Foodie & The Beast January 25, 2026

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.