Foodie and the Beast

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show:   ·         The mystery man who for 25 years has been The Washington Post’s celebrated food critic, Tom Siestema. He recently announced his impending departure to so he can spend the rest of his life not hiding out… or something like that. You’ll get the whole story when Tom joins us;&nbsp...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show: ·         Alyssa Taylor, Director, Brand + Consumer Marketing at Penguin / Random House Publishing. She’s with us to discuss the upcoming Banned Books Week national celebration Oct. 5-11. The goal is to take action, save our stories, and preserve First Amendment rights by giving away free banne...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show:   ·         Victoria Wu of Cakes by Happy Eatery; ·         Selva Chef Giovanni Orellana; ·         Louie Jocson of California Fish Grill; ·         And, to celebrate the...

• Talk about the Dynamic Argentinian Duo! - Renato “Tato” Giovannoni is one of the world’s most celebrated bartenders. In fact, not long ago, when all lead bartenders from the prestigious, World’s 50 Best Bars were asked to name the one person who has done more to further the art of bartending than any Tato’s name topped the list. • And his partner is Alex Resnik, former senior partner at Wolfgang...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show:   ·         A trip down memory lane - Mary Quillian, owner of Capitol Hill’s legendary Mr. Henry’s, which opened in 1966. It’s where Robert Flack was discovered and there’s a lot still going on there;               &n...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show:   ·         Shawn Townsend of RAMW on the evolving policing situation in D.C.;                                   &n...

  Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show:   ·          Cheetie Kumar, chef/owner of award-winning Ajja, in Raleigh, N.C.; Board Member and Vice President, Independent Restaurant Coalition, which is launching two first-of-their-kind grant programs:            &...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show:   ·         Erin Hildreth, VP of communications for Responsibility.org, which works to eliminate both underage drinking and drunk driving and to promote responsible alcohol consumption. They have a cool app --The Virtual Bar -- a great tool to use before your first sip to plan how to pace...

  Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show:   ·         Paul Carlson of Lulu's Winegarden (three-time RAMMY finalist for "Wine Program of the Year");                              &nb...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show:   ·         Shawn Townsend. President and CEO of  RAMW on Initiative 82, the RAMMYs and more;                                  &n...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show: ·         Agave, baby! Mitchell Linton, CEO, Tony Ajayi, president, and Zachary Spence, CMO – all of 3708 American Agave Spirits –talking the difference between tequila and agave spirits;                  ...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.   On today’s show: ·         D.C’.s storied Mayflower Hotel is gearing up to celebrate its centennial with all sorts of special activities – and libations. Joe Nacci, the beverage director, and MaCauly Cacioppo, the food and beverage operations manager,  join us;        &nbsp...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show: ·         Carlos Delgado is the celebrated chef/owner of Peruvian restaurants Causa and Amazonia in Blagdon Alley. Last Monday, Chef Carlos won a 2025 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. He's the only D.C. area chef to win a James Beard Award this year and he’s in with us to tel...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show: ·         Jo-Jo Valenzuela, executive chef/ managing partner at Tiki on 18th, a unique cocktail bar that blends Polynesian and Filipino cultures in original cocktails and tiki classics, all complemented by Filipino food favorites;                                                                                                                   ...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show:   ·         Carol D’Agostino, the Main Street manager for Centreville, on Maryland Crafted, an event formerly known as DrinkMaryland, featuring 40 Free State makers of wine and other alcoholic beverages;                                                                                                                                              ...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’ show:   ·         We talk about the ICE raids on Washington, D.C. restaurants with Jessica Sidman, food editor for Washingtonian magazine;                                                                                                                                  ·         Avalon Oona Haas is the Mid-Atlantic regional sales manager for the Catoct...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’ show:   ·                                                                                                                                                       ·         Sixteen years ago, who knew that Fatima and Omar Popal would rise to become two of DC’s most prominent restaurateurs? Back then, their now-legendary Café Bonaparte was just finding i...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’ show:   ·         There's a cherry blossom-themed cocktail competition coming your way, sponsored by High Road Spirits Importers. In with the details is Jennifer Nellis, the Mid-Atlantic market manager for High Road Spirits, and competition finalists  John Cooper, the general manager at D.C.’s Vagabond Kitchen & Bar and the bar manager at Prost,...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’ show:   ·         The recent RAMW member survey looking into rising costs due to federal workforce cuts and related customer traffic declines  has really gotten people's attention.  Shawn Townsend, president and CEO of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, joins us to talk about the state of the business in our region;.                 ...

  Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’ show:     ·         Inspired by Oscar Wilde, Wilde Irish Gin is distilled by Ireland’s first female master distiller. Billy Ray, Wilde Irish Gin’s brand director, and Lathan Kornegay, the brand ambassador, are in with tastes and talk of Wilde Irish Gin;                                                                                                 ...

  Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’ show:     ·         Dan Ziegler, founder of the Chacho Distillery in Takoma Park, with his special take on Colombian aguardiente;                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ...

  Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’ show:     ·         There’s been a lot of talk about tariffs on a range of imported goods – some think that’s a good thing, and others think it’ll harm many sectors of the economy.   Since we’re a food and wine show, we want to focus on how wine tariffs could cause disruption and harm to our favorite restaurants and bars.   ·         In today for a...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’ show:     ·         The Plant Magic Bottle Shop at the Union Market is a wonder. Owner Anahata Sabat has a shop filled with functional mocktails that uplift, revitalize, enhance connection and elevate your mood, all without the hangover;                                                                                                                   ...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’ show:   ·         Bar Betsie wants to be your new rooftop home away from home cocktail bar in the Union Market District. It's prepping for a March opening. We’ll have tastes and talk of Bar Betsie with owners JP Sabatier, Ralph Brabham and Drew Porterfield, and bar manager Courtney Taylor;                                                              ...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’ show:   ·         U.S. Navy vet Mark McLaughlin is a co-founder of Baltimore’s Old Line Spirits, a second-generation veteran-owned distillery.   Old Line is one of the oldest producers of American single malt whiskey, which has just become the first new category of whiskey to be recognized by the U.S. government in over 50 years;                     ...