Harmony Group

04/24/2026

Restaurant operators: you’ve heard it before - “You should sell this in stores!”

But what does that actually take?

Few people can speak to both sides of restaurant operations and CPG logistics like Nick Wiseman, founder of Little Sesame Hummus. For this month’s Lessons From the Line we sat down with to go inside the world of CPG, the pros and cons, and what is really means to bring a product like to store shelves.

Swipe through for some of Nick’s wisdom, then head to the link in the bio to read the full Q&A.

04/03/2026

Harmony clients - we're hosting an exclusive webinar on Budget Planning with two chances to join us. Check your email for details to join this Harmony client-only event!

This Harmony Academy session has been crafted especially for restaurateurs and hospitality leaders who want better margins and stronger financial discipline. Our executive team will cover how to build a practical, easy-to-manage budget that protects profitability and creates real accountability.

If you're a Harmony client you can sign up through the email you received today, and stay tuned for more quarterly learning sessions. If you're *not* a Harmony client, head to https://www.harmonycpa.com/lp/igprofile to learn more about working with us.

This Budget Planning webinar is a virtual session with two opportunities to participate - Wednesday, April 8 at 10am EST, and Thursday, April 14 at 3pm EST.

We'll see you there!

03/27/2026

Are your restaurant’s sexual harassment policies compliant? If you aren’t sure, or if you didn’t know that there’s a DC compliance deadline coming up, this month’s Lessons From the Line is for you.

We sat down with Joy Einstein of Shulman Rogers to talk through what the law actually requires, the most common policy mistakes we see in the industry, and why a generic template probably won’t cut it. A good workplace sexual harassment policy isn’t just a legal checkbox - it’s a signal to your team about the culture you’re building.

For operators outside DC, we didn’t forget about you! Joy also shares some important tips for restaurant owners across the country.

Click below to read our full Q&A, and reach out to your Harmony team if you'd like an introduction to Joy to ensure you're fully compliant.

If you run a restaurant in Washington, DC, there's a compliance deadline quietly approaching that doesn't get nearly enough attention: your sexual harassment policy submission. DC law requires restaurant operators to have a compliant written sexual harassment policy in place - and the District's bu

03/20/2026

Meet Chef Amy Brandwein, the chef, owner, and culinary force behind two of Washington DC’s most beloved Italian destinations: Centrolina and Piccolina.

When Brandwein opened Centrolina in spring 2015, she turned heads not just for her Italian cooking, but for the then-rare distinction of being a sole female chef and owner. A decade later, she’s still setting the standard.

A seven-time Award nominee, Brandwein believes Italian food should be seasonal, elegant, and rooted in simplicity while celebrating the bounty of the Mid-Atlantic region. Centrolina earned the #3 spot in ’s 2024 Fall Dining Guide, landed on the 2025 Very Best List, and was named one of ’s 20 Best Restaurants in Washington, DC in 2024. Her fast-casual sister spot, Piccolina, was named one of ’s Best New Restaurants in 2019.

Beyond the accolades, Chef Amy leads with purpose and community driven spirit. She’s a committed partner of DC , an advocate for , , and , and a longtime member of and the James Beard Foundation’s Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program.

This Women’s History Month, we celebrate the chefs who build community one plate at a time. 🙌❤️

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03/18/2026

Harmony’s celebrating Cici Yang, the powerhouse behind not one, not two, but three beloved DMV dining destinations: Rimtang, Kyojin Sushi, and Yume Sushi.

As half of an incredible husband-and-wife team alongside Chef Saran “Peter” Kannasute, Cici has expanded Yume Hospitality Group to three amazing restaurants and all sorts of accolades - Yume Sushi ranks #4 on Northern Virginia Magazine’s 50 Best Restaurants of 2025, and Kyojin was awarded Best Sushi by DC Modern Luxury Magazine. Cici was also a Restaurateur of the Year nominee at last year’s RAMMY awards.

This Women’s History Month we’re raising a glass to the entrepreneurs who do it all, and who do it beautifully. Three cheers for Cici for her great work elevating the DMV dining scene!

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03/13/2026

Your story is powerful. Whether your restaurant is thriving, navigating daily struggles, or has closed its doors — your voice matters in the fight for our industry. Harmony Group is proud to stand with the Independent Restaurant Coalition. Take their 5-minute survey and help turn our shared challenges into real policy change on Capitol Hill. Head to this link to complete the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgqEr0P1h5EnlJ21N-Uv4OG__OoK1SaU3hNw7-_osF-Et0AA/viewform

02/25/2026

Harmony’s client profiles continue with the incredible Chef Oji Abbott, the fiercely community-minded driving force behind spectacular soul food at Oohs & Aahs’ four DMV locations. Chef / Owner has built a loyal following with soulful, scratch-made comfort food.

Chef Abbott is the kind of client we dream of around here, building a tiny U Street takeout spot into a beloved local institution with four locations around the DMV and another coming soon. He’s pulled down all kinds of accolades from Washingtonian Very Best placement to a recent appearance on USA’s Everything on the Menu to the Washington Post’s rave review describing him as “the man who puts the soul in soul food.”

Harmony is proud to help build endearing businesses that nourish their communities every single day.

02/24/2026

New alert! This month’s writeup is a deep dive on the importance of site selection, featuring an interview did with ’ Managing Director of National Advisory Jason Kastner.

Jason helped walk us through everything restaurant owners should be thinking about before they sign a lease, and how to avoid the most common (and costly) real estate mistakes.

Swipe through some choice quotes and head to the link in our bio to read our full feature!

02/19/2026

Harmony’s shining the spotlight on another amazing client: Chef Rock Harper has been a defining voice in the DC hospitality scene for years, blending expertly refined technique with the deep comfort and cultural roots of soul food - an approach that earned him his vaunted status as winner of Gordon Ramsay’s , as well as a nomination for Best Chef. You can also catch this superstar chef on the last season of ’s Secret Service.

Today he continues his mission with his delectable fried chicken outpost Queen Mother’s, inspired by and named after his mother and her cooking, and with DC’s first cell-phone free bar at Hush Harbor. These are spaces where elevated craft, culture, and community all share the same table.

We’re proud to work with this talented Chef and to support operators building great businesses *and* great communities. We’d also recommend his excellent podcast, The Rock Harper Show (and not just because Harmony President Matt Hetrick appeared as a guest in July!)

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02/14/2026

Harmony’s client spotlight returns with huge love for Angel Barreto, the superstar Executive Chef at the helm of , DC’s modern Korean favorite since its opening in 2019.

’s cooking has pulled down too many accolades to list, for him and the restaurant - he’s a Best New Chef, a Game Changer, and a Chef of the Year, a Best Chef Semi-Finalist, and under his leadership in the kitchen Anju has been repeatedly recognized as Very Best including their number one spot in 2020, and has pulled down coverage and accolades at the national and local level from Forbes to Zagat to Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil.

Angel’s cooking is bold and thoughtful, but also terrifically warm and approachable - exactly the kind of vision we’re so proud to support behind the scenes. He’s devoted to Anju’s continually evolving menu and to honoring the traditions and techniques of Korean cuisine with a focus on seasonality, thoughtful sourcing, and clear ex*****on.

This year he’s excited to continue evolving his globe spanning technique and his work as a culinary educator - in October he’ll be leading a 7 day culinary journey to Thailand, through Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Check out Anju’s profile for more info on this incredible journey!

Harmony Group is proud to work alongside chefs who push culture forward and run smart, sustainable businesses. 👏🔥