I met the Wilder Brothers — Ari & Micah — a long … long … time ago. I think I met Ari first when he was behind the bar at Zola? This was just as I was getting into the biz (sigh, Zola!). Ari & Micah Wilder were, and continue to be, a part of the cocktail renaissance here in DC. They made their names known thanks to their commitment to the products they were creating whether in the glass they served you or in their own mixers that they bottled and sold. So ahead of the game! You can find Ari & Micah behind some of the best beverage lists and concepts around town. The two are behind the wildly adored Chaplins and Zepplins. Ari just opened the little gem, Kappo — that I recently gushed about, and Micah has teamed up with David Deshaies at the incredible Love, Makoto — which I have also professed my love for. I knew them when they were still babies — and now they have babies! I am so excited to have them on Industry Night. We talk about their history, trajectory and what’s on the horizon. Quotes "The pandemic posed price challenges, but we remained committed to serving our audience with competitive prices." - Ari Wilder "Beverage taught us a lot. It's as valuable as culinary, doubling your profits when given equal emphasis. It's like unlocking a hidden wing,“ - Micah Wilder "It was a trend of enhancing cocktails, respecting their history, and creating healthier, tastier products. It showed a true commitment to integrity," - Nycci Nellis Guests Social Media Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ari.wilder/ / https://www.instagram.com/micahwilder/ @zeppelindc @kappodc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ari.wilder.92 https://www.facebook.com/micah.wilder.52 https://www.facebook.com/chaplinsdc https://www.facebook.com/zeppelindc https://www.facebook.com/kappodc Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChaplinsWDC / https://twitter.com/zeppelin_dc / https://twitter.com/kappodc Featuring Nycci Nellis https://www.instagram.com/nyccinellis/ https://www.thelistareyouonit.com/ Chapters 00:00 Unveiling DC's Food, Wine, and Hospitality Scene 09:11 Bourbon Bar: Secrets and Classic Drinks 11:52 Inspiration and Bartending Beginnings in San Francisco 14:56 Finding Success in DC: Standing Out in a Smaller Pond 17:29 Bartending Buddies turned Mixer Makers 19:51 The Organic Growth of Chaplins and Zepplins 24:26 Balancing Passion and Compensation 28:11 A Taste of Authenticity: Embracing Burmese Cuisine 29:18 Fusion Family Recipes and Restaurant Bar Focus 37:36 Residential Influence: The Wharf and Shaw Neighborhood 39:59 Affordability Amidst Pandemic Challenges 43:36 Baker Collaboration Leading to New Ventures 46:37 DC's Food Consumers: Quality and Unique Concepts 49:16 Revealing Vulnerability: Challenges with Relationships and Day Jobs" 52:47 Outro Produced by Heartcast Media http://www.heartcastmedia.com
