Hospitality & Politics with Andrew Rigie

Gabriel Stulman, founder of Happy Cooking Hospitality and the restaurateur behind Joseph Leonard, Jeffrey’s Grocery, Fairfax, and Sailor, joins the show to discuss what makes a true neighborhood restaurant – and what it takes to build one that lasts. Gabriel reflects on his path through the restaurant industry, his philosophy on creating places that make guests feel seen, and the physical and ment...

Jake Dell, fifth-generation owner of Katz’s Delicatessen, joins Andrew Rigie for a conversation about what it takes to run one of New York City’s most iconic restaurants. Jake shares how he went from pre-med student to taking over the family business, and takes us behind the scenes of Katz’s – from preserving generations-old traditions and training longtime staff to managing extraordinary volume,...

NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin has experienced city government from both sides – as a small business owner navigating its rules and now as the leader of the City Council. In this episode, she joins Andrew Rigie to discuss reopening her Lower Manhattan restaurant after 9/11, how that experience shaped her path into public service, and what running a business taught her about leadership and governm...

Rose Pierre-Louis is an attorney, former Manhattan Deputy Borough President, and founder of the Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance (FDBA). In this episode, Rose dives deep into how a targeted rezoning turned Frederick Douglass Boulevard from an underutilized corridor into Harlem’s thriving "Gold Coast" and premier Restaurant Row. She shares insights on the critical role of public poli...

Max Tucci is a #1 bestselling author, restaurateur, media personality, third-generation partner of Delmonico’s, and founder of TUCCI New York. In this episode, Max shares the remarkable story of Delmonico’s, the New York institution that predates the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and public running water – and is widely regarded as America’s first fine-dining restaurant. He traces its hi...

Nadia Chaudhury is a Queens-born writer, photographer, and deputy editor of Eater New York and Eater’s Northeast region. She shares her journey from growing up around her family’s legendary New York spice shop, Kalustyan’s, to covering restaurants and food culture for more than a decade at Eater. Nadia explains how she discovers new openings, spots emerging dining trends, and finds the people and...

Stathis Antonakopoulos, the founder and CEO of Carnegie Hospitality Group, joins the show to share his journey from working as a busboy in Greece and a college waiter in New York City to building a thriving hospitality empire that encompasses Carnegie Diner & Cafe, Delos, and Voco Roofbar. While historic 24-hour diners across New York City continue to close their doors, Stathis has cracked the...

David Burke is a legendary chef, restaurateur, and culinary pioneer. In this episode, Chef Burke takes us back to his formative days at the iconic River Cafe in 1985—working alongside Charlie Palmer during a time he describes as the "Lennon and McCartney" era of the culinary world. Discover how a bold, experimental crew on the Brooklyn side of the river helped ignite the birth of modern...

Kevol and Ria Graham, the husband-and-wife team behind the authentic Caribbean and Jamaican restaurant Kokomo in Brooklyn. They join the show to discuss the state of the Caribbean restaurant scene in NYC, opening at the onset of the pandemic, and balancing their family and personal lives with running the business. In this conversation, we explore their Caribbean roots and exciting menu, how they u...

Paulie and Mary Ann Gee, the husband-and-wife team behind the acclaimed Paulie Gee's pizzerias, started with no professional restaurant experience and built one of New York City's most beloved pizza brands. They join the show to discuss the leap of faith that led them to open their first shop, what it's like running a business as partners in both life and work, and how they've main...

From dishwasher to hospitality icon, Jimmy Rodriguez has spent more than three decades shaping New York City's restaurant and nightlife scene. The Bronx-born entrepreneur joins Andrew Rigie to discuss building legendary venues, creating unforgettable guest experiences, hosting everyone from celebrities to world leaders, and navigating the challenges facing restaurants and nightlife today. Alon...

Terrence Meck is the President and CEO of God’s Love We Deliver, the New York based nonprofit that improves the health and wellbeing of people affected by serious illness by ensuring access to medically tailored meals and comprehensive nutrition care. He joins the show to discuss the mission of God’s Love We Deliver, his background working in the restaurant industry, and how he manages an organiza...

Kira O’Brien is the Chief Impact Officer at Emma’s Torch, where she leads the organization’s culinary training program and social ventures. She joins the show to discuss the mission of Emma’s Torch, the success stories of her students, and how everyone can support immigrants in this current political climate. In this conversation we explore the data and demographics behind Emma’s Torch, the skills...

James Shrum is a bartender at Blue Ribbon Brasserie and the recent recipient of the NYC Hospitality Alliance’s Bartender of the Year Award. He joins the show to discuss the challenges of running a bar in New York City, the lessons he’s learned over his years at Blue Ribbon, and the importance of creating an environment that makes both patrons and employees want to stick around. In this conversatio...

John Wang is a former lawyer turned food entrepreneur and advocate when he founded the Queens Night Market in 2015. He joins the show to discuss the challenges of putting together New York’s first Night Market, how the diversity of Queens has helped serve up a robust and unique offering of food and vendors, and how his “bad business model” has ultimately led to the night market’s success. In this...

Terence Tubridy is a founder of IGC Hospitality. He joins the show to discuss the evolution of a local empire, pulling back the curtain on his journey from running a neighborhood bar at 26 to managing a portfolio of 18 diverse concepts, including the groundbreaking Rockaway Hotel. In this conversation, we dive deep into the "H4" framework—the four pillars that guide every business decisi...

Megan Rickerson is the owner of Someday Bar in Brooklyn. In this conversation, we discuss Megan’s experience bartending in New York, the trends and changes she is seeing in what customers are drinking, and the opportunities and challenges she has experienced since opening Someday Bar right before the pandemic. Megan explores the importance of properly training her staff, advocating for fellow bar...

Grace Young is a cookbook author, culinary historian, filmmaker, and advocate for America’s historic Chinatowns. Grace is the recipient of the James Beard Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year Award, a USA Today Women of the Year honoree for her work to save America’s Chinatowns and has been dubbed the “accidental voice for Chinatown”. In this conversation, we discuss her viral ‘Wok Therapist’ vid...

Melba Wilson is a chef, restaurateur, entrepreneur, and the owner of Melba’s Restaurant, a beloved Harlem comfort food and soul food institution. In this conversation, she shares her journey from humble beginnings in Harlem to becoming one of New York City’s most celebrated restaurant owners. We discuss lessons learned at iconic restaurants like Sylvia’s, Rosa Mexicano, and Windows on the World, n...

In this episode, we sit down with Jeffrey LeFrancois, Executive Director of the Meatpacking District Management Association, to explore the transformation of NYC’s Meatpacking District—from an industrial hub to a global destination for culture, nightlife, fashion, hospitality, and the arts. Jeffrey explains the role of Business Improvement Districts in city planning, how public–private partnership...

Tracy Nieporent is a Partner and Director of Marketing at the Myriad Restaurant Group. In this conversation, Tracy shares insights into marketing some of the city’s most iconic restaurants, the vital role of tourism, the history of Restaurant Week, and reflections on more than 30 years of Tribeca Grill. We explore the parallels between restaurateurs and professional athletes, the challenge of rebu...

Ben Max is  a veteran journalist, host of ‘Max Politics’ and Executive Editor and Program Director at the Center for New York City and State Law. In this conversation, we discuss the political landscape at the end of 2025 as New York City prepares for new mayor Zohran Mamdani. We get into the dynamics between the mayor’s office and city council, small business regulations, housing, childcare, publ...

Drew Nieporent, founder of the Myriad Restaurant Group, and is the author of the book “I’m Not Trying To Be Difficult: Stories from the Restaurant Trenches”. this conversation, we discuss Drew’s mutli-decade career establishing iconic Michelin star and beloved restaurants like Nobu, Tribeca Grill, Bâtard, and Montrachet. We get to hear a ton of old New York City stories, how Drew built these legen...

Jimmy Rizvi and Chef Vikas Khanna are the restaurateurs behind Bungalow, the New York City Indian restaurant that earned three stars from The New York Times. In this episode, they share the personal journey behind creating Bungalow, the whirlwind of its explosive popularity, and the unique dynamic between front-of-house and back-of-house operations. They open up about the pressures of living up to...

Jonathan Forgash is the founder of Queens Together. In this conversation, we discuss how the organization formed, its work during the pandemic from his kitchen table and how they eventually helped feed over 500,000 people in Queens. We get into the evolution into advocacy and support for small businesses, the importance of strong community ties, the must-visit restaurants in Queens, the Internatio...