About Hospitality & Politics with Andrew Rigie
Hospitality & Politics is where the worlds of restaurants, nightlife, and policy collide. Hosted by Andrew Rigie, Executive Director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, listen as he dives deep into the intersections of business, politics, and everyday life. Join Andrew as he sits down with restaurateurs, nightlife operators, elected officials, and influential thought-leaders to explore the real stories, challenges, and innovations shaping the hospitality industry and beyond.
Food as Diplomacy: Amanda Dell on How the Jewish Food Society Brings Communities Together
Amanda Dell, Program Director of the Jewish Food Society, joins Andrew to explore how food preserves cultural heritage, connects generations, and brings communities together. From family recipes passed down through generations to Jewish culinary traditions spanning Turkey, Morocco, India, and beyond, Amanda shares how the organization is building an extraordinary archive of Jewish food history. They also discuss the power of food as cultural diplomacy, the stories behind beloved family dishes, and how events like The Great Nosh on Governors Island celebrate the diversity of Jewish cuisine while creating connections across cultures and communities.
https://www.thenycalliance.org/
https://www.instagram.com/thenycalliance/
0:00 - Intro
0:21 - Jewish Food Society
13:28 - The Jewish Holiday Table book
19:50 - The Great Nosh
25:35 - Bringing together chefs from different cultures
28:10 - What other initiatives does Amanda have planned for the future?
35:12 - Cholent
38:35 - Babka Diplomacy
45:29 - How food can bridge divides
50:08 - What a great restaurant experience looks like for Amanda
#newyorkcity #restaurant #politics #hospital #business #smallbusiness
6 Oct 2026
Gabriel Stulman on Building a Neighborhood Restaurant
Gabriel Stulman, founder of Happy Cooking Hospitality and the restaurateur behind Joseph Leonard, Jeffrey’s Grocery, Fairfax, and Sailor, joins the show to discuss what makes a true neighborhood restaurant – and what it takes to build one that lasts.
Gabriel reflects on his path through the restaurant industry, his philosophy on creating places that make guests feel seen, and the physical and mental demands of running restaurants. He also shares his perspective on changing dining habits, the future of New York City restaurants, and how lengthy permitting and bureaucratic processes drive up the cost of opening. Through it all, Gabriel remains an optimist about restaurants, New York City, and the power of bringing people together.
https://www.thenycalliance.org/
https://www.instagram.com/thenycalliance/
0:00 - Intro
1:20 - Happy Cooking Hospitality
2:50 - Gabe’s background in the restaurant industry
8:00 - Building a neighborhood restaurant
19:21 - Gabe’s role at his restaurants
26:06 - The systems Gabe installs at his restaurants
31:55 - What books has Gabe read recently?
38:00 - What Gabe sees as the state of NYC restaurants
46:40 - The challenges of running a restaurant in NYC
53:40 - Closing thoughts
#newyorkcity #restaurant #politics #hospital #business #smallbusiness
29 Sept 2026
Inside Katz’s Deli with Jake Dell: Preserving a 138-Year-Old NYC Institution
Jake Dell, fifth-generation owner of Katz’s Delicatessen, joins Andrew Rigie for a conversation about what it takes to run one of New York City’s most iconic restaurants. Jake shares how he went from pre-med student to taking over the family business, and takes us behind the scenes of Katz’s – from preserving generations-old traditions and training longtime staff to managing extraordinary volume, modernizing operations, and navigating the economics of the restaurant business.
It’s a conversation about family, legacy, pastrami, and the challenge of keeping a 138-year-old New York institution thriving without losing what made it special in the first place.
https://www.thenycalliance.org/
https://www.instagram.com/thenycalliance/
0:00 - Intro
0:43 - Katz’s Deli History
5:58 - What Systems Does Katz’s Have in Place for Operations?
13:08 - Modernizing Katz’s Deli
21:12 - Shipping and CPG
25:52 - Katz’s Wall of Fame and Private Events
31:25 - What Makes a Great Meat Cutter?
38:38 - The Challenges of Running Katz’s Deli
42:06 - Brand Collaborations
43:55 - What Jake Looks For When He First Enters the Deli
46:50 - What Jake Wants His Legacy to Be
53:10 - Katz’s Role in NYC
#newyorkcity #restaurant #politics #hospital #business #smallbusiness
Who has been a guest on Hospitality & Politics with Andrew Rigie
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Robert Bookman
Max Bookman
Julie Coker
Tom Colicchio
Rosanna Scotto
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 39 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
46
Social presence
94
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact Hospitality & Politics with Andrew Rigie
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Hospitality & Politics with Andrew Rigie
Who hosts Hospitality & Politics with Andrew Rigie?
Andrew Rigie host the show. Published by NYC Hospitality Alliance.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Hospitality & Politics with Andrew Rigie take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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