Shift Drink

This week award-winning reporter and esteemed eater of all things guilty Maura Judkis dishes the good, the glittery, and the ugly of the food industry. Maura takes us around the neighborhood, Eddie abstains from the ol’ In-N-Out, and Mathew goes owl-naturale.

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.

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.

This week Bronx-turned-D.C. bar madame Lauren Paylor discusses her spark of joy in the cocktail world, spreading diversity on the shoulders of giants, and coming out of her shell. Lauren rolls with an Obama, Eddie mixing drinks with an eye-roll, and Mathew judo rolls into your DM’s like ...

This week Pitmaster Rob Sonderman of Federalist Pig gives us the low-and-slow of the Holy Trinity, finding your ribs on the big screen, and the changing faces behind the smoker. Rob breaks down his favorite woods, Eddie smolders for Fiji Water girl, and Mathew digs deep for his own bbq language.

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).

This week we decipher the lingo of natural wines, find a pairing with the OG halfsmoke, and get a bit too “mousey” with Jeff Segal of the newly minted Domestique Wine. Jeff recounts a wedding day run-in with Uncle Jesse, Mathew creates the ultimate catering company, and Eddie twerks his way to understanding pet nats.

This week we strut the second line and geek out on the French 75, throwing technique, and bartender collaborations with Chris Hannah and Nick Detrich of the soon-to-open Jewel of the South in New Orleans. Chris aims for a million, Nick embraces the -tini, Mathew defends the neckerchief, and Eddie backseat bartends.

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.

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.

This week we tear up the asphalt on the post Red Hen-gate fallout, bromances behind the bar, and the podiatry of becoming an American. Fred misses New Orleans and his sweet Willie Mae’s, Eddie gags on a Trumpkin Pie Martini, and Mathew embraces the long hours with his better half.

This week we heal VEP wounds, predict the future of D.C.’s cocktail bars, and map the serpentine path in between with beverage traveler Lukas Smith of Destination Wedding. Mathew explores his maritime calling, Eddie is revealed as a dark knight, and Lukas turns the Big 4-0.

This week we wig out, literally, with Tom Sietsema, restaurant citic for The Washington Post, hashing out critiquing in the #MeToo era, getting creative with aliases, and retiring his quill and ink for good. Tom, gets some sage advice from kitchen confidant Julia Child, Mathew reminisces over his origins at the SF Chronicle with Michael Bauer, and Eddie blushes red over his negroni.

This week the shit hits the fan as a hungover Mathew and a second-fiddle Eddie swap stories with D.C.-industry vet and multimedia journalist Victoria Milko. Victoria reminisces on her time in the district, as well as her work abroad, Mathew pines over Chris Pine -- again -- and Eddie reveals his penchant for floral prints.

This week we strip down to our skivvies with sake royalty, Jessica Joly of Tokyo Record Bar and Miss Sake USA. Jessica lays bare her favorite sake/street food pairings, the future of sake in America, and the thread leading to her career in the industry. Mathew plots his next lobster hotbox and Eddie forms a Toni Braxton cover band.

This week we set the table for a ‘drinktank’ on finding passions in the details, rebirthing a restaurant, and the truth about mixing your liquors with Jenn Knowles, general manager and beverage director of Mirabelle DC. Jenn doubles as a dining room battlefield medic, Mathew shows off his shaolin taco fist, and Eddie comtemplates jacking the cheese cart.

This week, chef and food correspondent Marti Buckley joins us from the cradle of pintxos and Michelin stars talk about her new cookbook "Basque Country." Eddie and Mathew basque in the glow of fond memories of San Sebastian, while getting the historical skewer on pinxtos, vermouth culture, and Marti’s Southern choir roots.

This week we we get taken to therapy over bad mothers, deceptive black garlic, and the fermentation waiting game with Sarah Conezio and Isaiah Billington of Keepwell Vinegar and White Rose Miso. Eddie lusts for a bucket o’ McNuggets dripping in gochujang, Mathew is nothing but Champagne wishes and Caviar Dreams, and Isaiah and Sarah owe Chicago an apology.

This week we play matchmaker to carbs and cheese, lox and bagels, and fernet and coke, with Daniela Moreira of Timber Pizza Co. and Call Your Mother Deli. Mathew packs his bags for PIZZA CAMP, Eddie dreams of Argentine aperitivo life, and Daniela works through complicated work relationships with her pitching arm.

This week we get dual-flanked by two podcasting greats, Damon Boelte of The Speakeasy podcast and our very own Jack Inslee of Full Service Radio. We breakdown many-a-cocktail, including the perfect martini, the overrated aviation, the doubly-garnished manhattan, and the hard start shot. Damon reminisces on jamming with King Cocktail, Jack recounts his favorite interviews, Alison represents the rickey, and Eddie forgets all his lines.