Restaurant Hoppen

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 with the love and intention one would expect from a family who grew up in the Mexican state. Hear what makes La Sierra different and what makes the Cazares family so passionate about showcasing this food to Omaha!

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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 has a higher cause behind it. We chat about Ooh de Lally's partnership with Metro CC to help incarcerated individuals reintegrate into society and find stability, the secret behind the legendary mac & cheese, why Gordon Ramsey's screaming doesn't actually wor...

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 found his way back into the kitchen, he knew it was home, and it shows in his food. We discuss the science behind smash burgers, the key to creating the perfectly fluffy french fry, and the journey that's led to his burger concept that's taking Omaha by storm.

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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, the crew at Mealbox has cracked the code to make it happen. Hear the science behind these magical meals, how they come up with 10 new meals each week, and the wild story of how the concept came to life.

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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 drinks they create? The owner and head bartender of Proof open up on those topics and more in our fascinating conversation!

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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 life-changing meal in Miami, they decided to open a concept centered around rotisserie chickens together. Hear their story and what makes this poultry a cut above what you'll find at other chicken concepts.

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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 with the masses. Learn what defines Armenian food, what makes his kebabs different from any you’ve had before, and how Arthur successfully jumped into the restaurant industry in the midst of a pandemic.

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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 experience right off the bat, but it's not all fun and games for this crew. Hear the hard work that went into developing the dough, perfecting the cook, and managing the hungry crowds. These veterans of the restaurant industry have a lot of experience, and the success ...

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 story, how he created his life-altering (not an exaggeration) Cubano, the evolution of his market into offering more hot food, and the joy he gets from having freedom to run his business the way he wants.

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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 then he won the 2023 Omaha Burger Battle, which firmly put Nomadic Jack's on the map. Jack details his journey, what makes his burgers special, and how he rebounded from a humbling pop-up to regain his confidence and create on of Omaha's fastest-rising concepts.

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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 consultant, examples of what MJT Hospitality does for its clients, and look at overall food trends for restaurants to keep an eye on.

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Sponsored by Certified Pi...

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 recently featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, and they tell all about their experience, what Guy is really like, and more in this fantastic episode!

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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 truck and now a beautiful brick and mortar, the Taylors give Omaha a taste of the Northeast. Hear the excruciating process behind creating the lobster roll, how they source fresh seafood in the middle of the country, and more in this great episode!

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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 and helped open Sugared Ledge, the brainchild of Ashley Young. Together this duo creates donuts, cakes, and breakfast sandwiches that are a cut above. Check out their story and learn what makes this place more than your average donut shop.

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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 over the country! And 17 years later and an appearance on Shark Tank later, they're still scooping some of Omaha's best ice cream and creating memorable gifts for delighted customers. Hear the story of this unique company on this fascinating episode!

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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 how they helped reassemble Block 16's crew coming out of COVID and established a line of communication that's just as important as cooking. We also discussed the creation of Block 16's wacky specials, learning from Jenny Coco, what it's like to cook with a line of 3...

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 your 2024 eating! Categories include Best Dish, Best New Restaurant, Best Burger, Best Dessert, and more!

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Sponsored by Certified Piedmontese. Visit their websi...

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 Boiler Room, and more trust this farm. Hear Jen & Kevin tell their tale, how the farm came to be, why they do seasonal pop-ups and more!

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Sponsored by Certif...

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 grew up. They also discuss the joys and difficulty of moving restaurant spaces, the fun of adding a Chef's Home Table and thali while at the new location, and so much more! 

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