To Dine For with Kate Sullivan - The Restaurants

Middle Eastern Cuisine

Mamnoon restaurant is located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. It was created by a Syrian and Lebanese couple with no prior restaurant experience. Their passion for the unique flavors of Middle Eastern cuisine has vaulted them to the top of the Seattle food scene. However, it is their dedication to great hospitality that makes the restaurant such a favorite of former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. Howard takes us inside Mamnoon to try the food Zagat calls “so good it will make you cry.” In Episode One of To Dine For, Howard shares his journey from the projects of Canarsie, Brooklyn to creating a world-class brand and his road to becoming one of the world’s most iconic CEO’s.

Italian Cuisine

There is not a more definitive Chicago food staple than deep-dish pizza. The warm melted strings of cheese, the tomato-topped pie stuffed with your favorite “topping” and the crispy cornmeal deep-dish crust is a hallmark of the Chicago food scene. “It’s like an edible hug!” was the comment from our guest and CEO of Superheroic Jason Mayden. He took us to his favorite place of food nostalgia on Chicago’s South Side. Giordano’s in Hyde Park is a neighborhood joint that lives up to the hype in both ambience and food. It is the setting for our second episode of To Dine For on Chicago’s South Side where we dine with the incredibly inspirational footwear designer Jason Mayden. Jason shares his fondest memories of childhood growing up in Roseland and the many, many family meals he shared at this Hyde Park location. How he parallels Deep Dish pizza and the fabric of the dynamic and complicated city he calls home is worth hearing. That and the many, many lessons he learned growing up in Roseland that made his dreams possible.

Fresh Urban

Samovar Tea is an urban sanctuary. It was founded by Jesse Jacobs who spent years in a corporate job that was not fulfilling. He knows all too well that the fast pace of the tech industry in San Francisco leads to a lot of under-nourished souls. He changed course and founded Samovar Tea where he could “make a difference in the world by helping people remember what it is to be human.” It is a place to disconnect in order to connect. Tea is just the beginning. Fresh, sustainable, farm to fork ingredients are the basis for a healthy approach to a delicious seasonal menu. It’s no surprise that Samasource and LXMI CEO Leila Janah picked this spot to talk about her mission to tackle global poverty and change the beauty industry. Her passion for giving hope and jobs to people in need gets to the heart of what Samovar Tea is all about: “helping people remember what it is to be human.”

Mexican Food

For fourty years, the Lopez family has been serving up sizzling fajitas, melted cheese enchiladas, and the freshest pico de gallo in their Houston Texas restaurant. From the second you walk in the door, you are greeting by a member of the Lopez family and continue to be served by another member of the Lopez family throughout your meal. Their 275-seat bustling restaurant is a symbol of the American dream come to life. It is a Houston institution just like the man we interviewed for Epsiode 4: Jim Mcingvale. Mattress Mac, as he is known throughout the city, is a small business owner done good. He started with 5,000 dollars and a pickup truck and now has a small empire of furniture stores throughout the Houston area. It was however his Texas-sized act of kindness that thrust him into the International spotlight. He takes us to Lopez restaurant to dine on his favorite food and talk about the secrets to success in small business and how giving back is the ultimate reward.

Spanish Cuisine

We travel all the way to Barcelona Spain to interview Chef and Philanthropist José Andrés in one of his favorite tapas restaurants in the world: Bodega 1900. Created by Spanish Chef Albert Adria, Bodega 1900 serves classic traditional tapas or “small plates” created with passion and precision. This cozy Vermouth bar is the setting for José to explain his story of the American dream come true through the eyes of a proud immigrant. The Spanish born American citizen takes us through a culinary journey from his early days in Northern Spain to working in the heated kitchens of NYC to opening his first critically acclaimed restaurant Jaleo in Washington, DC. The conversation gets raw and real as we talk about his latest challenge: feeding an island. When Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, José and his team from World Central Kitchen touched down and immediately began cooking. In a short time they had fed a million people. Then a million more. Turns out the immigrant who made a successful life feeding the wealthiest people in our country would find real fulfillment in feeding some of the most poor. Episode Five with José Andrés is a feast for the senses and the imagination at Bodega 1900.

Thai Cuisine

When Kris Yenbamroong’s family first opened an authentic Thai restaurant in West Hollywood called Talesai, it became the first of its kind in Los Angeles. Years later, their talented son would take it from classic Thai to downright cool. Inspired by the street food of Bangkok, Night + Market offers delicious Thai dishes in a kitschy setting. Hollywood Actress Jessica Alba takes us here to show us why this hotspot is one of her favorite restaurants in all of Los Angeles. Over spicy chicken wings and crab fried rice, we hear her incredible journey from Actress to Founder of The Honest Company and what fuels her passion for safe household products free of harmful chemicals and residue.

Vegetarian Cuisine

Located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Great Sage was one of the first vegetarian restaurants to open in the area. Considered a “safe haven” for those who are looking to eat plant-based and have dietary restrictions, Great Sage has now been serving delicious vegetarian dishes like the “adult mac n’ cheese” and spinach curry for more than 15 years. It is now completely Vegan. No surprise that Kavita Shukla picked this spot as one of her absolute favorite restaurants. The inventor and entrepreneur of Freshpaper has devoted her career to the power of plants for healing and nutrition. Her simple invention of Freshpaper is a sheet of paper that extends the life of produce. She grew up just twenty minutes away from Great Sage and believes her story of success is intertwined with the mission and principles of this local hotspot.

Vegan

In the heart of Los Angeles, Crossroads Kitchen offers delicious upscale American dining that will please every Vegan or Vegetarian in your life while keeping those who aren't Vegan happy as well. With warm and cozy banquettes, Crossroads is a chance to enjoy a delicious plant-based meal as well as a full bar and cocktail menu. The iconic television producer Norman Lear chooses these Crossroads to tell his incredible story of success and a life well-lived in Hollywood. Over Chicken Milanese, Norman dishes about the anatomy of a hugely successful American sitcom as well as some of his life philosophies and what he sees as "the perfect way to spend a day."

Southern Cuisine

“We wanted people to feel like they are on vacation.” Says Chef and Restaurateur Ford Fry. The beautifully decorated, coastal inspired restaurant is an old renovated Ham-house that has been reimagined with seaside décor and fresh oysters, lobster and catch of the day. Chef Ford Fry was inspired to create an upscale restaurant that also felt casual and approachable where he didn’t have “to dress up.” Best-selling author Emily Giffin is such a fan of this restaurant that she even chose it as the setting for a scene in one of her best-selling novels. For episode nine of To Dine For, Emily brings us here to talk about the journey from lawyer to New York Times best-selling author. We dine on delicious seafood and “hush puppies” and talk about the blueprint for creating a best-selling novel.

Japanese Gastropub

Izakaya Nomad is a Japanese gastropub located in the heart of Manhattan. It is two short blocks from Madison Square Park in an area of the city known as NOMAD or “North of Madison”. Known for the freshest sushi and sashimi, grilled meats, and specialty sushi rolls, Izakaya Nomad has a relaxed and welcoming vibe. Open until 2AM, the Japanese gastropub attracts young, hard-working Millenials who want incredibly delicious food at a reasonable price. It is also one of Kathryn Minshew’s favorite spots. As CEO of TheMuse.com, she began her startup journey with little money but big aspirations and would often come to Izakaya to celebrate her company’s milestones or hold “important meetings” with her growing staff. Her inspiring story of a young woman succeeding in the tough world of tech is told to us in a cozy booth of Izayaka with Sake and a glass of Kirin Light.