Table for Two

Table for Two

Iowa Restaurant Association

Episodes 25
Avg. Duration 43m
Activity Dormant
Since Jan 2023
Latest Episode Apr 2025

Publishing Details

Schedule
Every 2 Weeks
Format
Episodic
Hosting
rss.buzzsprout.com

About This Podcast

Pull up a chair at the Table for Two. Join Jessica Dunker, President and CEO, of the Iowa Restaurant Association, on a tour of the state and spend time with some of Iowa’s award winning restaurateurs, chefs and hospitality professionals. You’ll hear the stories, inspirations and even a few secrets, behind your favorite eating and drinking establishments. You’ll be surprised when you learn which high profile operators say they chose the industry, and which claim the industry chose them. We talk traditions and trends, tastes and tactics– with some of Iowa’s most innovative entrepreneurs. Our conversations will entertain patrons, enlighten operators, and leave everyone hungry for more. Subscribe to Table for Two on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podcasting 2.0 Features

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Recent Episodes

S3E3 Ep. 3- Making Lemonade: Yasmin Moreles on Hustle, Heart & The Lemonade Stand

Apr 25, 2025 50m

Table for Two returns with a fresh new episode—and we’re kicking things off with an inspiring conversation you won’t want to miss.We're kicking off the season with Yasmin Moreles, founder of The…

S3E2 Gloria Henriquez on Elevating Latino Cuisine & Community Impact

Feb 03, 2025 38m

Gloria Henriquez left South America seeking safety and opportunity, but her heart always led her back to food and community. A former nurse turned restaurateur, she opened Tullpa in Urbandale,…

S3E1 Chef Anthony Nace on How He Keeps Things "Ducky"

Jan 20, 2025 54m

As the Executive Chef at Hilton Des Moines Downtown, Anthony oversees Park Street Kitchen and Bar, 14,000 square feet of banquet space, and managing a team of about 20 culinary professionals. This…

S2E4 4. From Gamer to Gourmet: Chef Jeremy Moskowitz

Jun 04, 2024 36m

Hospitality may have been in the blood of 2020 Iowa Restaurant Association Chef of the Year Jeremy Moskowitz, but as a pre-teen it was his desire for a new video game that actually got him into the…

3. Chef Lynn Pritchard: Reopened Table 128 Lures Suburban Residents Back to Des Moines Dining Scene

May 13, 2024 56m

After a nearly three-year hiatus, Chef Lynn Pritchard has finally re-opened his award-winning restaurant Table 128. His one-time suburban destination now draws those in search of his famed…

2. Taufeek Shah: Living the American Dream, One Spicy Drop at a Time

Feb 26, 2024 43m

Taufeek Shah, founder of Lola’s Fine Hot Sauce, is not your typical small town Iowa boy, although he did grow up in Winthrop, Iowa.  The son of immigrant parents—a Filipino mother and a Pakistani…

S2E1 1. Dave & Jean Thompson: The Legacy They Hope to Leave Behind

Jan 29, 2024 48m

In the first episode of 2024, Jessica sits down at the Table for Two with Dave & Jean Thompson, of District 36, Urban Cellar, Urban Grill and Urban on the Square and the Association's 2023…

S1E17 17. Chef Kevin Scharpf: A Top Chef’s Passion for the Heartland

Aug 21, 2023 50m

Building upon both the recognition and reputation he garnered as a standout competitor on Bravo’s Top Chef program, Chef Kevin Scharpf could have easily capitalized on his success and opened a…

S1E16 16. Robert Johnson: Fast and Quick are Not the Same

Aug 07, 2023 29m

It was 1970 something when B-Bops Founder Robert Johnson and his cousin faced a dilemma.  Both held car loans and had only one payment saved in the bank.  They needed jobs fast and found two…

S1E15 15. Matt Johnson: Hospitality Advocate Creating Second Chances

Jul 24, 2023 38m

Matt Johnson is a man who has both found, and given, opportunities in the hospitality industry. A director for both the Iowa and National Restaurant Association Boards, he passionately champions…

S1E14 14. Chef George Migliero: From Presidents to Pints Gastro Pub Brings “Cheers” to Iowa

Jul 10, 2023 38m

With a culinary resume that would have made opening a fine dining restaurant a logical next step in an already illustrious career, Chef George Migliero surprised a few people.  The award-winning…

S1E13 13. Ana McClain: Beyond Beer Lion Bridge Brewery Builds Community

Jun 26, 2023 32m

Ana McClain hails from a family with a passion for food.  Her sister is a television chef and her mother attended culinary school just for fun.  However, it was the realm of food and beverage…

S1E12 12. Stephanie Mehmen: How a Nearly Condemned Building Redefined the Term Black Sheep

Jun 12, 2023 43m

The term black sheep doesn't have to be negative. When Stephanie Mehmen and her friend heard rumors of a century-old flood damaged building about to be demolished, they knew they had to do something.…

S1E11 11. Chef Benjamin Smart- From Rocks to Recipes: An Award Winning Chefs Atypical Culinary Expedition

May 29, 2023 52m

When he’s developing menu items Chef Benjamin Smart, Culinary Director for one of Iowa’s most popular breweries keeps one thought in mind – people may come for the beer, but let’s get them to stay…

S1E10 10. Nina Easley: Powdered Sugar Powers Rural Main Street Revival

May 15, 2023 37m

Nina Easley wears many hats: mother, advocate for dyslexic students, and owner of a rural Iowa coffee shop that's helping revitalize her hometown's main street. With deep roots in Earlham, a tiny…

S1E9 9. Amy Walsh: Forget Essential Become Incidental

May 01, 2023 37m

16 years ago, Amy and Andy Walsh had a vision for Mickey’s Irish Pub: a true pub environment with elevated beer and gastropub cuisine, where people actually talked to one another. The high school…

S1E8 8. Jeff Bruning: From Unconventional to Unmissable

Apr 17, 2023 49m

Jeff Bruning calls himself an “insurance refugee.”  He took a traditional path—graduating high school, then college, then getting a “grown up” job.  But he quickly realized that being behind a desk…

S1E7 7. Mike Whalen: From Iowa Eats to Country Music Beats

Apr 03, 2023 49m

Mike Whalen, President, CEO, and Founder, of the Heart America Group, is well-known by Iowans for many things—his multi-location Machine Shed and Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse Restaurants, envisioning…

S1E6 6. Sammy Mila: From Famous Hands to Food Phenom

Mar 20, 2023 42m

Sammy Mila once was described as having the “most famous hands on YouTube.” The one-time food stylist for publishing giant Meredith Corporation, Sammy’s hands have been featured in countless recipe…

S1E5 5. Bethany DeVries: Wine for the Rest of Us...

Mar 06, 2023 39m

When biotech scientist Bethany DeVries left her corporate research position and purchased a boutique wine bar, she set out to replace any sense of wine pretentiousness with wine accessibility. The…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Table for Two have?

Table for Two has published 25 episodes since January 2023, covering topics in Business.

Is Table for Two still active?

Table for Two is currently dormant with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 43m.

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