The Restaurant Guys Podcast

Mark and Francis discuss a recent slew of articles about cocktails from the New York Times food section, particularly an article about food and cocktail pairing. Their guest is Ann Tuennerman, founder of Tales of the Cocktail, a five day cocktail symposium held each year in New Orleans, Louisiana. They discuss what's new for the tenth anniversary, the apprentice program, and how Tales differs from other cocktail conventions....

Mark and Francis talk about Niman Ranch beef and an event they went to recently. Their guest is Michael Beattie, the head of the American Wagyu Association. They discuss the recent article in Forbes Magazine by Larry Olmstead about Wagyu and the controversy surrounding it...

Mark and Francis welcome Frank Brunacci to the show to discuss truffles, namely the fantastic Australian truffles they are getting in the restaurant....

Ron Cooper, founder of Del Maguey, a company specializing in single village Mezcals, joins Mark and Francis to discuss the differences between tequila, sotol, and mezcal, what these villages are like, what makes production different, and ways these different mezcals are used and enjoyed....

Mark and Francis welcome Eric Ripert back to the show to discuss Le Bernardin's most recent 4 star New York Times review, the new remodel of Le Bernardin, cocktails and their place in fine dining, creativity in the kitchen, and counterfeit fish....

Mark and Francis recap their visit to the Manhattan Cocktail Classic and profile some new spirits Francis discovered. Their guest is Jim Lahey, owner of Sullivan Street Bakery and Co. Restaurant in New York City. They discuss his new book, My Pizza: The Easy No-Knead Way to Make Spectacular Pizza at Home....

Mark and Francis discuss tea with Sebastian Beckwith, one of the foremost tea experts in the United States and owner of the company, In Pursuit of Tea. They discuss the differences in kinds of tea, how to get the most flavor from your tea, and the kinds of tea that can cost $800 or more a pound....

Mark and Francis discuss their recent trip to DeBragga and Spitler and what they learned about aging meat. Their guest is Michelin-starred chef, Paul Virant, author of the new book The Preservation Kitchen: The Craft of Making and Cooking with Pickles, Preserves, and Aigre-doux. They discuss putting up fruits and vegetables for both restaurant and home use and how you can can safely at home....

Mark and Francis discuss how summer camps are different from when they were kids. Their guest is Tracie McMillan, author of The American Way of Eating: Undercover at Walmart, Applebees, Farm Fields, and the Dinner Table. They discuss her year undercover picking garlic, grapes, and peaches, stocking shelves at Walmart, and cooking at Applebees....

Mark and Francis welcome Taggart Siegel, director of Queen of the Sun: What are the Bees Telling Us? Their discussion covers everything related to the honeybee -- from how bees procreate to how monocultures effect bees and what's causing colony collapse disorder....