Foodie and the Beast

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show:   ·         Palestinian pop-up Shababi Chicken teams with Please Bring Chips, the very cool event space and caterer on H Street NE to deliver unforgettable events, small and large. Shababi’s executive chef and founder, Marcelle Afram, is in with Kat Dean, director of operations for Please Bring Chips, to mix up some of the cocktails they offer t...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show:     ·         Crimson Lane Vineyards is a Northern Virginia winery in Fauquier County founded by Tom Herrity and his wife, Deanna, and overseen by winemaker Dominick Fioresi, an apprentice of renowned winemaker Jim Law;                                                                                                                                ...

  Hosted by Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show:     ·         Mary Ann Mohanraj, clinical associate professor of fiction and literature at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She recently published the first vegan Sri Lankan American cookbook, “Vegan Serendib;” ·         JJ Digeronimo , a two-time award-winning author who helps women raise their frequencies and empower their future impact through...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Jon Krinn, CEO of WineLAIR in the West End, the U.S. outpost of the European WineBANK network, a gathering place that offers members access to climate-controlled wine lockers and other personalized benefits; • Executive Chef Bader Ali and Chef Kelly Suarez from the Gerrard Street Kitchen at The Darcy Hotel downtown, where a really eclectic and e...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Phil Greene is back with us. He is an author, cocktail historian, one of the founders of the Museum of the American Cocktail in New Orleans and the winner of the 13th Annual Spirited Award for Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History or Spirits. He joins us to celebrate the release of his newest book, “Cheers! Cocktails and Toasts to Celebrate E...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • If we say “French desserts,” you probably think “fancy.” And if we say “baking French cakes,” you probably say, “I can’t pull that off.” Not true. Aleksandra Crapanzano is the James Beard–winning writer and dessert columnist for The Wall Street Journal and she has a cookbook out, “Gateau: The Surprising Simplicity of French Cakes,” that’s going...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Founded in 1927 as a nine-stool root beer stand in Washington, D.C., Marriott International is the world's largest hospitality company. Brad Nelson, vice president for the company’s global culinary portfolio, joins us with news about Marriott’s global headquarters in Bethesda, especially about its new innovation lab and test kitchen, where chefs...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Bill Jensen is co-owner and beverage director of the Tail Up Goat and the Reveler's Hour in Adams Morgan. Among many awards of note, he was honored with Michelin's 2021 Washington, D.C. Sommelier Award. He’s in to treat us to some tastes and talk of his wine favorites from the Finger Lakes for your Thanksgiving table; • Lane Levine owns A Friend...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Think NOBU and you might think world-class sake. And that would be true – but Nobu DC has an amazing cocktail program, featuring not only great sakes but other world-class distilled spirits. Filipe Bertrand, the beverage and events manager at Nobu DC, is mixing up some cocktails that we are panting to try; • Ice Cream Jubilee specializes in crea...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • The Middle Atlantic’s Prestige-Ledroit Distributing Co. offers a huge selection of artisanal and authentic wine and spirits from around the world, which includes the products of the Bardstown Bourbon Co in Kentucky. We are joined by Bardstown’s Nicholas Lewis; • He’s an all-around good guy, a James Beard Award recipient and one of America’s most...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Bodegas Tempore Wines is an independent brand of four organic and vegan wines produced in Spain’s Aragón region. Alejandra Sarmiento of Bodegas Tempore joins us long-distance and Eric Platt, president of Artisans and Vines, the Bodegas distributor, is in studio to fill our cups with Bodegas Tempore Wine;. • Has it been five years already? Yep –...

Hosted by Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: -The Beast is back –the Snalleygaster beast, that is. And the head of that massive monster - literally - is Greg Engert, the nationally and internationally acclaimed beer expert from NRG. He is pouring beers all through the show and talking about how you too can get your beer geek on; -The Capital Jewish Museum—opening at Third & F Streets, NW, in the s...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Taste of Bethesda returns Saturday, Oct. 1 and will bring nearly 40 restaurants and five stages of entertainment to downtown Bethesda. Stephanie Coppula, director of marketing and communications for the Bethesda Urban Partnership, Sebastian Neira, general manager, and Elder Pineda, bartender, both of Jose Andres’ Spanish Diner, join us; . • Bart...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: miXt Food Hall, located in the heart of Prince George’s County’s Gateway Arts District on Rhode Island Ave., is a chef-driven culinary and cocktail experience for family and friends to meet up and find community within a convivial environment curated by local artisans. Today, we’re going to take you inside miXt’s exciting offerings with the hospit...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Todd Thrasher, an old buddy of ours for 15 years plus, founder of Potomac Distilling Company, an urban distillery producing Thrasher’s Rum and housing the Polynesian-inspired gathering spot, Tiki TNT; • D.C. native Michael Twitty has a new book, “Kosher Soul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew.” It’s an oration of his family h...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Bob Wiley, co-owner, Deviation Distilling, known for its use of unique global spices and eye-popping bottle designs. Deviation recently launched its line of gins in D.C. liquor stores and restaurants; • Danny Chavez, executive chef at Art and Soul / YOTEL Washington DC. Art and Soul boasts a scratch kitchen, meaning the majority of menu items ar...

Hosted by David and Sam Nellis. On today’s show: • Antoine Robert, co-owner of Distilleries et Domaines de Provence. We’re sampling Absinthe Absente and learning about the absinthe ritual, a cocktail to remember; • Chad Sparrow, Common Plate Hospitality Group. In 2015, the group launched Mason Social, a contemporary American restaurant in its hometown of Alexandria. The restaurant group expanded i...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Greg King, brand ambassador for The Glendronach, one of Scotland’s first licensed distilleries and producers of a superb Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky; • Jessica Formicola , author of a new cookbook for carnivores, “Beef It Up! 50 Mouthwatering Recipes for Ground Beef, Steaks, Stews, Roasts, Ribs, and More;” • Gianluca Bisol, president, Bis...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Bottles Wine Garden bills itself as an oasis for wine appreciation – and appreciation for the hard work of female winemakers, in particular - on the stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue between Georgetown and Foggy Bottom. An indeed it is. Our old friend Angie Duran is operations director and Erika Parjus is head sommelier. They join us to pour and di...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Arlington’s Buena Vida Gastrolounge reopened a few months back after an extensive renovation directed by owner Ivan Iricanin, CEO of Street Guys Hospitality. Executive chef Jaime Pelayo and marketing manager Dmani Harrison-Porter join us with info about Buena Vida’s Mexican homestyle tasting menu and – big surprise – their awesome tequila cockta...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Established in 1783, the original Fountain Inn served as the first stagecoach stop in Georgetown for presidents and residents alike. The new Fountain Inn DC in Georgetown is led by Morgan Kirchner, a veteran of the D.C. spirits and hospitality industry. Morgan joins us today with tastes and talk of the Fountain Inn; • You’ll remember that in Mar...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • City-State Brewing in Northeast D.C. opened during the pandemic. You’d think it was not a great business decision – and yet is healthy and celebrating its first anniversary. James Warner, CEO, joins us to talk about surviving and conquering; • Jarrad Silver, former Birch and Barley executive chef, now operates the Silver and Sons barbecue truck...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: · Jake Worth, General Manager at Bar Ivy, joins us. Opening this month in Arlington, Bar Ivy comes from the D.C.-based Blagden Hospitality Group, owner of Tiger Fork, urban backyard Calico, neighborhood tavern Fainting Goat, and many more you know; · Clementine Thomas and Sam Vasfi, co-owners, Bold Fork Books. Located in Mount Pleasant, Bold Fork...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • John Borden, CEO, The Washington Tennis and Education Foundation. The foundation’s mission is giving children and youth a safe environment they trust, where they can excel through a pathway of continual academic, life skills and tennis instruction. WTEF’s 2022 annual Share the Love gala May 21 at the Ritz-Carlton in the West End is a star-studde...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Involved in large scale whiskey events for more than 16 years, David Sweet has owned and managed large-scale tasting events across North America, England and Australia. He is currently running his own event series – Whiskey and Barrel Nite -- in six cities from coast to coast; • Restaurateur and awesome chef, named 2020 RAMMY chef of the year, D...