Jeff and Jamie Feed

This week, Jeff Tonidandel and Jamie Brown sit down with their own marketing director, Allie Papajohn—the woman behind @eatdrinkclt. What started as a personal passion project back in 2014 has evolved into one of Charlotte’s most trusted food Instagram accounts, giving Allie a unique perspective on both sides of the influencer world.

She shares how she built her platform organically, what makes content resonate in 2026, and how she approaches authenticity in a saturated space. The conversation also pulls back the curtain on how she manages influencer partnerships for the Tonidandel-Brown Restaurant Group—what works, what do...

In this episode, Jeff turns the mic on Jamie to talk about her new book, Eleven Tables. What begins as a conversation about writing quickly opens into something bigger—an honest look at what it really takes to bring an idea to life and turn it into something real.

They dig into the small, often invisible steps behind big projects, the role of resilience in building a business, and how Jamie carved out time to write in the middle of a full restaurant life. At the center of it all is belief—the willingness to t...

This week on Jeff & Jamie Feed, we sit down with Colleen Hughes—James Beard–nominated mixologist and recent recipient of Michelin’s “Exceptional Cocktails” award for the Southeast.

Colleen gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how she builds standout cocktail programs, from her creative process to the systems that keep her nimble in a constantly evolving industry. We dive into the rise of spirit-free cocktails, the growing role of THC beverages, and what it really takes to stay ahead of the curve in today’s bar scene.

Whether you’re a bartender...

In this episode of Jeff & Jamie Feed, Jeff and Jamie talk about filming the final three episodes of Season 1 of Fork & Hammer in Atlanta, including what it was like working alongside Jamie’s brother and the behind-the-scenes rhythm of television production. The last two episodes of the television program bring the team back to Charlotte, where the focus shifts to the final stretch before opening Leluia Hall—finishing design details, continuing to tweak the menu, and hosting a full staff practice night to get ready for the real thing. Listen in for an inside look at the controlled chaos that co...

In this episode of Jeff & Jamie Feed, we sit down with Kristen Miranda of Blume Studios to talk about the powerful intersections of dining, theatre and immersive entertainment. As restaurants evolve beyond simply serving food, we discuss how dining out is increasingly becoming a form of theater — an experience that blends atmosphere, storytelling, performance, and connection. Kristen shares how Blume Studios weaves food and beverage into their immersive arts programming, intentionally curating environments that invite guests to step into something unexpected and unforgettable. With experiences like “The Magician’s Table”, Blume Studios is blending food, drink, and performance to create some...

On this episode of Jeff & Jamie Feed, we sit down with visionary Charlotte leader Tim Belk to talk about building a stronger local food system. Tim shares the story behind his family’s Wild Hope Farm located in Chester, SC—and why having farms near fast-growing cities like Charlotte is essential to the future of food. We dig into how restaurants and farms can work together more effectively, the realities of scaling sustainable agriculture, and his work with the Carolina Farm Fund to invest in the next generation of regional farms in a sustainable, thoughtful way. This is the unique...

What’s it mean to close a business—and how do you know it’s the right call? In this episode, get the honest scoop about what it’s like to consider closing something you’ve poured yourself into. We share our story of closing Crepe Cellar to make space for something new, and why we’re now in the process of closing our doughnut shop, Reigning Doughnuts. Are there ways to see these moves not as failure but as figuring out another way? We walk through the questions we ask ourselves, the emotions that come up, and the practical re...

Jeff and Jamie sit down with architect Don Peadon to talk about what really makes a restaurant work—long before the doors open. From the importance of a strong architect–restaurateur relationship to designing spaces that support both front and back of house, this conversation explores how thoughtful planning sets restaurants up for long-term success. Don, Jeff, and Jamie dig into the challenges they’ve worked through together, the lessons learned along the way, and several of the projects they’ve collaborated on over the years—and why the best restaurants are built on trust, communication, and shared problem-solving.

In this episode of Jeff & Jamie Feed, we talk about why goal setting matters so much to us and how powerful it can be to see what’s next for your life. We share our different approaches to setting goals, why writing them down and creating a vision board makes a difference, and a few real stories of goals and visions that have come to life for us. We also touch on trusting the process and the understanding that the obstacles in the way of your goals are actually there to help you become the person you dream of be...

Nashville served up inspiration at every stop—from casual counters to Michelin Guide–recognized kitchens. Jeff and Jamie reflect on a fast-paced food tour packed with thoughtful service, smart concepts, and moments of hospitality that reinforced why the guest experience matters just as much as what’s on the plate. Come along for tiny insights and more momentous inspiration as the two entrepreneurs take time to step back, get inspired, take in new considerations and latch on to ideas that will shape their restaurants back home in Charlotte, NC.

On this episode of the Jeff & Jamie Feed, Executive Pastry Chef Savannah Foltz jumps in for a fast-paced, nostalgia-packed dive into all things sweet. Savannah dishes on her favorite holiday treats, the classics that shaped her love of pastry and her Mamaw’s “strawberry jelly” made uniquely from tomatoes! Savannah also breaks down how she builds her coveted holiday cookie box and what it takes to lead pastry teams across multiple restaurants. Whether you’re a dessert devotee or simply seeking a dose of holiday warmth, this episode is a treat you won’t want to miss.

Jeff and Jamie are back with a brand-new episode of the Jeff & Jamie Feed, where they share some fun behind-the-scenes moments from filming Fork & Hammer during a handful of mid-season episodes from their 10-part original series now airing on PBS. Expect rapid-fire thoughts, personal experiences, and fresh insights as they revisit each episode, offering background stories and a peek at select clips from the series. Tune in for the inside scoop, then be sure to watch Fork & Hammer on pbs.org or check your local listings.

Today on Jeff & Jamie Feed, we’re joined by Jen Hidinger-Kendrick from Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit that helps food service workers in crisis. We talk about what makes restaurant and hospitality work so different from other industries—and why these individuals benefit so much from Giving Kitchen’s support.

Jen also shares the inspiring origin story of the organization, which began with an Atlanta restaurant later named Bon Appétit’s Best New Restaurant about eight years ago. It’s a powerful look at how one community’s compassion grew into a nationwide effort to care for those who ser...

In this episode, hosts Jeff and Jamie dig into the messy, magical world of brunch with special guest Chef Chris Rogienski of Leluia Hall. Together, they explore why brunch often gets a bad rap among chefs — and whether the critics have a point. Chef Chris pulls back the curtain on the real challenges of opening for brunch service at Leluia Hall, from staffing headaches to keeping the menu both profitable and creative.

The conversation also gets cracking over farm-fresh vs. regular eggs — does the difference really show up on the plate? And finally, they tack...

Jeff and Jamie share inside scoop on their new TV series, Fork & Hammer. The journey has been a whirlwind—equal parts thrilling and downright surreal. The premiere was a night to remember: pure celebration, packed with laughter, cheers, and the incredible energy of friends, family, and fans. Get takeaways from filming and insights behind episodes 1 and 2—both now available for streaming on pbs.org!

This week on the podcast, Jeff and Jamie chat with Jesse Ledbetter from FreshList, a Charlotte-based company that aggregates produce from over 200 local and regional farms. Sitting right between two notoriously low-margin worlds—restaurants and farmers—Jesse shares how he’s built a business that supports both sides. They dive into the challenges of seasonality, the realities of sourcing locally, and how FreshList keeps it all working in a complex and ever-changing food system

This week on the podcast, Jeff & Jamie are hanging out with Scott Galloway—the producer behind the brand-new PBS TV series Fork & Hammer—featuring the Tonidandel-Brown Restaurant Group team. They swap stories about the rollercoaster of making a national public TV show right here in Charlotte—all the challenges and wins and stories from the journey. Jeff and Jamie share what it was like filming season one with their team—and give a sneak peek at what’s next.

Jeff and Jamie go back in time and chat with their first business partner, Paul Manley—a successful Charlotte restaurateur with experience in fine dining, fast casual, consulting, and more. Discussing the massive changes that have taken place since 2009 when these three went into business to open an 11 table eatery called Crêpe Cellar, it is clear one thing stays the same: the loving element of hospitality.