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
June 25, 2026 • 52 mins
He was born in China and grew up in Hawaii, so Peter has a great desire to bring those cuisines to Omaha. But it was actually his wife and their shared love of food that got him into the restaurant industry! The owner of Bobo's Noodles & Dumplings, Blue Hawaii, and Bo Bo China tells his story and what inspired him to open 3 restaurants, all of which bring something very unique to the Omaha restaurant scene.
If you love Omaha...
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June 18, 2026 • 70 mins
For all the great food Omaha has, indigenous and Native American cuisine wasn't really available... until this food truck/pop-up arose!
Cassie Hinman started baking and cooking with Against the Current because she enjoyed it, but she and Quentin realized Omaha deserved to experience the brilliance of Indian tacos, bison ribs, and other indigenous foods.
Hear their story on this episode!
Check them out today!!
Tradish(Ish)ht...
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June 11, 2026 • 62 mins
Kate has seen customers tear up while eating her hand pies, and the warm, nostalgic feelings tied with that buttery, flaky crust are indeed powerful. Stuffed with either sweet or savory fillings, her hand pies have transformative powers. Kate and I talked about how she's constantly coming up with new variations, how Carter & Rye grew from a side hustle in her full-time gig, the value of growing a business slowly versus rapid ex...
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June 4, 2026 • 62 mins
We hear consistently that life as a restaurant owner is so hard... but as diners, we can't fully understand what that reality is really like. On this panel, Ben Maides (Au Courant), Paul Urban (Block 16), and Katina Talley (Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop; Know Good) pull back the curtain, tell stories, and lay bare why the restaurant industry is so hard... and why they love it so much that they keep coming back!
This episode is raw, ...
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May 28, 2026 • 68 mins
Pizza culture embedded itself in Dylan's DNA around 2009, and he always dreamed of opening a pizzeria. That dream finally came to fruition in 2006 with Very Important Pizza, a NY style slice shop that has quickly gotten Omaha's attention. Dylan and I discuss what makes pizza culture different, why a cheese slice defines a pizzeria, and what it was like to finally realize his lifelong pizza dream.
This episode is about more than ...
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May 25, 2026 • 64 mins
Top Chef alums and restaurant veterans Joe and Adrienne started a podcast to bring the conversations inside kitchens to the world, and the Chef's Cut has blown up! Check out my conversation with these beloved chefs as we discuss the podcast's origins, what the term "chef" means today, Top Chef memories, and whether Padma Laksmi or Tom Collichio would be a better podcast guest!
🌐 Check out Chef’s Cut Podcast:https://c...
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May 21, 2026 • 46 mins
Collin Werner might only be 27, but don't let his age fool you. He's already worked in some of the most well-regarded kitchens in Omaha, now advancing to become the Chef de Cuisine at Au Courant. We run through Collin's career, assess the lessons he learned at different stops, discuss the value of culinary school, and more!
This episode is a deep dive into creativity, discipline, and what it really takes to succeed in a modern k...
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May 14, 2026 • 66 mins
Understanding and reacting to guest expectations. Reacting to and engaging with shifting staff expectations. Crafting experiences different from those found at chain restaurants. These are but a few of the obstacles restaurateurs juggle, and few are better to talk to them about than Paul Kulik, the James Beard-nominated chef at Le Bouillon and one of the most interesting men I've met. Paul and I have a fascinating smorgasbord of a ...
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May 7, 2026 • 63 mins
Tony and Amber Ellsworth are farmers, store owners, and give Omahans so many ways to support local. Their store, Ellsworth Crossing, features meat, vegetables, and more from more than 100 farmers and ranches, giving Omahans easy access to great products. This isn't just great for the taste of the food, but also for the health benefits it has for customers. Tony goes into detail on all that and the origins of the store in our great ...
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April 30, 2026 • 63 mins
Don Doty and Wendy Becker were both comfortable in their culinary positions, but memories of a trip to Rome inspired Don to make a bold move—open a new restaurant late in his career. The gamble paid off as Cibo Vino is thriving and supplying downtown Omaha with a welcoming, down-home Italian experience.
🌐 Learn more about Cibo Vino:https://www.cibovinoomaha.com/
This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ...
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April 23, 2026 • 64 mins
Abe began the Executive Chef at Cattle Call at age 22, but don't think this youngster is over his head. He's creating a wide variety of amazing culinary experiences at this downtown Omaha restaurant, from exquisite fine dining plates to incredible desserts and one of the weirdest (and most delicious!) burgers in the city.
This is one of Omaha's next star chefs, and he's ready for his introduction. Get to know him on this fascina...
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April 16, 2026 • 65 mins
There are a lot of debates about the state of culinary school in America, and as Metro CC's Dean of Hospitality & Horticulture, Brian O'Malley has heard them all. In a wide-ranging conversation, we discuss the debate of attending culinary school versus learning solely in professional kitchens, the state of leadership in modern kitchens and avoiding toxicity, the importance of Metro's on-site restaurant, and so much more.
...
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April 9, 2026 • 64 mins
3 chefs from beloved Omaha sandwich restaurants joined me to discuss why sandwiches are so universally loved. Paul Urban (Block 16), Chloe Tran-Thompson (The Banh Mi Shop), and Andrew Novak (All In Thyme Bakery & Cafe) discuss why sandwiches are so closely tied to memory, the art of sandwich construction, choosing the right bread for a particular sandwich, the craziest sandwiches they've created, and more!
References
All In...
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April 2, 2026 • 60 mins
If Omaha had a hospitality Mount Rushmore, Matt Brown's face would be chiseled onto it. The GM of V. Mertz joined me to discuss how he and his team customize the restaurant experience for each individual guest, how he's helped keep a beloved, classic Omaha restaurant modern and current without alienating original customers, what an advanced sommelier wine exam entails, and so much more.
If you want to understand what goes into a...
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March 26, 2026 • 58 mins
Candy may seem simple, but nailing the textures and flavors of your favorite gummies and chews is actually a deeply scientific process. That's where people like Tessa come in, as her company, Sprinkk, not only helps brands bring their candy dreams to life, but has also started producing its own gummy products. The knowledge she drops in this conversation will blow your mind; you'll never look at candy the same way again!
🌐 Lear...
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March 19, 2026 • 59 mins
Ken Ota has a goal of bringing traditional Japanese ramen to America and, after years of teaching ramen school and consulting, he's opened his own shop in Omaha. Everything from the soups to the noodles and oils is made in house, and Omaha can't get enough of this new restaurant! Ken & Aki describe what those first few weeks in Omaha were like and what makes them so passionate about spreading legit ramen in America.
Learn mo...
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March 12, 2026 • 59 mins
Just a few years out of culinary school and already the sous chef at one of Omaha's most beloved fine dining restaurants, Witney has a passion for cooking, hospitality, and mentoring that few can match. We talked about cooking competitions and how they shaped Witney's career, how a dish comes together at V. Mertz's, how Witney found her culinary voice, and so much more!
📍 V. Mertz
Downtown Omahahttps://www.vmertz.com/
This i...
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March 5, 2026 • 68 mins
Omaha's culinary landscape has changed drastically in the last 15-20 years. Jenny Coco, Glenn Wheeler, and Paul Kulik have managed Omaha restaurants through it all, and they joined me to discuss the pain points when they got into the industry, how they helped guests get out of their comfort zones, and how Omaha's restaurants have evolved.
References
Paul Kulik – https://www.libuyan.com
Jenny Coco – https://www...
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February 26, 2026 • 66 mins
Table Grace Cafe doesn't exist solely to feed people; it exists to empower them and nourish their souls. That's why there are no prices on the menu. Matt & Simone encourage guests to pay whatever they can or volunteer at the cafe. We talked through the whole journey and how the Webers created this unique concept, how music is intertwined with the cafe's DNA, and the relationships and community that have formed inside its walls....
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February 19, 2026 • 63 mins
One of Omaha's newest sensations is part small market, part sandwich shop, and as the massive following indicates, Omaha can't get enough of J. Gorat's Deli + Market. Owner Jeff Gorat joined the show to talk about the art of building sandwiches, how his upbringing at Omaha's famous Gorat's Steakhouse influences him now, and how he sources great local products for the market.
J. Gorat’s Deli & Markethttps://www.facebook...
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