Nicole Izquierdo has deep memories of her grandmother making empanadas in Colombia for the family before moving to the United States, and that recipe is so great that, just a few months into dating, Julio De Silva encouraged her to start a business! That has evolved into the Latin Bites food truck that Nicole and Julio now operate together, introducing Omaha to the brilliance of Colombian cuisine. Hear their story and learn more about the realities of food truck life in our great conversation!

If you've never tried Colombian food, this episode might be your sign.

And if you've never tried Latin Bites? Dan has a few recommendations: empanadas, salchipapas, and those massive arepas. 🌮🔥

📍 Latin Bites

🌐 Latin Bites: latinbitesne.com

👍 If you enjoyed the episode, LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and let us know in the comments: What's your favorite thing to order from Latin Bites?

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠! 

Follow Restaurant Hoppen for more conversations with the chefs, restaurateurs and food creators shaping Omaha's incredible dining scene.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro: How Dan Discovered Latin Bites

02:00 - From Homemade Empanadas to a Food Truck

05:00 - Food With a Piece of Your Soul

08:00 - How Nicole & Julio Met

12:00 - Starting a Business Three Months Into Dating

15:00 - The First Bite That Changed Everything

18:00 - 350–400 Empanadas Every Weekend

20:00 - The Machine That Changed Their Production

23:00 - Why a Food Truck Made Sense

27:00 - What Makes a Colombian Empanada Different?

30:00 - Carrying On a Family Recipe

33:00 - Latin Bites' First Food Truck Service

35:00 - From Empanadas to Salchipapas & Arepas

38:00 - Pande Bono & Giving Back to Colombia

40:00 - How Word-of-Mouth Built Latin Bites

42:00 - The Scotty Eats Effect

45:00 - Can a Couple Run a Business Together?

47:00 - The Secret Behind Their Success

48:00 - The Future of Latin Bites

50:00 - What Customers Should Know About Food Trucks

52:00 - Why They Love Feeding Omaha

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Hope Ngamalue picked up a love for cooking and serving others from her grandmother in Cameroon, and that desire to feed people continued when she came to America. But it wasn't until she met partner Ebrima Minteh that she was encouraged to start her food truck, Chuanjui, and bring traditional African cuisine to Omaha.

We discussed how Omaha has taken to the food, how Hope presents African food in an approachable way to Omahans, and the long journey that brought her from Cameroon to food truck ownership.

Whether you've never tried African food before or you're already a fan, this conversation is full of warmth, inspiration, and unforgettable stories.

If you enjoy learning about the incredible people behind Omaha's food scene, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and share this episode!

Try the sensation for yourself today!

https://www.facebook.com/p/Chuanjui-LLC-61553802771595/

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠! 

Follow Restaurant Hoppen for more conversations with the chefs, restaurateurs and food creators shaping Omaha's incredible dining scene.

Timestamps:

00:00 Meet the Family Bringing African Food to Omaha

01:42 How a Love of Feeding People Started in Cameroon

05:58 Why African Hospitality Begins With Food

10:46 Making African Cuisine Feel Familiar to Midwesterners

15:52 The Dishes Everyone Should Try First

21:18 Building Chuanjui From the Ground Up

27:30 Bringing African Culture to Omaha—One Meal at a Time

33:18 The Challenges of Starting a Food Truck

39:02 Family, Faith & Never Giving Up

45:10 Why Food Is Meant to Bring People Together

50:26 What's Next for Chuanjui?

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Jon's Naturals is the connector between local beef and pork producers and restaurants, helping chefs get their creative hands on a cleaner, more delicious product. But Jon's journey to thriving butcher shop was a very curvy one with lots of turns. Through perseverance and a crazy impressive DIY attitude, Jon is helping local farms and restaurants thrill diners with incredible dishes.

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and share it with someone who loves great food and even better stories.

📚 References

Jon's Naturals – https://jonsnaturals.com/

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠! 

Follow Restaurant Hoppen for more conversations with the chefs, restaurateurs and food creators shaping Omaha's incredible dining scene.

Timestamps:

00:00 Meet the Man Behind Omaha's Best Restaurants

01:10 Why Food Became Jon's Life Mission

05:00 From Sandwich Shop Owner to Master Butcher

09:45 Building a Bridge Between Farms & Restaurants

14:45 Why Knowing Where Your Food Comes From Matters

19:40 The Entrepreneur Who Refused to Quit

23:50 Learning Butchery From Scratch

29:45 How Great Chefs Changed Jon's Business

35:00 The Most Underrated Cuts of Meat

40:10 Mental Health, Family & Finding Purpose

46:30 Raising Kids Through Entrepreneurship

51:00 The Future of Local Food

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Bronco's Hamburgers, Barrett's Barleycorn Pub & Grill, and La Casa Pizzaria have all thrilled Omaha guests for decades. What's the secret to their families' success? How have their restaurants not only survived, but thrived for decades? And how have they seen the attitudes and actions of diners (in Omaha, in particular) change over time?

Blake Barnes, Jack Jeffrey Barrett, and Tony Vacanti joined me on an informative, hilarious podcast panel to discuss all of that and more!

Check out these legendary restaurants:

Broncos: https://broncoburgers.com/

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠ or visit ⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠! 

Follow Restaurant Hoppen for more conversations with the chefs, restaurateurs and food creators shaping Omaha's incredible dining scene.

Timestamps:

00:00 Omaha's Restaurant Legends Take the Stage
01:18 Meet the Families Behind Three Local Icons
04:15 The Secret to Surviving for Decades
08:05 Staying Relevant Without Chasing Trends
13:00 Why Community Matters More Than Marketing
15:02 The Employees Who Built These Restaurants
20:18 Advice for Anyone Opening a Restaurant Today
25:18 How Legacy Restaurants Continue to Evolve
31:35 Why They Came Back to Save the Family Business
37:05 Is Omaha's Restaurant Scene Too Competitive?
43:45 Creating Customers Who Keep Coming Back
49:30 Audience Q&A & Closing Thoughts

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Bennington wouldn't be the same without Cup & Cone, the custard/coffee shop that has become a community hub since it opened in 2023. But getting the shop up and running wasn't easy; in fact, owners Amber and Jeremy Tkaczuk knew almost nothing about ice cream and coffee when they started it! The couple, along with their oldest daughter, Thea, discuss the difficulties and joys of opening and operating the shop, the R&D process behind their inventive lattes and coffees, and how the family dynamic has evolved now that they're in business together.

Restaurant: Cup & Cone

🌐 https://cupandconebennington.com/

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to Hurrdat ONE Website or visit Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel! 

Follow Restaurant Hoppen for more conversations with the chefs, restaurateurs and food creators shaping Omaha's incredible dining scene.

#RestaurantHoppen #Coffee #FrozenCustard #Omaha #Bennington #SmallBusiness #CoffeeShop #NebraskaFood #FoodPodcast

00:00 Welcome & Why Cup & Cone Feels Like "Nirvana"

01:11 How Cup & Cone Was Born

03:00 Building Community in Bennington

05:18 Supporting Other Local Businesses

06:58 Frozen Custard vs. Ice Cream

10:12 Signature Sundaes & Customer Favorites

13:02 Creating Seasonal Coffee Drinks

18:15 Behind the Scenes of Recipe Development

22:18 Running a Business While Working Full-Time Jobs

25:15 Taking the Leap Into Entrepreneurship

30:45 The Chaotic Grand Opening

36:05 Lessons Learned From Opening Week

40:22 Working Together as a Family

46:42 Celebrating Every Anniversary

50:07 Favorite Drinks & Future Plans

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Nichole created a brilliant gluten-free cookie/donut mash-up in 2020, but the business was on the brink of collapsing earlier this year. Now it's thriving inside a brand new brick and mortar location! Hear how Nichole and her son, Vincent, created and built the brand and ultimately saved it when it appeared they might be done.

📍 OCoockieOs

2575 S 171st Ct

Omaha, NE 68130

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

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After nearly 20 years in restaurant kitchens, Christian has transitioned to life as a media and social media chef. We discuss what the term "chef" means in this age and how, for some, it brings more balance. We also go deep into his experience competing on FOX's Next Level Chef and what it's really like to be a part of those crazy competition TV shows.

References

Restaurant Hoppen – Hosted by Dan Hoppen

First We Feast – First We Feast

Bastos Sauce – Follow for updates on this all-purpose sauce at @certifiedbastos

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to Hurrdat ONE Website or visit Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel!

#RestaurantHoppen #ChristianAlciza #NextLevelChef #FirstWeFeast #FilipinoCuisine #CulinaryJourney

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Fariner Bakery is a magical space, a cafe with a gravitational pull that makes you want to stay for hours. That's because of the love people like Damie put into it and every bread and pastry that comes out of the kitchen. You won't believe the crazy road that brought Damie from Lincoln hospital to Fariner in Ashland or the struggles she and her husband endured to get here, but their perseverance has helped create one of the most special spaces in the greater Omaha area.

🌐 Learn more about Fariner Bakery: www.farinerbakery.com

📍 Fariner Bakery

120 N 14th St

Ashland, NE 68003

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

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Shava Jackson left her home of Jamaica to attend medical school with no thoughts of entering the hospitality industry, but her food truck has become one of the hotspots in Omaha. It's incredibly meaningful for Shava to share her food and culture with Omaha, and customers love it so much that some have said they've booked trips to Jamaica after visiting Jerk Makin Shack! Hear Shava's story and better understand the beauty of this cuisine.

📍 Jerk Makin Shack

7100 Dodge Street

Omaha, Nebraska

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠ or visit ⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠!

#RestaurantHoppen #OmahaFood #JamaicanCuisine #FoodTruck #OmahaRestaurants

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As the Executive Chef at Marcus Samuelsson's Washington DC restaurant and a contestant on the most recent Top Chef season, Anthony Jones is one of America's rising culinary stars. His success comes from his humility and the unique way in which he's able to connect his food with culture and memories. We discuss his restaurant goals now compared to when he started cooking and get into all kinds of fun Top Chef discussion.

References

Restaurant Hoppen – Hosted by Dan Hoppen

Marcus Samuelsson's Restaurant – ⁠Marcus Samuelsson⁠

This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

#RestaurantHoppen #TopChef #OmahaFood #CulinaryJourney #AnthonyJones

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