Food Fight - with Deedre Daniel and Guest: Chef Andrew Markert

Shut Up and Say Something!® with Deedre Daniel

Have your dreams ever been shattered? Have you ever given 110% of yourself to something, only to watch it collapse in front of you? How do you bounce back? Andrew Markert is the Head Chef, and Owner of Beuchert’s Saloon and Fight Club restaurants in Washington, DC. He talks to Deedre Daniel about:

🎙 The quick decisions he made to keep his restaurant afloat when COVID-19 suddenly arrived and forced him to close it - on the same day he celebrated its seventh anniversary.

🎙 How he innovated to meet consumer demand and pay the bills while working within the confines of the new COVID-19 rules imposed by the local government.

🎙 How he managed emotionally and financially when his expectations did not match reality – over and over again.

🎙 How he dealt with the heartbreak of losing his newest restaurant, Newland.

🎙 His experience competing on the reality-TV show, Chopped.

🎙 His recipe for turning Thanksgiving leftovers into a delicious midnight snack.

🎙 The food he predicts will be on your plate in the near future.

🎙The famous Chicago restaurant he drained his bank account to eat at.

🎙How he led his team and managed his businesses when he didn’t have a map to follow or a mentor to guide him.

🎙Pushing past fear and anxiety to keep his business afloat.

🎙His love of sandwiches and the creative spin he takes on traditional recipes.

🎙Alternative proteins, vegan tattoos, cockroach milk, and funny Yelp reviews.

And so much more!

This episode ends with some questions from The Very Interesting Game. Stick around to hear Andrew’s answers.

Bio: Chef Andrew Markert, the Head Chef, and Owner of Beuchert’s Saloon and Fight Club is known for cooking with an edge and attitude all his own. Chef Andrew brings new energy to fine dining by utilizing locally sourced ingredients and combining them in a thought-provoking way. A Baltimore native, Markert graduated from Johnson and Wales University in Providence, RI, before returning to the DMV. Markert brought his talents to many critically acclaimed Washington, DC area restaurants, including Citronelle, Notti Bianche, Vermilion, and Tallula, before assuming the role of Chef de Cuisine at Hook and PS7s. Markert’s focus on sustainable products and refined creativity continue to inspire Beuchert’s central mantra: serving playful, flavor-rich cuisine deeply rooted in our community.

In his free time, Chef Drew bikes around the city and volunteers with local philanthropic organizations dedicated to enriching the District. Most recently, he’s participated in the Share Our Strength campaign, committed to ending childhood hunger, and Gourmet Symphony, which creates multisensory music experiences by adding melodically compatible, locally-sourced cuisine to the classical concert performance.

Do you know someone who lives a fascinating life or looks at the world through the lens of humor? Nominate them on a future episode by sending several ridiculous and intriguing questions about them to [e-mail]. No need to send a BIO or fill out a lengthy application! If your nominee is selected, you will receive a shout-out on that episode, a SHUT UP and SAY SOMETHING!® sticker, and a mug of your choice from the merch page on interestingconversations.com.

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Originally recorded on November 14, 2022