FULL STUDIO!  Today’s Foodie & The Beast: The Gauntlet Has Been Thrown!-Who will take the crown in the Cherry Blossom-themed Cocktail Competition, sponsored by High Road Spirits? We’ve got the deets from High Road’s Mid-Atlantic boss babe Jennifer Nellis—plus meet the talented finalists:✨ John Cooper (Vagabond Kitchen & Bar + Prost)✨ Lucy Valenti (Residents Café & Bar)✨ Kevin Cornejo (just wait till you hear this one…)-Also in studio: Michelin-starred Chef Danny Lledó, sharing how diners can now experience his culinary R&D firsthand at El Taller del Xiquet —his intimate lab where bold, creative Mediterranean flavors are constantly being explored and refined. 🍽️-What happens to all the food we don’t eat? Kate Urbank from Food Rescue US – DC talks Food Waste Prevention Week (April 7–13) and how local efforts are helping save tens of thousands of pounds of food for neighbors in need.And after hours at the stunning new Alara, DC dining vet Hakan Ilhan (Brasserie Liberté, Ottoman Taverna, Il Piatto, Al Dente, and more) gives us the inside scoop on his latest love letter to Turkish, Greek & Levantine cuisine.🎙️Tune in every Sunday at 11AM on 1500AM or here 

We’re serving up a stacked show this week — from policy shakeups to perfect pours and behind-the-scenes bites.-Shawn Townsend, President & CEO of RAMW, breaks down the latest member survey — federal workforce cuts, rising costs, shifting traffic — and what it all means for DMV dining.-Rachel Loew Lipman of Loew Vineyards joins us to pour award-winning wines and share the powerful, multi-generational story behind one of Maryland’s oldest wineries.-Claire & Ari Wilder have transformed the old Booeymonger into La Bonne Vache, a cozy French bistro that feels like it’s always belonged on Prospect Street.-Phil Greene returns! The cocktail historian and author is here with stories (and sours) from his latest book, Sours: A History of the World’s Most Storied Cocktail Style.-And from Cordelia Fishbar, we chat with GM Sonya Znati and Executive Sous Chef Ramon Rivera about Clyde’s newest seafood-forward spot in Union Market.Before we wrapped, we circled back to Shawn’s Initiative 82 data and got real-time takes from Ari, Claire, Sonya, and Ramon on what they’re seeing in the streets.🎧 It’s a candid, flavor-packed episode you won’t want to miss. Listen here. 

-A special guest star in studio — Eric Hirschfield — an old friend from the 1900’s and the guy who launched Nycci’s DC hospitality career when he brought her in to bake for his restaurant.-We're feeling the Irish spirit in full force! Inspired by Oscar Wilde, Wilde Irish Gin is making waves as Ireland’s first female master distiller’s creation. Their brand director, Billy Ray, zoomed in with all the details, and Lathan Kornegay, their dapper brand ambassador, is in studio — dressed to impress and shaking up some seriously delicious cocktails, including a fabulous Irish Coffee.-The latest concept from the team behind Wunder Garten, the Barrel House founders Biva Ranjeet and Chris Lynch share their vision, their festive St. Paddy’s Day bash on Monday, and a lineup of exciting pop-ups you will not want to miss.-The stunning new Willowsong Restaurant at the InterContinental Hotel, has Chef Jeffrey Williams cooking up seasonal dishes that showcase our region’s bounty. He chats all about his culinary vision and his new approach to sustainability - not an easy task at a hotle property.-If it walks like a duck… it’s probably Mallard … Quack.  Chef Hamilton Johnson has brought elevated Southern comfort food to the Neighborhood Restaurant Group’s new Mallard, two doors down for the Barrel House. We snacked on Hamilton’s delish pimento cheese spread while catching up on his South Carolina-inspired cuisine.So grab your green, pour a drink, and stick around — we've got a show packed with flavor, fun, and fabulous guests! Listen to the full episode here. 

Today’s Foodie & The Beast… It’s a Feast for Your Ears! Another jam-packed show with an incredible lineup of guests -Dan Ziegler, Founder of Chacho Distillery in Takoma Park, is shaking things up with his unique spin on Colombian aguardiente. It gets spicy in studio. - Big news from Denizens Brewing — they’ve seriously upped their food game. Julie Verratti, Chief Brand Officer of Denizens, is in alongside their new Executive Chef, Shannan Troncoso, to talk about the exciting culinary changes happening at this Brewery favorite. Hint there’s beer in the Caesar dressing.- Dani Mathey, COO of the 801 Restaurant Group, is giving us the inside scoop on the newly opened 801 Chophouse in Tysons Corner — their first East Coast outpost. Steak lovers, this one’s for you.-Moe Yamada, better known as Kimono Mom, joins us all the way from Japan. A former Geisha) turned YouTube star, she's sharing her love for Japanese home cooking and culture, which has captivated audiences in over 190 countries.From cocktails to chophouses, Japanese home cooking to brewery bites — we’ve got it all — 11AM on 1500AM or here  

Welcome to the first-ever collaboration between Foodie & The Beast and Industry Night—our special episode: "Wine Tariffs: Can We Swallow Them?"A few weeks back, I had the pleasure of attending a panel at Brent Kroll’s Maxwell Park that delved into the intricate world of wine tariffs. The conversation was so engaging that I knew we had to bring it to our audience. Why choose one show when we can merge the best of both?Today, we're diving into how wine tariffs impact everyone from importers and distributors to restaurants and winemakers—and ultimately, your wallet. While there's plenty of debate about tariffs across various imported goods, our focus is clear: exploring whether these wine tariffs will disrupt our favorite restaurants and bars or even swing the balance on domestic wine exports.Joining us for this spirited roundtable discussion are some of the industry’s most influential voices:• Erik Segelbaum – Vice President of United Sommeliers Foundation and Owner of SWIG Partners• Vanessa Cominsky – Sommelier & Beverage Specialist at Prestige Ledroit Distributing• Michael Scaffidi – An Advanced Sommelier whose impressive resume includes The French Laundry, The Greenbier, Union Square Café, and Jean-Georges• Brent Kroll – Renowned for his work at Maxwell, Pop-Fizz, and more, and named a 2018 Food & Wine Sommelier of the Year. Brent also pouring some exceptional wines for us to sip as we chat!This insightful and lively exploration into the world of wine tariffs on at 11am on 1500am or HERE. In a few weeks this show will drop on all the Industry Night channels.Let’s find out if these tariffs are something we can swallow—or if they’re just too much to digest. Listen here.  

This Foodie & the Best show is not our typical food and wine variety hour—though don’t worry, we’ve still got plenty of deliciousness in store. But today, we’re diving deep into a conversation that’s just as important as what’s on the plate: mental health in hospitality and how business owners are navigating workplace wellness.-First up, if you haven’t checked out Plant Magic Bottle Shop at Union Market, you’re missing out.  Sober Curious Coach,  Mentor and shop owner, Anahata Sabat has created a space filled with functional mocktails that uplift, enhance connection, and elevate your mood—all without the dreaded hangover. And honestly, if there was ever a time we needed a little mood elevation, it’s now.-Next, we’re pouring one out (literally) with Neal Wavra, wine expert, proprietor, chef, and sommelier of Field & Main Restaurant in Marshall, VA, and CEO of Red Truck Bakery. Neal tests our wine knowledge with a blind wine tasting and sharing he hospitality philosophy.-And finally, an old friend of the show—actually, one of our first guests ever nearly 16 years ago—is back. Dan Simons, Co-founder of Founding Farmers Restaurant Group, is here with all the latest from his restaurants and his new one opening in Alexandria. But more importantly, we’re diving into some big conversations—how business owners can and should address workplace mental health, menopause, and other critical well-being issues that impact every industry, not just hospitality.So, grab your coffee (or maybe a functional mocktail?) and settle in—it’s going to be a great one. 11AM on 1500AM or here 

It may be gloomy outside, but we’re bringing all the cozy, feel-good vibes inside the Foodie & The Beast studio today.  The rain might not be going anywhere, so grab a warm drink, snuggle up, and tune in—because today’s show is serving up all the deliciousness you need.-If Jane Jane is where the grown-ups sip refined cocktails in a sultry setting, then the upcoming Bar Bestie is where the kids go for a little drama and a taste of adulthood. The fabulous trio behind Jane Jane—JP Sabatier, Ralph Brabham, and Drew Porterfield—are back and bringing their cocktail vision to life in Union Market District. Bar manager Courtney Taylor joined them to shake up some tastes.-East Coast or West Coast? Briny or buttery? However you like ‘em, we’re slurping up oysters today with Rick Allison of King Street Oyster Bar—because if there’s one thing we love, it’s oysters…and Rick might just love them even more. He’s in studio, shelling out the secrets behind sourcing the freshest oysters from both coasts (and Canada!), dishing on the growth and success of KSO, and—oh yeah—bringing a boatload of his favorites for us to try.-What is coquito, and why is Andra Johnson starting a full-blown war over it? Gauntlet. Thrown. Who makes the best coquito in DC? AJ wants to find out. AJ—one of DC’s ultimate bartenders and one of our all-time favorite humans is Bar Director and Partner at Serenata (inside La Cosecha at Union Market), she’s bringing the heat with Coquito Wars, an epic showdown of this Puerto Rican coconut-rum-spiked eggnog—because let’s be real, not all coquito is created equal.-Bethesda is booming with new restaurants—so many, it’s hard to keep up! Luckily, we’ve got the inside scoop from Stephanie Coppola, the Director of Marketing for Bethesda Urban Partnership, she’s the mastermind behind Savor Bethesda Restaurant Week,Joining her is Reyna Guardado, co-owner of Guardado’s, here to dish on all things Bethesda dining and why this year’s restaurant week is not to be missed.Tune in every Sunday at 11AM on 1500AM or here 

Before you Get Ready For A Day of Football, Tune Into Foodie & The Beast:-WTF is up with the egg supply?! Gus May, co-owner of La Tejana in Mount Pleasant, joins us to crack open the facts and give us a bird’s-eye view of the impact at the retail level. (FYI: More than 30 million egg-laying chickens have been wiped out to curb Avian flu)-Saluting Spirits with Old Line’s Mark McLaughlin Navy vet Mark McLaughlin, co-founder of Baltimore’s Old Line Spirits, is one of the few producers of American Single Malt, Old Line helped pave the way for its official recognition as a new whiskey category—the first in over 50 years. We get a taste. -Kevin Tien Brings the Heat—And the Pho Duck Pho in studio! Fresh off his first trip to Vietnam, Chef Kevin Tien is on a mission to revitalize DC’s Chinatown, open a new grocery store, and collaborate with top chefs like Lordfer Lalicon (Kaya, Orlando), Nok (Kalaya, Philly), and Kultura (Charleston). Oh, and Chef Susan Bae sent a love-ly (and delicious) dessert)-Lighting Up the DMV with Ferzan Jaeger Ferzan Jaeger, founder of Olive & Loom (yay, K-Town!) and District Candle Lab, is bringing a whole new glow to DC. At her NE studio, you can mix, pour, and create your own signature candles— She’s here to spill the wax on all things candle-making! That’s Foodie & The Beast every Sunday at 11AM on 1500AM or here  

On today’ show: If you don’t know how nationally prominent Virginia wines are … wake up!   Leah Papadopoulos Constable, a third-generation descendant of Old World winemakers, is the operations and production manager at her family’s vineyard and winery,  Molon Lave, in Warrenton. She’s got a great story to tell – and wines to sip – and we’re gonna get into both;                                                                                                                                                                                                Michael Schlow is one of the most influential and respected chef/restaurateurs in America today and the owner of the Schlow Restaurant Group, with propertoes across the Washington D.C. area and New England. He’s in to talk about the new version of Alta Strada Embassy Row, now open in the Canopy Hilton;    Falls Church has an awesome restaurant week happening right now, and its mayor, Letty Hardi, is in with chef/owner Thomas Harvey of Harvey's Restaurant to give us all the deets.;          Do you love Greek-style pitas made by hand with unbleached flour, extra virgin Greek olive oil, and lots of love?  Katerina Georgallas is the founder/co-owner of Union Market’s Mastiha Taverna, specializing in wraps, mezze and salads. And pastries, too!         listen to the full episode here. 

On Sunday's Foodie & The Beast we did something a little different. Given the recent administration change and the week that was had, we brought in several of the most knowledgable DC food writers to talk about the State of the Plate:- Tom Sietsema, The Washington Post's food critic- Jessica Sidman, Food Editor of Washingtonian Magazine- Anna Spiegel, City Reporter and Food Writer for Axios D.C.- Nevin Martell, Author and food, travel, culture and parenting writer.                            In this panel format, we discussed: - The Trump Administration’s possible impact on DMV Hospitality- How will immigration raids, tariffs, and other policies affect the industry?- Will dining habits and gathering spaces shift?- Phasing out tipped minimum wage in DC: Is this experiment working? How is it impacting service quality, and what do service fees mean for diners and workers alike?- Crime and Safety: While data may suggest crime is down, many restaurateurs report a different reality. What’s the truth on the ground?- Cuisine and Drink Trends: What’s hot right now in F&B?- And, we do end on a hopeful note … what we are looking forward to in 2025.AND — while we didn’t eat in studio this week we did have delicious wines poured by Pedro J. Rodríguez, Cofounder of Grand Cata, Latin American Wine Club. Pedro generously shared the stories of the winemakers behind the Latin American wines he poured.Foodie &The Beast, every Sunday morning at 11am on 1500AM here.