. Say hello to La Bonne Vache, French for “the good cow.” It’s the newcorner bistro featuring traditional French entree dishes disguised as burgers andsandwiches. Operating Partners Ari and Claire Wilder are in with tastes andtalk of La Bonne Vache; · If this is Foodie and the Beast, it must be time for Phil Greene to be back on the show! A true Renaissance man, Phil is by day the trademark counsel for the U.S. Marine Corpsat the Pentagon. By whatever isn’t day he’s an award-winning cocktail historian,author and one of the founders of the Museum of the American Cocktail in NewOrleans. Stay with us for saucy and sour cocktail talk with Phil; Cordelia Fishbar in the Union Market District is the newest concept from Clyde’sRestaurant Group. Chef Ramon Rivera is the executive sous chef, Sonya Znati is thegeneral manager, and both are here with the 411 on Cordelia Fishbar. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’ show: · Inspired by Oscar Wilde, Wilde Irish Gin is distilled by Ireland’s first female master distiller. Billy Ray, Wilde Irish Gin’s brand director, and Lathan Kornegay, the brand ambassador, are in with tastes and talk of Wilde Irish Gin; · Just opened in Logan Circle by the owners of Wunder Garten in NoMa, the Barrel House promises to be a bar and dining experience you’ll not soon forget. Founders Biva Ranjeet and Chris Lynch are in with details about their vision for Barrel House; · Newly ensconced at the WIllowsong restaurant in the InterContinental Hotel, Chef Jeffrey Williams cooks up tasty seasonal fare featuring fresh takes on our region’s bounty.Stick around to hear all about Willowsong, Chef Jeffrey’s vision for deliciousdining, his take on new approaches to sustainability and more; · Elevated Southern cuisine, comfort and charm are the cornerstone delights at D.C.’s Mallard, where South Carolina-born Chef Hamilton Johnson – you may remember him from his many years at Vidalia – puts his stamp on the food cultures of the AmericanSouth. Chef Hamilton is in to give us all the Mallard 411.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’ show: · Dan Ziegler, founder of the Chacho Distillery in Takoma Park, with his special take on Colombian aguardiente; · Dani Mathey , COO of the 801 Restaurant Group, which has opened its first East Coast restaurant, the 801 Chophouse in Tysons Corner; · Moe Yamada, also known as the Kimono Mom. She is a former maiko (apprentice geisha) turned YouTuber, entrepreneur, and mother. Through her global platform, she shares the beauty of Japanese home cooking and culture, connecting with audiences from 192countries; · Julie Verratti, the chief brand officer for Denizens Brewing, joinsus with new executive chef Shannan Troncoso to chat about what’s cookingat the brewery.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’ show: · There’s been a lot of talk about tariffs on a range of imported goods – some think that’s a good thing, and others think it’ll harm many sectors of the economy. Since we’re a food and wine show, we want to focus on how wine tariffs could causedisruption and harm to our favorite restaurants and bars. · In today for a spirited roundtable discussion are esteemed panel members, all of whom come from the world of wine. · Joining us are names you know: · Erik Segelbaum, vice president of the United Sommeliers Foundation and owner of Swig Partners; · Vanessa Cominsky, sommelier and beverage specialist at the Prestige Ledroit Distributing Company; · Michael Scaffidi, an advanced sommelier whose resume includes meaningful time at the French Laundry, the Union Square Café and Jean-Georges; · Brent Kroll of Maxwell and Pop-Fizz. Most recently, Brent was named a 2018 Food & Wine sommelier of the year. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’ show: · The Plant Magic Bottle Shop at the Union Market is a wonder. Owner Anahata Sabat has a shop filled with functional mocktails that uplift, revitalize, enhance connection and elevate your mood, all without the hangover; · One of our favorite chefs, Neal Wavra, also is a wine expert. Neal is the proprietor, chef and sommelier of the fabulous Field &Main Restaurant in Marshall, Virginia and CEO of the Red Truck Bakery acrossthe street. Neal’s in for some fun, including a blind wine tasting; · An old friend and actually one of our first guests on F&TB almost 16 years ago, Dan Simons, is co-founder of the Founding Farmers Restaurant Group. Dan’s in with lots ofFounding Farmers news, but also for a discussion of broader issues that affecthis and every business in and out of hospitality, including how business ownerscan and should navigate issues like mental health and menopause in theworkplace. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’ show: · Bar Betsie wants to be your new rooftop home away from home cocktail bar in the Union Market District. It's prepping for a March opening. We’ll have tastes and talk of Bar Betsie with owners JP Sabatier, Ralph Brabham and Drew Porterfield, and bar managerCourtney Taylor; · If you love oysters, the King Street Oyster Bar has loads of ‘em. Founder Rick Allison is in with news about growth, success and how he selects and brings in fresh oysters fromboth the West and East Coasts of the U.S. and Canada; · She was born Andra Johnson. We call her AJ, and she’s one of D.C.’s all-star bartenders and one of our best buddies . She’s the bar director and partner at Serenata in the UnionMarket District (at La Cosecha) and she’s in with news about the upcoming “CoquitoWars,” featuring Puerto Rico’s distinctive coconut milk egg nog with a kick of rum; · Stephanie Coppula is the director of marketing for the Bethesda Urban Partnership. She’s the one who puts together the annual Savor Bethesda Restaurant Week, one of the area’s best. She’s in with Reyna Guardado, co-owner of Guardado’s on Del RayAvenue, and they tell us all about it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’ show: · U.S. Navy vet Mark McLaughlin is a co-founder of Baltimore’s Old Line Spirits, a second-generation veteran-owned distillery. Old Line is one of the oldest producers of American single malt whiskey, which has just become the first new category of whiskey to be recognized by the U.S. government in over 50 years; · Gus May, co-owner of La Tejana, a Tex-Mex breakfast taco shop inMount Pleasant, joins us. More than 30 million egg-laying chickens have beenkilled to stop the spread of avian flu. Maybe it’s working, maybe not. But theend result is that the national egg supply is radically diminished and pricesare skyrocketing. Gus will gives us his perspective from the retail level; · Esquire calls him “the chef who redefined Vietnamese cuisine in America.” Kevin Tien of Moon Rabbit joins us to discuss pho and other aspects of his culinary work; · Ferzan Jaeger is the founder and owner of Olive and Loom in Kensington, Maryland and the District Candle Lab in Northeast D.C. You’ll hear how you can see how fragrance candles are made.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’ show: · If you don’t know how nationally prominent Virginia wines are … wake up! Leah Papadopoulos Constable, a third-generation descendant of Old World winemakers, is the operations and production manager at her family’s vineyard and winery, Molon Lave, in Warrenton. She’s got a great story to tell – and wines to sip – and we’re gonna get into both; · Michael Schlow is one of the most influential and respected chef/restaurateurs in America today and the owner of the Schlow Restaurant Group, with propertoes across the Washington D.C. area and New England. He’s in to talk about the new version of Alta Strada Embassy Row, now open in the Canopy Hilton; · Falls Church has an awesome restaurant week happening right now, and its mayor, Letty Hardi, is in with chef/owner Thomas Harvey of Harvey's Restaurant to give us all the deets.; · Do you love Greek-style pitas made by hand with unbleached flour, extra virgin Greek olive oil, and lots of love? Katerina Georgallas is the founder/co-owner of Union Market’s Mastiha Taverna, specializing in wraps, mezze and salads. And pastries, too! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show:A roundtable discussion about the latest news and trends shaping the local food scene, with: · Tom Sietsema, The Washington Post's food critic since 2000; · Jessica Sidman, who covers the people and trends behind D.C.’s food and drink scene. Before joining the Washingtonian in July 2016, she was a food editor and columnist at the Washington City Paper; · Nevin Martell, a D.C.-based food, travel, culture and parenting writer, a recipe developer and a photographer. You’ve seen his work in the Washington Post, Wine Enthusiastmagazine, on the Travel Channel, National Public Radio and elsewhere. He is the author of eight books, including “The Red Truck Bakery Cookbook: Gold-Standard Recipes from America’s Favorite Rural Bakery,” “ The Founding Farmers Cookbook” and the small-press smash “Looking for Calvin and Hobbes: The Unconventional Story of Bill Watterson and His Revolutionary Comic Strip;” · Anna Spiegel, city reporter and food writer for Axios D.C. We also sample drinks offered by Pedro J. Rodríguez, the cofounder of the Grand Cata Latin American Wine club.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: · Tahmina Ghaffer, the vice-president of operations and marketing at Paraíso, Capitol Hill’s Mexican taqueria, has us sipping primo mezcal; · The co-owners of Daru, Executive Chef Suresh Sundas and Beverage Director Dante Datta, are taking us from the traditional Indian cuisine they are serving in Northeast D.C. to their new spot, Tapori, which will offer some of the delicious street food of India; · The Lunar New Year is upon us Wednesday, Jan. 29. Joiningus with the inside scoop on how to celebrate it are owner Tuyet-Nhi Le, ChefDaniel Le and Beverage Director Kevin Lim from Happy Endings Hospitality. Two of their many properties, Nue: Elegantly Vietnamese and Chasin’ Tails, have Lunar New Year’s celebrations teed up that you’ll definitely want to know about; Driven by rage that Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing led to radical – or radicallyconservative – changes to the U.S. Supreme Court, hot sauce connoisseur EmilyRoe founded Female Rage, a hot sauce brand inspired by the belief that “women’sanger can be turned into a bold, flavorful force of change.” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: · Clyde Davis, general managerand investor in Housebar, the very cool beer, spirits and wine store dedicatedto elevating the home entertainment experience. Clyde has just opened itssecond location, in Georgetown; · Shawn Townsend is president and CEO of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. He’s in with a 2025 forecast of new dining experiences,news about Winter Restaurant Week, what to expect across the local dining sceneand … more; · In partnership with her husband, Micah Wilder, Johanna Hellrigl, chef/owner at Ama (the Italian informal imperative of the verb “to love”) has created a focacceria and ristorante that bring to life the flavors of her Northern Italian roots; · And, speaking of dynamic wife-and-husband partnerships, Gina Chersevani and Neil Dundee are in with expansion news for 2025, samplings and more from their celebrated Buffalo & Bergen, a great hangout inspired by the soda shops of yesteryear (creamsoda, anyone?); · New York’s Minetta Tavern is a hospitality icon. Originally opened in 1937 and frequented by various hangers-out with names you know … like Hemingway, O'Neill, e. e. cummingsand Dylan Thomas. Now, thanks to Keith McNally, this Parisian-steakhouse-meets-classic-New-York-City-tavern concept has a second home at the Union Market. Laurent Kalkotour is the Tavern’s executive chef and Roberta Delice is the director of operations. Both are partners in this venture -- and they join us to talk about it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.