Foodie and the Beast

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • The Washington Post has called Andy Bixby, creative director of beverage at The Imperial, a “cocktail wizard,” for his uber-creative house cocktail ingredients. Andy’s with us today and we find out some of his trade secrets and … if the Post’s praise is justified; • Thanks to the pandemic, there’s now a dearth of trained hospitality workers for...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • You know, the gin and tonic was born in India, but only recently has Indian gin become a highly regarded category. Megan Coyle is a brand relations manager for Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin, named the India gin distillery of the year; • He’s at it again! The pandemic couldn’t stop one of D.C.’s preeminent restaurateurs from developing and introduci...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • The British West Indies Trading Company, a woman-owned beverage concern, is run by a family that’s been brewing ginger beer since the 1500s and is changing what’s inside consumers’ cocktails. Founder Georgia Dunn joins us with tastes and talk of her new line of gluten-free, plant-based beer/alcoholic beverages made with 100% fresh produce; Who’s...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Jeremy Ross is beverage director and general manager of Tiki Thai, a Reston restaurant offering Thai cuisine with tiki-inspired cocktails. It opened in December 2020 and has quite a story to tell; • Cara Nicoletti is a fourth-generation butcher, winner of the Food Network’s “Chopped,” television host of VICE Munchies’ “Hangover Show” and “Open F...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Need a cure? Deb Schaffer, founder of Enchanted Botanicals, is a spiritual herbalist; • Grassfed True Aussie Beef & Lamb helps home cooks and food professionals in America achieve success with Australian beef and lamb. But, how healthy is it? Catherine Golding, business development manager for North America, and Pam Smith, their licensed die...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: Prime Roots is a woman-led, alternative meat company based in Berkeley, California. The company is re-imagining meat for people and the planet and serving up options directly to your door to make it easier to eat less meat but still experience the familiarity of meat and seafood. Founder Kimberly Le joins us; • Whisked is a D.C.-based bakery found...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Nara Ya is a neo-traditional Japanese concept at the District Wharf. What makes it extra special is that celebrated chef Kaz Okochi is the culinary director there. General Manager and Corporate Beverage Director Michael Deery joins us; • Paris Baguette has three D.C. area locations, but 4000 across the globe. The brand is looking to grow everywh...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Like the most successful dating apps, the Happied app connects people interested in similar food and drink experiences connection with sharing dinners of tasty fare in virtual settings. Happied cofounder April Johnson joins us to explain; • About 25 years ago Duane ‘Myko’ Cheers’ mom was diagnosed with lupus. Not happy with the prospect of conve...

Hosted by Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: · Estebe Salgado is president and owner of Tradewinds Specialty Imports, an import and distribution company specializing in boutique and family estate wines, spirits, cider and craft beer. Educated alongside first generation winemakers, Estebe acquired the education and expertise to hand pick award winning wines — and we got some; • Did you buy an Instant P...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Paul Dahm, once of Brainfood, has launched an online biz that offers wines not available through other retailers, delivered to your door. These are smaller, underrepresented producers that don’t have access to distribution. It’s called Widget Wine; • Then, a truly inspiring story. Jasmine Norton is the owner of Baltimore’s Urban Oyster. She’s th...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Wesley Mannings, owner off Sui Generis Cocktailers, born during the Covid Summer of 2020 as a novel way to host private-event, interactive, craft cocktail classes online; • DCCK CEO Mike Curtin is a man of action used to being out there working the crowds to raise awareness of and money for the D.C. Central Kitchen. Covid messed with his modus o...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • The Shilling Canning Company is excited to launch the Bold but Bubbly program in honor of Women’s History Month, highlighting women in winemaking, both past and present. Sara Quinteros-Shilling brings on the bubbles; • Pandemic pop ups and ghost kitchens have popped up all over D.C. - and nationally. Little Prince Pizza wasn’t the only thing the...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • DC Sake Co’s Reiko Hirai has a mission: to find and connect with sake lovers in the D.C. area and to help experiment and enjoy many collaborations and connecting and bring people together thru sake; • The latest video recipe book from the Jacques Pépin Foundation, “Cook with Jacques Pépin and Friends, Volume 2,” is now available. It features mor...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Maxwell in the Navy Yard is celebrating its first anniversary. Joining us to celebrate surviving in business and COVID are Maxwell’s founder, mixologist to the stars Brent Kroll, and Niki Lang, partner/sommelier at Maxwell Navy Yard; • Srping is just around the corner and picnic time is very nearly back. We invited Michelle Ison from Picnic &amp...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Jonathan Bardzik is a storyteller, cook and author. Starting with his first live cooking demonstration at Washington, D.C.’s historic Eastern Market in 2011, he has appeared in front of more than 750 audiences, including the TedX stage, written three books of recipes and stories, worked with clients from USDA and National Geographic and many mor...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: January 26 is International Sous Vide Day, when we celebrate not just the birthday of Dr. Bruno Goussault, “the father of sous-vide,” but also the delicious, nutritious, true taste of meats and vegetables that the process of sous vide brings to us, but the many scientific advances that the heartbeat of sous vide – the International Research Kitche...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Julie Peterson of the Marq Wine Group on the wines of Georgia; • True Neapolitan pizza is a baked work of art cooked in wood-fire pizza ovens manufactured by masters in Naples. Pizzeria Pupatella brings the real deal – Neapolitan pizza baked in Neapolitan pizza ovens – to several D.C. area locations. Michael Berger, one of the partnerS, will tel...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Zachary Patterson, founder of the Umbrella Hospitality Group as well as the Melrose Umbrella Co. bar in L.A. and Genever Category Ambassador, talking about the fine differences between gin and genever. It can get confusing. No wonder genever producers often describe it as a cross between gin and whiskey; • You know the myth, now meet the man – c...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Blood Sweat Tears Vodka’s Umberto Luchini, the founder and proprietor of the Wolf Spirit Distillery, located in Eugene, Oregon. On with Umberto will be Ledy VanKavage, senior legislative attorney for the Best Friends Animal Society and current chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s animal law section; • June Blanks, co-founder and head of...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. Today we were joined by Mitch Berliner & Deb Moser of Central Farm Markets who had plenty of good info about last-minute Thanksgiving freshness available. Then, Brandon Bayton of Wunder Garten beer garden in NOMA dropped in with updates on some great pop-ups and special events for the crisp, fall days ahead. Later, Adam Gerson, founder of Near Country Provisio...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • John Snedden, RAMW Board Member and proprietor of Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Co., and Alonzo Freeman, bar director of the Royal talk about the RAMW Cocktail Week; • Baltimore’s very cool Ivy is a luxurious hotel in a historic Mount Vernon mansion. The Ivy has reopened after a closure caused by the pandemic and offers a new restaurant concep...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • As a financial consultant, Umber Ahmad typically spent her days counseling people on how to expand their brands. Chef Tom Colicchio, heard about her baking hobby and asked for a taste. He must’ve liked it, because Umber became the first member of his “Tom Colicchio Discovery” brands group. She opened her bakery, Mazedar, and now is referred to a...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Grand Cata, recently voted one of America's 50 Best Wine Retailers, has opened its second D.C. location at La Cosecha. It’s a grocery-wine bar concept with a curated selection of classic and sustainable natural wines from Latin America, framed by artisanal gastronomic products from the region. Founders Pedro Rodriguez and Julio Robledo joins us;...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • D.C.’s Anxo cidery and tasting room is the brainchild of restaurant veterans Sam Fitz, Rachel Fitz and Cooper Sheehan. Apples equal fall deliciousness and fun in lots of ways, and Sam joins us to talk about all that Anxo has going on in the weeks ahead; • The team at D.C.’s Espita kicked off its Ghostburger initiative on August 25 for takeout an...

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis. On today’s show: • Sid Dilwari, master distiller at D.C.’s Filibuster Distillery, joins to chat about surviving and prospering during COVID 19; • Stephanie Coppula, director of marketing and communications, Bethesda Urban Partnership, on with news about BUP in times of COVID, the Streetery and the new Savor Bethesda Week; • Connie McDonald and Pam Weekes, co-found...