Industry Night Full Service Radio

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.