Welcome back to Industry Night, the podcast where we dig deep into what’s cooking, literally and figuratively—across the culinary, hospitality, and creative industries. I’m your host, Nycci Nellis, and today I’m once again coming to you from City Ridge, a dynamic new development that has redefined a massive corner of Northwest D.C.

What was once the historic Fannie Mae headquarters is now a 10-acre, mixed-use community, home to residences, shops, a Wegmans, an Equinox, and a growing collection of destination restaurants.

And today, I’m thrilled to be sitting down in one of the most anticipated openings yet: Acqua Bistecca, from the legendary Michael Mina. Many of you know Mina from his D.C. debut back in 2009 with Bourbon Steak at the Four Seasons. Over the years, that restaurant has remained one of the city’s best, thanks to extraordinary teams led by chefs like David Varley and Adam Sobel, and sommeliers like Winn Roberton.

But Mina’s story stretches back even further, to his very first restaurant, AQUA, in San Francisco in 1991, and now extends to 30+ restaurants worldwide under his MINA Group.  Mina has built a reputation for blending creativity and hospitality into every project. And now, with Acqua Bistecca at City Ridge, he’s bringing D.C. a new Italian-inspired concept that’s equal parts party and fine dining.

Oh and we get a special guest, Chef Colin Clark AB’s executing chef pops in with one of Mina’s famous steaks.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction
01:15 - "Michael Mina's New Restaurant Chat"
05:34 - "Consistency Key in Modern Hospitality"
07:51 - D.C. Food Scene Growth Forecast
12:13 - "Lively Italian Restaurant Vibes"
13:29 - Opulent Hotel Design Resurgence
19:02 - "Culinary Collaboration and Vision"
21:12 - Unique Advance-Order Large Dishes
25:20 - "Kitchen Transparency Through Recipe Exchange"
27:40 - "Meeting Chef Colin Clark"
28:30 - Outro

Quotes:

“Opening is just the beginning. True success comes from empowering your team to consistently create something extraordinary together.”- Michael Mina

“Creating unique and memorable experiences for people inspires me every day.”- Colin Clark

“The magic of a restaurant lies not just in the food, but in the moments when people come together to celebrate with energy and joy.”- Nycci Nellis

Key Takeaways:

Humble Beginnings to Industry Icon
The Secret to Restaurant Longevity
Building a Hospitality Empire
The Magic of Acqua Bisteca
Menu Highlights and Collaboration
Advice for Aspiring Chefs
Hospitality’s New Era in DC
The Power of Passion and Partnership

Michael Mina:
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/chefmichaelmina/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChefMichaelMina
Website:https://theminagroup.com/

Chef Colin Clark:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-clark-1a4a0399/
Website:https://www.viarestaurants.com/

Featuring Nycci Nellis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nyccinellis/
Website:https://www.thelistareyouonit.com/

Produced by Heartcast Media
http://www.heartcastmedia.com