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NC F&B Podcast

NC F&B Podcast

North Carolina Food & Beverage 537 episodes Nov 4, 2026

The NC F&B Podcast goes behind the scenes of North Carolina’s food and beverage culture. Host Max Trujillo, a hospitality industry veteran, talks with local chefs, sommeliers, distillers, farmers, brewers, and other people shaping the state’s culinary scene. The show offers an insider look at the businesses, personalities, and stories that make up North Carolina’s hospitality community.

Episodes

ReImagining High Horse, Getting Fired, and True Friendship - Anthony Rapillo is back on the Podcast!
ReImagining High Horse, Getting Fired, and True Friendship - Anthony Rapillo is back on the Podcast! Nov 4, 2026 01:16:46 First episode recorded at home with restaurateur Anthony Rapillo. We revisit last year's "real" episode and unpack Max's abrupt firing from a country club service-director job after 90 days, then how Anthony offered him work across his restaurants; Max returns to serving at Flour & Barrel and praises its menu, cocktails, and Italian wine list. They plug Raleigh OysterFest Smoke & Shuck (Nov 7, 1–5
Rawleigh Oysterfest "Smoke & Shuck" at Iron Works (Nov 7)
Rawleigh Oysterfest "Smoke & Shuck" at Iron Works (Nov 7) Oct 20, 2026 56:38 The final in-studio episode at The Kitchen for the North Carolina Food and Beverage Podcast with Raleigh Oyster Fest collaborators: Max Trujillo, Eduardo Mera (Mera Brothers Oysters) and Katie Dombrowski, plus guests Luis Zouain (Lagana) and Chef Chris Gass (Bellow's Butcher Company). They preview the third Raleigh Oysterfest—"Smoke & Shuck"—on November 7 at Iron Works, featuring oysters, barbecue
Tree Time Tales: Hops to Hemp
Tree Time Tales: Hops to Hemp Aug 6, 2026 59:12 Host Max Trujillo returns to the North Carolina Food and Beverage Podcast after a five-week break and a new role at Northridge Country Club, reuniting with Sara Abernethy and chef Bobby McFarland (with deep ties to Wye Hill Brewery) to focus on their new venture, Tree Time THC seltzers. They frame THC drinks as a social alternative—not a replacement—for alcohol, discuss who's buying them (non-drin
A Taste of Jalwa: Culinary Innovation in North Raleigh
A Taste of Jalwa: Culinary Innovation in North Raleigh May 19, 2026 42:39 Host Max Trujillo records off-site at Jalwa, a 15-month-old luxe Indian fine-dining restaurant in North Raleigh, and interviews proprietor Ajit Khanna. We get into the restaurant's presentation, flavors, ambiance, service, and innovative touches like the "spice symphony" aromatic opener, fresh house-brewed cocktail ingredients, illuminated menus, and palate-finishing saunf. Ajit explains choosing
Momentum, Michelin & Microbiomes: Charlotte's Power Couple: Jeff Tonidandel + Jamie Brown
Momentum, Michelin & Microbiomes: Charlotte's Power Couple: Jeff Tonidandel + Jamie Brown Mar 26, 2026 01:09:05 Host Max welcomes Charlotte hospitality duo Jeff Tonidandel + Jamie Brown, recapping their busy slate: operating five restaurants including Supperland, Haberdish, Ever Andalo, and Leluia Hall; opening "Olivelli Deli" (a tiny 82-square-foot former donut shop) with sandwiches and soft serve; developing Wyatt's Super Fine inside the 1903 Leeper-Wyatt building they physically moved 750 feet; earning t
Feast Your Way Through Wilmington: Inside the 2026 Feast of Wilmington
Feast Your Way Through Wilmington: Inside the 2026 Feast of Wilmington Mar 5, 2026 22:16 Host Max Trujillo welcomes back Jessica Maurer, Director of the third annual Feast of Wilmington, happening March 28–29, as a spring kickoff showcasing Wilmington's food and beverage scene. They outline the weekend: a Friday tailgate kickoff at the Starling Bar featuring Southern Smoke, Lawrence Barbecue, Salt & Charm and friends; Saturday's Crafting Cuisine (11–2) pairing 25 restaurants with 25 b
Politics, Podcasts, and the Pursuit of Public Office: A Conversation with Beau Blair
Politics, Podcasts, and the Pursuit of Public Office: A Conversation with Beau Blair Feb 12, 2026 52:56 In this episode of the North Carolina Food and Beverage Podcast, host Max Trujillo interviews Beau Blair, an old friend and brand ambassador running for the North Carolina Sixth Congressional District. They delve into Blair's journey from the food and beverage industry to politics, discussing the importance of representation, the challenges faced by restaurant workers, and Blair's stance on immigr
We Power Food: Supporting Female Entrepreneurs
We Power Food: Supporting Female Entrepreneurs Dec 26, 2025 01:15:27 Max Trujillo interviews Ariana Nester and Sue Ellsworth about the We Power Food nonprofit organization and their upcoming event on January 26. The episode discusses the mission of We Power Food to empower women in the food and beverage industry by providing resources, tools, and a supportive community. Key discussions include the challenges women face in the industry, the importance of networking
The Rise of Chef Isaac Duque: Fusing Music and Culinary, One Pop-up at a Time
The Rise of Chef Isaac Duque: Fusing Music and Culinary, One Pop-up at a Time Nov 13, 2025 48:37 In this episode of the North Carolina Food and Beverage Podcast, host Max Trujillo sits down with Chef Isaac Duque to discuss his unique dining concept, 'Whet,' which stands for 'We Here Eat Together.' After a spontaneous yet successful pop-up dinner experience in Wake Forest, Chef Isaac reveals his vision of merging food and music to trigger nostalgia and create unforgettable dining experiences.
Inside the Michelin Guide with Max Trujillo and Matthew Weiss joins in
Inside the Michelin Guide with Max Trujillo and Matthew Weiss joins in Nov 6, 2025 01:07:50 The North Carolina Food and Beverage Podcast, host Max Trujillo welcomes back co-creator and longtime co-host Matthew Weiss as they delve into the recent Michelin Guide announcements for the American South that have stirred quite a buzz in the North Carolina culinary scene. We kick off with a lighthearted debate about Michelin's surprising decisions, revealing a mix of excitement and skepticism. M
Crafting the Perfect Cut:Inside Prime Brothers Butcher Shoppe
Crafting the Perfect Cut:Inside Prime Brothers Butcher Shoppe Oct 16, 2025 01:18:05
Better Choices, Better Life: Tyler Helikson's Roadmap to Success
Better Choices, Better Life: Tyler Helikson's Roadmap to Success Sep 25, 2025 54:01 In this episode of the North Carolina Food and Beverage Podcast, host Max Trujillo welcomes back restaurateur Tyler Helikson for an inspiring conversation. The pair catch up on Tyler's latest ventures, including his successful restaurants, Happy Inhale and Madre, and dive deep into their shared journey of self-improvement. Tyler shares his recent commitment to health and wellness, describing how h

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