The Restaurant Guys

Mark and Francis open the show with another discussion about photography in restaurants. Their guest is Susan McKenna Grant, owner of La Petraia, in Rada, Chianti and author of the new book, Dinamica. They discuss how eating meat is different when you butcher your own animals, what being an outsider in Chianti is like, and how biodynamic agriculture might actually work, even though no one knows why it does....

Mark and Francis start the show discussing the recent firing of an Applebee's employee after she posted a copy of someone's receipt on her website after that person crossed out her added gratuity and wrote "I only give God 10%, why should I give you 18%?". What's the whole story? The guys welcome Josh Ozersky, Time Magazine's food writer, to the show to discuss his book, Colonel Sanders and the American Dream. They learn fun facts about Harlan Sanders and what he was doing with his life before he was the Colonel. They also discuss Josh's article about the disappearance of the American middle-class meal....

What should a restaurateur do if a guest can't pay? Mark and Francis discuss what happened recently at Smith and Wollensky in New York when an Italian tourist could not pay. What do you think should happen in these cases? Mark and Francis welcome the geniuses behind Destination Dogs in New Brunswick, NJ. Jimmy Cronk, Sean Hosty, and John Durna own a hot dog restaurant based in fresh ingredients and fresh, made daily sausages. What else makes this place so great? Listen and find out....

The Guys are joined today by Cynthia Lauren Tewes. Ms Tewes played Julie McCoy on The Love Boat and is appearing at The George Street Playhouse (right next to The Restaurant Guys restaurants) in Good People by, Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire. Since her time on The Love Boat, Ms Tewes has continued to act but she also acquired a degree in culinary arts. Find out more about Good People and The George Street Playhouse at www.GeorgeStreetPlayhouse.org...

Mark and Francis welcome back Kevin Zraly to the show to discuss the 27th Edition of his best-selling wine book, Windows on the World Complete Wine Course. The new version includes videos by way of QR codes. They discuss how the world of wine has changed since they all started in this business, as well as how they see it changing in the future....

Francis first encountered Sean Muldoon's work many years ago in Belfast City. We dare say that Francis may have been the first American Cocktailian to wander in to the cocktail palace built in that far away city by Mr. Muldoon. Sean has garnered many well-deserved awards for his work in the kingdom of cocktails and has provided many a happy tipple. The Guys were pleased to get to know Sean this last year and eagerly await the imminent opening of Sean's new place on the isle of Manhattan. The hotly anticipated Dead Rabbit. Sean's UK recognitions include: Theme Magazine Award for Best New UK Bar 2007 Class Magazine - Best Classic UK Hotel Bar 2007 Theme Magazine - Best Drinks Selection & Bar Team 2008 Class Magazine - Best Classic UK Hotel Bar 2008 Class Magazine - Best UK Cocktail Experience 2008 Imbibe Magazine - Best Boutique UK Hotel Bar 2009 Tales of the Cocktail - Worlds Best Hotel Bar 2009 Tales of the Cocktail - Worlds Best Cocktail List 2009 Tales of the Cocktail - Worlds Best Drink Selection 2009 Theme Magazine Award for UK Bar of the Year 2009 Class Magazine Award for Best UK Cocktail Menu 2009 Tales of the Cocktail -Worlds Best Cocktail Bar 2010 Let's see what he can do in The U.S.A.! More on The Dead Rabbit at http://www.deadrabbitnyc.com/...

The Guys Start off the segment with a lively discussion about Pete Well's recent '-1 star review' of Guy Fieri's American Kitchen and Bar in The New York Times. Was it justified? Did it go too far? Listen in for their take. Then we air an interview Francis conducted on a recent trip to Ireland. Francis has a fascinating discussion with Bill Wolsey at his Merchant Hotel in Belfast. Bill has 50 bars, 3 hotels and a few pizza places to boot, all in Northern Ireland. He has a long and interesting history as self-made hotelier, restaurateur and publican beginning in a very troubled place whose current renaissance makes it one of Europe's great 'cities-to-watch.' A subject near and dear to The Restaurant Guys' Hearts: What role can publicans play in rebuilding a city! The Merchant Hotel is The Restaurant Guys Favorite small hotel in Europe....

In their first show post-Superstorm Sandy, the guys welcome New York Times cocktail columnist Robert Simonson to the show. Robert Simonson writes about spirits, cocktails, and wine for the New York Times, Imbibe, Edible Brooklyn and Manhattan, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and GQ. He holds an advanced certificate from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, and another from the Beverage Alcohol Resource. He was nominated for 2012 Spirited Award for Best Cocktail Writing. His excellent and influential blog can be found at http://offthepresses.blogspot.com. Follow him on Twitter: @RobertOSimonson....

Mark and Francis discuss Francis's recent trip to Ireland and Belfast Restaurant Week. Their guest is Josh Schonwald, author of The Taste of Tomorrow: Dispatches from the Future of Food. They discuss GMO foods in the future and the future of fish, as well as sustainability in farming and what might happen with food over the next 30 years....

Mark and Francis discuss Francis's recent brunch outing in New York. Their guest is Andrew Smith, author of American Tuna: The Rise and Fall of an Improbable Food. They discuss the history of tuna in the US and how it went from being a trash fish to a fish that's on everyone's plate....

Mark and Francis welcome Barb Stuckey, author of Taste What You're Missing. Barb Stuckey is a food developer at Mattson and outlines the kinds of tasters and how to train yourself to be a better taster in her book....

The Guys recorded yet another show at Tales of The Cocktail in New Orleans. Back in the 9th Ward of the city, you will find the city's only rum distillery, the only rum distillery in The Big Easy since prohibition. The Guys are big fans and couldn't be in such close proximity without stopping by, banging on the stills, tasting fermenting molasses and getting to the bottom of one of their favorite American Spirits. Join them on this rumtastic journey....

Mark and Francis welcome Antoinette Bruno on the show to discuss the Star Chefs International Chefs Congress. Star Chefs ICC is one of a kind, and it's back: a three-day culinary symposium that gathers more than 90 of the world's most innovative chefs, pastry chefs, mixologists, and sommeliers to present the latest techniques and culinary concepts to their peers. September 30 to October 2, there's the opportunity to attend Main Stage Demonstrations, Hands-on Savory, Pastry, and Mixology workshops, Wine Tasting Seminars, and Business Panels on current industry topics, all gathered under the umbrella of this year's ICC theme: Origins and Frontiers: The Archaeology of Modern Cuisine. This is an industry only event. Our listeners can buy tickets at a discounted rate of $199 with the code ICC199....

An unexpected pleasure of Tales of The Cocktail 2012 in New Orleans: Francis and Mark met one of the worlds most iconic bartenders. Ted Lange played Isaac on The Love Boat. He was probably the first bartender Mark and Francis and their whole generation ever knew. Amongst the worlds best real bartenders, Ted is full of stories. Ted's character broke through a lot of stereotypes on network tv and in American culture. Ted was the first African American and the first bartender on a mainstream white TV series. He's an interesting and charming guy and he and The Restaurant Guys get along famously!...

Mark and Francis welcome Don Feinberg and Wendy Littlefield, owners of the beer import company, Vanberg & De Wulf to the show. They discuss how Belgian beer became popular in the US, Belgian beer styles and beer aging....

Mark and Francis welcome Michael Green and Ricky Crawford to the show. Michael Green joins them to talk about his plays, as well as about the exciting Spanish wine region of La Mancha. Ricky Crawford joins them to discuss some of the interesting tourism efforts he's doing, specifically a cigar trip to Nicaragua that he led....

Mark and Francis welcome Dean Foster to the show. Dean Foster is the head of Dean Foster Associates and is the author of the "Global Etiquette Guide" series of books. Mr Foster joins the guys to discuss travel abroad and how gesture can be very important, especially when you don't speak the language....

Francis talks about his recent visit to Bulgaria. Mark and Francis welcome Johnny Schuler of Pisco Porton to the show to discuss Pisco Porton and the difference between Chilean and Peruvian Pisco and the history behind Pisco Porton....

Mark and Francis discuss a recent slew of articles about cocktails from the New York Times food section, particularly an article about food and cocktail pairing. Their guest is Ann Tuennerman, founder of Tales of the Cocktail, a five day cocktail symposium held each year in New Orleans, Louisiana. They discuss what's new for the tenth anniversary, the apprentice program, and how Tales differs from other cocktail conventions....

Mark and Francis talk about Niman Ranch beef and an event they went to recently. Their guest is Michael Beattie, the head of the American Wagyu Association. They discuss the recent article in Forbes Magazine by Larry Olmstead about Wagyu and the controversy surrounding it...

Mark and Francis welcome Frank Brunacci to the show to discuss truffles, namely the fantastic Australian truffles they are getting in the restaurant....

Ron Cooper, founder of Del Maguey, a company specializing in single village Mezcals, joins Mark and Francis to discuss the differences between tequila, sotol, and mezcal, what these villages are like, what makes production different, and ways these different mezcals are used and enjoyed....

Mark and Francis welcome Eric Ripert back to the show to discuss Le Bernardin's most recent 4 star New York Times review, the new remodel of Le Bernardin, cocktails and their place in fine dining, creativity in the kitchen, and counterfeit fish....

Mark and Francis recap their visit to the Manhattan Cocktail Classic and profile some new spirits Francis discovered. Their guest is Jim Lahey, owner of Sullivan Street Bakery and Co. Restaurant in New York City. They discuss his new book, My Pizza: The Easy No-Knead Way to Make Spectacular Pizza at Home....

Mark and Francis discuss tea with Sebastian Beckwith, one of the foremost tea experts in the United States and owner of the company, In Pursuit of Tea. They discuss the differences in kinds of tea, how to get the most flavor from your tea, and the kinds of tea that can cost $800 or more a pound....

Mark and Francis discuss their recent trip to DeBragga and Spitler and what they learned about aging meat. Their guest is Michelin-starred chef, Paul Virant, author of the new book The Preservation Kitchen: The Craft of Making and Cooking with Pickles, Preserves, and Aigre-doux. They discuss putting up fruits and vegetables for both restaurant and home use and how you can can safely at home....

Mark and Francis discuss how summer camps are different from when they were kids. Their guest is Tracie McMillan, author of The American Way of Eating: Undercover at Walmart, Applebees, Farm Fields, and the Dinner Table. They discuss her year undercover picking garlic, grapes, and peaches, stocking shelves at Walmart, and cooking at Applebees....

Mark and Francis discuss old-school cocktails they found in an old cocktail book written by African-American bartender, Tom Bullock. Their guest is Lesley Townsend, founder of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic. They discuss the big events happening this year, including the Gala, the Industry Invitational, and the events happening all over New York from May 11-15, 2012....

Mark and Francis welcome Taggart Siegel, director of Queen of the Sun: What are the Bees Telling Us? Their discussion covers everything related to the honeybee -- from how bees procreate to how monocultures effect bees and what's causing colony collapse disorder....

Mark and Francis welcome Grant Achatz, acclaimed chef of Alinea, Next, and the Aviary in Chicago. They discuss molecular gastronomy, creativity in the kitchen and the dining room, and how being a little bit crazy helps when you're trying to be great at what you do....

Mark and Francis welcome Chef Floyd Cardoz, of the newly open North End Grill in New York City. They discuss the different kinds of grills out there and how Chef Cardoz is putting them all to work....

Mark and Francis welcome Gerald Asher, author of A Carafe of Red, to the show to discuss Missouri wines, wine rating scales, and other interesting topics from his newest book...

George Faison, co-owner of DeBragga and Spitler, joins Mark and Francis to discuss sustainable meat production. They discuss antibiotic use in animals, as well as why hormones in beef production can be detrimental, as well as everyday ways people can help make the meat that's available on the market better for you and more sustainable....

Charles Neal joins the guys to discuss his new book, Calvados: The Spirit of Normandy. They discuss the people of Normandy, Cider, and the great spirit they produce there -- Calvados -- and the apples and pears that its made from....

Mark and Francis welcome David Hanson, co-author of Breaking Through Concrete: Building an Urban Farm Revival with Edwin Marty and Michael Hanson. They discuss the problems people face when urban farming, as well as some of the great things an urban farm can do for a community....

Mark and Francis discuss the "innovative" new packaging of whiskey in a can and its possible pitfalls. Their guest is wine and spirits expert Steve Olson. They discuss responsible drinking, artisanal products, and why mezcal and tequila are in trouble and how you can help....

The guys are joined by preeminent cocktailian Dale DeGroff and talk about the State of the Cocktail Union and bar trends for 2012!...

Mark and Francis discuss Bloody Marys and different garnishes that you could put on them. Their guest is Brian Miller, of Tiki Mondays at Lani Kai. They discuss all things Tiki and what makes a bartender different from a mixologist....

Mark and Francis discuss the word "artisanal" and how some companies are misappropriating its use for things that are not, in fact, artisanal. Their guest is Nancy Huehnergarth, author of a recent article in the Huffington Post about the "Top Six Food Politics Lessons Learned In 2011."...

Happy New Year from the Restaurant Guys!...

Mark and Francis discuss the upcoming New Year's Eve celebrations across the US and specifically, in New Brunswick, NJ. Their guest is Randy Clemens, co-author of The Craft of Stone Brewing Co: Liqud Lore, Epic Recipes, and Unabashed Arrogance. They discuss Stone Brewing Co, other smaller breweries, and unusual things to do with beer, including how to make something called Beer Nog....

Mark and Francis welcome Doug Frost, MS, MW to the show to discuss being a sommelier in today's market and the importance of cocktails in general. They talk about wine ratings, selling wine to consumers, differing palates, and the importance of cocktails in today's beverage programs....

Mark and Francis welcome Sam Mogannam of Bi-Rite Market in San Francisco. They discuss the role of the supermarket in a community, why big business supermarkets are different from small supermarkets, and why produce from small farmers is better than mass-produced produce. They also discuss Sam's new book, Bi-Rite Market's Eat Good Food....

Mark and Francis welcome Natalie MacLean, the Canadian wine writer. They discuss Natalie's new book, Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World's Best Bargain Wines. They discuss what makes a wine a bargain wine, what some of the up and coming regions of the world are, and some of the new things Natalie's up to...

Mark and Francis being the show with a discussion of spirits competitions and a spirit they recently tried blind and is now coming onto the market. Their guest is Allegra McEvedy, author of Bought, Borrowed, and Stolen: Recipes and Knives from a Travelling Chef. Conversation ranges from the importance of knives to a chef, culturally, and in our homes, as well as how Allegra chose the regional foods mentioned in her book and how knives factor into the preparation of these recipes....

Mark and Francis reminisce about their days of eating fast food in high school and college. Their guest is Kathleen Flinn, author of the Kitchen Counter Cooking School, a book that followed home cooks as Kathleen taught them how to eat less processed food and how to cook real food at home. The conversation spans from a discussion of what people put into their shopping carts, about how learning to cook can be empowering and about the way processed food is actually made....

Mark and Francis welcome Daniel Humm to the show to discuss the book he's written with Will Guidara, the Eleven Madison Park Cookbook. They talk about the book, about running a four star restaurant, and about some of the unique things that they're doing at Eleven Madison Park in regards to training, service, and the menu in general....

Mark and Francis discuss spirits, especially Calvados and Eau de Vie and some of the exciting things they're doing with them in the restaurants. Their guest is Jim Meehan, author of the PDT Cocktail Book. They discuss the book's beautiful illustrations by Chris Gall and how the relationship between author and illustrator evolved over the course of the book. They also discuss some of the big cocktail bars in the country and how bartenders can give great service while still making great cocktails....

Mark and Francis discuss why super fine dining restaurants are on the decline in popularity and how what people are looking for in restaurants has changed over the years they've been in the business. Their guest is Kathy Gunst, author of Notes From a Maine Kitchen: Seasonally Inspired Recipes. They discuss Maine staples such as lobster, blueberries, and maple syrup and how you don't have to be in Maine to enjoy these typical Maine foods....

Mark and Francis start the show with a discussion about the kinds of deep fried foods you can eat at state fairs across the country. Mark and Francis welcome Marissa Guggiana, author of Off the Menu: Staff Meals from America's Top Restaurants to discuss staff meals in restaurants across the country. They talk about what the staff eats in America's top restaurants and the importance of staff meals, both for nutrition and for camaraderie....

Mark and Francis begin the show with a discussion on the place of migrant workers in the American economy and the role they play on farms across America. For their interview, they welcome Jon Taffer, star of the Spike TV show Bar Rescue to the show. In addition to hosting Bar Rescue, Mr Taffer also runs a successful consulting business. Conversation ranges from discussion about the show, about how Mark, Francis, and Jon approach consulting jobs, how consulting is different in front of the camera under a 5 day time constraint and about what these restaurants are like after the cameras leave....

Mark and Francis discuss Francis's recent visit to the New York City restaurant Tertulia. Their guest is Lucy Lean, author of the new book Made in America: Our Best Chefs Reinvent Comfort Food. They discuss recipes from over a hundred years ago, what comfort food is, and how these chefs have made comfort food more relevant for today....

Gerald Asher joins Mark and Francis to discuss his years as wine writer at Gourmet Magazine and his new book, A Vineyard in My Glass. They talk a lot about the importance of place when it comes to wine and Francis even makes Gerald Asher laugh....

Antoinette Bruno of StarChefs.com joins the guys to discuss the upcoming Chef's Congress happening in New York City October 2, 3 & 4. They discuss mixology, the various events, and the Rising Stars Awards....

In their debut on the Heritage Radio Network, Mark and Francis interview Jennifer McLagan, a two-time James Beard Award winning cookbook author. Her new book is Odd Bits: How to Cook the Rest of the Animal. They discuss why offal has come in and out of vogue over the years and how snout to tail eating can and is accomplished in America and in Europe....

Heather Shouse joins the guys to discuss her book, Food Trucks: Dispatches and Recipes from the Kitchens on Wheels. Food Trucks is a book that profiles some 50 different food truck operations from across the United States. The discussion leads to the economics of food trucks and how they differ from city to city, from cities that don't allow food trucks to those that embrace them, to differences between trucks and the kinds of food that can be cooked inside a truck. Mark, Francis, and Heather also share some of their favorite food trucks across the nation and discuss what makes a food truck great....

John Mariani, food writer for Esquire Magazine, joins Mark and Francis to discuss his new book, How Italian Food Conquered the World. They discuss Italian food, both in the United States and abroad; how, over the years, Italian food took hold in the U.S.; and how Italian immigrants found access to familiar (and unfamiliar) ingredients after moving to the U.S....

Are there still great Mom and Pop restaurants out there? Mark and Francis discuss the lack of truly great everyday restaurants in resort areas and ask that you send us your favorites. Their guest today is Gabrielle Hamilton, the chef at Prune restaurant in New York City and author of the new book, Blood, Bones, and Butter: the Inadvertant Education of a Reluctant Chef. They discuss restaurants that make craveable food, the importance of travel, and Gabrielle's interesting journey to where she is today....

Today's show is all about chefs. Mark and Francis start the show by discussing a reviewer who wasn't as impartial as he should have been when reviewing restaurants for his college newspaper. Their guest is Bob Waggoner, host of the new PBS show, U Cook! with Chef Bob. Chef Waggoner has run restaurants in France and the United States and has been nominated for several James Beard awards. The discussion moves from how one studies to be a chef, cooking and living in France in the 1980s, moving to the US and learning how to cook Southern food, and then how all of that led to a show on PBS....

Mark and Francis announce their guest judging appearance on Ucook! with Chef Bob, which is coming soon to a PBS station near you. Their guest is Kevin Zraly, author of the Windows on the World Complete Wine Course and a new book, The Ultimate Wine Companion: The Complete Guide to Understanding Wine by the World's Foremost Wine Authorities. Kevin is also soon to receive a lifetime achievement award present by the James Beard Foundation. The conversation spans everything from how Kevin inspired so many people, including Francis, to go into the wine business, up and coming wine regions of the world, the passion required in wine making and studying about wine in general, and the technological advances in books that will allow you to watch videos of Kevin when you buy a digital copy of the Windows on the World Wine Course book in the coming months....

Aki Kamozawa, co-author of Ideas in Food: Great Recipes and Why They Work joins Mark and Francis to discuss the science behind recipes and why bread rises, how to make sauces have a certain mouthfeel, how to cook meat perfectly, specifically why cooking at a lower temperature makes meat more tender and flavorful, and how freezing can enhance the character of foods, among other topics....

Mark and Francis start the show with a discussion of genetically modified foods and the effect they are having on weeds and the advent of roundup resistant weeds and corn as a weed. Their guest is Nick Fauchald, editor-in-chief of tastingtable.com. Their conversation covers secret dining clubs, tasting table, and how Nick and his team gathers all of their information for their electronic publication....

Mark and Francis begin the show with a discussion of possible new legislation in New York that would prohibit smoking on public sidewalks and in parks. Their guest is David Wondrich. They discuss all kinds of punch, from punches made by Mark and Francis in college to more traditional American punches that are featured in David Wondrich's new book, Punch: The Delights (and Dangers) of the Flowing Bowl....

Mark and Francis discuss tipping. Their guest is Colman Andrews. He was the cofounder and a former editor in chief of Saveur, and is the author of four acclaimed cookbooks, including Catalan Cuisine, which introduced the now-trendy cooking of Catalonia, Ferran Adria's home region, to American food-lovers. He joins to guys to discuss his book, Ferran: The Inside Story of El Bulli and the Man Who Reinvented Food....

Cat food on the cover of the New York Times? Mark and Francis discuss the recent pet-centric articles in the food section of the New York Times, as well as the upcoming Manhattan Cocktail Classic. Their guest is Terry Theise, author of Reading Between the Wines. They discuss Austrian and German wines and why they were once a challenge to import and sell in America....

Mark and Francis start the show off with a discussion about genetically engineered fish and the potential pitfalls of its possible legalization. Their guest is Rowan Jacobsen. Rowan Jacobsen is the James Beard Award-winning author of A Geography of Oysters: The Connoisseur's Guide to Oyster Eating in North America, Fruitless Fall: The Collapse of the Honey Bee and the Coming Agricultural Crisis, and The Living Shore, about our ancient connection to estuaries and their potential to heal the oceans. They discuss his new book, American Terroir....

The guys start the show with a discussion of the upcoming New Year's Eve festivities in New Brunswick. Their guest is Eric Ripert, chef at Le Bernardin star of the PBS show, Avec Eric, and author of the accompanying book of the same name. The discussion covers Chef Gordon Ramsay's treatment of chefs on his TV shows and alternate ways of nurturing chefs and other staff in a restaurant situation. They also discuss travel and its effect on the creation of new dishes in restaurants, as well as Chef Ripert's new show and its unique format....

Mark and Francis start the show with a discussion of the mystery of the red bees of Red Hook, Brooklyn. Lidia Bastianich is one of the most-loved chefs on television, a best-selling cookbook author, restaurateur. She joins the guys to talk about her new book, Nonna, Tell Me a Story. They also discuss Eataly, Lidia's Italian shopping and dining project in New York City....

The guys start the show with a discussion of at home winemaking companies and the different pitfalls and pleasures of amateur wine-making. Their guest for the day is Karen Bussen, a well-known New York-based wedding planner and the author of seven books in STC's "Simple Stunning" wedding series. She joins the guys to discuss parties she's planned and some tips for planning parties at home that are outlined in her most recent book, Simple Stunning Parties at Home....

The guys start off the show with a discussion of some of Mark's favorite meals in the last six months. Their guest is Dushan Zaric. Dushan Zaric is co-owner of the Macao Trading Company and Employees Only, two cocktail bars in New York City. He is also the author of the new book, Speakeasy. He joins to guys to discuss his new book, as well as his Bar Academia, a bartending course for novices and professionals alike....

To start off the show, the guys discuss the new New York Times rating system for restaurants in New Jersey and some possible better alternatives. Then the guys chat with Dave Broom, the author of The World Atlas of Whisky. Dave is one of the foremost experts on whisky in the world and has written about whisky over the last 20 years for such publications as Whisky Magazine, The Spectator, Mixology, and Imbide. They discuss everything from production differences in whiskies, ingredient differences in whiskies, and how what choices a distiller makes during the distillation process affects what the finished product tastes like....

The guys start the show by discussing the benefits of having cameras in the restaurant and how they've helped them to catch various misdeeds on camera, including a recent incident with some construction workers. Their guest is Angela Miller, author of Hay Fever: How Chasing a Dream on a Vermont Farm Changed My Life. They discuss Angela's goat farm, Consider Bardwell Dairy, and the cheeses she produces, as well as how she splits her time between being a literary agent in New York and being a dairy farmer in Vermont....

La Petraia: Mark and Francis travel to La Petraia, an agrotourismo in the Chinati Classico region of Italy. They walk through the property with Susan McKenna Grant and Marco Panichi and discuss the various things grown on the property and how they are used in the agrotourismo....

Antoinette Bruno of StarChefs.com joins the guys to discuss the upcoming Chef's Congress happening in New York City September 20, 21, and 22. They discuss mixology, the various events, and the Rising Stars Gala happening in New Jersey on September 22nd....

Ben Hewitt is the author of The Town That Food Saved: How One Community Found Vitality in Local Food. He joins the guys to discuss living in Vermont, the situation in Hardwick Vermont, and the state of food in America....

Janit London joins the guys to discuss her food co-op, Purple Dragon. Amy Sutherland joins the guys to discuss cook-offs in America....

Lionello Marchese joins Mark and Francis at Vinitaly to discuss his wine, Castello di Monastero. They discuss Lionello's previous businesses and how that business experience relates to the business of wine. They also discuss the unique terroir of Tuscany and the wines that are made there....

Michael J Gelb is the author of the book Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking. He is a pioneer in the fields of creative thinking, accelerated learning and innovatve leadership. He joins the guys to discuss his book and the principles that are described within....

Mark and Francis travel to the Vinitaly wine conference in Verona Italy, one of the most important wine conferences in the world, and interview some very important people from each link of the chain that brings quality wine to you. Silvia Vanucci's family produces top quality Sangiovese/Cabernet blends from their family estate in the Carmignano region of Tuscany. Iano DeGrazia, along with his brother Marco DeGrazia export the wine to the United States, where it is distributed by Harmon Skurnik, along with his brother Michael of Michael Skurnik Wines. The wine then finds a home in reputable wine shops and restaurants like Stage Left and Catherine Lombardi. Mark and Francis discuss the whole shebang and process with Silvia, Iano and Michael....

Fresh: The Movie Fresh, celebrates the farmers, thinkers, and business people across America who are reinventing our food system. Producer, Ana Sofia Joanes grew up in Switzerland, but attended college in the US at Barnard and went on to study law at Columbia Law School. Her first documentary, Generation Meds, explored our fears and misgivings about mental illness and medication. She joins the guys to discuss her second film, Fresh!...

Daniel Okrent was the first public editor of The New York Times, editor-at-large of Time, Inc., and managing editor of Life magazine. He worked in book publishing as an editor at Knopf and Viking, and was editor-in-chief of general books at Harcourt Brace. He is author of four books, one of which, Great Fortune, was a finalist for the 2004 Pulitzer Prize in history. He joins the guys today to discuss his new book, Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition....

Giovanni Bonmartini Fini joins the guys to discuss the Pinot Grigio and Merlot that he makes at his family's estate in Alto Adige. They discuss the differences between DOC and IGT wines and their place in the consumer marketplace....

Johnny Iuzzini is the executive pastry chef of the world-renowned Jean Georges restaurant in New York City, won the award for Outstanding Pastry Chef from the James Beard Foundation in 2006. He joins the guys to discuss his new book Dessert Fourplay....

Greg Boehm is an established cocktail expert hailing from Chelsea in New York City. He owns Mud Puddle Books and its child company Cocktail Kingdom, which sells historical bartending guides, exotic mixers and hi-tech bartending tools. He also has a famous library of cocktail books dating back to the 1600's. The guys discuss Greg's library and the importance of out of print cocktail books to today's bartenders....

Mark and Francis discuss a new study from Princeton University on high fructose corn syrup and its effect on obesity. They also interview Stephen Fried, an award-winning investigative journalist , essayist and adjunct professor at Columbia University. They discuss his newest book, Appetite for America, which chronicles the creation of the American hospitality industry by legendary businessman Fred Harvey....

Tony Abou Ganim joins us today to discuss his new book, The Modern Mixologist: Contemporary Classic Cocktails. Tony Abou Ganim created the cocktail program at the Bellagio Resort. He is also the National Ambassador of the US Bartender's Guild and an Associate Member of the Museum of the American Cocktail....

Dinner in a Garage? That's right! Mark and Francis joined some friends at Brooklyn's Fette Sau, a bbq place in a refurbished (slightly) commercial garage. The food is great as is the beer selection. Raw Milk and Food Rights is the topic for discussion with David Gumpert. is a journalist who blogs regularly about the business of health and has written a number of books about small business and entrepreneurship, including Burn Your Business Plan! His latest book is, The Raw Milk Revolution: Behind America's Emerging Battle Over Food Rights. The Guys also talk about the fight to save Zinniker Farm....

Lesley Townsend is the Founder and director of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic and the founding director of Astor Center. A devout believer in the healing properties of madeira and a proud defender of whole eggs in cocktails, Lesley is thinking she should really knuckle down and write a proper bio one of these days (though that day is certainly not today). Lesley joins Mark and Francis to talk about the upcoming Manhattan Cocktail Classic to be held in New York May 14th - 18th. Tickets are on sale now. You can get a discount to the seminar The Guys are doing at the event! Enter promotion code: Restaurant Guys....

The Guys begin the show with a discussion of www.ExpenseASteak.com (http://www.expenseasteak.com/) . It's crazy! Randall Grahm is one of the most interesting and intelligent winemakers in the world, he joins The Guys to talk about winemaking, the new directions of Bonny Doon wines and his extremely intelligent new book, "Been Doon So Long: A Randall Grahm Vinithology."...