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

Using a Food Truck to Introduce Omaha to African Cuisine and Cooking with Love (Chuanjui)

September 3, 2026 • 68 mins
Hope Ngamalue picked up a love for cooking and serving others from her grandmother in Cameroon, and that desire to feed people continued when she came to America. But it wasn't until she met partner Ebrima Minteh that she was encouraged to start her food truck, Chuanjui, and bring traditional African cuisine to Omaha. We discussed how Omaha has taken to the food, how Hope presents African food in an approachable way to Omahans, ...
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Meat-ing the Demands of Omaha's Best Restaurants w/ Jon Nelson (Jon's Naturals)

August 27, 2026 • 61 mins
Jon's Naturals is the connector between local beef and pork producers and restaurants, helping chefs get their creative hands on a cleaner, more delicious product. But Jon's journey to thriving butcher shop was a very curvy one with lots of turns. Through perseverance and a crazy impressive DIY attitude, Jon is helping local farms and restaurants thrill diners with incredible dishes. 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to Li...
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The Secrets Behind Omaha's Longest-Standing Restaurants (Bronco's, Barrett's, & La Casa Pizzaria)

August 20, 2026 • 68 mins
Bronco's Hamburgers, Barrett's Barleycorn Pub & Grill, and La Casa Pizzaria have all thrilled Omaha guests for decades. What's the secret to their families' success? How have their restaurants not only survived, but thrived for decades? And how have they seen the attitudes and actions of diners (in Omaha, in particular) change over time? Blake Barnes, Jack Jeffrey Barrett, and Tony Vacanti joined me on an informative, hilari...
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Creating Community Through Coffee & Custard w/ Cup & Cone

August 13, 2026 • 59 mins
Bennington wouldn't be the same without Cup & Cone, the custard/coffee shop that has become a community hub since it opened in 2023. But getting the shop up and running wasn't easy; in fact, owners Amber and Jeremy Tkaczuk knew almost nothing about ice cream and coffee when they started it! The couple, along with their oldest daughter, Thea, discuss the difficulties and joys of opening and operating the shop, the R&D proces...
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Creating a Brand New Food & Rescuing a Business w/ Nichole Taff & Vincent Rissell (OCookieOs)

August 6, 2026 • 64 mins
Nichole created a brilliant gluten-free cookie/donut mash-up in 2020, but the business was on the brink of collapsing earlier this year. Now it's thriving inside a brand new brick and mortar location! Hear how Nichole and her son, Vincent, created and built the brand and ultimately saved it when it appeared they might be done. 🌐 Learn more about OCookieOs: www.ocookieos.com 📍 OCoockieOs 2575 S 171st Ct Omaha, NE 68130 Thi...
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TV Cooking Competitions and the Culture of Food Media w/ Christian Alquiza (First We Feast)

August 3, 2026 • 62 mins
After nearly 20 years in restaurant kitchens, Christian has transitioned to life as a media and social media chef. We discuss what the term "chef" means in this age and how, for some, it brings more balance. We also go deep into his experience competing on FOX's Next Level Chef and what it's really like to be a part of those crazy competition TV shows. References Restaurant Hoppen – Hosted by Dan Hoppen First We Fea...
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Uprooting One's Life for the Love of Baking w/ Damie Elder-Hiscock

July 30, 2026 • 68 mins
Fariner Bakery is a magical space, a cafe with a gravitational pull that makes you want to stay for hours. That's because of the love people like Damie put into it and every bread and pastry that comes out of the kitchen. You won't believe the crazy road that brought Damie from Lincoln hospital to Fariner in Ashland or the struggles she and her husband endured to get here, but their perseverance has helped create one of the most sp...
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Bringing Jamaican Cuisine and Culture to Omaha with Shava Jackson (Jerk Makin Shack)

July 23, 2026 • 67 mins
Shava Jackson left her home of Jamaica to attend medical school with no thoughts of entering the hospitality industry, but her food truck has become one of the hotspots in Omaha. It's incredibly meaningful for Shava to share her food and culture with Omaha, and customers love it so much that some have said they've booked trips to Jamaica after visiting Jerk Makin Shack! Hear Shava's story and better understand the beauty ...
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Top Chef Takeaways and the Power of Food Memories w/ Anthony Jones

July 20, 2026 • 64 mins
As the Executive Chef at Marcus Samuelsson's Washington DC restaurant and a contestant on the most recent Top Chef season, Anthony Jones is one of America's rising culinary stars. His success comes from his humility and the unique way in which he's able to connect his food with culture and memories. We discuss his restaurant goals now compared to when he started cooking and get into all kinds of fun Top Chef discussion. ...
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Where Omaha's Food Comes From—LIVE Panel w/ Local Producers

July 16, 2026 • 63 mins
We hear about how important it is to shop and eat locally produce meats and vegetables, but do we really know why? Three local producers—Tiff Clifton (Long Walk Farms), Roger Morgan (Morgan Ranch), and Kevin Novak (Flavor Country Farms)—joined me to discuss the benefits of eating and buying local products, both for the individual and the economy. We also discussed the need for farming education, what types of conversati...
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Defining Hospitality & Following Restaurant Trends w/ Daniel Bello (Koji)

July 9, 2026 • 63 mins
Daniel worked in some of America's most well-known restaurants in San Francisco and now brings those unique experiences and what he learned to Koji. We talk through his career and unpack the different levels of service he's overseen. From Michelin stars to mismatched forks, personalized tasting menus, and more, Daniel's had a fascinating career, and I learned a lot from retracing his steps. If you've ever wondered what happens b...
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Achieving Mom's Dream with Ma' Mona—Manuel & Juan Gonzalez

July 2, 2026 • 39 mins
Margartia Gonzalez's food has always thrilled her family; so much so that it became a goal to open a food truck since they came to the United States from Jalisco in 2010. That dream was finally realized in 2023, and Omaha has absolutely fallen in love with the tacos, tortas, tamales, and especially the vampiro tacos coming off this truck! Hear the story of this family-run business and how they're using the food truck to share their...
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Dumpling, Hawaiian food, & Sharing Aloha Culture w/ Jian "Peter" Pan

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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Digging into Indigenous Cuisine w/ Cassie & Quentin Hinman (Tradisish; Against the Current)

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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Comfort & Nostalgia in Hand Pie Form w/ Kate Anderson (Carter & Rye)

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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Inside the Life of a Restaurant Owner w/ Katina Talley, Ben Maides, & Paul Urban

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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Pizza Culture and Craft w/ Dylan Espinoza (Very Important Pizza)

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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Adrienne Cheatham & Joe Flamm Bring Restaurant Life to the People w/ Chef's Cut Podcast

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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Learning in Omaha's Elite Kitchens w/ Collin Werner (Au Courant)

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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The Impossible Life of a Restaurateur w/ Paul Kulik (Le Bouillon)

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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