NC F&B Podcast

Episode 47 - Slingshot Coffee Wife-Husband team of Jenny & Jonathan Bonchak chat with us about their widely popular cold-brew coffee, https://www.slingshotcoffeecompany.com. We learn about the drive to succeed without pretense. They collaborate across the nation while negotiating nationwide distribution decisions. With a new facility on the way, Slingshot is shooting for the moon, and we're drinking it in. This episode sponsored by Food-Seen.com & the cureatapp.com

Episode 46 - Gallo Pelon Y Centro We sit down with Angela Salamanca & Marshall Davis of Centro, a Mexican Restaurant with South American influence and Gallo Pelon, a Mezcaleria. They speak about their business collaborations, the study of Mezcal and their new joint effort coming out next year! http://gallopelon.com http://www.centroraleigh.com To Win 2 tickets to A CHEF’S LIFE Season Five Premiere party, Write a review on iTunes and tag 2 friends in the comment section on our Instagram post about A CHEF’S LIFE! And download the CurEat App for Free in iTunes!

Episode 45 - Sono Sushi with Chef Hyun-Woo Kim & James Yang With Án in their past, both Chef Hyun-Woo Kim and General Manager James Yang take control of Sono in the midst of transition. The sushi menu has been thoughtfully curated and the saké menu is on point.  Án was a focal point for business travelers to the triangle area and closed after a 10 year run. In the dark of night, the doors closed and the staff was left to pick up the pieces and figure out the next move.  The lifeblood of Án, the chef and General Manager, transitioned to to Sono.  Sono has been a hub for Downtown Raleigh and caters to a worldly palate. This is a new inception of the project has recently been welcomed by it's local inhabitants.  Listen to Max, Matt, James and Kim get into Saké and the pairing potential with such a diverse cuisine as sushi. We taste quite a few saké bottles over a conversation fueled by cuisine and flavors.  Please continue to listen to the NC F&B Podcast. We have other really great episodes!

Episode 44 - http://www.bondbrothersbeer.com We go to beer school with Co-Founder, Brewmaster, Certified Cicerone Whit Baker & Head of Blending & Certified Cicerone, Sean McKinney of USA Today's Best New Brewery in the Universe! We don't always chat with beer pros, but damn when we do, we do it well. Whit & Sean break down the complexities and beauty of making and drinking beer. We talk, we taste, we laugh, we burp. This episode sponsored by Photography, Social Media Management and Web-Designers: Food-Seen https://www.food-seen.com & The CurEat App. Click to download the CurEat App in iTunes>>> itunes.apple.com/us/app/cureat/id1136256011?mt=8

In today's episode, we took the show on the road down to Charlotte, NC to get a private drinking session with the Ritz-Carlton's 2015 Global Bartender of the Year, Bob Peters! Bob invited us to the Punch Room, a craft cocktail lounge on the 15th floor of Charlotte's Ritz-Carlton. Between the tour of the rooftop-garden, the magical punch bowl of drinks, the comfortable hospitality and the education on cocktails, we experienced pure bar nirvana.  We hear tale of Bob's growth from dive bars to picking herbs over Charlotte's skyline for tonight's drink menu. Bob tastes us on the honey cultivated from the hotel's rooftop beehive.  Bob gives us his best picks for places to dine and drink in CLT while serving us a few rounds of delicious cocktails.  Give a listen and don't forget to download the CurEat App for free in iTunes!

Episode 42 - Katy & Joe Kindred http://kindreddavidson.com On the road to Davidson, NC where we had the pleasure of meeting the husband/wife team of Kindred, Joe & Katy Kindred. Bon Appétit named Kindred America's Top Ten Best New Restaurants 2015, including Joe Kindred's semifinalist nod for the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Southeast award in 2016 & 2017. We talk family, food, staffing and good bathroom reading material. We also chat about their new restaurant opening soon, Hello Sailor, of which, Eater.com named to the top 16 most anticipated new restaurants of 2017. https://www.eater.com/2017/1/13/14258922/best-new-restaurants-2017-opening-winter-spring Their family-friendly approach to high-end cuisine is refreshing and quaint among their flashy and stuffy contemporaries. When in Davidson, you must eat here. This episode sponsored by Photography, Social Media Management and web-designers: Food-Seen https://www.food-seen.com & The CurEat App. Click to download the CurEat App in iTunes>>> itunes.apple.com/us/app/cureat/id1136256011?mt=8

Episode 41 - Raleigh Raw’s Sherif Fouad & Leslie Woods Go to https://www.raleighraw.com to check out their menu and locations. We interview the cold-pressed juice-heads of Raleigh Raw and get straight to why drinking their juice is not only delicious & beneficial to your health, but also how important the business was for Sherif Fouad’s life. Leaving a destructive lifestyle behind him, Sherif and Leslie Woods created their own business through help from other entrepreneurs, such as G. Patel, and struggled to make it succeed. Raleigh Raw is about to open their 2nd location and is thriving in the heart of downtown Raleigh. This episode sponsored by Photography, Social Media Management and web-designers: Food-Seen https://www.food-seen.com & The CurEat App. Click to download the CurEat App in iTunes>>> itunes.apple.com/us/app/cureat/id1136256011?mt=8

Episode 40 - Alyssa Barkley of the NCRLA For show notes: ncfbpodcast.com In this episode, we speak to Alyssa Barkley, Chief Operating Officer/Health and Safety Regulations for the NCRLA. We talk about the North Carolina concerns such as the passing of the Grill Bill, awaiting the decisions on the Brunch Bill, the NCRLA Expo happening Aug 21st & 22nd http://www.ncrl-expo.com. And click to download the CurEat App in iTunes>>> itunes.apple.com/us/app/cureat/id1136256011?mt=8

Episode 39 - Crude Bitters with Craig Rudewicz http://www.crudebitters.com We turn on the mics and open the bar with the founder of Crude Bitters, Craig Rudewicz. Listen to how he started his bitters company from a corner of restaurant kitchen to opening his own shop to winning the Good Food Award. Click here for show notes for this episode: www.ncfbpodcast.com And click to download the CurEat App in iTunes>>> https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cureat/id1136256011?mt=8

We did it once, we'll do it again! Episode 39.5 is a re-release of our show with the founder of the CurEat App, Stave Mangano. https://cureatapp.com CurEat has recently become a sponsor of our show and since we released his episode so long ago, it's a nice refresher course to check out what he's doing. Available to download for free in iTunes, https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cur-eat/id1136256011?ls=1&mt=8 CurEat cuts through the clutter to bring you concise lists of the best places to eat in town across the country. Follow CurEaters in various towns and learn from their lists. Create your own lists of your favorite things to do in your current town, hometown and the places you like to visit. Share your lists with your friends too! No reviews, just endorsements from people that care about the dining industry. Don't forget to review us on Soundcloud and iTunes! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nc-f-b-podcast/id1166754661?mt=2 Eat, drink and be merry.

Episode 38 - G. Patel of http://www.socialhousevodka.com & http://www.eschelonexperiences.com/ This is THE entrepreneur episode. Gaurav 'G' Patel speaks about his business ventures from a little boy farming crops in India to booking Prince and Usher to late-night club parties in Raleigh, NC. Somehow, G created Eschelon Experiences along with many successful restaurants, and some struggles along the way, to now releasing his first distilled spirit, Social House Vodka. Click the link and download the CurEat App in iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cureat/id1136256011?mt=8

Episode 37 - Garland's Cheetie Kumar & Paul Siler We sit down with 2017 James Beard Award semifinalist for best chef Southeast: Chef/Musician Cheetie Kumar and Musician/Restaurateur Paul Siler of garlandraleigh.com, kingsraleigh.com & neptunesparlour.com. Cheetie talks about growing up in India and cooking as a young child. We chat about the growth and change of their band, Birds Of Avalon birdsofavalon.com and the balance of life & art. Paul talks about how he and Cheetie met and gives us the lowdown on hospitality. This episode sponsored by @cureatapp & food-seen.com Download the CurEat App https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cureat/id1136256011?mt=8

Episode 36 - Chef Frank Fronda & Charlie Candelas This episode is a break from our typical NC conversation. We break the rules a bit due to opportunity. Max & Matt's former mentor Chef Frank Fronda was in town with his business partner, Charlie Candelas of Olive Garden & Wolfgang Puck fame. Frank was the chef at cafedelreymarina.com, where Max & Matt worked together in LA. Frank and Charlie recently opened firefinpoke.com in Chicago and cooked at this year's www.jamesbeard.org/awards There's a bit of reminiscing, how to grow a restaurant brand, a few bars of Wilson Phillips songs, and a few cocktails. Be sure to download the Cureat App cureatapp.com and makes some lists! Also check out Matt's family's charity event in New York: www.aswcaresforkids.org/contact-us/

Episode 35 - Michael Lee of M Sushi http://msushidurham.com https://www.facebook.com/MkokkoDurham/ Chef Michael Lee drops by the studio with bourbon in hand and amazing insight to parenting, knife sharpening, travel, and the pursuit of a non-profit restaurant chain. Michael is a visionary and an artist. We get into time-management with kids and jujitsu. Even Matt & Max put on the gloves and throw down for a bit. There's footage of Michael on the heavy bag! It's a great listen. Be sure to download the Cureat App https://cureatapp.com and makes some lists! Also check out Matt's family's charity event in New York: http://www.aswcaresforkids.org/contact-us/ Eat, drink and be merry!

Episode 34 - Larry Larsen & Jeremy Behne of Larry's Coffee https://larryscoffee.com In this episode we get our caffeine fix with the master of coffee, Larry Larsen. We discuss coffee, fair-trade, startup business and basic entrepreneurship. Larry's right hand man, Jeremy Behne adds to the show with his unparalleled level of coffee knowledge. It's funny how we can learn so much from coffee. Let us know how much you love us by writing a review in iTunes or on SoundCloud. We dare you...