Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.

We’re closing out 2025 with a show we’re calling State of the Plate, because if there’s one thing this year demanded from the hospitality industry, it was honesty. So today, we’re setting the table for an honest, forward-looking conversation:

What actually happened in 2025? What’s broken? What’s changing?

And what does it take for restaurants not just to survive — but to thrive — in 2026?

Our guests are:

Shawn Townsend — President & CEO, Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW)

Greg Casten — ProFish & Fish & Fire Group

Daniella Senior — Co-Founder, Colada Shop

Michael Babin — CEO, Neighborhood Restaurant Group

Chris Schmid — Prestige Ledroit

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.

On today’s show:

· Monica Evans, beverage director, the Coquito Bar, a tropical holiday cocktail oasis inside La Cosecha in the Union Market District;

· Joy Johnson, director of visitor experience at the fabulous Folger Shakespeare Library, with inside news about all the cool stuff happening there across the holidays during the 2nd Annual Folger Frost Fair and lots more;

· Sarah the Elf. North Pole native. ‘Nuff said. And, oh yeah, there's a big holiday light show and festival up in Baltimore. She tells us all about it;

· Equal billing for some among us who don't celebrate Christmas, but who also have a cool holiday this time of year! Josh Saltzman is co-owner at the Juneberry Garage. We had Juneberry’s Chris Powers in last week. Josh is also co-owner at Ivy and Coney, where they’re about to celebrate their 9th Annual Hannukah pop-up bar, called Chai-vy and Cohen-y. Josh is here without his mishpocha but … with all the deets;l

· Elena Johnson is the D.C. and Maryland market lead for The Macallan. She’s in with news about The Macallan’s newest venture here, The Snug. It’s D.C.'s new whisky lounge, open now -- and only to be found at the Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.

On today’s show:

· The SNAP mess created during the recent government shutdown threatened 40 million Americans – among them, 16 million kids – with the loss of desperately needed funding for food. Food they count on for survival. Hunger across America – and across the DC area – remains a challenge. Radha Muthiah is the president and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank. She joins us for an update on the ongoing problem;

· Former White House pastry chef Susan Limb is co-owner of the Praline Bakery & Bistro in Bethesda and at The Wharf. She’s celebrating Praline’s 20th anniversary in April -- and we’re going to do the run-up celebration today;

· Greg Engert – globally famous partner and beer director at NRG – on ways to give during the holidays;

· Chris Powers, partner/owner at the Juneberry Garage, a tavern-style bar and restaurant in The Parks at Walter Reed;

· Eric Lawson, director of food and beverage for the Singing Tiger, the new restaurant and bar recently opened in the lower level of the Hotel Nell in the Union Market District.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.