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

October 16, 2025 57 mins
This new food truck is bringing the unique flavors of the Phillipines  and Southeast Asia to Omaha. With a great respect for traditional dishes and an obsession with umami, Chef Gerald is using his 13+ years of cooking experience all over the world to power this food truck, all while completing nursing school. From cooking on seafaring ships to getting "murdered" during his first food truck service, Chef Gerald opens up on his food...
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 A college semester abroad in Sydney changed Eli’s life. Enthralled with the country’s creative fusion dishes, he decided to combine two of his favorite baked goods: cookies and muffin tops. The result is one of Omaha’s best cookies, and one he developed while not only going to college, but also was a student athlete. Safe to say, Eli’s story is fascinating. You have to learn about this guy and his cookies! 👉 Order online: http...
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In 2016, Brian called Katie, then working as a pastry chef in California with an idea: come back to Omaha and let's open an ice cream shop. Little did either know the impact that call would have! It led to the creation of Coneflower Creamery, Omaha's beloved ice cream destination, that now has three locations, has garnered national awards, and still clings to its farm to cone ethos. Hear the story and all the magic that goes into t...
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September 25, 2025 52 mins
Few food/drink establishments in Omaha can match the vibe at Cafe Postale, which mixes the space's rich history with great coffee and modern elements to create an unforgettable coffee shop/cafe. General Manager Haley Farrell explains what makes the space special and how Cafe Postale partners with local purveyors and suppliers to serve great food and drink. ✍️ Episode References: Café Postale: https://www.cafepostaleomaha.com/ ...
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September 18, 2025 67 mins
The restaurants and food at Arbor Day Farm (Nebraska City) were overdue for an upgrade, and leadership tabbed Chef Garrett Kasper to level up the cuisine. And despite some reservations from long-time guests, the move has paid off and elevated the guest experience. Chef Kasper explains what changes he made, how he implemented them, and how seeing the staff get excited has energized him. We also touched on the importance of bringing ...
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September 11, 2025 66 mins
Nothing about SET The Bar is like what you'd expect at a normal sports bar. From the focus on women's sports to the elevated takes on bar food coming out of the kitchen, it's a completely different experience. And it's Chef Kristin's dishes that take the Benson bar to another level... something she never could have imagined considering her culinary journey just began a few years ago and she didn't even apply to be the executive che...
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September 4, 2025 58 mins
When this couple opened Cumbia in 2021, they brought two relatively unknown concepts to Omaha: Latin American food and tapas (small shared plates). But the intent wasn't just to feed people. They wanted to educate guests on the various histories, cultures, and dishes that exist in Latin America. And though there were bumps in the road, they're definitely accomplishing their mission and bringing something special to Omaha now. Re...
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There's just something special about getting food from a truck, but the food truck life isn't quite as easy as it seems. The owners of 3 of Omaha's most popular food trucks (Javi's Tacos, Hyde's Slydes, and Sully's GastroBurgers) pull back the curtain and tell the good and the bad of what food truck life is really like and why we're seeing a growing trend of restaurants and concepts embracing the mobile life. Mouth Watering Yet?...
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Let's pull back the curtain on Food Network cooking competitions! Michelle Alfaro, the chef/owner behind her beloved restaurant, Sauced by Alfaro, got the chance to compete on Food Network show Supermarket Stakeout. She takes us behind the wall to dish on what the experience was like, the clips that get left on the cutting room floor, and the parts of food TV that the average viewer has no idea about. This is a Hurrdat ONE Produ...
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August 14, 2025 59 mins
Outside of a high school job, Hannah had no experience in the custard/ice cream business. But her nostalgia, entrepreneurial drive, and love of frozen treats inspired her to learn the craft of custard making and opening her own business. Sprinkle Joy's story is inspiring as the custard is delicious, and you need to hear how this shop came to be! 🔗 References: Sprinkle Joy Custard — https://www.facebook.com/p/Sprinkle-Joy-615750...
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Mia Matlock always enjoyed baking, especially finding ways to inject her Pilipino heritage and ingredients into common desserts. But when COVID hit and she got the opportunity to turn her side hustle into a full-blown business, she took the leap. And now Oso Good Kitchen & Panaderya is thriving, introducing market customers to dishes and ingredients from the Philippines one cookie or cake at a time. Hear Mia's story and how she's u...
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Granola that actually tastes good?! Believe it. People are blown away by the flavor of the products that come from The Gourmet Granola, but they're even more in awe of Nicole and Glenn's story. This couple transformed one of the darkest periods of their lives into a line of granola products, farmers market sales, and a spot in Hy-Vee grocery stores.  🔗 Featured: Gourmet Granola – https://gourmetgranola.com This episode was s...
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Bread is one of mankind's most universally beloved foods, and it just brings people together. But have you ever thought about how it's made, or what it would be like to be a professional baker? Aires Reis (Reis' Bakery), Hank Shields (Omaha Bagel Co.), and Sadie Paulsen (Via Farina) didn't start their careers as bakers, but they fell for the craft and now couldn't imagine life without it. These 3 bread experts gathered to discuss a...
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July 17, 2025 64 mins
John was a psychologist for much of his career, and now he operates a bakery selling some of the best bread in Nebraska. The road and experiences that led him here are winding, but they've created an extremely passionate baker obsessed with ensuring the traditions of baking aren't lost over time. John shares all kinds of bread knowledge, from hydration levels to how caring for a starter is like raising a pet, and details the lesson...
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July 10, 2025 60 mins
For a decade, Clayton was the chef/owner of The Grey Plume, one of Omaha's most progressive and nationally recognized restaurants, racking up five Beard nominations during that time. But The Grey Plume closed during the pandemic... so what is one of Omaha's most decorated chefs up to now? We walk through Clayton's career from his beginnings on the sandwich line at Subway to opening The Grey Plume to where he is today, discussing wh...
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Let's talk about the universally beloved food item: pizza! Dan (Backlot Taphouse; Backlot Pizza & Kitchen), Adam (Terrible Gerald's), and Joel (Noli's Pizzeria) talk about how they fell in love with pizza, the intricacies of the craft, how delicate and finicky dough can be, the upcoming trends in the pizza industry, and more! This episode was sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Semo Pasta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Homemade pasta from local ingredients and an unfor...
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Dan gets the microphone turned on him in this one-of-a-kind live episode. Paul brings the heat, asking Dan the questions so many people ask: does he ever have a bad restaurant experience? Why is he so thin? How did he go from a lame food blogger to a podcast host? We cover all that and much, much more! 🔗 Episode Reference: Block 16 – https://www.block16omaha.com This episode was sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Semo Pasta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Homem...
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June 26, 2025 69 mins
Matt blew my mind in this episode. Behind the craft of creating cocktails, making drinks based off of guests' moods and memories, and the insane in-the-moment balance of making and taking orders at a bar, this conversation gave me an entirely new respect for anyone in the bar industry. But what I'll remember most is how Matt emphasizes that it's not about what's in the cup; it's how the bar (and the person serving you) make you fee...
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June 19, 2025 60 mins
Chef Djamil doesn't just want to serve great food; he wants to change the way Omaha's food community interacts. In our deep, wide-ranging conversation, we discuss how Djamil and his foundation, which empowers and educates immigrants and refugees in the kitchen, is trying to change the conversation around food in Omaha in a way a restaurant couldn't do. We also remark on how, while there are different cuisines and cultures, all food...
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June 12, 2025 69 mins
John Rea had limited experience with pizza and pasta when he took over the Via Farina kitchen nearly a decade ago. The move was a game changer for both parties: Via reignited John's passion for cooking, and John's leadership and desire for knowledge (especially about pizza) have taken Via Farina to another level with a second location. We discuss that transition for both he and the restaurant, the art of pizza making and how the 20...
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