Episode Details

Hey everyone, it’s Nycci Nellis, and welcome back to Industry Night.

Yes, this is show number two today, and honestly? I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sit down with today’s guests.

If wanderlust is one of your intentions for 2026, it is certainly mine! Who isn’t craving travel, connection, nature, and food that tells a story? If you are like me? Then this episode is absolutely for you. Because today, we’re heading to Northern California, to a place that feels both deeply grounded and quietly magical.

Joining me are Chefs Juliana Thorpe and Ignacio (Nacho) Zuzulich, the husband-and-wife, co-executive chefs behind The Lodge at Dawn Ranch, set at the foothills of the redwood forest in Guerneville, Sonoma County, one of California’s most unique microclimates.

Together, they are reinventing California cuisine through the lens of their South American heritage, drawing from Juliana’s upbringing in the mountains of Matutu, Brazil, and Nacho’s roots in Córdoba, Argentina, where his family ran a long-standing restaurant.

Their paths converged in some of the world’s most respected kitchens,  from Mugaritz in Spain to Meadowood in Napa Valley, and today, that shared experience shows up on the plate as a dialogue of flavors: Brazil +  Argentina, and the rushing Russian River (you’ll hear it as an AMSR throughout the whole show).

Beyond the cuisine, Juliana and Nacho are also rethinking hospitality itself, prioritizing mentorship, collaboration, sustainability, and I am very interested in their approach to leadership. I’m thrilled to welcome them to Industry Night.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction
00:10 – "Industry Night: Wanderlust & Connection"
03:28 – "From Countryside to Culinary"
09:12 – Life-Changing Culinary Experience
11:26 – "Making Intense Kitchens Livable"
13:37 – "Redefining Kitchen Culture"
19:35 – "Charming Small-Town Escape"
21:25 – "Rethinking Readiness to Open"
26:13 – Mentoring and Hospitality Balance
28:24 – "Teamwork and Positive Kitchen Culture"
32:32 – "Local Sourcing and Small Garden"
34:35 – "Using 100% Without Waste"
36:58 – "Evolving the Lodge's Future"
42:43 – "Discover, Follow, and Engage"
43:32 – "Thanks and Stay Connected"
43:46 – Outro

Quotes:

“Expectations only matter if you live them. The standard we set for ourselves is the one our teams rise to.”- Nycci Nellis

“High-level kitchens shape you forever, but true leadership inspires excellence through trust—not fear.”- Juliana Thorpe

“When we bring our memories and heritage to the table, our work gains meaning—and our guests feel the soul behind it.”- Ignacio Zuzulich

Key Takeaways:

Culinary Roots Meet California Magic
A Love Story Cooked Up in World-Famous Kitchens
Redefining Hospitality with Heart and Discipline
Collaboration as the Secret Ingredient
Letting Place Inspire the Plate
Sustainability and Mindful Sourcing
Hospitality as Connection, Not Performance
Ever-Evolving, Ever-Inspired

Connect with Chef Juliana Thorpe
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/juthorpe/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/lodgeatdawnranch/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/concepto_zuzu/?hl=en
Website: