It was a buzzy show this week, and not just because of what was in our glasses. There was a whole lot of caffeine fueling the conversation.We kicked things off with a little wine history that still shakes the industry. 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, that moment when Napa Valley wines went head-to-head with France and won. Stephen Velasquez from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History joined us to talk about how this milestone is being celebrated as part of America’s 250th, including a Winemaker’s Dinner you’ll want on your radar.Then we got into meat —specifically lamb— and Jarrad Silver of Silver and Sons BBQ came in hot with the return of Lamb Jam. This year it’s not just a one-day event, it’s a full month of lamb love. Throughout April, chefs across DC (and the country) are putting American lamb on the menu, all under $30, and you get to eat your way through it and vote. Not baaaaaa-d at all.Since we were already in wine mode, Claudia Chamberlain, U.S. GM of Berry Bros. & Rudd, joined the conversation. The oldest wine and spirits merchant in the UK, and still family owned they are bringing a little old-world perspective into a very American wine moment.And because no show is complete without a serious caffeine situation, Kenia Uceda Canales of Neighborhood Restaurant Group stopped by. She’s the force behind the group’s coffee program and the mind behind Cameo, serving up next-level coffee and reminding us that what’s in your cup matters just as much as what’s in your glass.11AM on 1500AM on Here.

Cherry blossom season may be in full swing, but in studio, it was all about the people driving the energy behind the city’s food and beverage scene. -Carla Hall and Micheline Mendelsohn are bringing BumbleBird to Capitol Hill, and while the fried chicken is reason enough to go, the real conversation was about hospitality as an art form and what it means to truly connect with your guests. -Emily Brown came straight from a late night at Eebee’s Corner Bar, running on little sleep but a whole lot of purpose. There’s a reason there’s a line, it’s the care, the burger! and the way she makes people feel. -Lillian Iversen, Vice President of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, reminded us that cherry blossom season isn’t just about the trees, it’s about experiencing the city in all the ways it shows up this time of year. -The Square’s Owen Thomson is back behind the bar and continuing to shape how DC drinks, this time with vermouth, low-ABV cocktails, and a focus on creating moments that bring people together. -And we began with the ndependent Restaurant Coalition’s , Erika Polmar, whose message was clear supporting independent restaurants has never been more important. This show wasn’t just about what’s on the plate or in the glass, it was about the passion behind it all. Listen to the full episode here. 

What happens when you put a rising star chef, a legendary restaurateur, an award-winning winemaker, and a Jamaican hospitality powerhouse in one studio? A seriously great Foodie & The Beast.-TV Top Chef, Anthony Jones of Marcus DC chats the last year of running the kitchen for Marcus Samuelsson and how he has made this moment his own.- Then the man, the myth, the restaurateur behind so many of the DMV’s favorite spots, Mikey Friedman of All-Purpose Hospitality caught us up on life & brought in Fossette Focacceria greatest hits- Winemaker Stephen Fortier of Domaine Fortier Vineyards joined us fresh off two gold medals at the Virginia Governor’s Cup.- And then… back to Jamaica. 🇯🇲 Restaurateur Sydney Watson checked in from Syd’s on the Rocks in Negril .AND, Anthony & Mike dug into the industry conversation sparked by reporting in The New York Times about René Redzepi and Noma,  and what it means for leadership and culture inside kitchens today.Listen to the full episode here. 

Spring Forward! Yes, we lost an hour of sleep, but we gained sunshine AND it’s International Women’s Day, so we filled the studio with women entrepreneurs, artisans, and innovators.-Emmanuel Laroche, called in with his new book, A Taste of Madagascar.  There’s nothing vanilla about his take on food culture.-Kat Jiang from Seylou Bakery & Mill talks the Mid-Atlantic Grain Fair & Conference/Common Grain Alliance. Farmers, millers, bakers, brewers, & food leaders gather to reconnect the grain supply chain from field to table.-Ashley Blake, owner of Prim’s Café in Shaw, the new cozy neighborhood café serving espresso, matcha, chai, and community. The kind of spot you wish was on your corner.-Our drink segment with Kelly Duong from Kyojin in Georgetown, mixing up art-like cocktails inspired by the bold flavors of Chef Peter’s menu.More sunshine. That’s this week’s Foodie & The Beast. Listen to the full episode here. 

On another drippy Sunday in the DMV, our advice is simple: put something cozy on the stove and tune into the soothing conversations on today’s episode of Foodie & The Beast, the long-running DC food and hospitality radio show & podcast hosted by Nycci Nellis and David “The Beast” Nellis. Once again, we filled the studio with voices from people who truly have their pulse on what’s happening in the DC-area restaurant and hospitality industry, from Toast raising prices, to being more certain about what’s in your glass, we even had BBQ and stone crabs in studio.-First up, if you love slow-smoked barbecue in the DMV, this one’s for you. 2Fifty Barbeque is celebrated for its mouth-watering approach to craft BBQ, Latin-inspired sides, and serious pit mastery. Touted by many as one of the best BBQ spots in the DC area, and ranked #10 on Washingtonian’s Top 100 Very Best Restaurants, Chef/Co-Owner Fernando Gonzalez joins Foodie & The Beast to give up a few of his best-kept culinary secrets.-We also welcomed Washington Ramirez, Opening Manager of Terra Gaucha Restaurant in Rockville, Maryland. Terra Gaucha is an authentic Brazilian steakhouse offering a traditional churrasco-style dining experience inspired by the flavors of southern Brazil. We’re calling this one Carnevale for the Carnivorous.-Then we got smart (and a little serious) about drink safety and transparency with Liat Kaplan, Co-Founder and CEO of WiSP (What’s In Your Glass?). WiSP is a cutting-edge drink safety and wellness technology platform that analyzes beverage contents in real time. Liat’s mission is to support patron safety and personal wellness, empowering people to enjoy food and drink experiences with confidence while helping reduce risks like drink-spiking, allergens, and unsafe levels of alcohol consumption. This kind of innovation is shaping the future of hospitality safety and consumer protection.-Rounding out the table, we welcomed Kevin Bratt, Partner and National Wine and Spirits Director for Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Snow Crab. Kevin brought deep industry expertise, insider perspective on Joe’s acclaimed wine and spirits programs, and smart guidance on how to pair big, bold food with wines and cocktails that truly elevate the dining experience. AND, stone crabs. This episode of Foodie & The Beast feeds both your brain and your appetite and is a must-listen for anyone who loves DMV dining & hospitality. Listen to the full episode here. 

Before you bundle up for some football, do yourself a favor and bundle up with us for today’s Foodie & The Beast!David and I kicked off the show with some seriously good date-night inspo (because romance doesn’t stop for game day), and then we filled the studio with people who are fired up about what’s happening right now in the D.C. dining scene.-We’ve got an incredible founder story coming your way —> Geraldine Mendoza of Taquería Xochi, which just opened its fourth location in Navy Yard. Let that sink in for a second. This is a business that started as a pandemic-era ghost kitchen and is now slinging tacos, cemitas, tlayudas, and aguas frescas across the city all with universal praise. Geraldine’s journey from working with José Andrés at China Chilcano to building her own powerhouse brand is the kind of DC success story we love to celebrate. Wait until you hear how she did it.-Then we caught up with two old friends of the show —> Robb Duncan and Violeta Edelman of Dolcezza Gelato + Coffee, back on Foodie & The Beast after years away and years of serious growth. From a scrappy Argentine gelato duo at farmers markets to cafés all over the DMV, they’ve built something special with a real commitment to seasonality, wholesomeness, and great coffee. And yes, their Valentine’s flavors are next-level.  -And because there is always something happening in Bethesda, we’ve got Stephanie Coppula of Bethesda Urban Partnership in studio with the scoop on what’s new, what’s changing, and why Downtown Bethesda keeps leveling up,  plus Tyler Cotting from Pisco y Nazca with the inside track on how to eat and drink your way through Savor Bethesda Restaurant Week (Feb 19–March 1) without breaking the bank. So before kickoff… kick back with us on Foodie & The Beast here. 

Rabbit Rabbit.If you know, you know. 🐇And OMG… it’s 11 degrees out, feels like zero. Which means there is truly no better way to snuggle in than with the comforting, thoughtful, and very delicious conversations on today’s Foodie & The Beast.We kicked things off with repeat guest Scott Drewno, (partner with Danny Lee in the Fried Rice Collective, you know the family behind Anju, ChiKo, I Egg You, District Catering, and their recently launched love letter to Scott’s roots, Upstate FTW).Scott grew up in upstate New York, and this conversation was truly about eating his roots. We talked about the foods of the region, how he imagines them on the plate, and how to properly sauce and gloss for Super Bowl suppers.Next, calling in from Canada, Yves Lowe, Executive Chef and Gastronomy Programming Manager for Montréal en Lumière, joined us to talk about one of the largest winter festivals in the world and the most important food festival in Canada. Hundreds of activities, immersive gourmet experiences, and a celebration of Québec’s incredible culinary scene.Oh, and yes, Nycci is going (along with Chef Matt Conroy and Chef Danny Lledó). Stay tuned.Because America loves a comeback story, we welcomed Chef Paolo Dungca. His modern Filipino restaurant Kayuclosed on H Street last June, but the comeback was swift. Now open in Dupont Circle, Paolo is once again bringing the flavors of his Filipino childhood to the table, with a renewed sense of purpose.And finally—wine with a story.Dr. Mamuka Tsereteli, founder of Georgian Wine House, reminded us that the Nation of Georgia is the birthplace of wine, with 8,000 years of uninterrupted winemaking history. He regaled us with stories, poured delicious Georgian wines and they were so good that Scott Drewno broke a glass. (True story.)Tune in to Foodie & The Beast, comfort listening for a freezing day. Listen to the full episode here. 

We rang in 2026 the best way we know how, by filling the studio with new faces, new restaurants, and new energy. Our first show of the year, New Year, What’s New!, was all about what’s just opened around the DMV, and what the hospitality world has in store as we head into the year ahead.We were supposed to be joined by Emily Brown, founder of eeBee’s, Shaw’s buzzy new dive with the burger everyone’s talking about. We’ve been and the hype is real. But poor Emily has been working so hard at her wildly popular new spot that she’s under the weather. Proof that success can sometimes come with a side of exhaustion. Feel better soon, Emily, we’ll catch up soon.Lucky for us, the universe stepped in with a perfect pivot.Welcome to the Neighborhood: Cork Cleveland Park - Diane Gross, the force behind Cork Market, joined us fresh off opening Cork Cleveland Park, her newest neighborhood gem. Diane talked about expanding the Cork family, what excites her about this next chapter, and what she’s hopeful for as the hospitality industry finds its footing in 2026.Pasta Power at Western Market - Stephanos & Constandina Andreou, co-founders of Gigi’s Pasta, the make-your-own-pasta hotspot in Western Market near GW. How good is it? They were so slammed on opening day that they had to go out and buy a second pasta machine just to keep up with demand. Non che male.Drinks with Purpose (and a Little Sparkle) - We closed out the show with two absolute powerhouses in the libation—and fundraising—world. On the call-in line, Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix, co-founders of Speed Rack, joined us to talk about the competition’s 14th year and its incredible impact —>nearly $2 million raised to date for breast cancer education, prevention, and research, all while spotlighting the industry’s leading women+ bartenders.And then we brought it home in the studio with Jean Carlos Mero, General Manager of Bully, the new Spanish steakhouse inside NW DC’s St. Gregory Hotel. Jean Carlos shook up seriously delicious cocktails and poured a beautiful sangria topped with cava that felt like exactly the right kind of sparkle for a brand new year.New year, new restaurants and a whole lot to look forward to. If this show is any indication, 2026 is already off to a delicious start. Tune in here. 

This week’s show was truly something special, an amazing panel discussion on the State of the Plate and the real realities facing the DC hospitality industry right now.We brought together leaders from every corner of the industry:– Shawn Townsend, President & CEO of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, grounding the conversation in hard data—from closures to the vanishing middle of DC dining.– Greg Casten, of ProFish and Fish & Fire Group, sharing what’s happening in the supply chain, especially around seafood, protein pricing, and what operators haven’t felt yet.– Daniella Senior, Co-Founder of Colada Shop, offering insight into staffing, brand loyalty, community, and how thoughtful growth can still happen in tough times.– Michael Babin, CEO of Neighborhood Restaurant Group, with a big-picture view on labor models, unions, guest expectations, and adapting in real time.– Chris Schmid, from Prestige Ledroit, bringing the beverage lens—how people are drinking, trading down, and navigating wine, spirits, beer, and looming tariffs.We tackled labor, Initiative 82, rising food costs, consumer behavior, policy pressure, and what’s broken—and what still gives us hope as we head into 2026.This wasn’t doom and gloom. It was candid & necessary conversation.If you care about restaurants, hospitality workers, or the future of dining in DC, this episode is a must-listen. It’s Amazing that we have been talking the hospitality industry on this show for over 18 years. So grateful to all of you for joining us every Sunday at 11am on 1500am or on your favorite podcast platform or right here  - Consider this episode a little gift form us to you and have a wonderful holiday season. We will be back in the New Year! 

The holidays are officially in full swing and so was the studio.  This week we’re leaning hard into the season with a spirited lineup of guests bringing cocktails — lots, culture, pop-ups, performances, and plenty of reasons to get out and celebrate across the DMV. Holiday bars, Shakespeare, elves, and Hanukkah happenings, this one truly has something for everyone:– Monica Evans, Beverage Director, Coquito BarA tropical holiday escape right here in D.C., Coquito Bar is lighting up La Cosecha in Union Market as a festive cocktail oasis. Monica is behind the bar magic, sharing tastes and tales of coquito classics and creative spins that make this pop-up a must-sip destination all season long.– Joy Johnson, Director of Visitor Experience, Folger Shakespeare LibraryJoy brings the scoop on the Folger’s holiday glow-up, from the 2nd Annual Folger Frost Fair and seasonal concerts to Afternoon Tea and so much more. If you’re looking to mix culture, coziness, and a little Shakespearean sparkle into your holidays, she’s got you covered.– Sarah Vitek (aka Sarah the Elf)Born at the North Pole (obviously), Sarah trained as a proper elf—cold weather, sugar consumption, bobsledding, narwhal whale training—the usual. Then she discovered nightlife and never looked back. Now a standout bartender with the Lights Festival, she’s bringing serious cocktail chops and holiday spirit to every show, every night.– Josh Saltzman, Co-Owner, Juneberry Garage & Ivy and ConeyBecause not everyone celebrates Christmas and that deserves equal billing. Josh is here with all the details on Chai-vy and Cohen-y, Ivy and Coney’s beloved 9th Annual Hanukkah pop-up bar. Festive, full of latkes, lights, and libations, he’s got the full rundown (mishpocha or not).– Elena Johnson, DC & Maryland Market Lead, The MacallanElena joins us with news of The Snug, The Macallan’s intimate new whisky lounge tucked inside the Ritz-Carlton, DC. Cozy and perfect for the season, this is one holiday hideaway worth discovering—neat, with a splash, or however you like it.Cheers to celebrating all the holidays on Foodie & The Beast. Every Sunday at 11AM on 1500am. Listen to the full episode here.