Industry Night with Foodie & The Beast

The wedding industry is experiencing a near total collapse as result of the current pandemic. So many couples have had to put their wedding dreams on hold while they wait for new mandates on when and how we can gather. No surprise, a group of leading women wedding professionals in DC have the solution, coming together to form a startup, Petit Soirée. Lauryn Prattes, founded Petit Soiree and reached out to some of the best in the industry to come together (virtually) and collaborate on ways to execute small weddings in lieu of the larger ones, for now. Today on Industry Night, Nycci spoke with Lauryn Prattes and Buttercream Bakeshop’s Tiffany MacIssac about the state of the event's industry, what they hope to expect down the road and how the formation of Petit Soiree can provide some wedding relief to those who need it. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The last 8 weeks of this ongoing pandemic have been filled with incredible stories of people in the food, restaurant and hospitality industries taking their current model and turning them on their heads in order to survive. Today on Industry Night, Nycci talked with Jordan Cotton of DC’s first rum distillery, Cotton & Reed. Jordan, his partner Reed Walker and the rest of their team saw what was coming early on in the pandemic and realized that with the close of area bars and restaurants and their own bar/tasting room they were going to have to come up with another plan. Enter hand sanitizer. While it is a welcome quick fix for Cotton & Reed now, what is in it for them and the distillery in the long term. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Well, we are in week 6 of the Covid-19 pandemic and everyday brings a new normal for us to grapple with. Some are staying at home — a roof over your head and a fridge full of food. Others do not have those luxuries. Today on Industry Night, Nycci is joined by the Chief Executive Officer of the Capital Area Food Bank, Radha Muthiah, who leads a team that currently distributes over 30 million meals to more than 400,000 food insecure people in the greater Washington region each year. What does this pandemic look like for the Capital Area Food Bank? How does the food bank feed the growing food insecure population? And, how can we all help? Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The Cares Act, the $2.2 trillion program put together to help businesses during the Covid-19 crisis has left many in the restaurant industry feeling frustrated with the funds or lack thereof appropriated. The Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC) was formed to help/save the local restaurant community and demand a well-deserved seat at the table. Today on Industry Night, James Beard award-winner, author and chef Kwame Onwuachi and Nycci break down what is in the Cares Act and more importantly what isn’t. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

The nation's restaurants are reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic, some have shut down while laying off employees. Others have been able to pivot in an instant and create whole new models — take away and to go — to keep people employed and stay afloat. Michael Babin and his team at Neighborhood Restaurant Group changed their entire company model not just once, but twice in less than three weeks time. Having the foresight to see some of what was coming down the road Michael and NRG have been able to launch Neighborhood Provisions an online delivery shop to satisfy food, beer, wine, spirits and pantry needs. Today on Industry Night, Nycci & Michael talk about this labor of love and joint effort of incredible chefs, hospitable managers and beverage specialists who are providing during these uncertain times. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Lovers of food in the DC Area know the name Erik Bruner-Yang as someone who has launched a variety of kitchens featuring his creative take on different cuisines. In the last few years, he has opened Maketto, Brothers and Sisters, ABC Pony and most recently was named executive chef of &Pizza. Like most of the chef/restaurateurs in the county, Erik has had to assess his businesses and pivot. Some of the restaurants are functioning in a completely new model and some had to shut their doors. This “change” gave Erik and idea and has lent itself to the creation of a new initiative: The Power of 10. Today on Industry Night, Nycci and Erik talk the drastic changes that have had to be made during the pandemic and how his concept, The Power of 10, can be executed not just here locally but across the country as well and most importantly, how you can get involved. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Should you be going to your Farmers Market during this Coronavirus pandemic? Is there a safe and healthy way to access fresh, local foods? Today Nycci asks Juliet Glass, the external relations director for the Maryland Farmers Market Association, these questions and more on Industry Night. Durning this special episode, Nycci and Juliet discuss the plight of the local farmer, the value that fresh and local foods hold — not just nutritionally — and how to access them. Tune in for important information on how best to stretch your grocery dollar and do it safely. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

In another special edition of Industry Night, Nycci has a conversation with COO of ThinkFoodGroup, Erik Martino about the vision to shut down their restaurant empire  — almost before anyone else — and to pivot their team to Community Kitchens. All around the DC Metro Area, former upscale dining ThinkFoodGroup restaurants are now feeding the public from 1-4. Find out how the team was able to make this change so quickly, how thy are supporting their staff and the community at large. Powered and distributed by Simplecast. 

In this special edition of Industry Night, Nycci talks with Kathy Hollinger, President & CEO of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) about the minute by minute changes to the restaurant and hospitality industries in these scary and strange times. No surprise that area restaurants and small businesses have shown their resilience and ability to make dramatic pivots at a break neck speed. Kathy has the latest from Mayor Bowser’s office and provides valuable resources for the entire DC community. Powered and distributed by Simplecast. 

When you mention Washington, DC, the first thing people think is “politics.” But DC is so much more than just the federal government – it’s cultural, creative, vibrant and delicious. Think you know DC? Elliott Ferguson, CEO and President of Destination DC joined me in the Industry Night studio to chat about the dramatic changes in the DC landscape and how anyone -- visitor or local -- can take advantage of all the offerings. And you can't discuss what's happening in DC during the springtime, without mentioning the Cherry Blossom Festival. So we did and Meg McGarry of the National Cherry Blossom Festival provided an entire itinerary of ways to enjoy the always spectacular blooms. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

How dedicated are you to that first cup of coffee every morning? Do you take time to select your beans, grind them propertly and finish the ritual with a slow pour over? Sound a little much? Coffee drinking can be ritualistic or can be an eay way to get your caffeine fix. Today Industry Night sips & swirls the magic elixir with Washington Post writer and avid coffee drinker, Tim Carman, Roaster Nicolas Cabrera of Lost Sock Roasters and Director of Coffee and Counter Service at the soon to open The Roost, Nazia Khan. Tune in to get your fix. Powered and distribtued by Simplecast.

Dan Simons and his partner, Mike Vucurevich, created Farmers Restaurant Group, which includes Founding Farmers, Farmers Fishers Bakers, Farmers & Distillers, and Founding Spirits Distillery. Recently named one of DC’s Best Places to Work the company is run like a big family operation. May sound hokey but it's true not just according to Dan but to two Farmers Restaurant Group employees, GM, Ashley Smith & Executive Chef, Alba Marroquin who joined Dan in studio. Employees have direct access to Dan and Mike, quarterly trainings on company essentials are hosted, as well as offers on life tools, such as time management. Investing in the sustainability of their people is just as important as the sustainability of the food served. Dan says it just makes sense to run his company this way and questions why do it any other. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

It's always a treat to bring people into the studio that I really admire. It's even more delicious to bring in people that totally inspire and oh, by the way, they're good friends. A little love-fest on Industry Night today with NBC4 anchor, Eun Yang and Salt & Sundry creator, Amanda McClements. During our time on air, Eun shared her fascinating story as a young Asian women in the DC news world (she also fan-girled all over Amanda) & Amanda took us through her vision of Salt & Sundry and its expansion that now includes Little Leaf and The Sun Room. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Kathy Hollinger, president of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, popped into the Industry Night studio to share the 411 on DC's booming Restaurant Week and how to navigate it. Local freelancer, Tim Ebner, and Pasty Chef extraordinaire, Alex Levin, bonded on a trip to Israel where together they embraced the culture, history, and food (natch). Alex (Jewish) and Tim (not) were both taken with the weekly ritual of Shabbat and shared how they are replicating it in their lives now. The yumming and moaning on the show is special thanks to the rugelach cookies that Alex brought in. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Chef Bryan Voltaggio has been a staple in the DC food and wine scene for over 15 years. From his humble beginnings growing up in Frederick, Maryland to being named executive chef at Charlie Palmer Steak, to breaking out on his own and opening the highly acclaimed Volt. Bryan and his brother, Michael, competed on one of the most watched seasons of Top Chef, Season 6 -- where Michael took the win from his brother. Now the two of them have opened up Estuary in the new Conrad Hotel and Bryan is back on Top Chef to see if he can be top toque. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Cheese lady and owner of area Cheesetiques Jill Erber returned to the Industry Night show and this time she didn't just bring cheese-- she brought friends ... good friends ... the kind of friends we all want. Gail Hobbs-Page, owner and head cheesemaker at Caromont Farm, Ron Kingsbury, chocolatier & owner/founder of Kingsbury Chocolates and Jason Whiteside of Winebow of Northern Virginia. A lively conversation about small business, making cheese (and eating it!), producing chocolate (and eating it) and drinking wine (we drank it). Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Earlier this year, Nycci moderated a panel about plant-based eating, and was able to bring two of the esteemed panelists into Industry Night to chat the change in social norms around limiting meat from your diet and what it means for the environment. Bruce Friedrich, the executive director and co-founder of The Good Food Institute and Nicole Marquis, founder & CEO of HipCityVeg, are both tremendous proponents of the plant-based movement -- the science of it and you eating it. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Nycci sits down with another Niki: Niki Segnit, London-based author of the multi-award winning book, The Flavor Thesaurus. Niki’s newest cookbook, Lateral Cooking, is, in a sense, the ‘method’ companion to The Flavour Thesaurus – and is just as useful. The recipes in each chapter are arranged on a continuum, the transition from one recipe to another generally amounting to a tweak or two in the method or ingredients. Which is to say, one dish leads to another: once you’ve got the hang of flatbreads, for instance, then it’s easy to move onto crackers, soda bread, scones. Niki and Lateral Cooking encourages improvisation, resourcefulness, and, ultimately, the knowledge and confidence to cook by heart. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

In studio today with David & Nycci Nellis is famed celebrity chef, television host, restaurateur and cookbook author, Lidia Bastianich, known to millions for bringing Italian cooking into our homes. Listen in for great stories about her life and fascinating insights into the evolution of Italian cuisine in America. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

For a new generation of cooks comes the latest edition of one of America’s most trusted cookbooks, the Joy of Cooking. This kitchen “bible” that home cooks have relied on for nearly 90 years, has now been updated and revised by the next generation of Joy family home cooks—Irma Rombauer’s great-grandson John Becker and his wife Megan Scott. John & Megan chatted revising recipes and what it takes to update a beloved book. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Today in studio, Nycci was joined by the man, the myth, the beer-director of Neighborhood Restaurant Group (NRG), Greg Engert. Greg & Nycci catch up and chat about the growth of NRG -- chef-driven restaurants, beer-focused offerings -- and now, Food Halls. Tune in and get a taste of NRG's newest offering in DC, The Roost (and The Grand Delancey in Market Line NYC, and The Belleville in Richmond, VA). Powered and distributed by Simplecast

This week Nycci is joined by Crystal Bowyer, the president and CEO of the new National Children's Museum in D.C, and Dr. Ashley Rose Young who is Historian of the American Food History Project at The Smithsonian. Ashley catches up with Nycci about all the exciting upcoming Smithsonian Food History Weekend festivities. And, what happened to the National Children's Museum in DC? It disappeared for a bit but it's coming back this holiday season. As the president of the new rendition of the museum, Crystal tells us all about all the "dreamy" exhibits and STEM learning experiences available to children of all ages (adults included). Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Today Nycci is joined in studio by a very special guest star, her husband, David Nellis. David popped in studio with guests, Dan & Meg McNeill of the recently opened distillery, MISCdistillery and Steve Bashore, director of trades at Mount Vernon. If you don't know about George Washington's massive distilling business, Steve fills us all in on our very first president's role in American distilling and how you can get a taste of it. Meg & Dan McNeill are the other side of the spectrum with their recently opened distillery -- one of the first in Carroll County, Maryland -- featuring a wide array of spirit options. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

If you want to know American whiskey, you’ve got to know the mid-Atlantic region. In Pennsylvania & Maryland whiskey makers laid the groundwork for American whiskey and sparked a national rebellion. The 1790s Whiskey Rebellion played an important role in American history and is the spirit of this mid-Atlantic region. This unbridled spirit lives on today in one of the most prolific craft spirit producing regions in the country.  You can op on the Whiskey Rebellion Trail with it's distilleries and attractions that stretch from Pennsylvania to Maryland and Greater Washington, D.C. Tune into Industry Night where Nycci Nellis talks to distillers: Ellen Hough, Liberty Pole Distillery Cara Webster, One Eight Distilling, Brian Sheridan, Sagamore Spirit and Meredith Meyer Grelli, Wigle Whiskey about the history behind the Whiskey Rebellion Trail and all the Whiskey you can drink on it. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Powered and distributed by Simplecast

What is it about being a private chef? Sounds like something only the wealthy can afford. Hold on, don’t judge a toque by its height. Today on Industry Night we chat with entrepreneurs in the food space — LaWanda White (founder of Private Chef, No Restaurant Week), Yahya Sardari (owner of Coffy Cafe), Damian Brown (founder of the Uncaged Chefs), Tiffany Lightfoot (founder of My Cake Theory) and Kareem Mr Bake Queeman (founder of Mr Bake) — about creating your own business, being a personal chef and participating in Private Chef, No Restaurant Week from September 22-28.

Industry Night is joined by local writer, Lani Furbank (Eater, Michelin, Edible DC, On Tap, etc) who recently wrote a comprehensive piece on how DC restaurants, chefs and bartenders are getting creative when it comes to reducing waste. Also in studio, Josh Carin. Josh is a true renaissance man who is currently the director of hospitality at the Montgomery County Revenue Authority/MCG Events. The Authority is working with Josh to help local farmers get creative and sell their product and also is making reducing a waste a number one priority.

The stars were out on this show! First we spoke with the Washington City Paper’s food editor extraordinaireLaura Hayes about how food/dining coverage in DC has morphed from “what to eat, where, and why” to meatier issues, such as sexual harassment in the kitchen, fair wages and tipping, sourcing and sustainability in an age of climate change. The, the couple with the golden touch, Andrew Dana and Dani Moreira, co-owners of nationally-hailed Timber Pizza and Call Your Mother bagel/deli shop, talk about how instinct and hard work shot both those concepts to the top of the industry in such a short time. Join us!

Across the past several years, Greater Washington has joined the exclusive “club” among the world’s most revered dining destinations. From Bon Appetit to Michelin, DC area restaurants are acknowledged as “must dine there!” Joining us on today’s show are three of the many who have helped to elevate DC’s dining rep to global status: Kathy Hollinger, president and CEO of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), Christianne Ricchi, chef/owner of DC’s legendary i Ricchi, and Grace Shea, a member of the family team that owns and operates the ultra-successful Lebanese Taverna restaurants. They’re talking the growth and blossoming of the regional dining out industry; challenges and opportunities facing its continued expansion and evolution and, of course, the RAMMYs, RAMW’s annual, “Oscars” gala celebrating the best of the best for 2019. Join us!

Tonight on Industry Night, we have the distinct honor of gathering individuals who have worked in every corner of the earth in one DC studio to share their cultures, ideas, and values. First, Terry "TK" Harvey comes to us from Meridian, a diplomatic and global leadership institution that strengthens U.S. engagement with the world and accelerates collaboration through the exchange of leaders, ideas and culture. TK has worked with over 20 countries and to build sustainable relationships and connections across the diplomatic, government, and cultural sectors. Next, Dana al Marashi, manager of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, speaks to us about the rich cultural heritage of the UAE, especially Emirati art. Under her direction, the Embassy of the UAE has arranged diplomacy programs through sports and the arts, working to highlight shared values between the UAE and United States. Then, we can hardly sit still as Junious "House" Brickhouse, the Director of Next Level Dance Company, enlightens us about how he uses Hip Hop music and dance as international cultural exchange, how it facilitates conflict transformation programming, and nurtures entrepreneurial skill-building. Finally, Jay Raman is currently assigned to Washington, DC as director of the Cultural Programs Division in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. He is responsible for the State Department's global performing arts, visual arts, film, and humanities exchanges. He emphasizes to us the value of government investment in cultural diplomacy. It is our distinct honor to bring together so many cultural figures with such beautiful and unique stories to tell. You won't want to miss it!

Nate Mook is a Renaissance Man – He serves as executive director of World Central Kitchen, the non-profit organization founded by Chef José Andrés to leverage the expertise of chefs and implement smart solutions to hunger and poverty. He also recently produced the HBO Documentaries film "Baltimore Rising", which documents the peaceful protests and destructive riots that erupted in the aftermath of Freddie Gray’s death in police custody in 2015, while the city waited to hear the fate of the six police officers involved in the incident, reflecting the deep divisions between authorities and the community -- and underscoring the urgent need for reconciliation. Nate has also been a producer and filmmaker with What Took You So Long since 2012 after working for TED and spending his earlier career as an entrepreneur in the technology and software industries. He has recently led film productions in Somalia, Haiti, Colombia, Panama, Uganda, Kenya, Iraq, and Liberia, working with clients such as UN Women, USAID, UNDP, and the World Bank, along with smaller NGOs. Nate has traveled throughout Africa with President Clinton, and was selected as a Gates Foundation “Change Hero”. In 2015, he completed a documentary on Haiti with world-renowned chef José Andrés, which he co-produced with National Geographic and PBS. With all that to Nate’s credit, we knew that his multidimensional talents and pursuits would make for an engrossing hour of radio – and, they did! Tune in to hear more!

Bill Thomas is the owner of Jack Rose Dining Saloon, home to the one of the largest publicly available whisk(e)y collections in the world with more than 2,700 different expressions. Thomas opened Jack Rose in 2011, but he has been in the whisk(e)y & bar business for more than 20 years. Considered one of the foremost authorities on whiskey in the United States, Thomas is often featured on judging panels, in whisk(e)y history documentaries and leading tastings across the country. Thomas is also an avid personal collector, with more than 6,000 bottles in his private collection. Thomas is soon opening up a new restaurant and bar, The Imperial, in Washington, DC in mid-2019, and, since Foodie and the Beast are about to head for a week in Scotland, we thought it the prefect time to discuss whisky, whiskey and all of Bill’s endeavors with the man himself! Cheers!"

May 18-19, 2019, DC celebrates Capital Trans Pride, drawing together members of the transgender and gender non-conforming community, allies, colleagues, family, and friends for a weekend of celebration, workshops, networking, and panel discussions on a variety of issues important to the Trans comm One such issue is the impact and legacy of the Stonewall riots, also called Stonewall uprising, were a series of violent confrontations, between police and gay rights activists outside the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in the Greenwich Village section of New York City. The riots began in the early hours of June 28, 1969 and, as they progressed, an international gay rights movement was born. Today on Industry Night with Foodie and the Beast, we remember and honor Stonewall and what those turbulent days started and produced with several guests involved with celebrating and marking the riots’ 50th anniversary, including: Sultan Shakir, executive director of SMYAL (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders), an organization supporting and empowering LGBTQ youth in the DC area Stephen Rutgers, director of sales and marketing for the Washington Blade, the nation’s oldest, LGBT newspaper, who is responsible for implementing the paper’s marketing, such as the Pride Pils can contest and Best of Gay DC Awards; graphic designer Brandon Skall, CEO & Co-Founder, DC Brau Brewing Co. - This is the 3rd year DC Brau & The Blade have partnered to design specially wrapped cans for Capitol Pride Graphic designer Maggie Dougherty, label designer for DC Brau’s 2019 Capitol Pride Pilsner Christy Wallover, the Newseum’s exhibit writer, in to discuss the museum’s commemorative, Stonewall exhibit. Join us for a fascinating, roundtable discussion.

The evening’s show has “winners” written all over it. Joining is are Spanish winemaker Ivan Lopez and legendary, DC restaurateurs, Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff Gray. Ivan and his wife live in the shadow of the Pyrenees where they lovingly grow some of Spain’s most heralded grapes. Their Bodegas Claudalia wines are prized for their dedication to traditional winemaking and distinctive tastes and structures. And Ellen and Todd are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the opening of their signature, downtown DC restaurant, Equinox, that has led the way on tastes and food movements for these past, two decades. Equinox was among the first restaurants to focus on sourcing only sustainable foods and humanely raised animals. Today, the focus is on their newest program, “Not Wasted” – that is, not wasting any aspect of foods, including using technology from Cuisine Solutions (the world leader in sous vide techniques) to ensure that the excellent nutrition and tastes to be derived from vegetable cuttings (e.g., carrot stems, mushroom stems etc.) that in past have just been thrown away, have viable and delicious uses. Think of it as “snout to tail” for veggies! Join us for two fascinating discussions!

The last time you looked in the mirror or stood on a scale, did you recoil with horror? Fact is, people tend to gain (a lot of) weight over the winter months. Then spring rolls in, pool openings loom on the horizon, and commitments to dieting and living a healthier lifestyle start rolling off our tongues. But what diet will it work, keep the weight off and leave you looking and feeling better? The answer for you may be EMP 180, as it is for Industry Night host, David Nellis. Join him and his wife and EMP 180’s founders, nutritionists and other clients with real world weight loss and health benefits stories. Learn about the program, how it works, what you eat, health benefits and how it can change your food relationships for the better.

Our guest this week on Industry Night with Foodie and the Beast is Christian Eck, Assistant Food and Beverage Manager and Tea Specialist at Michelin-starred, Blue Duck tavern in Westend DC’s glorious, Park Hyatt Hotel. As well as being Blue Duck Tavern’s tea specialist, Christian is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, so he is able to offer pithy parallels between the farming and production of wines and teas. Even better, he delivers incredible knowledge into the origins and history of tea varieties (Remember that all tea comes from the same plant and leaf – production techniques are what deliver such a range of tea types) and had tons to offer about the tastes and health benefits of the more than 30 varieties he serves at Blue Duck’s unique Tea Cellar, a one-of-a-kind, tea-centric experience here in DC. Join us for a spot of tea, won’t you?

Let’s play word association. We say, “Napa Valley” and you say, “Wine!” Of course! What else would you say to America’s top, vinicultural brand. With all due respect to Virginia, Oregon and every other, wine producing state in the union, California’s Napa Valley is it, when it comes to producing America’s finest wines and for marketing America’s most powerful, regional wine brand. The Napa Valley Vintners is nonprofit trade association has been cultivating excellence since 1944 by inspiring its more than 525 members to consistently produce wines of the highest quality, to provide environmental leadership and to care for the extraordinary place they call home. So, representatives of the Napa Valley Vintners Association were in DC , and we snared several for a deep dive into the association’s mission history, but also into the history and world of Napa Valley wine growing and, of course, some Napa Valley wines tastings! Joining us were Rex Stults, Senior Director of Industry Relations for the Napa Valley Vintners; Dawnine Dyer, Partner, Dyer Vineyard, a real-deal, longtime Napa Valley winemaker who spent 25 years as Winemaker at Domaine Chandon and a partner in the award-winning, Meteor Vineyard and Emma Swain, CEO at St. Supery Estate Vineyards & Winery: Emma Swain, CSW and CEO of St. Supéry Estate Vineyards and Winery who also serves as the Board Chair for the Wine Market Council and is a board member of the Napa Valley Vintners. If you’re serious about wine – or even if you not – this is a roundtable discussion not to be missed! Cheers!

Today’s Industry Night with Foodie and the Beast should be titled, “The Go-Getters!” First, meet AJ Dronkers, a certifiable, DC “man about town.’ As associate publisher and digital editor of EdibleDC Magazine, he’s full of inside knowledge about the local food scene, especially when it comes to the regional bounty and diversity of foods to eb found at our many, local, farmers’ markets. But, he’s also an accomplished exercise devotee(make that, “maniac”) and night owl who’s got lots to tell about the single life in DC. You’ll want to hear what he has to say. We also are joined by Sadie Kurzban, If the name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, the name of her booming business – 305 Fitness – surely will. At 29, Sadie already stands atop a booming, new wave of studios in DC, New York and Boston (and more on the way), featuring non-stop, dance-cardio workouts with live DJs and rhythmic light show. You dance, you sweat like crazy, you get fit and you have a blast at every workout. Sadie’s a ball of fire and a ball of energy, and you’re def going to want to hear how this savvy, Brown grad and entrepreneur got it going. Join us!

How did Carla Hall wind up interviewing Michelle Obama in Cleveland on March 16? Intentions. Carla Hall, best known from her days on Top Chef and Top Chef All-Stars, and more recently, as the former co-host of The Chew, has never had a plan. But she has always had intentions. Today on Industry Night, Nycci Nellis and Carla Hall talk about how Carla's intentions have taken her from being an accountant to a modeling career, from being the sandwich lady to now being an accomplished television personality and cookbook author. Carla's latest book, "Carla Hall's Soul Food: Everyday and Celebration" is a rich offering of dishes and recipes that have roots in history and heritage and it’s delicious.

This edition of Industry Night with Foodie and the Beast, we’re speaking with two, exceptional authorities in their own right. First, Kiko Bourne hosts Lunch Agenda, a food systems education podcast right here on Full Service Radio. She’s also the Cooking & Gardening Teacher for kids at Mundo Verde, DC’s first “green” public charter school, and we’ll chat with her about her good works teaching kids about … good foods! Previously, she was head of marketing for the Capital Area Food Bank and marketing director for San Francisco’s Bi-Rite Market. Justin Severino is a four-time James Beard Foundation award nominee for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic and a 2015 and 2014 winner of FOOD & WINE’s “The People’s Best New Chef Mid-Atlantic” and chef/co-owner of Cure, a neighborhood restaurant in Pittsburgh dedicated to local sourcing and seasonal cooking with an urban-Mediterranean influence, and nearby Morcilla, an award-winning Spanish restaurant serving pintxos and family-style dishes. His new spot, The Larder at Larimer, a collaboration with Scott Smith at East End Brewing Company, will open in early 2019. Severino is a great interview. He’s a skilled whole animal butcher who brings an extensive charcuterie program and flavors of an Italian-American upbringing to his menu. In 2012, Cure was named one of the “Top 50 Best New Restaurants” by Bon Appétit magazine, so you know he’s quite a chef! Since opening, Morcilla has been chosen by Pittsburgh Magazine as the “2016 Best New Restaurant.” Bon Appétit ranked it #4 in the country in the annual “Best New Restaurants” issue, and it was nominated for a 2016 James Beard Foundation award in the “Best New Restaurants” category.

Title: The Make Up of Makeup and Why It Matters. Tonight, we tackle subjects of consuming interest: The cosmetics industry and the products it manufactures. What’s in what they tell us? How do cosmetics products work? Aer the ingredients good for – or harmful to - our skin? Most people don’t think about their skin as one of their body’s essential organs, but it is. And men and women alike use all sorts of product and slather all sorts of “stuff” on their Faces and bodies to look and feel better. What’s in all that stuff, why and what does it really do? In with us today are Melanie Benesch a legislative attorney with the Environmental Working Group (EWG), an activist group specializing in research and advocacy in the areas of agricultural subsidies, toxic chemicals, drinking water pollutants and corporate accountability. With her is Carla Burns, and EWG research analyst with a focus on cosmetics and personal care products. Join us!

When a venue has been in place and entertaining guests for more than two centuries, you know they must be doing something more than right! A case in point: DC’s Tudor Place, originally founded by Thomas and Martha Peter. Ardent Federalists, they hosted politicians of that persuasion at Tudor Place in the early 19th century (They were so patriotic, they named their daughters Columbia, America, and Britannia). At Tudor Place, one was likely to come across tipsy congressmen getting intoxicated on apple toddy served from a Mount Vernon punch bowl; BBQ, early 19th Century-style (Tudor Place has one of the earliest extant smokehouses remaining in the District (1795); vintage Madeira (Tudor House has on display several bottles of historic alcohol in the Tudor Place collection including bottles of Madeira wine from the 1840s; early 19th Century, “Farm to Table” practices and … much more! Joining us on the show is Grant Quertermous, curator at Tudor Place Historic House & Garden and former assistant curator of collections at James Madison's Montpelier. Grant offers an instructive look back at 19th Century hospitality, Peters Family-style, and also clues us and you into how you can visit Tudor Place and attend their Landmark lecture series, other members-only Events, Tudor Nights and Behind the Scene Tours and other family events. Enjoy!

Tonight on Industry Night with Foodie and the Beast, we’re jumping into the Industry Night time machine with anthropologist/archeologist Dr. Bill Schindler to look at how and what (very) ancient man and woman ate and how we should seek to replicate that diet today. Dr. Schindler is, first and foremost, a very cool guy who also happens to be director of the Eastern Shore Food Lab, an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Archaeology at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland and the co-star of the National Geographic series, The Great Human Race. Schindler’s basic thesis is that our bodies are pretty much the same as they were when humans first walked upright and that we’re designed to operate no differently than our ancestors did, when it comes to utilizing prehistoric and traditional technologies (tools), especially as they relate to food acquisition, processing, storage, and consumption. He believes that the better understanding of prehistoric life made possible through the archaeological record and a practical understanding of the technologies that created it can contextualize our place in the world and help provide answers to many of the issues facing us today, especially when it comes to our diet. He’s a huge, proactive advocate of traditional foodways and constantly seeks new ways to incorporate lessons learned from his research into the diets of modern humans. His outlook on food has revolutionized the way in which he and his family eat and he attributes much of the health his wife and three children enjoy to the nutrient dense hunted, gathered, and fermented foods that comprise a significant portion of their diets. This was a truly mind-blowing interview – join us to get your own mind blown and some good advice for how to start eating like a human again!

Tonight on Industry Night with Foodie and the Beast, we’re joined by Scott and Becky Harris, founders of Catoctin Creek® Distilling. We first met Scott and Becky in 2009, when our broadcast, food and wine variety show, Foodie and the Beast, only recently had launched and when Scott and Becky we just brewing their first batches of rye. Now 10 years later, Catoctin Creek, the first legal distillery in Loudoun County, VA since before Prohibition, produces Virginia's most awarded whisky, Roundstone Rye, and Scott and Becky are on the show to talk about the trials, tribulations and soaring success they’ve experienced. Extra-interesting point: Becky Harris is the distillery’s chief distiller – not too many women play with that title in what is traditionally a boys’ sandbox. So listen in to hear what it took for this chemist-turned-distiller to create Virginia’s most successful rye whisky.

Across the past four decades or so, Virginia wines have gone from obscurity (Wine? Virginia? No way!) to national prominence. The Commonwealth is now tied with Texas (Texas? Wine? Really?!) as the nation’s fifth largest wine producers. Among Virginia’s most prominent wine producers is Tarara, located in Loudoun County. For 30 years this year, Tarara has produced exceptional wines from its own grapes and those of neighboring vineyards. And for the past 12 years, Tarara’s award-winning winemaker has been Canadian Jordan Harris (Canadian? Yup! They make wine there, too!). Jordan is in with us on Industry Night with Foodie and the Beast with tastes and talk of his path from “What am I gonna do with my life?” high school kid to celebrated winemaker; Tarara’s exceptional varietals, and if how, as winemaker, he and his farm are responding to and learning to work around climate change that, for example, brought record-setting amounts of rain to Northern Virginia last year. It’s a fascinating and (for us!) tasty show. Join us!

It’s a family affair! Industry Night with Foodie and the Beast host Gladys Abi-Najm, Grace Abi-Najm Shea and their brother, Dany for a deep dive into the story and the glory of DC’s fabulous, Lebanese Taverna. Launched by their dad and his kids, it started as a one-stop, suburban pizza and sub shop in the ‘70s and has grown into an 11-restaurant chain stretching across DC, Maryland and Virginia with more coming. And, on the way to today’s success, Lebanese Taverna brought Mediterranean cuisine center stage in the DC area and helped make “hummus,” “kibbeh” and “labneh” household words and refrigerator “must haves.” Join us for a deep dive into the Lebanese Taverna success story and to live vicariously as we taste some truly awesome, Lebanese wines!

Ryan Wagner, Guinness Brewery Ambassador, and Hollie Stephenson, Head Brewer join the show to talk all things Guinness.

The National Museum of Women in the Arts is the only major museum in the world solely dedicated to exhibiting the work of women artists. Our guest today is GINNY TREANOR, the museum’s Associate Curator, who in addition to taking us through all that the museum does to promote awareness of and interest in women in the arts, will offer an insiders’ preview of the museum’s upcoming spotlight on the celebrated American luxury fashion house, Rodarte, founded by sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy. The Rodarte exhibit, the first fashion exhibition ever organized by the National Museum of Women in the Arts, is now on display thru February 10, 2019 and showcases the designers’ visionary concepts, impeccable craftsmanship and profound impact on the fashion industry.