Ep.20 Downtown Restaurant Week Community

⁠Pork Showdown 2026 ⁠continues! Find all participating locations and dish descriptions at dtsf.com. Today on Hello, Downtown!, Brandon talks with ⁠Abbey Riemenschneider⁠, Director of Programs and Communication at the ⁠South Dakota Pork Producers Council⁠ about the value of Pork Showdown in raising public perception of pork. Later, ⁠T.R. Fuentes⁠, Head Chef at ⁠Pomegranate Market⁠ Downtown, joins Brandon to share about his entry into the Pork Showdown competition and how local producers help in creating great food. Taryn talks with Tony Keupp from ⁠J.L. Beers ⁠about their Pork Showdown entry and his favorite parts of working in Downtown Sioux Falls.

Brandon welcomes ⁠Brian Gramm⁠, CEO of ⁠Journey Construction⁠, to the podcast. They reminisce about all the fun had at Riverfest, the famous Journey red construction hats in the kid’s zone, and Brian shares why his company loves to invest in this beloved event and beyond. The two discuss community and development in downtown and what makes (and hopefully, keeps) the good vibes in the district. Today’s ‘Member Moment’ highlights Pork Showdown participant, ⁠Bread & Circus Sandwich Kitchen⁠ with owner ⁠Barry Putzke.⁠ ⁠Downtown Pork Showdown⁠ continues through October 31st. Find a list of all participating locations and dishes at ⁠dtsf.com⁠

Porktober is here! Downtown Pork Showdown runs October 1-31st with 26 competing dishes across the downtown district. Find all locations and pork creations at⁠ dtsf.com⁠ Brandon is joined by Tina Erickson, Executive Director of the ⁠South Dakota Pork Producers Council⁠ to talk all things Pork! SDDPC is in their 3rd year of sponsoring the Downtown Pork Showdown. ⁠Jim Entenman⁠ and ⁠Chris Wise⁠ join the podcast to share about the specialty pork dish offerings at ⁠Nunzio’s ⁠and ⁠Blackfork Farm⁠s, both located on the Cherapa Campus. Today’s ‘Member Moment’ features Devon Giesen from ⁠Rivage Oak Kitchen⁠, also a participant in this year’s Pork Showdown.