Hey, it’s Nycci! Welcome to Industry Night: my pod/vod love letter to the people who feed us, pour for us, and keep the DMV delicious. We’re posted up in Georgetown at Rimtang —huge thanks to Cici Yang, Chef Saran “Peter” Kannasute, and Chef Prapit “Mama” La Femina — for hosting this shiny new residency.Today’s guest! My friend Chef Rock Harper. You know him, Hell’s Kitchen winner, community builder, Queen Mother’s fried-chicken maestro, and now the mind behind Hush Harbor, DC’s first phone-free bar on H Street NE. We talk about presence over doomscrolling, Southern-leaning comfort, and what hospitality in the DMV and across the country looks like right now. Then, Rimtang. “Rimtang” means “by the roadside,” and that’s the vibe: Thai comfort, family recipes, and Mama-level hospitality that tastes like home. Peter and Mama join me to chat about roots, and the growing YUME family.Plug in and let’s eat, talk, and actually look each other in the eye. You can watch the whole video here or listen to it here. 

Today I am not at one of my Industry Night residencies. No City Ridge, no restaurant, no bar. I am actually home, surrounded by my plants… and, believe it or not, a frankly ridiculous amount of whiskey.I went to my own bar and pulled a little selection for today because I am very honored to be joined by someone who has probably forgotten more about whiskey than most of us will ever know: Noah Rothbaum.Noah is the spirits editor at Men’s Journal, one of the world’s leading authorities on cocktails and spirits, a James Beard Award winner, and a fellow at the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits at the University of Kentucky.He’s written The Art of American Whiskey, The Business of Spirits, and he was associate editor of the award-winning Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails.And now he’s back with a brand new doorstop of a book:The Whiskey Bible: A Complete Guide to the World’s Greatest Spirit — more than 600 pages of history, secrets, lore, producers, timelines, and 60 cocktail recipes that cover everything. So let’s pour a little something, and talk about how you take all this knowledge and tasting and turn it into a bible. Listen to the full episode here and watch it here.  

Hey, it’s Industry Night, and I’m kicking off a brand-new residency with the YUME Group, coming to you from their stunning spot tucked into Cady’s Alley in Georgetown — and trust me, if you know, you know. I’ve known Chef Peter Kannasute and his partner-in-life-and-operations Cici Kannasute for years, and I couldn’t be more excited to spend the next few months exploring their evolving culinary world and the creative force that fuels it.First up, I sit down with the trio behind YUME: Jeff King — Co-Founder and Managing Partner, the visionary builder who turns dreams into tangible spaces; Chef Peter Kannasute — Co-Founder, Culinary Director, and Executive Chef, the meticulous craftsman behind every flavor; and Cici Kannasute — Co-Founder, Managing Partner, and COO, the heartbeat that keeps the whole operation in rhythm. Together, they share how one unforgettable omakase experience led to a partnership — and how that partnership grew into three distinctive restaurants: YUME (the dream), KYOJIN (the bold evolution), and RIMTANG (a vibrant homage to Thai street flavors). Then I’m joined by Tom Sietsema, who, after 25 years, 1,200 reviews, 50 dining guides, and countless reader letters, has officially laid down his critic’s pen at The Washington Post. Tom and I dive deep into his incredible career — the highs, the challenges, and the changing landscape of dining and criticism in DC and beyond. From the early days of anonymity to the rise of social media food culture, we talk about what’s next for restaurants, for critics, and for all of us who love to eat, explore, and tell the story of food.Listen to the full episode here or watch it here.  

Hey everyone, welcome to Industry Night. Today we’re taking a day trip to Warrenton, Virginia, and we’re filming from the beloved Claire’s. Huge thanks to Laura Torpy and the team at Fabulous Fauquier—aka Fauquier Fabulous—for getting us here and showing us the lay of the land.I launched this road-show series about a year ago, crisscrossing the region to spotlight communities that are rewriting what small town means. Over the last 30+ years, places like Warrenton have invested in people-first main streets, not just big-box corridors. We’re talking independent restaurants and retail, real work-live-play energy, and programming that keeps the sidewalks buzzing.Warrenton itself is a gem: incorporated in 1810, named for General Joseph Warren, set in the Piedmont with the Blue Ridge as a backdrop AND about 45 minutes from D.C. and the Shenandoah. It’s classic horse and wine country, with a historic downtown, brick sidewalks, beautiful architecture, and a growing community that still feels like a town.So today, we’ll taste, talk, and walk through what makes this place hum with The Mayor, Carter Nevill, Chef Anna Crossman of Claire’s & Matt Carson who has brought back Britches Great Outdoors.Let’s get into it ~ Listen to the full episode here and watch it here.  

It’s hard when the mic turns on me—I’m wired to ask the questions. But today I’m in the hot seat for a special crossover: Industry Night × When You Just Want a Glass of Wine with Zena Polin & Renee Gentry. We’re recording on Historic 23rd Street at Beauty Champagne & Sugar Boutique, presented by the National Landing BID (cheers to a neighborhood that spans Crystal City, Pentagon City, and Potomac Yard and keeps raising the dining bar —> think Water Park vibes, new hits like Bar Colline, Bar Chinois on Crystal Drive, NiHao, Taqueria Xochi, Surreal, plus stalwarts like Beauty).We’re toasting with Barboursville—a Fiano and a Nebbiolo—and swapping wine “a-ha” moments, DMV dining stories, and a few confessions. I learn more about Zena & Renee’s journeys; they pry out mine. Glasses up & let’s go.Listen to the full episode here and watch it here.  

Welcome back to Industry Night with me  Nycci Nellis.I’m here today at Capital One Center in Tysons, Virginia,  a 35-acre mixed-use development that has completely redefined this part of Fairfax County. It’s not just office towers and retail; it’s a cultural hub with Capital One Hall, The Watermark Hotel, Capital One Park, and The Perch,  a three-acre skypark with a biergarten, food trucks, and even mini golf. And built into all of it is a deep commitment to the arts, whether that’s public sculptures, world-class performances, or what’s plated in the restaurants here.That commitment is front and center this fall with the Capital One Center Celebration of the Arts, a two-day immersive festival happening October 4th and 5th.  I will be there leading a fireside chat with artists and chefs. The event will transform the campus into a multi-block celebration filled with installations, workshops, live music, culinary experiences, and more — all in partnership with the Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art.To talk about the festival and the bigger story of Capital One Center, I am thrilled to be joined by:Erin Mical, Vice President of Central Operations at Capital One, who oversees much of the vision and growth of this development,Meghan Trossen, Senior Manager of Marketing and Community Affairs, who curates the community programming and signature events that bring this campus to life,and Jonell Logan, Executive Director of the Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art, who is collaborating with Capital One on this year’s festival.We have a lot to get into — development, community, art, and why creativity matters now more than ever. Listen to the full episode here and watch it here.  

Welcome back to Industry Night, the podcast where we dig deep into what’s cooking, literally and figuratively—across the culinary, hospitality, and creative industries. I’m your host, Nycci Nellis, and today I’m once again coming to you from City Ridge, a dynamic new development that has redefined a massive corner of Northwest D.C.What was once the historic Fannie Mae headquarters is now a 10-acre, mixed-use community, home to residences, shops, a Wegmans, an Equinox, and a growing collection of destination restaurants.And today, I’m thrilled to be sitting down in one of the most anticipated openings yet: Acqua Bistecca, from the legendary Michael Mina. Many of you know Mina from his D.C. debut back in 2009 with Bourbon Steak at the Four Seasons. Over the years, that restaurant has remained one of the city’s best, thanks to extraordinary teams led by chefs like David Varley and Adam Sobel, and sommeliers like Winn Roberton.But Mina’s story stretches back even further, to his very first restaurant, AQUA, in San Francisco in 1991, and now extends to 30+ restaurants worldwide under his MINA Group.  Mina has built a reputation for blending creativity and hospitality into every project. And now, with Acqua Bistecca at City Ridge, he’s bringing D.C. a new Italian-inspired concept that’s equal parts party and fine dining.Oh and we get a special guest, Chef Colin Clark AB’s executing chef pops in with one of Mina’s famous steaks. Listen to the full episode here and watch the full episode here. 

Welcome back to Industry Night, the podcast where we dig deep into what’s cooking, literally and figuratively, across the culinary and hospitality industries. I’m your host, Nycci Nellis, and I’m thrilled to kick off my new residency at City Ridge!City Ridge isn’t just another development, it’s a 10-acre reimagining of the former Fannie Mae headquarters into a thriving mixed-use community. Think Wegmans, Equinox, sleek residences, buzzing restaurants, and thoughtfully curated retail. As someone who’s always been fascinated by how large-scale developments come to life, especially when it comes to nailing the aesthetic and attracting the right culinary talent, this is a total dream assignment.In this episode, I sit down with Rob Wolcheski, who’s been involved with the City Ridge project since day one. We chat inside the gorgeous new Shinwa Izakaya, where Chef Winston sends out an incredible sushi spread while we unpack how City Ridge evolved from blueprints to a neighborhood anchor.Then, I head over to King Street Oyster Bar for a briny intermission (see: massive tray of oysters in front of me) as I welcome two very special guests: Tatiana Mora and Miguel Guerra, the powerhouse culinary duo behind MITA. We talk about their Michelin-starred journey, deep cultural roots, and how MITA blends Latin American cuisine with a holistic, wellness-driven philosophy.Tatiana is the first Venezuelan female chef to earn a Michelin star. Miguel? The youngest Venezuelan chef to achieve that same feat. Together, they’ve created more than a restaurant; it’s a mission, a movement, and a must-visit.Pull up a seat, this is one you don’t want to miss. Listen to the full episode here and watch it here.  

This week’s Industry Night has it all, historic preservation, stunning design & rum-soaked nostalgia.We recorded on-site at Annex on 12th, a posh new residential community that brings serious Art Deco glamour to what was once the USDA Cotton Annex. First up is Stephen Johnson, Senior Community Manager and a walking encyclopedia of the building’s past lives. From presidential vault doors to luxe speakeasies (yes, The Vault is real), Stephen walks us through how this adaptive reuse project blends D.C. history with modern luxury.Then … drum roll, please … I caught up with an old, old, old friend, the legendary Todd Thrasher. Todd and I started our careers side by side, and to say we've come a long way is an understatement. He’s now the man behind Thrasher’s Rum, Tiki TNT, and some of the most unforgettable drinks in the DMV. We talk distilling, building community, his new collab with Annex (including a custom “1936” rum for new residents!), and why cocktails should always come with a story, and sometimes a Solo cup?Listen to the full episode here or watch the full episode here.  

Hey there, Nycci Nellis here, and welcome to another episode of Industry Night!Today’s show is a special one. I’m coming to you from the gorgeous, sun-dappled patio of a.kitchen+bar in the West End of DC. Seriously, it’s a little oasis right in the middle of the city, so chic.Later in the show, I am joined by two of DC’s biggest hospitality stars,  Chad Spangler and Glendon Hartley. You know them from the award-winning Service Bar, Causa, and Amazonia, and we dive into their journey, their evolution, and what’s next for their ever-growing culinary empire.But first, I kick things off with the a.kitchen+bar team. Big thanks to Ellen Yin and crew for hosting us. Ellen, as many of you know, is a James Beard Foundation Outstanding Restaurateur and a powerhouse in the industry.I catch up with Ellen and Diana Kendrick about what’s happening her at a.kitchen+bar, including a BBQ series that’s bringing top chefs, and a whole lot of heat.To all my Industry Night listeners, thank you. Whether you’re tuning in on your favorite podcast platform or watching on YouTube, I’m so grateful for your support.Be sure to subscribe, never miss a morsel, and I’ll see you next time on Industry Night!Listen to the full episode here or watch it here.