Shows / Restaurant Hoppen
Restaurant Hoppen
Dan Hoppen breaks down the Nebraska cuisine scene one bite at a time. He talks to local chefs, media members, and just interesting people about what's going on in the Cornhusker State when it comes to food, where people need to eat, and how food relates to Nebraska sports.
Episodes
Restaurant HoppenTim Nicholson—The Boiler Room (LIVE)
This year, Tim Nicholson became just the second Omaha chef to be named a finalist for a James Beard Award. The genius chef behind The Boiler Room details those…
Restaurant HoppenSam Laughlin—Tiny's Pizza Joint
After working in a variety of restaurants around Omaha, Sam finally got a chance to open his own place, and Tiny's Pizza Joint is slinging some of the best…
Restaurant HoppenPreston Vaughn & Sarah Czaplewski—Nocturnal Eats
The best part of a food truck is its adaptability, as a truck allows for an ever-changing menu, hours, location, etc. Nocturnal Eats, the food truck sensation…
Restaurant HoppenTimothy Bader—Volcanic Peppers
As the owner of a burgeoning hot sauce company, few in Omaha know peppers and spice like Timothy. But as our discussion unveils, Volcanic Peppers is about far…
Restaurant HoppenBurger Bash w/ Jack Heiman, Nick Joubert, & Luke Staver (LIVE)
There are few things more quintessentially American than burgers, so why not bring in 3 of Omaha's burger experts to talk about them? Chefs from Nomadic…
Restaurant HoppenAlex Harrington—Untamed Kitchen
Is it possible for a meal out to be both healthy and delicious? That was the question Alex Harrington set out to answer, and Untamed Kitchen delivers on both…
Restaurant HoppenBill Radtke & Kevin Shinn - Ybor
Bill Radtke has two great passions: Cuban sandwiches and helping formerly incarcerated individuals rediscover their value and get back into society. With the…
Restaurant HoppenNick Strawhecker & Seth Lacy—Dante (LIVE)
The restaurant industry is really rough, and making it 3-5 years is an achievement. And then there's Dante, entering year 15 in business with no signs of…
Restaurant HoppenBrenda Cazares—La Sierra
There's a lot of great Mexican food, but nothing like La Sierra. This restaurant brings a taste of Durango and its unique gorditas and burritos to Omaha, all…
Restaurant HoppenTim Steinbach & Doug Case—Ooh de Lally
Ooh de Lally would be an excellent restaurant if all it did was serve excellent food. But on top of thrilling diners with delicious plates, this Dundee…
Restaurant HoppenNick Hyde—Hyde's Slydes Burgers & Fries
Nick has had the concept of and the passion for his own burger joint since high school, but some detours took him out of the restaurant industry. But once he…
Restaurant HoppenWill & Rachel Birge, Matt Widger—Mealbox (LIVE)
What if I told you that you could get restaurant-quality meals delivered to your doorstep, ready after only a few minutes in the microwave? Crazy as it sounds…
Restaurant HoppenJoel Lavelle & Andrew Clow—Proof and Proof 192
What goes into the creation of a high-end whiskey bar? What's the R&D process to make craft cocktails? And how do bartenders express themselves through the…
Restaurant HoppenCarlos & Palmyra Mendez—Rotisserie Urban Bistro
Though they grew up in different countries on different continents, rotisserie chicken was an important food to both Carlos and Palmyra growing up. And after a…
Restaurant HoppenArthur Lalikian - Omaha Kebabs
Arthur had almost no restaurant experience before moving to Omaha and opening his restaurant in 2021, but he just had to share his Armenian food and culture…
Restaurant HoppenCarlos Mendez, Tim Maides, & Roberto Garcia—Dolomiti (LIVE)
Omaha can't get enough of the newest addition to Omaha's pizza scene. This unique Neapolitan/New York combo dough is bringing customers like few restaurants…
Restaurant HoppenJose Aviles—Aviles Latin Market
Tired of having to drive to South Omaha to get great Latin food and groceries, this long-time of the restaurant industry opened his own place! Hear Jose's…
Restaurant HoppenJack Heiman—Nomadic Jack's
Jack Heiman has always had a knack for making great burgers, but he never planned on making a food concept out of it. But friends pushed him to do pop-ups. And…
Restaurant HoppenMatt Taylor—MJT Hospitality
New or struggling restaurants may need some help getting off the ground, and that's where consultants like Matt come in. We discuss the role of a restaurant…
Restaurant HoppenDDD Recap with Dirty Birds, Kitchen Table, & Izzy's Pizza Bus (LIVE)
What's it like to be on the Food Network and meet Guy Fieri? Just how intense and chaotic is the filming process? The owners of these three restaurants were…
Restaurant HoppenJon & Bonnie Taylor—Sand Point
This mother/son duo has incredible memories of spending summers in the New England area, so they decided to bring that cuisine to Omaha. Starting with a food…
Restaurant HoppenJoel Hassanali & Ashley Young—Sugared Ledge
Joel Hassanali is a lifelong savory chef, but when the Young family opened Salted Edge, they also wanted a bakery. So Joel gave himself a donut crash course…
Restaurant HoppenAbby Jordan & Becky App—eCreamery Ice Cream
In 2006, two people with little to no professional food experience set out to do something completely new: not only open an ice cream shop, but ship it all…
Restaurant HoppenWyatt Kosalka & Luke Staver—Block 16
What's it like to work at Block 16, one of Omaha's most beloved restaurants? Why not ask its first ever sous chefs?! Wyatt and Luke pull back the curtain about…
Restaurant HoppenBest of Omaha Restaurants; 2023 Edition
As the calendar turns to 2024, I look back and hand out awards for my best meals of 2023 to celebrate the restaurants that served them and help you plan out…
Restaurant HoppenJen Miller & Kevin Dohrmann—Miller Dohrmann Farm
Since retiring from corporate jobs, this couple started an Omaha farm that's now sourcing the best of the best Omaha restaurants. Au Courant, Block 16, The…
Restaurant HoppenAshish & Kim Sathyan—Kinaara (LIVE)
The owners of Omaha's most popular Indian restaurant discuss getting diners to branch out from familiar dishes to try plates from Kerala (India), where Ashish…
Restaurant HoppenRyan Barry—Willie Dogs
Someday, Ryan's goal is to have his signature hot dog, the Willie Dog, as not only a must-try Omaha food, but also mentioned among America's iconic dogs like…
Restaurant HoppenMo Abdallah & Faysal Fahmy—Gyro Kings
Omaha has some great gyro spots, but nothing like the New York street gyros that Mo grew up eating. That style, combined with the Egyptian twists he and Faysal…
Restaurant HoppenLIVE Brunch podcast—Chase Thomsen, Meghan McLarney, & Christian Brabec
We all love breakfast and brunch, right? So why not get the people who do it better than anyone in Omaha and pick their brains about this beloved meal. The…
Restaurant HoppenJoel Hassanali & Tierra Hope—Salted Edge
Salted Edge provides an experience few other restaurants in Omaha can, and it has this duo to thank for that. We discuss the restaurant's origins, how dishes…
Restaurant HoppenEric Gabrynowicz—Tupelo Honey
Tupelo Honey has been a beloved landmark restaurant in Asheville, NC, since 2000, and now Eric, a 4-time James Beard Award Semifinalist, is bringing it to the…
Restaurant HoppenAmber Sanne—The Baking Flamingos
Sweet & savory, trendy & traditional, this bakery can supply whatever baked goods you in crave! But while it's running on all cylinders now, The Baking…
Restaurant HoppenAndrew Novak—The Mercato (Certified Piedmontese)
After a career of working in kitchens, Andrew is taking on a different part of the food world as he runs Omaha's location of The Mercato. We discuss how this…
Restaurant HoppenDavid Mark Young—Golden Sheaf Bourbon
We dive into the world of whiskey with the man who resurrected an Omaha whiskey brand that lay dormant for over 100 years. David has brought Golden Sheaf…
Restaurant HoppenJess & Paul Urban—Block 16 (LIVE)
The Urbans intended on opening a fine dining restaurant or a European bistro. What they got was a sandwich shop, and despite a series of trials and setbacks…
Restaurant HoppenClare Watson Bartolomei, Colin Dorwart, Corina Figueroa—Fig
With new development and the Kiewit Luminarium, the Riverfront in downtown Omaha is undergoing a transformation. At the heart of it is Fig., a sister…
Restaurant HoppenLinda Lichtenwalter & Chris Larkin—The Pie Fairy
Whether sweet or savory, this couple is more than happy to meet all your pie needs. This pie delivery service is redefining what pies can be, delivering both…
Restaurant HoppenJohn Huftless—Dinker's Bar & Grill
An Omaha staple since 1965, Dinker's has long been beloved for its burgers and low-key atmosphere. Kitchen manager John Huftless discusses the awesome history…
Restaurant HoppenBlane Hunter, Scott Fogle, and Craig Ryon—LIVE BBQ Bash
Three of the most talented BBQ cooks in Omaha bring their minds together to dish on all things 'que. These masters of meat discuss social media feuds…
Restaurant HoppenJean George - Lyle’s Pizzeria
A few years ago, Jean never would’ve imagined she’d be operating a pizzeria. But then she found a love for dough and bread, an opportunity arose, and the chef…
Restaurant HoppenAndrew Wassinger - Sandhills Elixir
Let’s talk zero-proof cocktails! The co-founder of Sandhills Elixir discusses the movement toward NA spirits and how his company has ridden the wave. We also…
Restaurant HoppenJon Stastny, Collin Adkisson, & Rolando Valadez—LIVE food truck rally
We all love food trucks, but do we really understand what it takes to get them started and keep them in operation? The owners of Wonton Jon's, Mootz, and Alley…
Restaurant HoppenNino Coniglio & Aaron McCann—Williamsburg Pizza
World-renowned pizza maker Nino and Omaha native Aaron partnered to create Williamsburg Pizza in New York, and its grown to become one of the NY's favorite…
Restaurant HoppenAhmad & Mahmod Al-Ramadan—Zaytuna
Don't mind that these brothers are both under 23 years old. Through immeasurable hours of work, these natives of Jordan are serving arguably the best…
Restaurant HoppenAires & Judy Reis—Reis' Bakery
These two are not professional bakers, and they never had an ambitions of opening a bakery. But they fell in love with pastries, breads, and desserts and felt…
Restaurant HoppenJake Heiliger—Wine, Beer, and Spirits
How did an old Toys R Store store evolve into the fastest-growing spirit provider in Nebraska? Chief Operating Officer Jake Heiliger joins the podcast to tell…
Restaurant HoppenDavid Losole, Nick Strawhecker, & Matt Frampton—LIVE Pizza Party Podcast
We got together three of Omaha's pizza maestros to talk about all things pizza. David Losole (Virtuoso Pizzeria), Matt Frampton (Urban Slicer Pizza Worx), and…
Restaurant HoppenMakenna & Gaston Medrano—Solful Cafe
The father-daughter connection is just one of the many aspects of Solful Cafe that makes this Inner Rail Food Hall inhabitant fascinating. From the authentic…
Restaurant HoppenDrew & Michelle Statz—Semo Pasta + Wine
Drew and Michelle have carved out successful careers working in other people's restaurants, but Semo is their opportunity to really show who they are as chefs…
Restaurant HoppenHank Shields—Omaha Bagel Co.
Hank had no experience making bagels or working in the restaurant industry, but he saw the ability to fill a niche no one else in Omaha was: homemade bagels…
Restaurant HoppenBrett & Cherish Geiger—Izzy's Pizza Bus (LIVE)
These two had no restaurant experience but a passion for pizza. Their dedication led to starting a school bus, thrilling the Las Vegas pizza market, and moving…
Restaurant HoppenScott Fogle—Mission Ave BBQ
Scott cut his teeth at some of Austin's finest BBQ restaurants, and now he's brought that expertise to Nebraska. If you want Texas-style BBQ, this is it. Scott…
Restaurant HoppenAmanda & Amya Frazier—Barb's Breakfast Bar
These sisters carry on their late mother's legacy by cooking the same classic, delicious breakfast dishes she made for them growing up. Hear how this food…
Restaurant HoppenMeghan McLarney & Jennifer Maguire—Lemon Tree Cafe
These two sisters each own and operate their own restaurants, so why did they decide to open one together this year in Ralston? Because they wanted to cook…
Restaurant HoppenIsaiah Renner & Scot Sayles—Dire Lion Grille & Chippy
Isaiah had no idea if Omahans would go for a food truck serving British pub food in 2016, but Dire Lion is still thriving 7 years later. The owners of the…
Restaurant HoppenMichelle Alfaro—Sauced by Alfaro (LIVE)
In the first live recording of the podcast, Michelle Alfaro details details how she takes the time and care to make you feel like every meal at Sauced is being…
Restaurant HoppenHailey Vinter—Crumb Coat & Chill
After starting her food career in restaurants and bakeries, Hailey left the industry... but she couldn't stay away. She ended up opening crumb coat & chill as…
Restaurant HoppenElie & Miny Berchal—Elie's Chinchorro
Elie seeks to send her customers to Puerto Rico for a few hours when they visit her restaurant, and everything from the "boom" of the flavors to the bright…
Restaurant HoppenBlane Hunter—Porky Butts BBQ
Few men in the Midwest have the BBQ credentials that Blane Hunter does. He's proven his meat smoking proficiency both on the competition BBQ circuit and in his…