Designated Drinker Show

Ever met a real life archeologist? Unlike Indiana Jones, most don’t usually carry around a pistol and a bullwhip. They are more like Sarah Elston. As registrar for the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino, she is utilizing her archeological and anthropological skills to help conserve sensitive cultural materials. Learn what it takes to put together an exhibit, as well as what to ex...

Tips & Tricks: The subtle differences and distinctive flavor that fresh mint can add to your cocktails.  Ever met a real life archeologist? Unlike Indiana Jones, most don’t usually carry around a pistol and a bullwhip. They are more like Sarah Elston. As registrar for the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino, she is utilizing her archeological and anthropological skills to help con...

A Lemon Italian Ice Gin & Tonic that combines an Italian classic with a cocktail classic During his 30+ years in banking, Rollin Amore traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia, and loved bringing back flavor ideas to use in his cooking at home. Today, in "retirement," his travels infuse the constantly changing menu of ice creams and sorbets at Mimi's Handmade Ice Cream. But you won't find “...

During his 30+ years in banking, Rollin Amore traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia, and loved bringing back flavor ideas to use in his cooking at home. Today, in "retirement," his travels infuse the constantly changing menu of ice creams and sorbets at Mimi's Handmade Ice Cream. But you won't find “shock value” ingredients in his delicious frozen concoctions. Instead, he—and his custome...

Inflation, service wage increases, bad tipping—the restaurant industry is fraught with challenges these days. In part two of our dog days of summer chat with Gina about running a successful small business in the food and beverage industry, we get further into her daily trials and tribulations. It’s chaotic, stressful, exhausting—and worth every minute. Especially when you’re surrounded by great pe...

The dog days of summer are the hottest and most unbearable of the year, and it’s no secret that intense heat can lead to intense stress. But few things are more stressful than running a restaurant. This week we check in with Gina on the 11-year anniversary of Buffalo & Bergen. There’s no doubt that operating a successful restaurant is hard work, especially in this era. But whether you’re dealing w...

It’s time you stopped disrespecting your spirits with sugar-filled mixers. Part two of our talk with Alex Doman, co-founder of AVEC mixers, definitely brings the flavor as we get further into how he creates healthier canned drinks that are great solo and in cocktails. By experimenting with ingredients from around the world, he creates sophisticated and tasty flavors with dramatically less sugar. A...

"Hey, buddy? Need a hit? Some of that cane for your brain? You know you can't get enough.” Sugar is that other powdery white drug that the world is addicted to. We consume twice as much as recommended for our health, and soft drinks and mixers are the number one source of added sugars. But Alex Doman, co-founder of AVEC mixers, is on a mission to cut sugar consumption and improve what people mix w...

Elaine Chon-Baker started a venture fund so that she could invest in the people who are doing great things for the restaurant industry. But first, she had to invest in herself. In part two of our talk with Elaine we hear how she immersed herself in all aspects of the industry in order to turn her love of food, finance, and startups into a successful venture capital fund. By adapting and learning,...

Starting a successful restaurant is no easy feat. You need not only great food, but also a strong concept and initial funding. That’s where Elaine Chon-Baker comes in. As founder and managing director of Mokja Ventures she helps restaurateurs get the money they need to open and operate. So how does a college dropout with almost no experience in the restaurant industry establish a flourishing ventu...

Airport dining has come a long way from dry rubbery sandwiches and lackluster coffee. Today's travelers have lofty expectations when it comes to food and drink, and they want options that go beyond the generic fast-food joints. In the second part of our talk with Liz Einhorn, we discuss how a restaurant or concessionaire goes about opening a location at an airport and what makes a brand concept wo...

Airports are like a bizarre mix of a shopping mall and a cattle auction, with a side of security paranoia thrown in for good measure. Is it any wonder that most of us crave a cocktail while waiting on our flights? This is definitely no surprise to our guest Liz Einhorn. She helps airport concessionaires, beverage brands, and restaurants get you that next beverage while you're making a connection i...

Ready-to-drink cocktails don’t have the greatest reputation. (Remember Zima, Purple Passion, or Calvin Coolers? Ewww.) But our guests have cracked the code on canned cocktails. In the second part of our conversation with the co-founders of Volley Tequila Seltzer, Camila Soriano and Chris Wirth tell us more about how they go about putting together the right flavors for their clean alcoholic beverag...

Almost every packaged good you can buy at a grocery store comes with a nutrition label, except one—alcoholic beverages. So what exactly is in that tasty can you're sipping at the beach? Well if you like vanilla flavoring, you might unwittingly be consuming the anal gland excretions of a beaver! Google it. It's this lack of transparency—along with a love of fresh, natural cocktails—that led Camila...

Hey, politicians... Until drag queens start breaking into schools and beating kids to death with a copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” you might be focusing on the wrong issues! After all, many drag queens give back to the community and raise money for charities, not to mention the whole right to free speech thing. In part two of our talk with Daniel Hays, we discuss his alter ego – Muffy Blake Steph...

As a president of the board of Equality NoVa, Daniel Hays knows that even though the LGBTQ+ community has come far, it still has a long way to go. And every day he’s dedicated to making his non-profit a strong beacon for equality despite the challenges. And the challenges are numerous! Managing community organizations is far more demanding than it appears. Nonprofits confront unique obstacles and...

In the second part of our chat with Aubrey Slater, the delightful co-owner of Saint Luna Moonshine, we unravel the enigma of how she discovered what it takes to be a good man by transitioning into a woman. This "twisted little tree" is now flourishing with resilience as she embraces a life brimming with excitement and unapologetic individuality. And prepare your glasses, because she's concocting h...

Dedication is the key to achieving success and personal growth. Just ask Aubrey Slater – she’s been dedicated to the hospitality industry for more than 20 years. Her unwavering commitment and perseverance has taken her around the world – from Prague to Maui to NYC – as a bartender, beverage director, and sommelier. And as a proud trans woman and former Marine, she's learned to soldier on in pursui...

In her book, Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America, Dr. Marcia Chatelain expertly showcases the inextricable link between the struggle for racial equality and the success of black-owned businesses. Marcia sheds light on the complex relationship between race and capitalism in America and is a vital read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the intersection of race and economic power...

Scholar and author Dr. Marcia Chatelain is a woman of many passions - her son, civil rights history, reality TV drama, and oh, let's not forget her love for fine cocktails. Her commitment to her interests is so fierce that it's no wonder she's won so many awards for her writing, speaking, and teaching, including a Pulitzer Prize for her latest book Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America. An...

Dawn E. Morrow is out there converting poetry-haters into poetry-lovers one verse at a time. And to top it off, she's doing all of this while having a full-time job overseeing a large team of 40 workers. How does Dawn manage to follow her passion for poetry while holding down her career? It’s not easy. But she’s been able to organize her life to make room for her passions, including poetry as well...

You won't believe it, but Dawn E. Morrow has a superpower - she can make poetry-loathing people fall in love with her verses. And if that wasn't impressive enough, she does it while also being a healthcare administrator by day. In her first book of poems "The Habit of Hope" Dawn celebrates hope as a saving grace in our desperate world. Her poems go down easy just like Gina’s equally refreshing and...

Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) didn't just happen by accident. It took more planning than a Duke Ellington composition! In part two of our chat with The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History Curator Emeritus Dr. John Edward Hasse we learn how JAM came into being. Because of his efforts, most nations now officially recognize and celebrate the historical and cultural significa...

Dr. John Edward Hasse knows so much about jazz music that he could probably tell you what type of saxophone Charlie Parker played on any given Tuesday in the 1940s. He’s just that good. As Curator Emeritus of American Music at the Smithsonian he has curated exhibits on music legends Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Ray Charles. He's also a regular contributor to The Wall Street...

Ever heard of chacha? Not the ballroom dance, but the potent Georgian grape brandy that will knock your socks off! It’s clear, strong, and the secret ingredient in this week’s amazing cocktail. And it’s one of the many distinctive flavors Rose Previte has discovered on her travels. In part two of our chat with the fearless adventurer and grape guru of Go There Wines we learn more about how Rose is...