Brady Viccellio and Alvin Williams have been friends for a long time, and they’ve been in the restaurant business even longer. Brady’s family history in restaurants goes back nearly a century, and he’s the owner of Steinhilber’s and La Bella Italia in Virginia Beach. Alvin trained and worked as a chef in his native England before moving to the United States and opening Cobalt Grille, also in Virginia Beach. Their podcast, The Check, is all about restaurants.
See more at thecheckpodcast.com, including pictures, helpful links, and episode transcripts.
Brady and Alvin reflect on their childhoods, educations, influences and long history in the restaurant business, while also assessing present-day challenges and looking ahead to what might be next for restaurants.
The second stop on The Check's roadtrip was Castle Hill Cider, where we learned from cidermaker Don Whitaker and general manager Rob Campbell about an ancient method of making cider underground and discussed which foods pair well with cider.
In the second half of our conversation with winemaker Luca Paschina, we learn about the ways his Italian heritage has influenced his approach to wine, how he achieves balance between family and work, and why the Palladio restaurant completes the experience at Barboursville.
Brady and Alvin hit the road to visit Barboursville and learn how Luca Paschina has become one of the most influential and respected winemakers in the country. In the first of a two-part interview, Paschina discusses Virginia's history as a wine region, how he rebuilt the vineyard from the ground up and developed Barboursville’s signature wine, Octagon.
The Check welcomes Alvin’s business partner Gary Black, who’s been the co-owner of Cobalt Grille since it opened 20 years ago. They discuss what it takes to have a successful partnership and look back at the local restaurant scene and how it’s evolved over the years.
Alvin and Brady discuss the overwhelming financial challenge the restaurant industry is facing and how they're dealing with it in their own restaurants. On the flip side, they take a look at some areas that are thriving during COVID-19.
During more than three decades as a server at Steinhilber’s, Thom Violette has built countless relationships with restaurant guests. In this episode, Thom shares some of his favorite stories, reflects on formative influences and tells why you should never hesitate to send back a dinner that’s not right.
Lindsay Bennett, owner of Press 626 Cafe and Wine Bar in Norfolk, visits The Check for a wide-ranging conversation about dealing with the pandemic, overcoming unsuccessful ventures, being a woman in male-dominated fields like restaurants and poker tournaments. She also conducts an impromptu wine-tasting session.
Bill Dillon has been running his Beatles-themed Abbey Road Pub and Restaurant near the Virginia Beach oceanfront for nearly 40 years. A longtime advocate of the restaurant industry, Dillon is suing Gov. Ralph Northam because he believes that the government does not have the right to shut down businesses during a state of emergency.
Mark Jerge co-owns one of Buffalo’s most beloved restaurants with local legend, 87-year-old Russell Salvatore. Mark took time out from his annual Virginia Beach vacation to compare notes with Brady and Alvin about their restaurants and the shared quest for the perfect Buffalo Wing.
