Foodie and the Beast – June 30, 2024

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.

On today’s show:

§ Apero is the delicious little Georgetown champagne and caviar bar — and a restaurant that’s the brainchild of Advanced Sommelier Elli Benchimol. We love it there. It’s now added La Bohème, an intimate tasting room upstairs. Elli is in with her exec chef, Jenn Castaneda-Jones, formerly of the celebrated and dearly departed Marcel’s. We definitely should mention that the RAMMYS are coming up at the end of July — and Jenn is a 2024 finalist for the Rising Culinary Star of the Year award, and Apéro is a finalist for Wine Program of the Year. Not too shabby;

§ Silvan Kraemer and David Fritsche owned Stable DC, a traditional Swiss restaurant in the H Street Corridor. Stable closed this spring, and Silvan and David are ready to unveil their new concept, Steak Frites DC. David joins us to treat us to the new restaurant’s signature item, which is… steak frites, Geneva-style!

§ If you want to know anything about sake, Reiko Hirai is your go-to. She founded and runs the DC Sake Co. It’s way more than a beverage company. It’s an experience! Reiko us tastes  of sake and she’s here to announce a very cool  Japanese spirits tasting soiree to be held July 20;

§ David Wizenberg, the chief operation officer at Hospitality Consulting Services, is now working on optimizing the customer’s experience through the renovation and reorientation at Executive Chef Chris Clime’s PassionFish in Reston. Davis is also here to tell us about his new food truck concept;

§ L. Paige Newman is the curator at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture in Richmond. The museum is hosting a fascinating interactive exhibit on the life of Julia Child. “A Recipe for Life” celebrates – and makes you a part of – Julia’s lasting impact on American cuisine and food culture.