Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.

On today’s show:

·        Molly Irani, cofounder and chief culture officer of the James Beard Award–winning Chai Pani Restaurant Group and author of her debut book, “Service Ready: A Story of Love, Restaurants, and the Power of Hospitality.” It’s about how Molly and husband Meherwan Irani (founder of Spicewalla and a James Beard Award-winning chef) took a leap of faith, learned to run a restaurant on the fly, and built one of America’s most celebrated restaurant groups;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

·        Happy 15th Anniversary, DC Brau!!! It’s Washington, D.C.'s first packaging brewery since 1956. Launched 15 years ago (in 2011), DC Brau has become one of the region's most recognized independent craft breweries, all the while championing local business, community engagement and the District's beer culture. Brandon Skall, DC Brau’s co-founder, is in to chat about the brewery’s sometimes challenging journey to success, anniversary beers, and some great no-alcohol options;

·        We’ve known her 20 years. She’s Chef Jamie Leeds, owner, Hank’s Oyster Bar and now Hank’s Pasta Bar in Old Town Alexandria. Jamie’s in with Clifton Brown, her general manager, with tastes and talk of Hank’s Pasta Bar;                                                                          

Syn Rooftop Bar and Lounge in a the AC Hotel in Reston has a cocktail program run by chef and sommelier  Che McKissic. We’ll have what he’s serving!

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Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.

On today’s show:

·        Tae Strain is the most excellent chef-partner at Burnt Hill Farm and culinary director of the Old Westminster Winery, both owned by the same family team. We met him many moons ago when he was the head chef at D.C.’s gone, but not forgotten, Michelin-starred Momofuku. We met up with him again for an excellent meal at his stunning new chef’s counter at the tasting room at Burnt Hill outside of Frederick;                                                                                                                             

·        Eater’s newest cookbook, “Eaterland: Recipes and Stories From Across the United States,” is now available for preorder. Edited by our good friends Missy Frederick, editorial director for Eater’s dining team across 23 cities, and cookbook contributor Tim Ebner,  it focuses on the iconic regional dishes that define American cuisine;                                                                                                                                                                              

·        David Lee is the award-winning executive chef and co-founder of PLANTA, a leading plant-based restaurant group with locations across North America including, of course, here in the DMV. Chef David’s 'Passport to Summer' menu is a curated itinerary of 15 new, globally-inspired dishes, drawing from the world's best coastal food cultures;                                                                               

Attorney Chipp Sandground heads a boutique law practice dedicated to the legal needs of restaurant and bar operators, wine shops and food retailers. He has worked with people you may have heard of, like our late great friend, Michel Richard, with whom he founded Central, now celebrating its 20th year in business. To help with Central’s 20th anniversary celebration, Chipp has curated an entirely new wine list of 50+ bottles, all priced under $100 and some as low as $35.  

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:

·        Chris Swonger is president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), the leading voice for distilled spirits across the U.S. market. He also holds the same positios with Responsibility.org, fighting drunk driving and underage drinking and promoting responsible attitudes toward alcohol. Chris is in with valuable insights into the state of the business in the spirits world and the DISCUS’ “Spirit Forward” Campaign celebrating America’s 250th anniversary;                                                                                                                                                                                     

·        Kelly Singer is in – she’s the founder of Skillette, a Georgetown-based cooking school and culinary lifestyle house created for serious home chefs -- and for chefs ready to get serious;                                                                                                                                                  

·        Foraging is fun and rewarding – and it leads to delicious treats. It also calls for patience and special knowledge. Daniel Perron, chef/owner of Fredericksburg’s highly touted Locavore Restaurant, and Gabrielle Cerberville, known to many of you as the Chaotic Forager or Mushroom Auntie, are in with foraging tips and more, including info about an upcoming dinner you will want to attend;                                                                                        

·        Our friend William Grace, an accomplished hospitality and event executive, is the director of sales and marketing at a special getaway spot, The Hotel at Arundel Preserve in Hanover, Maryland. These days, hotels large and small – the Preserve included – increasingly are offering innovative, immersive experiences like mood lighting, innovative menu cards (seeds that are plantable) and thought-provoking events transcending the standard party that follows the same boring formula. Fun is afoot… and William will tell all;                                                                                                                     

·        From NUE Elegantly Vietnamese Restaurant in Falls Church – - Happy Endings Hospitality CEO Tuyet Nhi Le and NUE Beverage Director Kevin Lim discuss and share some of NUE's new cocktail offerings.

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:

·        Regina McLinden , founder of RM Wellness in Georgetown – specializing in customized massage therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, and showcasing local art;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

·        Take a deep breath – because Tanya Saunders is here. Tanya is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist – a CRNA - a nervous system educator, and trauma-informed breathwork facilitator specializing in stress physiology, emotional regulation, and human behavior. Her work focuses on helping high-performing humans understand how chronic stress, the multitasking culture, and nervous system patterns shape performance, relationships, decision-making and overall well-being;                                                                                                                                                                                                     

·        It’s all about the skin! Dr. Arleen Lamba is founder and CEO of GLO30, a modern skincare studio revolutionizing skincare with AI-personalized, professional-grade treatments;                                                                              

·        Eva Cranford is a personal training manager with Equinox Wisconsin Avenue in Washington. Eva’s her with the 411 on Equinox’s ARC program - comprehensive personal training, nutrition coaching, & regeneration programming, focused on the whole & total health of women;    

·        Normally we have cocktails/wine/beer/spirits – today we’re going healthy with Greg Rozeboom and Fruitive. In 2012, Greg founded Fruitive, a 100% plant-based, organic fast-casual concept focused on fresh, made-from-scratch food and everyday wellness. We’ll have taste and talk of Fruitive throughout the show.

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 Bethesda Fine Arts Festival is back May 9 and 10, filling the streets with artisans from all over the U.S. and their original artwork, sculptures, photography and much more. Stephanie Coppula of the Bethesda Urban Partnership tells us all about it;                                                                                                     

·        If you don’t know even the broad details of Cava’s skyrocketing success, then … where have you been? Ike Grigoropoulos is a founder and partner in Cava and Wild Goat Hospitality, the full-service restaurant group from the creators of CAVA. With him is Aris Tsekouras is the executive chef at Bouboulina, Julii, Melina and Maurizio’s. Cava opened almost exactly two decades ago, and its rise has been the envy of the industry;

·        Dale Vaughn, owner of Pittsburgh’s Space Bar, a molecular cocktail bar joins us. He’s the founder of the MixBurgh Foundation, a new collaborative initiative in the craft cocktail and spirits scene in Western Pennsylvania.                                                                                                                                                                                                         

·        Tapori has brought the authentic flavors of South Asian street food to H Street Northeast. It‘s also brought Chef Suresh Sundas, a 2026 James Beard Foundation Finalist for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic. With him is Bar Director EJ Apaga, whose professional mission is challenging the predictable, and sometimes lifeless, world of spirit-free cocktails.

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:

·        Start-up and fledgling small businesses need all the helpful input and guidance they can get to succeed. Fortunately, the 2026 POWERUP DC Small Business Summit & Expo starts May 5. It’s designed to be an energizing, enriching event equipping small business owners and nonprofit leaders with the tools, insights, and connections they need to succeed. Dr. Linda Boyd is in with the details;                                                                                         

·        When Dalia’s Falafel first opened in Bethesda a couple of years ago, it started making waves almost immediately, so we had owner Ben Assaraf – a proud Walter Johnson High School grad! – join us. Since then, Dalia’s family-inspired Middle Eastern fare has continued to harvest a slew of loyal fans. So we’ve brought Ben and his buddy Zai Tajzai in for an update on Dalia’s finger-lickin’ good falafel;                                                                                           

·        We are also joined byTim Rowley, co-owner/comptroller for the Eat Drink Simply Group, which  owns Leesburg’s Wine Kitchen. It’s a great little wine bar offering an Italian-influenced menu rooted in seasonality, regional sourcing, and house-made pastas;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

·        Question: When is a strawberry festival truly sweet? When it’s the  3rd Annual Lincoln Strawberry Festival  at Wegmeyer Farm to fund important local causes and scholarships for high school students. Harriet Wegmeyer, co-owner of Wegmeyer Farm and organizer of The Lincoln Strawberry Festival, joins us with the deets;

·        And drinks? We ALWAYS have drinks – and we LOVE when it’s tequila! Today, Nelson Benavides and Antonio Fonseca are in with tastes and talk of Mosto Tequila, a Mexican-owned brand,produced with estate-grown agave in Los Altos de Jalisco. 

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:

·        Nevin Martell talks about Mess Hall NKOTB (that’s New Kitchens on the Block);                                                                                                                                                                                                          

·        2026 marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of Brennan’s in New Orleans, easily one of America’s most famous restaurants. Among many iconic offerings – including the invention of Bananas Foster -, breakfast at Brennan’s is a “thing” unlike any other. To celebrate 80 years, Brennan’s owner, Ralph Brennan, is taking to the road, collaborating with some of America’s other, time-honored restaurants. At the top of that list is DC’s Occidental, where a special three-day collaboration -- Breakfast at Brennan’s -- has been running all weekend. Ralph Brennan, joins us to talk about it;                                                                                                                                              

·        Hive Hospitality – that is, Michelin-Star chef Ryan Ratino and his beverage director, Will Patton, and their team – has added to the offering that includes  the one Michelin-Starred Bresca, two Michelin-starred JÔNT and a great cocktail bar, Press Club. It’s Ox & Olive in Georgetown, a fresh take on the classic American steakhouse. Chef Ryan and Will join us today;

·        Chris Morgan is the chef and co-owner of the great Persian restaurant, Joon, in Tysons Corner.  He’s a two-time James Beard Award semifinalist, and that shows! Joon has ranked in Washingtonian’s “100 Very Best Restaurants” every year since opening. So, Chris recently competed on “America's Culinary Cup,” where 16 of the country's most elite chefs compete;

·        Cody Yu, co-founder, Seven Teahouse in Leesburg, Virginia, which features a premium tea brand dedicated to sourcing and sharing authentic, high-quality teas from traditional tea-growing regions.

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:

·        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.

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:

·        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.