FOODIE & THE BEAST: AUGUST 10TH, 2025

We’re serving up a show full of flavor, innovation, and inspiration.

– Cheetie Kumar, Chef/Owner of award-winning Ajja in Raleigh, NC, and Vice President of the Independent Restaurant Coalition, joins us to talk about two first-of-their-kind grant programs just launched by the IRC:
  *A Disaster Relief Fund designed by and for independent restaurants.
  *The “Innovator Awards,” celebrating independent restaurants and bars making bold moves to support their teams and communities. It’s an important and timely conversation for our industry.

– Chef Kitima Boonmala of Birdsong is in the house—and yes, we’re going to coax out her secrets for creating those buzzworthy, inventive Thai dishes everyone’s talking about.

– Victoria Simmerling brings us into the world of Casamara, a Mediterranean-influenced restaurant blending old-world European glamour with relaxed coastal chic—plus its Reynolds Bar, an Americana-inspired cocktail spot with vintage sophistication and a playful twist.

– And from Gaia Supperclub, lead bartender Lily Heredia shakes things up. Gaia offers Mediterranean and Latin fusion cuisine alongside immersive entertainment inspired by the nightlife vibes of Mykonos, Dubai, and Saint-Tropez.

Pull up a chair, it’s a delicious mix of ideas, talent, and stories you won’t want to miss. Listen to the full episode here.