Have we mentioned how excited we are to be back in studio? Well, we are! It feels so good to have these interviews face-to-face. The interaction is totally at another level. The plethora of cocktails and platters of sweet treats have nothing to do with it. On this week’s show:  *The Washington Post has called Andy Bixby, creative director of beverage at The Imperial, a “cocktail wizard,” for his uber-creative house cocktail ingredients. Andy’s enthusiasm behind the bar and on-air is infectious.  *Thanks to the pandemic, there’s now a dearth of trained hospitality workers for the front and back of the house. Howard Community College is helping to replenish the pool of skilled workers by offering classes to earn with offers baking and pastries certificates and other culinary arts & hospitality certificates. The man in charge there is Tim Banks, associate professor and department chair for the Center for Hospitality and Culinary Studies. He talked the program and its successes. *Casie Vogel is a lover of all things carbonated, whether it’s a spiked seltzer happy hour or her daily Diet Coke. She loves them so much that she wrote a book: The Hard Seltzer Cocktail Book. She’s a bubbly conversationalist, duh!                             *Gluten-free baked goods ALERT. Nieshia Williams is the Owner/Pastry Chef of the new Golden Flour bakery. Aside from making really delicious gluten-free goods, she has a whole story to tell, but the teaser is that she was invited to audition for The Great British Baking Show but…turned them down. Foodie & The Beast is back and it is really delicious. Listen in to the latest episode~

Being back in studio feels good. Like, we have to pinch ourselves that we are gathering in studio and toasting and tasting and celebrating all that industry folks are doing. On Sunday's #FoodieAndTheBeast David and Nycci chatted with: *Deb Moser called in from Maine to chat keeping your Central Farm Market finds cool in the heat. *Craft Gin from India makes sense since the Gin & Tonic was created there. Megan Coyle poured, stirred, and shook up an array of tastes featuring Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin.  *Very little slows restaurateur Ashok Bajaj down, even a pandemic! Always a delight to have him in studio to talk about his latest projects, including the recently opened La Bise. Ashok and executive chef Tyler Stout walked us through the creation of the newest property.                                                  *Why dry age steak? Scott Kobryn explained the process and why aging creates a better-tasting steak. His Steakager device creates a micro-climate within a refrigerator for dry-aging beef. *The Lyle Washington DC, a new independent hotel from Lore Group, recently opened in Dupont Circle and chef Nick Sharpe is the man behind the stove executing the impressive menu (and he brought orange-scented monkey bread, yee-um)                                                                                        *Dvon Holland Williams is the force behind Sweet Scoops, A Black/Latina woman-owned small business at Union Market serving up a dizzying array of Philly-style water ices. Listen in to the scoop here.

Foodie & The Beast is back baby. Actually, we never left but we have been recording the show out of our bedroom for the last 16 months! What an absolute gift to be back in studio with producer Andy and all of our incredible guests:  *Mitch Berliner of Central Fam Markets chatted Gazpacho  *Georgia Dunn, the woman behind the British West Indies Trading Company, joined us to pour a variety of her family-inspired beverages like ginger beer — as it was originally made — and hard lemon and mango “ades” made with the simplest of ingredients.  *Good friend and one of the area’s beloved chefs and restaurant owners, Kyle Bailey has been very busy during the pandemic opening up one of the sparkliest restaurants - Dauphine’s - to hit DC in a long time.  *Nature’s Path Gardens for Good program recognizes the critical role of community gardens through grants. Samantha Falk talked the program’s mission and efforts while grant recipeint, Truphena Choti, shared how she is bringing gardens and all their goodness to her community. *Not one to sit idly by, restaurateur Hakan Ilhan had to do some twists and turns during the pandemic. Coming soon is his new Il Piatto helmed by chef Christ Lanydrek.  We ate, we drank, and we talked. A lot. It feels so good to be back. Tune in to the latest #FoodieAndTheBeast — it's the closet thing to being there. 

Our last Foodie & The Beast from home. We are going back in studio next week! Hard to believe it’s been a year and a half of doing the show out of Nycci & David's bedroom but we did. And for our (hopefully) last home show, you know we made it good: *Per usual started off the show with Central Farm Market’s Mitch Berliner. Berries, stone fruits and all your Fourth of July needs. *What’s shaking at Tiki Thai? Jeremy Ross, beverage director and general manager chatted Tiki-inspired cocktails and Mai Tai celebrations. *Cara Nicoletti, a fourth generation butcher, winner of The Food Network’s Chopped, television host of VICE Munchies’ The Hangover Show and Open Fire, and author of literary cookbook, Voracious and now the brains behind the veggie-forward sausages, Seemore Meats & Veggies. *He came. He saw. He purchased … locally. Bart Yablonsky of Dawson’s Market Rockville has taken over the Glen’s Garden Market space. Same ethics and commitment to local — a real match made in the market.  *And lastly, but hardly leastly, Michelle Troxell and Joey Olson of Grace Thomas Designs join us to talk about what’s probably the hottest home renovation focus – kitchens, and the latest innovation for them, from built-in coffee bars to special pet areas. You know I want it.  So click to hear the latest episode and when we come back after the holiday, we will be Back. In. Studio.  #WeCantWait

Sometimes we inspire others and sometimes others inspire us. On Saturday as David and Nycci recorded Foodie & The Beast, they were inspired to get in their car and go out for a late lunch ... but more about that in a minute. On this week's show, we chatted... *Bushels of berries and the first summer stone fruits with Mitch Berliner of Central Farm Market.  *Got re-aligned thanks to spiritual herbalist, Deb Schaffer, founder of Enchanted Botanicals. *Grassfed, True Aussie Beef & Lamb helps home cooks and food pros in America achieve culinary success. Catherine Golding and Pam Smith talked about product access and nutrition.  *Cagla Onal’s Mediterranean café counter and market, the Green Almond Pantry, reopened in Georgetown last month following a fire that shuttered its Shaw storefront in December 2020. The new location offers nearly double the seating. We chatted trials, tribulations, and the rebirth of the Green Almond Pantry. *He’s baaaccck! Last time chef/owner of Modern Mexican Restaurants, Richard Sandoval was on air with us I may have used some colorful language when it came to how women order steaks. Now the culinary consultant, television personality, cookbook author, and brand ambassador with 52 restaurants around the world has unveiled his newest, dLeña Wood-Fire Mexican Cocina & Mezcaleria in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood. Back to being inspired. David and Nycci finished the show and went down to visit Cagla at Green Almond Pantry. The 7-minute egg sandwich with watermelon radish, pickled mustard seed & anchovies -- seen above -- is making me salivate just thinking about it. We also had the green tomato foccacia, the heirloom tomato salad with feta and heaps of herbs, smoky cabbage, black-eyed pea salad and not one but two desserts: the local raspberry and olive oil cake and the decadent chocolate cake. There's a reason Green Almond Pantry has a cult-like following. Listen in for all of the deliciousness here.

It’s getting hotter on Foodie & The Beast and no, that is not because our AC is on the fritz — the DC food, wine & hospitality scene is roaring back to life and we — as usual — are talking to the people that are making it happen: Cherries and all the berries are back at area Central Farm Markets, Deb Moser always has the latest. Prime Roots is a woman-led, alternative meat company that is re-imagining meat for people and the planet. Founder Kimberlie Le talks fungus and food. Whisked!, the DC-based bakery founded by Jenna Huntsberger is celebrating 10 years of delicious nostalgic-tinged baked goods. Lots of changes at Middleburg’s Salamander Resort. Recently appointed chef Bill Welch takes us on a “virtual tour" of all the culinary changes. We were fortunate enough to enjoy the incredible El Cielo experience a few weeks back and are just as fortunate to learn some of the tricks of the trade from chef Sebastian Moreno Henao. Listen in for all the delicious details here.

We just got word that Foodie & The Beast will be back in studio after the July 4th holiday! David and Nycci are so excited to bring the party back on air. Having said that, this week's still show provided all the delicious fun:    *As we are every week, we were joined by Deb Moser of Central Farm Markets who provided updates on new arrivals at market, and ideas for all that produce like DIY infusions and shrubs. *General manager and corporate beverage director Michael Deery at Nara Ya, the new neo-traditional Japanese concept at the Wharf, chatted celebrated Chef Kaz Okochi culinary director role and the massive Sake program. *Mark Mele, chief development officer at Paris Baguette, popped online for an insider’s view of the thinking behind this explosively successful company that’s expanding all over the world. Originally based in Korea (and still headed by the founding family), Paris Baguette has some 7,000 stores worldwide, but only three so far in the DC area. That’s about to change, with plans for more than 20 not far in the future. *Dejia Harmony now owns Lansdowne Resort in Loudoun County and has rethemed the property with a focus on achieving and maintaining wellness and restfulness. In line with that theme, the first-ever Deija Harmony Wellness Symposium at Lansdowne Resort is set for mid-June, with renowned speakers on everything from acupuncture and yoga to tai chi and nutrition. *And do not miss David and Nycci's discussion about the current turmoil in the local hospitality scene when it comes to staffing shortages and the real reasons why restaurant owners and patrons may have to get used to paying more to get and keep good help. It's all right here for the listening.

How exciting and strange and exciting. The Mayor of DC had announced that the city would lift all capacity limits on restaurants on May 21. That is a huge shift — and while it is great news there are rules people! Not all restaurants are ready to swing open their doors. Be Patient & Be kind. And, we got to discuss all of this on the last Foodie And The Beast:  -What’s at Market? Rhubarb and strawberries! Deb Moser of Central Farm Markets had all the delicious details -The stars are out. Yuan Tang & Carey Tang of Rooster & Owl recently received their first Michelin star and joined David and I to talk about emerging from the pandemic.  -Ready to take a trip? Jason Trollip, Managing Director of the Tides Inn chatted the current renovations and conservation efforts and the beauty of creating a living shoreline.   -Ellen & Todd Gray -the Steve Martin of Foodie & The Beast- have gone to the beach. Literally. Rehobeth now has a "Gray" concept, Federal Fritter and David & I readied for a trip to the boardwalk.  -Seth Goldman is the Co-founder of Honest Tea and Chair of the board of Beyond Meat is now the founder of Eat the Change, a platform to inform and empower consumers to make dietary choices aligned with their concerns around climate and health. Eat the Change includes Spike Mendelsohn's PLNT Burger, and the recently launched the Mushroom Jerky line.  With all the changes coming, there is an excitement out there, it’s palpable. Click here to listen to the full episode here.

One of the positive’s of the pandemic: we can do the Foodie & The Beast show from anywhere. This last show, Tess and Nycci went up to Philly to see the fam (first time in so so long!) and David and Nycci still banged out another episode. This week’s guests featured some new faces that are changing the DC landscape and some old friends who are re-emerging:  * What’s at Central Farm Market? Deb Moser has the freshest details                                                          * Like the most successful dating apps, the “Happied” app connects people interested in similar food and drink experiences sharing dinners of tasty fare in virtual settings. Happied cofounder April Johnson demo’d deliciousness.                                                                          *About 25 years ago, Duane ‘Myko’ Cheers’ mom was diagnosed with Lupus. Not happy with the prospect of conventional medical care, she decided to combat the disease with a diet of raw veggies.  She lived two more decades, thanks to her diet and to a special vegan burger Duane invented that’s now at the heart of Duane’s company, Legendary Burger. *Food and wine festival impresario Greg Nivens is not one to just take it on the chin and fall down – when COVID restrictions hit, he broadened his offering to something bigger than big – and so, he’s arranged, with his Jurassic Encounter show, for Dinosaurs to return from extinction and invade Northern Virginia from May 14-31. Plus, festivals are slowly on the way back and Greg talks new festival protocol. *Erica Christian is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Empowering the Diner, a Black women-led, hospitality industry event/discussion where everyone can come together to explore their palates and dining experiences through the lenses of BIPOC creatives - and, hopefully, change - how  a range of discriminatory practices negatively impact the industry, from the guest to the professional. So much to take in, learn, and apply. Listen to the full episode here.

On Sunday’s Foodie & The Beast, Nycci flew solo hosting the show, and she says she can totally do it without him! But really, David is the humor of the show, no doubt —  still, what makes a great show is really interesting guests and good conversation. This show checked all those boxes:   *Mitch Berliner says strawberries and rhubarb are at Central Farm Markets … in April!    *Estebe Salgado is president and owner of Tradewinds Specialty Imports, an import and distribution company specializing in boutique style family wine, spirits, cider, and craft beer. Educated alongside first generation winemakers, Estebe acquired the education and expertise to hand pick award winning wines — and we got to try some!    *Did you buy an instant pot during covid and have no idea what to do with it? Chef Paula Shoyer, also known as "the kosher baker," is back with her 5th cookbook, The Instant Pot Kosher Cookbook. She had tips and recipes and she made converts out of us.   *For those of you sick of cooking, John Aggrey, CEO of the recently launched Din Din, spoke about his locally-based meal prep/meal delivery company that connects neighborhood chefs with you - the home diner.   *And then it’s all in the family .. on so many levels. Dani Karnoff is Founder of Mapp'd, DC's locally sourced, global foods brand that specializes in rare cuisines and unique ingredients in Ready-To-Cook meals. Not only can you find Dani at Central Farm Markets — she is also Nycci's cousin!  Listen in to the full episode here.