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Eddie Kim, Mathew Ramsey

Shift Drink

A Food , Arts and Comedy podcast Explicit

#54 in Food · 🇦🇪 #183 in Food · 🇮🇪
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About the show

Welcome to Shift Drink! Long hours on sore feet and wearied coworkers cramped side-by-side in the pursuit of perfection is typical in the service industry. But it isn’t until the final diner has gone and the last tab is closed; when there are no more pots to scrub or glasses to polish; that’s when the first shift drinks are poured and the stories start to flow. Every week, Eddie Kim and Mathew Ramsey will share a shift drink and swap war stories from behind the line with chefs, bartenders, bakers, brewers, and anyone who touches this all-encompassing industry. Un-edited, no-holds-bar, and personal, these brief moments bleed into life stories, past and future aspirations, philosophy, life lessons and every shot in between. This show records and broadcasts LIVE on Full Service Radio from the lobby of the LINE DC in Adams Morgan, Washington DC.

Newest episodes

Opie Crooks & Jill Tyler: #ShutUsDown, But Not Out

49 min

This week, notorious locavore Opie Crooks - executive chef of A Rake’s Progress, and hospitality hero - Jill Tyler, co-owner of Tail Up Goat and Reveler’s Hour, join us from the frontlines of what’s been an emotional week, to discuss their closings of their restaurants in response to the COVID-19 emergency. We call for action and legislation that will affect D.C.’s restaurant industry in the interim (#ShutUsDown). Opie dabbles in baking bread, Jill gets swole with push-ups, Mathew grows his homesteading, and Eddie moves into his parent’s basement. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Rising Star Paola Velez’s Passion of the Fruit

58 min

This week, Executive Pastry Chef and confection Domini-queen of Kith and Kin, Paola Velez, joins us in our Corona-free recording bubble to discuss how she caught baking fever. From a cacao-farming family to fine chocolatier, Paola draws upon her Dominican roots and NYC training to simplify and showcase childhood ingredients. Rum cake, arroz con dulce, and ugli fruit get honorable mentions, Eddie runs into a “Florida man,” and Mathew gets insatiably hungry. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Ruben Garcia: Can’t Fight Nature

56 min

This week, Shift Drink alum Boby Pradichith continues to do the heavy lifting by bringing us chef, and mentor, Ruben Garcia. Freshly funemployed, we look back at Ruben’s 16-year legacy with Think Food Group and how that translates into future plans (think mezcal), “fighting nature,” and the cycle of culinary maturation and creativity. Ruben goes all George Clooney, Boby goes all Benjamin Button, Eddie goes all Julia Roberts, and Mathew tries to go all Daniel Day Lewis. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

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All episodes

Opie Crooks & Jill Tyler: #ShutUsDown, But Not Out

49 min

This week, notorious locavore Opie Crooks - executive chef of A Rake’s Progress, and hospitality hero - Jill Tyler, co-owner of Tail Up Goat and Reveler’s Hour, join us from the frontlines of what’s been an emotional week, to discuss their closings of their restaurants in response to the COVID-19 emergency. We call for action and legislation that will affect D.C.’s restaurant industry in the interim (#ShutUsDown). Opie dabbles in baking bread, Jill gets swole with push-ups, Mathew grows his homesteading, and Eddie moves into his parent’s basement. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Rising Star Paola Velez’s Passion of the Fruit

58 min

This week, Executive Pastry Chef and confection Domini-queen of Kith and Kin, Paola Velez, joins us in our Corona-free recording bubble to discuss how she caught baking fever. From a cacao-farming family to fine chocolatier, Paola draws upon her Dominican roots and NYC training to simplify and showcase childhood ingredients. Rum cake, arroz con dulce, and ugli fruit get honorable mentions, Eddie runs into a “Florida man,” and Mathew gets insatiably hungry. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Ruben Garcia: Can’t Fight Nature

56 min

This week, Shift Drink alum Boby Pradichith continues to do the heavy lifting by bringing us chef, and mentor, Ruben Garcia. Freshly funemployed, we look back at Ruben’s 16-year legacy with Think Food Group and how that translates into future plans (think mezcal), “fighting nature,” and the cycle of culinary maturation and creativity. Ruben goes all George Clooney, Boby goes all Benjamin Button, Eddie goes all Julia Roberts, and Mathew tries to go all Daniel Day Lewis. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Francesca Arienzo: Baking the Law

46 min

This week, we are joined by Francesca Arienzo, mother-baker and dough-puncher of the Mexican-German — Filos Bakery. Francesca pinches off a piece of her therapy dough over Putin’s favorite shifty, dives into the universal love language of freshly baked breads, and mediates dueling doting grandmothers. Eddie Kim hones in on the perfect concha and Mathew gets some much needed assistance in German phonetics. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Ann Limpert: The 101 on D.C.’s 100 Best

54 min

This week, Ann Limpert, Executive Food Editor of the Washingtonian keeps it cool on the hot seat, as she divulges her pastry past, serves up some “crispy” personal pizza predilections, and offers a deep dive into some of the food-critique-calculus behind the recently released “The 100 Very Best Restaurants.” Eddie buddies up with Hippocrates and Heisenberg, and Mathew apes out over wet martinis. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Robin Ha: Korean Hand, American Girl

52 min

This week, the kimchi jar lid is popped on Korean food and the American experience with comic illustrator Robin Ha — just ahead of the release of her new graphic novel, Almost American Girl — and guest host Peter Chang of No Kings Collective. We geonbae (cheers) over some unexpected mezcal as we parse out the meaning of Korean son-mat (hand-taste), the commonalities between Mexican and Korean cooking, and the disparities between the Korean immigrant and Korean-American experiences. Robin is OK with Kraft cheese, but not K-dramas, Peter exalts the sacred Shin ramen, and Eddie chastises on drinking etiquette. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Lane Harlan + Carlos Raba: Homies where the heart is

37 min

This week, arbiters of Charm City cool — Lane Harlan and returning guest Carlos Raba of Clavel, sit down with Mathew and poeticize everything from breakfast wine and the “hand of the maker,” to fishing for real estate on craigslist and even… well, Malort.  Eddie follows the sun west, and Mathew “bullet time dodges” a well aimed lie. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

David Batista and Soung Wiser: Around the Corner and Back Again

55 min

This week, David Batista and Soung Wiser of All Souls, General Design Co, and the soon to be; The Little Grand, drop “the” formalities AND raise the Jaleo bar to discuss the origins of an iconic combo, alley appeal, and the many ways one can Eddie Kim. Soung and Eddie incept the ‘Bad Korean Klub,’ and Mathew keeps it dushi. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Mr. Rovine Goes to Washington: The Fight Against Tariffs

55 min

This week we light a fire on the new season of Shift Drink to illuminate the impending U.S. tariffs on French wines, possibly going into effect later this month. Representing a cadre of importers and producers set to testify on Capitol Hill is natural wine figurehead and importer Zev Rovine, who explains the ins and outs of the 100 percent tariff, the destructive impacts it will have across the domestic wine industry (but particularly natural wine), and his beginnings as an importer. Guest co-pilot Amanda Carpenter expounds on her penchant for the tiny, Zev shrinks away from the sticky, Mathew escapes to the beachy, and Eddie stays mired in the dreary. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Felicia Colbert’s New Wine World Order

1 hr 1 min

This week, we round out the season (and year!) with a clarion of D.C.’s wine community — Felicia Colbert — Wine Director at A Rake’s Progress. We discuss navigating to the peak of the wine world while “mastering” one’s destiny, the added baggage of intersectionality in hospitality, and wine as a field guide to sociology. Alexya dons her graduation cap, Eddie squeezes into his cake fairy tights, and Mathew hulks out of his apron. But we all agree — Parents just don’t understand. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Clementine Thomas Gives a Fork About Cookbooks

44 min

This week, Clementine Thomas joins the studio to boldly fork where no book has gone before. We’re talking Bold Fork Books, a culinary bookstore pop-up in D.C.’s Pear Plum Cafe. Clem covers some cookbook chronology from personal favorites to neo-classic standards, purrrloins her cat’s name, and sets a local literary table for chefs and home-cooks to commune over. Mathew and Eddie bond in their aversions to the continental apple, the former biologically, the latter existentially. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Dave Coleman’s “Three Star Method to Motivation”

48 min

This week, Dave Coleman of Three Stars Brewing joins our post-Thanksgiving breakdown because that’s how he green-bean-casser-ROLLS. From Colt 45 to Peppercorn Saison, Dave opens up on the cost of integrity, swinging for those “two extra stars,” and staying motivated in a “Big Apples vs. D.C. Oranges” kind of world. Mathew mucks horse stables on the cheap and Eddie raises a glass to a favorite shirtless barman. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Adam Bernbach: Part Duh

52 min

This week, tune out the family drama and turn up the awkward with three friends, live mics, and a healthy dose of sherry for some stimulating, turkey-stuffing background noise. We welcome back Adam Bernbach of the upcoming Oyster Oyster, who’s keeping it lazy with an upcoming Mega-Mandy-Death-Moore Omakase, betrays his cranberry roots, and opens up on “closing the loop” and sustainability in restaurants. Eddie supersizes his Starbucks and Mathew says “hell yes,” to a flaming hot cheeto and tonic throwdown. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Konbi’s Laminated Layers with Nick Montgomery and Jen Yee, and Akira Akuto

46 min

This week, it’s ‘three’s company’ in the studio with the crew from LA’s pastry and sandwich darling, Konbi. Akira surfs the couch while co-owner Nick Montgomery and pastry chef Jen Yee take to the mics to discuss caffeinated indulgences, seasonal sensibility, and exercising a healthy restaurant balance. Akira makes coffee a black or white issue, while Mathew and Eddie go lowbrow on Thanksgiving plans. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Johnny Spero: Cooking Reveries and Life’s Realities

1 hr 1 min

This week, cuisenaire cosmonaut Johnny Spero of Reverie daydreams of San Sebastian and butter burgers, connects his life’s valleys and peaks, and checks our table for gum over some Dragon Whispers. Eddie chews fondly on Txuleta and Mathew takes a “New American” approach to villainy. Powered and distributed by Simplecast

Shochu Shorty Monica Lee Unleashes Her Claws

56 min

This week, we’re all aboard the Shochu choo choo with Monica Lee, beverage director of the Daikaya Group, and “Hennything is possible.” Monica rhapsodizes on the artisanal hard seltzer movement, mouth garnishes, and fruit sandos from beyond the Keto Zone™. Eddie stokes the flames at Room 11, and Mathew bemoans his Fail-eys Irish Cream incident.

LA’s Akira Akuto: Thinking Outside the Sando Box

44 min

This week Akira Akuto, master laminator and co-owner of LA’s Japanese sandwich darling, Konbi, drops by the studio for a chat and shat. Akira divulges on big dreams in tiny spaces, the cult of canelé, and his personal Italian “heros.” Eddie sounds the alarm for “Code Brown,” and Mathew tea’s up his corn popup.

Cocktailwalla Dante Datta does D.C.

48 min

This week, homegrown barman Dante Datta of the upcoming Indian-inspired cocktail bar, Daru, joins us in the studio to slug down some emerald-colored Midori elixirs and talk Indian rum, pet mustaches, and the craft of opening a neighborhood watering hole. Eddie tries to recruit for a string quartet and Mathew unleashes his “Vanilla Green” on the world.

Trevor Frye’s Inner-Washline

1 hr 1 min

This week, we ball high with water whisperer, Trevor Frye and resident artist, Nate Mann. We dive into the district’s viral geometry, lessons in failing, and making room for mental wellness. Trevor finds his inner-“washline,” Eddie segways like a m**********r, and Mathew picks up a casual Kodō drumming habit.

Malaka Gharib Finds the American Dream

47 min

Navigating between three worlds as a Filipino-Egyptian in America, Malaka Gharib grew up struggling to grasp what it meant to live the American Dream. That is, until she wrote and drew her first graphic memoir, “I Was Their American Dream.” We break bread over the role of food in defining -- and confounding -- our cultural identities, drink a piquette that piques our interests in natural wine, and be ‘N Sync in our loves for fanfic. Malaka finds herself in a mukbang of Spam, Eddie yearns to be on the beach, and Alexya goes emo in the studio.

Josh Phillips, The Master and the Margarita

52 min

This week, Josh Phillips, master mezcalier and co-owner of Espita Mezcaleria, unscrews the top on an array of agave spirits and dives down the nerdy corn hole that is nixtamalization. Josh talks Craigslist connections, tortilla grinds, and offers just the tip on buying mezcal… And, when Eddie goes high, Mathew ends up shorter.

Top Jefes: Brooke Williamson & Antonia Lofaso

45 min

In this episode, we’re graced by not one, but two badass Arch-Angelenos and restaurateurs of Top Chef fame - Brooke Williamson & Antonia Lofaso. We discuss the dichotomy of awards and the awarded, general rules of thumb, and Tequila earns two exclamations!! Eddie plays el Diablo’s advocate and rallies with Brooke over tennis terminology, while Mathew dons his “cheeseburger-life coach” hat for Antonia.

Sweet / Dry with DC Public Library and Domestique

1 hr 21 min

An exploration of the intersection between taste and identity, presented by Domestique Wine and the DC Public Library. Including special guest panelists Jon Bonné, Lee Campbell, W. Ralph Eubanks, Millicent Souris, Genevieve Villamora.

Jon Bonné Jovi’s Greatest Hits

38 min

For this episode we open up our Mezcal cabinet to professional wino and tastemaker, Jon Bonné, senior contributing editor for PUNCH, former wine editor for The San Francisco Chronicle, and author of “The New California Wine.” Jon pontificates on going au natural, Gewurzt case scenarios, and mousey wine traps. Eddie comes out as a Riesling apologist, Mathew makes a dough confession, and Jon returns full circular on a certain incision.

Millicent Souris on Serving the Underserved

30 min

This week we scour off the rust and dust off the cobwebs to start off a new season of Shift Drink with Millicent Souris, former chef turned educator and advocate for the underserved at St. John’s Bread and Life. The activist helps us parse the difference between old/new schools of cooks, nourishing the privileged few/needy hundreds, and chef volunteerism/tourism. Millicent reminisces on her prison-tinged last visit to D.C., Mathew comes back like a bronzed Greek god, and Eddie crushes on the Aperol spritz.

Kristen Kish Keeps Pop Star Dreams in the Lone Star State

28 min

This week we keep it weird in the kitchen with Austin’s Kristen Kish, Top Chef alumna and chef of the newly minted Arlo Grey at the LINE Hotel. We unearth a few lines to add to her Wikipedia page, such as her notable singing skills, the do’s and don’ts of keeping it vulnerable in her kitchen, and her penchant for chicken fingers. Kristen opts out of the cowboy-chic, Eddie digs into the meaty side of Yelp, while Mathew gets torn and tater-ed with burger envy.

Reunion and Rivalry in Koreatown with Chefs Deuki Hong and Esther Choi

51 min

This week we put on a Korean double-feature with chef siblings-in-arms Esther Choi (mokbar and Miss Yu, NYC) and Deuki Hong (Sunday Bird, SF). The cross-country reunion sparks discussion on staying connected to one’s passion, satiating a bong appetite, and owning the “a” word -- "authenticity." Esther stokes a sibling rivalry, Deuki lives his best glamping life, Eddie finds milk in the banana stand, and Mathew balks at being called a banana split.

Can Chefs Mei Lin and Jon Yao Bring Old Memories to New LA?

59 min

This week we do a City of Angels "bang bang," with LA chefs Mei Lin of the newly minted Nightshade and James Beard-nominated Jon Yao of Kato. We reminisce on childhood foods, navigate the celebrity chef limelight, compare camaraderie in LA vs. DC, and cut deep into kitchen accidents. Jon contemplates a life as a La Croix-somm, Mei prefers to cook hearts -- not break them, Mathew finds love in his coconut, and Eddie learns the art of back-to-back dining.

Ice Cream and the Art of Rooftop Maintenance with D.C.’s Milk Cult

1 hr 8 min

This week we join forces with D.C.’s double dragons of ice cream, Ed Cornell and Patrick Griffith of Milk Cult, to take down the innovation/boredom balance, tapping into cult classics, and the art of rooftop maintenance. Ed and Patrick take us through a Hole in the Sky, Eddie belabors ear holes, and Mathew reminisces on corndog glory holes.

No Creative Still Waters for Cult Brewers Brian Strumke and Mike Van Hall

56 min

This week nomadic beer cultist Brian Strumke and visual disrupter Mike Van Hall of Stillwater Artisanal search for creative rules to break, from flipping the sacred to Action Bronson collabs. Mike and Brian hate on coriander and triangles, Mathew mourns the death of Jon Snow, and Eddie feels the wet-nat

Daniel Boulud -- Michelin Chef, Crab Smuggler, Viper Bootlegger

52 min

This week legendary French Chef Daniel Boulud confesses some of his more illicit activities down on the hometown farm, cooking for his icon Jacques Pepin, and true egg-celence. Daniel gets Tina Turnt-up, Mathew and Chef Boulud develop a lasting “frenchip” over cooking for mom, and Eddie contracts the itch to bring crab shacks to the city of lights.

Intelligent Design In D.C.’s Ecosystem with Edit Lab

49 min

In our 50th AND sadly, FINAL episode... designers Lauren Winter and Brian Miller of Edit Lab manifest their own destinations, one neighborhood at a time. Lauren and Brian embrace the imperfect, Eddie and Mathew throw design trends at the wall to see what sticks, and Alexya presses the big red button to initiate our conscious uncoupling

Little Little Chef Cagla in the Middle

48 min

This week we crack open one of D.C’s most central, but looked over, badasses in the kitchen, Green Almond Pantry’s Cagla Onal. Cagla stocks our cupboard with goodies fit for the soul, but made for her daughter, and recounts choosing onions over economics. Mathew looks for the green hook-up, and Eddie goes full-Korean over Turkish-BBQ.

Chicago’s Bad Hunter Fashions #LifeGarnishes From Lemons

47 min

This week, the Bad Hunter bar crew/dance troupe brings nothing but good vibes all the way from Chicago and talks about their path to phoenix-ing from a grease fire, house rules with Bruno Mars, and #LifeGarnishes. Bad Hunter swipes right on D.C., Mathew swipes left on deep dish, and Eddie is OK with being not OK.

Tail Up Goat’s Bill Jensen and Bon Jovi, On a Bed of Rosés

1 hr 10 min

This week we visit the glitz, glamour, and denim of wine with Bill Jensen of James Beard Award-nominated Tail Up Goat. Bill doubles-down on a storied D.C. neighborhood, Mathew gets a little brown on his nose, and Eddie pines for big beers -- and he cannot lie.

How Max Kuller Stays Forever Young and Hungry in the Industry

58 min

This week we take the leap -- or just fall head first -- with Max Kuller, owner of Estadio, on his technicolor interests, somm-ing as a vegetarian, and breathing new life into old concepts. Max breaks down the short and long of his “rice program,” Eddie cleans up “Doggy-style,” and Mathew “screws the Pooch.”

Walking the Creative Line with Carlos Raba of Clavel

53 min

This week we guard and grapple with Chef Carlos Raba of Clavel over the transformation from corporate to creative, the taco revolution in Baltimore, and finding art in the martial and culinary. Carlos fires his wife, Mathew taps out, and Eddie reveals his porcine side.

No Borders for Hospitality with Carlie Steiner of Himitsu

52 min

This week boss in the streets and freak in the spreadsheets Carlie Steiner of Himitsu and Chufly Imports decants her break-neck restaurant opening, a concept’s longevity, and love of the Chicago dog. Carlie croons for Alanis, Mathew points a finger at Ariana, and Eddie embraces a nip-slip from Adam.

Holiday Extravaganza and Industry Roast of D.C.’s Bon Vivant Jason Mader

55 min

This week bar maven and food dandy, Jason Mader brings the holiday spirit, and we all get the drunker for it. Seasonal ghost guests of ShiftDrink past and future - Kat Hamidi Adam Bernbach Chantal Tseng and Melissa Konishi come to roast Mader's chestnuts( but mostly love) ... AND a new star is born; the Chilito Royale (just add caviar).

Pony and a Pop: Bonus Episode with David Zilber of Noma’s Fermentation Lab

29 min

Need an extra shifty for the road now that the holiday season is upon us? We’ve got you covered with a bonus Shift Drink featuring David Zilber, head of Noma’s Fermentation Lab. We caught up with David after his booktalk with Rene Redzepi, hashing out his role as Noma’s ferment-ologist, a garbage photographer, and a collaborative food innovator.

The Many Hats and Flames of Hearth-tender Ben Eisendrath of Grillworks

52 min

This week we stoke the embers of innovation, visit the red planet, and unearth the Promethean origins of Ben Eisendrath of Grillworks. Ben flexes his photog muscles, Mathew rehabilitates from his hamburglar past, and Eddie defends mumbo, the midwest, and everything in between.

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