Foodie and the Beast – Feb. 25, 2024

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 chef, cookbook author and food system activist. She also co-owner of the Mundo Hospitality Group. She is one of the driving forces behind the formation of Regarding Her;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

·        Vivien Bang, owner of Lei Musubi, is with us. She’s of Korean descent, but raised in Georgia, so everything she does has a hint of Southern love, including her favorite childhood snack, handcrafted musubi. Vivien is a member and huge proponent of Regarding Her and the important support it provides to women operators of small hospitality businesses. You’ll hear more on that score and about her upcoming “Cooking and Conversation” class;                                                                                                                                      

·        Jamie Leeds is an old and good friend of ours and of the show. You know her as the founder and operator of the world-famous Hank’s Oyster Bar, the home of the best fresh and fried oysters you ever tasted. We get Jamie’s take in Regarding Her’s importance to aspiring women entrepreneurs in the restaurant industry and give us the 411 on all the incredible “Second Floor Series” collaborations Hank’s is offering as part of Women’s History Month events;

·        Also with us is Patrice Cleary, chef/owner of the Purple Patch Restaurant and the soon-to-open Joia Burger, located in D.C. Purple Patch is a acknowledged for its efforts in highlighting and educating all of us about the different nuances of Filipino cuisine. In the Washington Post’s 2023 Fall Dining Guide, critic Tom Sietsma awarded Purple Patch the singular distinction of Restaurant of the Year.