Foodie And The Beast

 Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show:                                                                                                                                                                        ·        We have a fun drink segment today. Gigi Arandid is in! She’s the founder of BINGE Bar, which offers a celebration of sobriety for those looking to have fun without the booze. You can enjoy elevated cocktails and a both vegan and a non-vegan Filipino- and Mediterranean-inspired menu;                                                                                                                                                                                                         ·        Tony Chittum, executive chef at the celebrated Iron Gate, now also back in charge of the kitchen at Vermillion in Alexandria, just in time for the grand relaunch of this beloved neighborhood spot – double the pleasure, double the workload!                                                               

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show:                                                                                                                                                                        ·        RAMW’s Communications Manager Keiristin Wilbert on this year’s Cocktail of the Year finalists;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ·        Tim O‘Rourke, wine sales and education manager at the Prestige-Ledroit Distributing Co. He trained as a chef, worked with Jose Andres at Minibar and Michel Richard at Citronelle. Michel turned him on to wines and the rest is history. Tim has just returned from France and drinking a lot of wine. Life is hard, we guess. He tells us all about it;                                                                                                                  

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show: ·        Aynae Simmons of Visit Montgomery has the deets on what’s happening this week during Go MoCo Month;                                                                                                                                                                   ·        Danya Degen is the wine director and general manager of Méli, the Greek-ish restaurant serving mezze, wine and cocktails nestled within the lobby of The Silva Apartments in Adams Morgan;                                                                                                                                                                                              ·        Scott Schenkelberg, president and CEO of Miriam’s Kitchen, joins us. Miriam’s Kitchen is a much-admired nonprofit leader here in D.C. seeking to end homelessness and hunger among our neediest neighbors;                                                                                         ·        Carolin

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show:                                                                               ·        James Cao, bar supervisor at Smoke & Mirrors, the rooftop restaurant and bar atop the AC Hotel in Southeast. He’ll tell you how to treat yourself and friends with stunning craft cocktails along with equally stunning views of Capitol Hill and the Navy Yard;                                                                                                                                                     ·        Chef/Owner Johnny Spero of the Reverie Restaurant and Bar Spero is back on “Foodie and the Beast.” You may recall that a huge fire took out Chef Johnny’s Michelin-starred tasting experience in Georgetown. It reopened in March and Johnny’s in with news about old favorites and new treats just sitting there waiting for your taste buds;                                                                                                                                     

 Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show: ·        Aynae Simmons of Visit Montgomery on promotions in the county during the month of May;                                                                                                                                                   ·        John Dynan, sales and education manager of spirits at local distributor Prestige-Ledroit, on the rich variety of tequila and other kinds of mezcal;                                                                                                                                                           ·        Enrique Limardo, co-founder and chief culinary officer of the Seven Reasons Group, Venezuela’s 1st Michelin-starred chef in the U.S.;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ·        Sebastian Zut

 Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show:  ·        Dania Jolley, deputy chief of staff and cultural affairs at Events DC, which is is thrilled to announce the return of Passport DC; ·        Ashley McPherson,  owner, curator and lead mixologist of the McFierce Experience, an events, catering and mixology company based in Washington;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ·        Fox 5 reporter and the host of “Cooking with Como,” Erin Como, is a dyed-in-the-wool foodie whose lifestyle tips, great passion for home-cooked meals and appreciation for local chefs and restaurants fit the Foodies and the Beast mold to a T;                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show: ·        Shawn Townsend, president and CEO of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, on to chat about a proposed law in D.C. that would reduce liquor liability costs and better protect restaurant operators from frivolous lawsuits;                                                                                                                                     ·        Along with it being International Women’s Month, March is Maryland Wine Month. So it’s fitting that we get a visit from a prominent woman in the wine biz from Maryland. She’s Regina McCarthy, general manager at The Vineyards at Dodon, a stunning, 555-acre tract in Davidsonville, MD that produces amazing wines;                                                                                                                                       ·        Jack Maher and Jack Walten are cofounders of Sea Suite Cruises, setting sail this year with Whitlow’s on Water, a 50-foot floatin

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show: ·         Lesley Deveraux is in with tastes and talk of her Khamsa Tonic and its health  benefits – especially how the ingredients are beneficial for allergy season and for hangovers;                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ·        Tuesday, March 19 is the spring equinox. So we brought in Deb Schaffer, whose line of intention-based candles and other soul-based products helps people discover and deepen their spiritual, energetic and magical superpowers;                                                                                                                                                              ·        Speaking of equinoxes, one of the first guests on this show 15 years ago was Ellen Kassoff, who along with husband Todd Gray owns D.C.’s legendary Equinox Restaurant. I

Hosted by David Nellis.  On today’s show: ·        We love our cocktails on this show. And who better to help serve them up than one of the spirits industry’s leading lights --especially in the domain of woman-owned spirits companies -- Chanel Turner? She runs Global Alliance Distribution, Fou-Dre Vodka and the Black-Owned Wine and Spirits Festival. In with Chanel to mix things up is Kimberly La Rose, co-founder of Wisher Vodka, a woman-owned distillery;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               ·        Our sweet tooth is already tingling just with the thought of welcoming two of D.C.’s great pastry chefs, Moon Rabbit’s Susan Bae and her esteemed colleague Chef Rochelle Cooper;                                                                                                                             

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show:·        The Annual Embassy Chef Challenge is coming up! Jinhee Kim, chief creative officer at Events DC is in. And so is Dameain Williams, the Visit Barbados/Embassy of Barbados rep for the Embassy Chef Challenge;                                                                                ·        Unless you live under a rock, you know that booze-free craft cocktails are a happening thing. JW Wiseman, founder of Curious Elixirs is in. His mission is to create the world’s best booze-free craft cocktails and redefine social drinking with bold, adventurous flavors and good-for-you ingredients;                                                     ·        Téa Ivanovic and Peter Schechter are co-founders of Immigrant Food. their unique mission is to defend the vision of America as the land of immigrants, through what they call “gastroadvocacy;”                                                                                                                       

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show:·        Our drink segment today is a twofer with wine AND cheese. We’re joined by our friend of many years, Diane Gross, co-founder of the Cork Wine Bar and Market on 14th Street. Diane has brought in some amazing wines for us to taste – props to Cork, by the way, for celebrating its 16th anniversary in business. Joining us as well is cheesemonger Alice Bergen. She has been a finalist in the prestigious Cheesemonger Invitational. She is also the proprietor of Cheesemonster in D.C, specializing in curated cheese and wine and virtual cheese and wine classes. We’ll hear about and sample some great wines and cheeses as we celebrate women who make hospitality happen;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ·        Mary Sue Milliken is a James Beard and Julia Child Award-winning

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show:·        Victoria Rodriguez is the hugely respected sommelier at D.C.’s Bourbon Steak in the Four Seasons Hotel. February 18 is National Drink Wine Day. Bourbon Steak boasts over 850 labels, including many from star wineries in California, Bordeaux, Champagne and beyond. So it’s a natural draw for celebrating Wine Day the right way. Victoria’s in-studio and has brought in some of the best of her best for us to taste and discuss;                                                                                                                                                                                                      ·        Sheeeeee’s baaaack! Stephanie Coppula, the director of marketing and communications for the Bethesda Urban Partnership is in with news about “Savor Bethesda,” the community’s restaurant week, on through Sunday, Feb. 25. Thanks to low fixed-price meals, you can try all those spots you’ve driven by and thought, “I wonder what their fo

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show:  ·        Fairfax City Restaurant Week is back and keeps getting bigger and better. It’s on from Monday, Feb. 26 through Sunday, March 3. Joe Sullivan is the head chef at Earps Ordinary and he’s gonna be bartending for us today and showcasing some of his eatery’s signature cocktails. Joe’s joined by Tara Borwey, the economic development programs manager for Fairfax City Economic Development. Joe and Tara have all the deets on Fairfax City Restaurant Week;                                                                                                                              ·        Brad Feikert of Soko Butcher. He stops by to talk about not only the butcher shop’s traditional offerings, but the delicious deli sandwiches it also provides. He is joined by Dylan Greer, general manager and head of beverages at the Koma Café, also in Takoma Park;                                                                                                                  

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show: ·        Dan Marlowe is the beverage director at Common Plate Hospitality, overseeing innovative concepts like The Grove and Chevy Chase’s cool new watering hole, The Turncoat. Marlowe’s in today mixing cocktail sips with insider info;                                                                                                                               ·        Tuyet-Nhi Le of Nue Elegantly Vietnamese and Chasin’ Tails joins us. Nue’s new menu is a tribute to the Year of the Dragon;                                                                                                  ·        Jill Erber and Cathal Armstrong of Corso Italian – in the former Cheesetique location in Shirlington. The secret is out. Chef Cathal heads up the kitchen. We’ve been there. It’s a home run!                                                                                                                                                                                  ·   

Hosted by Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show: ·        Do you know anything about Ethiopian honey wine, a fermented beverage made from raw honey? It dates back more than 3000 years. Created by master winemaker Gize Negussie, the Negus Winery and Meadery Tasting Room in Alexandria is the first and only honey wine tasting room in the U.S. It features Ethiopian honey wine, or tej;                                                                                                        ·        Speaking of wine, T.J. and Hadley Douglas of The Urban Grape in Shaw are with us. The Urban Grape is America’s largest, certified Black-owned beverage retailer, with curated wines, beers and spirits from diverse makers, regions and varietals representing 25 countries;                                                                                         ·        If you’re a fan of eat2explore.com, you know that founder Rowena Scherer believes that every cuisine tells a three-dimensional story about the culture it represents. And

 Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show: ·        Alcohol-free drinks are proving to be one of the most popular trends to hit the cocktail scene in years. D.C.’s favorite cocktail expert, Derek Brown, is the event director of the Mindful Drinking Fest, happening Jan. 23-28 in Washington. It’s two days of non-alcoholic beverage tastings, wellness and mixology classes, parties and activations. Derek joins us, and we’re gonna be sipping and chatting about cocktails to enjoy…enjoy again … and enjoy some more, without getting schnockered; ·        On the other hand, there’s Danielle Hatchett of the Tipsy Scoop. It’s an ice cream “barlour,” serving boozy ice cream scoops, shakes, and cocktails, opening soon in D.C.;                                                                                              ·        Laura Calderone, the chef and founder of Relish Catering is with us. Her company hosted large-scale events at venues like the White House and the National Building Museum and more intimate e

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show: ·        Roasting Plant Coffee is revolutionizing coffee culture with the Javabot, which roasts in micro-batches to ensure each cup is full-flavored—with results in one minute. In today with all the details and not just a little caffeine are Mike Caswell, founder. He is also a former senior executive at Starbucks. He is joined by Genevieve Kappler, Roasting Plant’s specialty coffee expert;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ·        Newly minted cookbook author Barkha Cardoz is in to chat about her debut cookbook, “With Love & Masalas: Everyday Indian Recipes from My Kitchen to Yours.” The book is a family affair, with more than 30 family recipes and easy-to-follow instructions for home cooks;                                                         

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show: ·        Philippe & Jackie Loustaunau, co-owners of Arlington’s Pirouette, which is both a full-service restaurant and wine shop. Good food -- and the wine list is the entire wine shop!                                                                                                                                                     ·        Scott Drewno. You first met him as the award-winning executive chef at Wolfgang Puck’s dearly departed restaurant The Source. Now, in partnership with Chef Danny Lee, he’s co-owner of the Fried Rice Collective and some of the tastiest spots in town, like Anju, ChiKo and the new and so very fun I Egg You;                                         ·        Chef Kyle Bailey, everyone’s favorite badass in a Dodge Charger. He is a partner and culinary creative genius with Long Shot Hospitality, which owns several great properties you know, including Downtown D.C.’s Dauphine, The Salt Line (with three locations) and the new

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         ·        Paul Ashe is a guy whose name definitely rings a bell – several bells. He’s the CEO of the North American Carillon School and director of the National Bell Festival. And on New Year's Day, he’s the guy in charge of ensuring that the bells are ringing for you and your gal across all seven continents, including Antarctica!      ·        Lieven de Geyndt, CEO of Sparkle-ist. The Sparkle-ist monthly subscription box contains three bottles of superior sparkling wines, ranging from $20 to $60, all hand-selected and tasted by a man who knows his wines;                                                                                                                                                                    

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.  On today’s show:  ·        The holiday season is filled with some truly unique special events. One you definitely want to know about comes up Tuesday, Dec. 12 at The Square in D.C. Famed chocolatier Chef Ursula XVII, who has whipped up pastries for some of the best – like, for Michael White at the Michelin-starred Ai Fiori, Thomas Keller at Per Sei, and Claudia Fleming at the North Fork Table and Inn – hosts a traditional Catalan Christmas food event. She’ll demo how to make those yummy Catalan 'torrons' or (nougats) and chat about yummy traditional Catalan products like cava, wines, chocolates, cheeses and olive oil. Chef Ursula joins us with all the details;                 ·        We do a lot of entertaining. Nyc is a star cook and David is the man at the sink doing the dishes. But sometimes, we just need more help than the hands at home. And when you need extra hands, the only thing that really helps are professional hands – bartenders, servers, and dishwashers. Fear no