Foodie and the Beast

Federal News Network | Hubbard Radio
  • 3.9 (11)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Nycci Nellis is everyone's "go to" food journalist for insights and in depth info about everything happening across the food/wine/spirits/brews/restaurant scenes in the Mid-Atlantic and across the U.S. Her husband, David, is a beer and burgers guy. On radio since 2009, they host celebrity guest interviews with famous and up-and-coming chefs, winemakers, distillers, oystermen, farmers, marine biologists and more. Get the foodie info you need to know and won't find anywhere else; enjoy irreverent repartee; pick up great recipe tips for cooking to cocktails and ... have fun! .. with Nycci and David Nellis on the one and only, Foodie and the Beast.

  1. 6d ago

    Foodie and the Beast, Oct. 11, 2026

    Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show:                                                                                                                                   ·        There’s an old saying: “Local boy makes good.” Well, we have two of ‘em today. Sebastian Zutant, owner of the lovely Primrose in Brookland, is a veteran Washington, D.C. sommelier, restaurateur and wine professional whose career has helped shape some of the city’s most celebrated dining and wine programs. His executive chef, Patrick Benton, grew up in Annapolis, and can really cook, baby!                                                                              ·        Sunflower Bakery enables pathways to employment for young adults and teens with learning differences through pre-employment exposure and workforce development training in the pastry arts, culinary arts, hospitality and related industries. Ellen Shimberg, Sunflower’s director of development, joins us with more on Sunflower and info about how you can help – yes … YOU!                                     ·        Formula 1 is pure adrenaline, pure excitement. Many of its race fans here are part of the DC Motorsport Community (DCMC), a motorsport lifestyle platform. DCMC produces race watch parties, large-scale Grand Prix experiences, automotive showcases, VIP events, and more, including an Oct. 25 rooftop experience, the Motorsport Takeover at City Ridge, for the Austin F1 Grand Prix. DCMC’s Nikki Lang is in with the deets;   ·        Carla Sanchez of Spicy Candy and Casa Kantuta has something cool coming up – Kyojin × Casa Kantuta, a cross-cultural celebration of Bolivian and Japanese influences through food and drink. Inspired by Casa Kantuta co-founder Carla Sanchez’s childhood friendship with a girl of Japanese descent, the collaboration celebrates heritage, cultural exchange and the connections that shape us;                                                                                                                        ·        Shia, the modern Korean fine dining restaurant in Washington D.C. focused on sustainability and innovation offers amazing food – also amazing cocktails, where American classics are reimagined through a Korean cultural lens. Geoffrey Chang and AJ Johnson are in to make the party happen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  2. Sep 26

    Foodie and the Beast -Sept. 27, 2026

    Hosted by Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show:                                                                                                                           ·         Betul and Ismail Uslu are a husband-and-wife team with three Agora locations (Dupont Circle, Tysons Corner, Bethesda) serving honest-to-goodness cuisine from Turkiye, Greece, and Lebanon; ·        Executive Chef Sanjay Mandhaiya joins us (that’s Pappe, Karravaan and The Grace). He builds his menu around freshly ground spices, seasonal produce, and fresh meats and seafood, with Northern Indian classics complemented by select dishes inspired by India’s southern and coastal regions;                 ·        The Fountain Inn is a cocktail bar, rare spirits tasting room and restaurant in Georgetown that brings fine-dining-level culinary offerings to an approachable bar setting. Led by Chef Greg Heitzig, a Thomas Keller and Aviary alum and former CDC of Michelin-starred Pineapple and Pearls, the kitchen and bar programs are intentionally developed together, creating a cohesive food and beverage experience. On the beverage side, Zack Atzert (along with Luke Georgiadis) pairs seasonally rotating cocktails with a nearly 700-bottle spirits collection, focusing particularly on whiskey. ·        The Taste of Bethesda returns Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, 11:00 am-4:00 pm. It will bring more than 50 restaurants – quite a number of them new - and four stages of entertainment to downtown Bethesda. Stephanie Coppula is back with all the yummy details. And she has brought    Executive Chef Andrew Fleischauer and Bartender Devon Kloth, both of Mon Ami Gabi.    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  3. Sep 19

    Foodie and the Beast - Sept. 20, 2026

    Hosted by Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show: -        Dhiandra Olson, General Manager of Namak, who's bringing three bottles of wine and all the info on Wine Not Wednesday and the brand-new Sunday Feast; -        Charlotte Voisey, Executive Director of the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, who's bringing Tales on Tour to DC this week; -        Chef Rob Sonderman of Little Engine, his new place at the Eastern Market; -        Chef Chef Joevel Magpantay of Oribu, the gorgeous new Japanese-Mediterranean spot downtown. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  4. Aug 29

    Foodie and the Beast - Aug. 30, 2026

    Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show:   ·        SMYAL is DC's LGBTQ+ youth community center. Its mission is to support and empower LGBTQ+ youth to build a world where queer and trans young people thrive. Hancie Stokes is SMYAL's director of communications and she’s in with lots of info about SMYAL’s many good works and an upcoming fall brunch;                                                                                                                                                                                                ·        Chef and entrepreneur Tony Jackson may be onto something big. He has built businesses around two things he loves—great food and dogs—and now those worlds are coming together with the launch of DMV Dog Grub, his new line of handcrafted, small-batch dog treats. So, be a gooood listener, and sit! And stay! And wait to hear what Tony’s got to say!    ·        Monique Rose Sneed is an entrepreneur, restaurateur, and hospitality leader with more than 20 years of experience building businesses and creating memorable guest experiences. She is the founder of the La’Caj seafood concept, and you’ll hear all about her journey and her offering;                                                                                                                                  Let’s talk about having the right wines on hand for the changing season. Mickey Edwards is the co-owner of Sohal Wine & Spirits, a neighborhood destination she opened with her husband, Alex, in 2025. Lakeisha Mays is the founder and owner of Vista Stellata, an Italian wine brand born from a lifelong love of wine that took root during visits to the Napa Valley and deepened through years of education across Europe.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  5. Aug 15

    Foodie and the Beast - Aug. 16, 2026

    Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show:   ·        Chef Eric Brannon, the man in the kitchen at Little Birdie’s, the too-much fun, deeee-lish chicken joint in Alexandria’s del Ray neighborhood;                                                                                                                                  ·        Rick Bratman, the Founder and CEO of ASA Entertainment, America’s largest action sports event, television, and content production company. It’s coming to Virginia Beach in early September - The Super Girl Festival Series is the world’s largest women’s sports, music and lifestyle platform celebrating female athletes, musicians, creators, and leaders across sport, culture, and community;   ·        Bonnie Benwick & Ariel Levinson-Waldman of Tzedek DC, which offers direct legal services at no cost to low-income and working-class DC residents with debt- and consumer-related legal issues;                                                                                                                                    ·        DCFoodGod, a DC-based digital content brand run by native Washingtonian couple, Jason Fisher and Tessa Alimahmoodi. The couple recently won the 2026 RAMMY award for Content Creator of the Year;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ·        Ceren Hunt is a hospitality executive and the chief operations officer at the Levantine-inspired Âla Restaurants. She is the creator of the group’s inspired cocktail program. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  6. Aug 8

    Foodie and the Beast - Aug. 9, 2026

    Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show:   ·        John Norman – Norman’s Farm Markets – why you should shop farm markets for produce;   ·        A three-time RAMMY nominee for Pastry Chef of the Year – born in Ireland, a longtime resident and student in Florence – Bridie McCalla now is the head baker at Northside Social in Northern Virginia. We’re not in Florence anymore, Dorothy! Bridie’s in with Northside Social's popular Emer O'Rourke, the longtime executive chef and culinary leader there. They join us for tastes and talk of the world-class baked goods at Northside Social;                                                                                             ·        Just opened - The Grace is a modern American tavern and saloon in Shaw, taking over the former space of The Passenger. Courtney Evans, late of Charlotte’s acclaimed Leah & Louise and known for her 2025 turn on Netflix’s “Next Gen Chef,” is the executive chef. You’ll hear all about it – and from her;                                                                                                                                                 ·        Public Interest is a modern American brasserie located on K Street NW inside the Tempo by Hilton Washington DC Downtown hotel. It successfully blends French brasserie tradition with American comfort food thanks to the skills of the man who runs the kitchen - Chef Arnaldo Pujols;   ·        Veteran bartender José Cox is the bar manager at U Street’s Kathmandu Tapas & Cocktails. This is a Himalayan-inspired cocktail bar blending modern cocktail techniques with ingredients sourced directly from Nepal. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  7. Aug 1

    Foodie and the Beast - Aug. 2, 2026

    Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show:   · Ashok Bajaj, owner and CEO of the Knightsbridge Restaurant Group, has another great dining spot – it’s Rosselli. And it’s Italian, thank you. He’s in with Executive Chef Carlos Cardona to tell us all about it;   · CNN Hero Kerry Brodie is the founder of Emma's Torch, a nonprofit social enterprise that trains refugees, asylees and survivors of human trafficking in the New York and Washington D.C. areas in the culinary arts and empowers them to build meaningful careers in the hospitality industry. Emma’s Torch has enrolled more than 700 students in its full-time paid culinary training program, which includes experience at one of organization’s social ventures and placement assistance for graduates. To date, the program has generated more than $34 million in increased wages for students, creating pathways to financial independence and upward mobility blocked by barriers such as limited English proficiency, lack of support and poverty;   · Combining Mehmet Sukutli's culinary talents with Malti Chaudhari's background in business, the husband-and-wife duo opened Tiffany’s Bar & Bistro in June last year as an ode to Turkish culture and Mehmet’s familial roots;   · Chrissy Sheffey is the general manager at Doyle Bar in the Dupont Hotel.  Her innovative approach to mixology has been recognized by The New York Times in its "Cocktail Renaissance" feature. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  8. Jul 26

    Foodie and the Beast - July 26, 2026

    Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.     On today’s show:   ·        DOMENICA MARCHETTI is a spirited champion of Italian home cooking and the author of celebrated cookbooks including “The Glorious Pasta of Italy,” “Preserving Italy: Canning, Curing, Infusing, and Bottling Italian Flavors and Traditions,” and “Williams-Sonoma Everyday Italian.” She’s in to discuss her new book, already a best seller at our house – its simple title is “Italian Cookies.” It’s a tasty "tour" of Italy though its many delicious cookies, from butter-rich canestrelletti di Torriglia in the north to chewy almond amaretti on the island of Sardinia;                                                                                                                                                          ·        DIANE GROSS AND KHALID PITTS have gone to the dogs. The founders of 14th Street's cornerstone restaurant, Cork Wine Bar, as well as Cork Spring Valley and Cork Cleveland Park, opened Marv’s Dogs in Tenleytown. Inspired by Diane's childhood memories with her father, Marv, and Khalid's Detroit roots, Marv’s celebrates classic regional hot dog traditions in a fun, nostalgic, welcoming neighborhood setting;   ·        A two-time Olympic rower for Team USA, GIUSEPPE LANZONE is cofounder with his brother, Mario, of Peruvian Brothers, the food truck and the fast casual Peruvian cuisine stop at La Cosecha in Union Market;                                                                                                                          ·        We’re covering all our favorite food cuisines today with the addition of KEITA MIYAKI, founder of Sashimi DC, a specialist importer of sashimi-grade Japanese fish, operating out of the Rice Market on 14th Street. Keita built a direct import pipeline — farmer to processor to counter, with about half the layers of a typical U.S. seafood supply chain — bringing bluefin tuna from the Goto Islands and other rare Japanese products to D.. in roughly 48 hours from Miyazaki. We dig into what makes that supply chain work, and why "sashimi-grade" is a claim worth scrutinizing;   ·        DAMANI GOODE is the beverage manager at the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, where he oversees the hotel's acclaimed beverage program, including its signature cocktail experiences, curated spirits offerings, and seasonal menus. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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About

Nycci Nellis is everyone's "go to" food journalist for insights and in depth info about everything happening across the food/wine/spirits/brews/restaurant scenes in the Mid-Atlantic and across the U.S. Her husband, David, is a beer and burgers guy. On radio since 2009, they host celebrity guest interviews with famous and up-and-coming chefs, winemakers, distillers, oystermen, farmers, marine biologists and more. Get the foodie info you need to know and won't find anywhere else; enjoy irreverent repartee; pick up great recipe tips for cooking to cocktails and ... have fun! .. with Nycci and David Nellis on the one and only, Foodie and the Beast.

Information

  • Creator
    Federal News Network | Hubbard Radio
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    369
  • Copyright
    © © Hubbard Radio Washington DC, LLC
  • Show Website
    Foodie and the Beast