Show 51, December 7, 2013: Carla Hall of ABC’s “The Chew” and Zov Karamardian of Zov’s Bistro in Tustin

Zov Karamardian or Zov's in TustinOver the years Zov has been a generous benefactor of the New York-based James Beard Foundation. The non-profit Foundation celebrates American gastronomy and funds an ambitious scholarship program for young culinarians, among many other high-profile activities. They also produce the annual James Beard Foundation Awards which are considered the Oscars of the food world!

Previously Zov has honored culinary luminaries including Julia Child, Emeril Lagasse, Anne Burrell and Michael Symon at Culinary Concerts at the original Zov’s Bistro over the years to raise money for the Foundation.

Carla HallOn Sunday, February 9th Zov is honoring chef, cookbook author, and TV personality, Carla Hall, in an afternoon Culinary Concert. Carla is the co-host of ABC’s afternoon lifestyle series, “The Chew,” which recently celebrated its 500th episode. You also remember her as the “Fan Favorite” (“Hootie Hoo”) from “Bravo’sTop Chef.”

Carla will be performing a cooking demo from her book, Cooking with Love: Comfort Food That Hugs You, newly released in paperback. Zov will also be doing a cooking demo from one of her two books.

Following the demos will be an elaborate and bountiful Mediterranean lunch buffet featuring dishes from both chefs.

Carla will also be available to chat with guests and sign copies of her book.

This is the ideal holiday gift for that special foodie in your life. Tickets for the Culinary Concert and lunch are a tax-deductable $250 per guest and this event will sell out. You can buy tickets online at www.zovs.com. For more info please call 714.838.8855 ext. 21.

Show 20, March 9, 2013: Chef Anne Burrell, Star of Food Network’s “Worst Cooks in America” and “Chef Wanted”

Anne Burrell of Food NetworkYou can’t miss celebrity chef Anne Burrell on Food Network these days. On Thursday nights at 10:00 p.m. PDT she is in Season 2 of “Chef Wanted.” On Sunday nights it’s Season 4 of “Worst Cooks in America” competing against Bobby Flay. She bested him in Season 3 and is, in fact, undefeated on the series!

Anne is a Culinary Institute of America graduate, cooked in Italy for a year, and previously served as a sous chef at Lidia Bastianich’s Felidia in Manhattan. She has also been a cooking school instructor for professionals.

The executive chef finalist, Drew Ison, who was awarded the executive chef post at Mirabelle on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles on the current season of Anne Burrell’s “Chef Wanted” remains in place.

March 9: Anne Burrell, Barbara Hansen, Jason Quinn

Podcasts

Segment One: Chef Anne Burrell, Star of Food Network’s “Worst Cooks in America” and “Chef Wanted”
Segment Two: Barbara Hansen, veteran food & travel journalist Part One
Segment Three: Barbara Hansen, veteran food & travel journalist Part Two
Segment Four: Jet Tila
Segment Five: Jason Quinn, Executive Chef and Owner of Playground & Playground 2.0 in Santa Ana Part One
Segment Six: Jason Quinn, Executive Chef and Owner of Playground & Playground 2.0 in Santa Ana Part Two

This week it’s a showcase of extraordinary culinary talent. Food Network’s biggest female star is with us along with a preview of a just-published Korean Restaurant Guide for Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Then it’s on to a groundbreaking young Orange County chef who started as a partner on a winning food truck and now has two unconventional (and very much in-demand) restaurants.

Anne Burrell of Food NetworkIt’s hard to miss celebrity Chef Anne Burrell on Food Network these days which is currently airing two popular Anne Burrell shows. “Worst Cooks in America” is in it’s fourth season and “Chef Wanted” is in it’s second season. Anne was also Mario Batali’s ace sous chef during his long tenure on “Iron Chef America.”

 

 

Barbara Hansen of EatMX and LA Weekly Squid InkBarbara Hansen is a greatly respected, veteran food journalist on the Los Angeles scene. She is best known for her many years as a staff writer for The Los Angeles TimesFood Section. Now Barbara is a regular contributor to the “Squid Ink” food blog at the LA Weekly. She also writes and edits, “The Table Conversation” blog on food, wine, travel, and recipes as well as EatMx.com, a Mexican food blog.

Barbara just finished a fascinating project for the Korean Food Foundation. It’s the newly published Korean Restaurant Guide – Los Angeles which includes Orange County. To complete the book on a tight deadline Barbara dined in 40 area Korean restaurants with a Korean-American translator as her guide.

Jet was in Tampa, Florida during the last week and squeezed in a dine-around. He’ll share his take on the quintessential family-owned steakhouse there (55 years and still aging) and some local bakeries of distinction.

The chef/partner of then OC based The Lime Truck, winners of Season 3 of Food Network’s “Great Food Truck Race,” is the outgoing Jason Quinn.

Jason Quinn of the Lime Truck and Playground DTSAShortly after Season 3 concluded he opened the bricks-and-mortar Playground in November of 2011in the downtown Santa Ana redevelopment area. It’s a bit unconventional in concept and Chef Jason takes pride in doing things his way. It’s high energy all the time…

The menu changes daily and there is serious attention to pairing draft beer with the food. Produce is also used creatively on the menu.

Jason’s latest ambitious effort is the next door, IO, a culinary theater.

Podcasts

Segment One: Chef Anne Burrell, Star of Food Network’s “Worst Cooks in America” and “Chef Wanted”
Segment Two: Barbara Hansen, veteran food & travel journalist Part One
Segment Three: Barbara Hansen, veteran food & travel journalist Part Two
Segment Four: Jet Tila
Segment Five: Jason Quinn, Executive Chef and Owner of Playground & Playground 2.0 in Santa Ana Part One
Segment Six: Jason Quinn, Executive Chef and Owner of Playground & Playground 2.0 in Santa Ana Part Two