Industry Night with Nycci Nellis

A while back Nycci was introduced to John Aggrey a long-time entrepreneur who started DIn DIn back in August 2020 to address the needs of the meal prep & meal delivery during the pandemic. On the next Industry Night, John discusses his business model and brings with him Patrick Haaland of Bar Therapy, Chef Leonardo Rebollo of Pasta Ilgatto, and Din Din’s Bernie Rousseau to chat about this new...

On the next Industry Night, the cheese lady, Jill Erber of Cheesetique and Nycci usually talk cheese. Not on this show. Jill and Nycci talk positive insights into the Industry and Identifying the “Gifts of Covid”. And, Aileen Fuchs, the new President and Executive Director of the National Building Museum pops on to chat about the latest exhibition & a new climate initiative. Industry Night wit...

On the next Industry Night, Nick Carter launched Market Wagon, an online marketplace that connects food consumers directly with local farmers. And, good friend Ruth Gresser took a pandemic pop-up with Cork Wine & Market and made it permanent in Spring Valley. Industry Night with Nycci Nellis airs Tuesdays on Real Fun DC

Is Pizza subjective. Does where you grow up dictate your pizza taste? New York by the slice, soupy Neopolitan, New Haven or Detroit style pizzas. Who better to do a deep dish with than Modernist Pizza co-author, FRANCISCO MIGOYA? And, Indie Chefs Community (ICC) is coming to DC for a collaborative Chefs Week dinner series, Grover Smith the founder has all the details. That's Industry Night on Real...

Tracye McQuirter, is a Vegan agent of change, an award-winning public health nutritionist, speaker, and best-selling author. She has also just launched the 10 Million Black Vegan Women Movement, a groundbreaking public health intervention that will change the health paradigm of black women for generations to come. On the next Industry night, Nycci & Tracye talk the benefits and social impact o...

On the next Industry Night with Nycci Nellis: Chef Chris Amendola believes in forest to fork dining and does just that at his restaurant, Foraged in Baltimore. Hyper-seasonal/local eating. And, FIFA and US Soccer may return to DC after a 30+ year hiatus. What does it take to bring an international event of that size to the District? Nicole Quiroga, President & CEO of the Greater Washington His...

You’ve heard Nycci say food is her profession but fashion is her passion — can we put fashion and home design under the same umbrella? On the next Industry Night, Nycci takes today’s design aesthetic with Mariel Heredia, Director of Design for Van Metre Homes & Jill Switzer, Creative Director, Eleanor Thomas Studio. But first, Lena Galperina the Visitor Experience Director at Artechouse takes...

Festival season has been on hiatus but guess what? It is making its way back. Snallygaster the beast of a beer festival, roars back into DC October 9. On the next Industry Night, one of the masterminds of Snalley, Greg Engert joins Nycci along with Adrien Widman, of Ocelot Brewing and Rachael Marie, Executive Chef of Slice Joint. But first, what is happening in Bethesda?! No longer a sleepy suburb...

On the next Industry Night, Nycci talks with her good friend Amanda McClements of Salt & Sundry fame. Amanda has built a mini lifestyle empire over the last 10 years by infusing her impeccable aesthetic with accessible pieces. They chat retail during all phases of the pandemic and how local retail survives and thrives, especially since she has a new Salt & Sundry pop-up now in Bethesda. An...

So in Nycci’s previous life, she was a total club girl. Limelight in NYC, M80 in Boston Club Zei in DC. The good ol’ days. What is the status of clubs and “clubbing” today in DC? What has the pandemic done to DC’s ever-growing nightlife? Industry veteran Beau Biabani joins Nycci on the next Industry Night to talk about his new hot spots, the music, the vibe, and the drinks. Grab your dancing shoes...

On the next Industry night, Nycci talks with Shari Wallack, author of from Hell to Challah. Like all of us, Shari went through her own journey during the height of the pandemic and was able o make it through via good people and baking. Also making it through by truly helping others, Nicole Brassington a nurse practitioner who co-founded Bespoke Global Health Initiatives an organization that suppor...

On the next Industry Night, the RAMMY nominations were announced, a new mask mandate has been made and so much more intel from RAMW’s Kathy Hollinger. And, Shane Pomajambo, owner, designer, and art curator of newly opened, WHINO in Ballston Quarter chats this new destination location that mixes food, drinks, and art/art collectibles. Artists, Aaron “Woes” Martin & Rodrigo Pradel join the conve...

Many of you may think Nycci is all about Gluttony — all the good food and even better drink. Part of that is true but she is really about living well. And sometimes that involves good wine, sometimes it involves decadent food and sometimes a trip away or just a great pair of shoes. Don’t be so myopic people — there are so many ways to live well On today’s Industry Night, Esosa E — aka the Raw Girl...

On the next Industry Night, Dr. Travis Parno and his team from Historic Saint Mary’s City recently discovered the St. Mary’s Fort and other artifacts recovered during the excavations — he takes us on his dig. But first, Mark Bucher is back talking about the incredible growth of Feed the Fridge, the D.C.-based program that’s turning food insecurity into meal security. That’s Industry Night, Tuesday...

On the next Industry Night, Nycci chats with Carla Sanchez of @SpicyCandyDC fame who is now introducing the DC Are to her Bolivian heritage via the recently launched Casa Kantuta. Casa Kantuta takes visitors on a culinary and cultural experience thanks to Maria Helena, owner of Saya Sal, and mixologist Luis Aliaga. That's Industry Night, Tuesdays at 7pm on RealFunDC .

There has been a lot of talk about the staffing shortages in the Restaurant Industry. On the next Industry Night, Nycci Talks with Tim Banks, associate professor and department chair for the Center for Hospitality and Culinary Studies at Howard Community College and Howard Community College student and cake business owner. Rachel Carver. The problem can not be fixed without education. But first, a...

Do you ever go to an area and think — how did they do this? The Navy yard, the Washington Harbor, Georgetown Park, Buzzards Point — are but a few examples of areas that legit did not exist in the flesh but did exist in some pretty magical minds. On the next Industry Night, Nycci chats with Herbert Miller of Western Development Corporation, Michael Stevens with the Capitol Riverfront BID, and Greg...

There are a lot of changes out there. What does it look like for retail in the DC Area? How do we make sure that our city’s streets stay vibrant with diverse and interesting retail? On the next Industry Night, Nycci talks retail retention with the experts: executive director of the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID), Leona Agourdis, Philippe Lanier, one of the top commercial real...

On the next Industry Night on Real Fun DC, Nycci talks with wine importer, Estebe Salgado & winemaker of Bodegas Arrayan, Maite Sánchez Márquez about the terroir and tastes of Spanish wines. But first, Nycci catches up on the latest restaurant openings and Rammy info with RAMW’s Kathy Hollinger.

On the next Industry Night, magical botanicals -- elixirs, crystals, overall health — are overall of interest to Nycci and fortunately, Deb Shaffer of enchanted botanicals takes us on her journey from breast cancer survivor to an arbiter of wellness. But first, Nycci talks with aureate and activist Tony Lewis, Jr. activist and author Tony Lewis Jr. As a community leader, and re-entry expert, Tony...

Just because restaurants are ALLOWED to be at100-percent it doesn’t mean that they can. Pre pandemic there was a growing staffing crisis and almost post-pandemic not enough employees to staff all the hospitality establishments. On the next Industry night, Nycci is joined by Kathy Hollinger of RAMW, hospitality industry recruiter, Chris Floyd of Capital Restaurant Resources, Hollis Wells Silverman,...

When Wolfgang Pick announced he was going to open a Cut steakhouse in the Rosewood hotel a few years back there was the usual Foodie backlash —- another steakhouse! But let’s be honest — DC is known as a steakhouse town but we really don’t have many — and especially good ones. So when Cut opened there was a collective sigh that a hip and hospitable steakhouse was here — but then there was a fire a...

It will surprise no one to learn that stereotypes & unconscious bias are rampant in the hospitality Industry. Enter Empowering The Diner an educational events series that aims to empower diners to have better experiences in restaurants. On the next Industry Night, Nycci talks with long-time local hospitality professionals Erica Christian & Kapri Robinson. And, Carlos Rice & Darris Dame...

On the next Industry Night, Nycci talks with chefs Paolo Dungca & Chef Tom Cunanan about DC and how it has always been a haven for cuisines and cultures that were not readily available in other American cities. In the last 10 years that notion has exploded in a variety of ways. Not only are more options available but the execution has been elevated. And, RAMW’s Kathy Hollinger is back to expla...

On the next Industry Night, Michelin stars have dropped around DC, and the North American Chief Inspector (anonymous!) talks about who is in and who is out. Chef Ryan Ratino is in! Retaining the one-star at Bresca and earning two stars at his recently opened Jônt, Ryan talks about the business of receiving these kinds of accolades. Lindera Farms has a cult-like following and forager/producer Danie...