Restaurant Hoppen

Three of the most talented BBQ cooks in Omaha bring their minds together to dish on all things 'que. These masters of meat discuss social media feuds, developing the "feel" for meat vs. cooking on time and temperature, why they rarely eat BBQ themselves, and so much more! Any lover of smoked meats or backyard BBQ warrior must catch this episode! Also follow up on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram, AND...

A few years ago, Jean never would’ve imagined she’d be operating a pizzeria. But then she found a love for dough and bread, an opportunity arose, and the chef gave herself a crash course in all things pizza. The result is Lyle’s, a fun, casual spot with some of the best pizza in Omaha. Hear the science behind this unique dough and Jean’s story on this fun episode! Also follow up on Facebook, Twitt...

Let’s talk zero-proof cocktails! The co-founder of Sandhills Elixir discusses the movement toward NA spirits and how his company has ridden the wave. We also talk about how the Ogallala Aquifer makes these spirits so smooth, creating a brand from scratch, and more! Also follow up on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram, AND at RestaurantHoppen.com! Sponsored by Certified Piedmontese. Visit their website,...

We all love food trucks, but do we really understand what it takes to get them started and keep them in operation? The owners of Wonton Jon's, Mootz, and Alley Taco 402 peel back the curtain in this live recording to showcase the joys and pains of food truck life and help diners understand what it means to be a part of the industry. Also follow up on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram, AND at Restauran...

World-renowned pizza maker Nino and Omaha native Aaron partnered to create Williamsburg Pizza in New York, and its grown to become one of the NY's favorite pizzerias. And now they've brought that same greatness to Omaha. On the podcast we get into the nerdiness of fermenting and dough science, how these two came together to create Williamsburg originally, what makes them stand out from the crowd i...

Don't mind that these brothers are both under 23 years old. Through immeasurable hours of work, these natives of Jordan are serving arguably the best Mediterranean food in Omaha. We discuss what makes elite chicken shawarma, how the family started its food truck, 100-hour work weeks, moving into the Inner Rail Food Hall, and even more exciting news ahead. Also follow up on Facebook, Twitter,  Inst...

These two are not professional bakers, and they never had an ambitions of opening a bakery. But they fell in love with pastries, breads, and desserts and felt compelled to learn to bake themselves; what follows is an incredible story of perseverance, hard work, and a lot of butter. Discover how one of Omaha's hottest bakeries came to be! Also follow up on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram, AND at Rest...

How did an old Toys R Store store evolve into the fastest-growing spirit provider in Nebraska? Chief Operating Officer Jake Heiliger joins the podcast to tell the tale of how this alcohol superstore exploded out of the gates, wowing customers with over 6,000 products and a built-in bar at the front of the store. Also follow up on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram, AND at RestaurantHoppen.com! Sponsore...

We got together three of Omaha's pizza maestros to talk about all things pizza. David Losole (Virtuoso Pizzeria), Matt Frampton (Urban Slicer Pizza Worx), and Nick Strawhecker (Dante) discuss what they think makes elite pizza, the science of dough making, the brilliance of Dominos, and what makes pizza authentic (and if that even matters). Also follow up on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram, AND at Re...

The father-daughter connection is just one of the many aspects of Solful Cafe that makes this Inner Rail Food Hall inhabitant fascinating. From the authentic Argentinian empanadas to the commitment to fresh ingredients and food made to order (all without fire, mind you) to the wild story that brought this pair from Brazil to Omaha, this is an episode you can't miss! Also follow up on Facebook, Twi...

Drew and Michelle have carved out successful careers working in other people's restaurants, but Semo is their opportunity to really show who they are as chefs. Hear the story of how the restaurant came together and got a surprise visit from Guy Fieri. We also discuss pasta love, the dedication to farm to table cooking, repurposing carrot tops, and more. Also follow up on Facebook, Twitter,  Instag...

Hank had no experience making bagels or working in the restaurant industry, but he saw the ability to fill a niche no one else in Omaha was: homemade bagels. Hear the story of Omaha Bagel Co. and how it's all operated out of the Shields' home. Hank's testimony is the encouragement to give passionate people the push to just go for it, and he lays out how to get started pursuing your dream. Also fol...

These two had no restaurant experience but a passion for pizza. Their dedication led to starting a school bus, thrilling the Las Vegas pizza market, and moving back to Omaha so their daughter could be close with her grandparents. In this live episode, we nerd out on the science behind pizza, talk about the wildest pizzas Izzy's has created, and discover how love, passion, and the willingness to ju...

Scott cut his teeth at some of Austin's finest BBQ restaurants, and now he's brought that expertise to Nebraska. If you want Texas-style BBQ, this is it. Scott discusses how feel and experience (not time and temperature) define smoking meat and how he coaxes the most flavor possible out of his brisket, pork, and turkey. If you're an avid smoker, a BBQ lover, or just someone who loves great food, y...

These sisters carry on their late mother's legacy by cooking the same classic, delicious breakfast dishes she made for them growing up. Hear how this food truck came to life, how love drives everything about the truck, and how Amanda and Amya's varied restaurant experiences make them a perfect tag team. Also follow up on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram, AND at RestaurantHoppen.com! Sponsored by Cert...

These two sisters each own and operate their own restaurants, so why did they decide to open one together this year in Ralston? Because they wanted to cook "mom food", the comforting breakfast/lunch dishes they made with their mother growing up. Hear how the concept came together and how this cafe has already become an integral part of Ralston's community. Also follow up on Facebook, Twitter,  Ins...

Isaiah had no idea if Omahans would go for a food truck serving British pub food in 2016, but Dire Lion is still thriving 7 years later. The owners of the truck discuss putting their small tweaks on traditional UK fare, their most memorable food truck events, the secret behind great fish & chips, and more! Also follow up on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram, AND at RestaurantHoppen.com! Sponsored by C...

In the first live recording of the podcast, Michelle Alfaro details details how she takes the time and care to make you feel like every meal at Sauced is being served at her house. We discussed her epic Nashville hot chicken sandwich, how salsa sales jumpstarted her restaurant career, how she overcame her lack of professional culinary experience, and overcoming her battle with cancer. Also follow...

After starting her food career in restaurants and bakeries, Hailey left the industry... but she couldn't stay away. She ended up opening crumb coat & chill as a side hustle, but her cakes, cookies, and other desserts became so popular, it transformed into her full-time job, and she's now one of Omaha's most beloved bakers. Hear her story, the difficult and rewarding realities of running a baking b...

Elie seeks to send her customers to Puerto Rico for a few hours when they visit her restaurant, and everything from the "boom" of the flavors to the bright walls of Elie's Chinchorro do just that. Elie and her daughter Miny joined the podcast to discuss the road that led from Elie semi-legally selling meals out of her house to owning a beautiful restaurant and introducing Omaha to mofongo and othe...

Few men in the Midwest have the BBQ credentials that Blane Hunter does. He's proven his meat smoking proficiency both on the competition BBQ circuit and in his restaurant, which are vastly different environments. Blane explains the differences between the two settings, relays stories from BBQ competitions, lays out some hards truths about barbecue, and more! Also follow up on Facebook, Twitter,  I...

Since its inception in 2018, Clean Slate Food Co. has blossomed from a tiny catering service in co-owner Dylan's kitchen to a weekly meal delivery service and a cozy new cafe in Millwork Commons. Hear how friends Dylan and Jamen started from the ground up, creating "heathful" meals that fit into people's daily lives without sacrificing an ounce of flavor. Also follow up on Facebook, Twitter,  Inst...

Put simply, Kitchen Council helps start-ups start up. This incubator for young businesses not only provides kitchen space and state-of-the-art machinery, but also information and mentorship necessary for a budding concept to survive. Holly, Kitchen Council's managing director, shares success stories and describes how the organization sets members up for success. Also follow up on Facebook, Twitter...

Colin & Jessica's commitment to not only local products, but building dishes from the ground up based off what's fresh and available, is downright astounding. They're creativity and dedication to making absolutely everything themselves is a big reason why Kitchen Table has been an Omaha staple for nearly a decade. I could listen to these two talk about food all day—you can't miss this episode! Als...

The owner of one of Omaha's most beloved bakeries discusses how the business has involved and the process of finding and opening a second location. We also dive into Katina's new venture, Know Good Eats, which has opened a huge window into her favorite part of her job—recipe development. Also follow up on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram, AND at RestaurantHoppen.com! Sponsored by Certified Piedmontes...