Show 374, May 23, 2020: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris

Happy Memorial Day Weekend. Let the season of inspired & relaxing grilling happily commence…

Chefs and restaurateurs are honestly the most generous people we know. In times of need they are always the very first in generously giving back and meaningfully supporting their communities. Truly remarkable…Right now restaurants urgently need our support to stay afloat. Kindly keep this in mind and please do what you possibly can (as you can afford) to support a community-focused, local restaurant….

As always, we greatly appreciate you being a part of our loyal listening audience. Truly couldn’t do it without the enthusiastic encouragement of the foodie community.

When accomplished fine dining chef Ross Pangilinan left the Patina Group’s Leatherby’s Café Rouge (Segerstrom Center for the Arts) to venture out on his own he wanted to create a more personal, chef-driven concept. His vision came to be as Mix Mix Kitchen Bar located in a bit of an unlikely location in Santa Ana. In normal times it’s a globally inspired dining concept presenting dishes which see influence from traditional French and Italian to modern Filipino cuisines. During the ban on dine-in Chef Ross has shifted to preparing Tapas Family Kits (for 2 or 4 guests) for curbside pick-up. Also in Chef Ross’ family of restaurants is Terrace by Mix Mix at South Coast Plaza and the newly (soft) opened ReMix Kitchen Bar in the Long Beach Exchange. Chef Ross joins us with the overview.

One of our most reliable sources of significant restaurant news in fabulous Las Vegas is Al Mancini, who is a staff writer for The Las Vegas Review Journal covering food, restaurants and other aspects of entertainment. Al has been working the Vegas food scene for 19 years. He was one of the creators of the popular, and widely referenced, Eating Las Vegas restaurant guidebook series. Al joins us with a report on the return of dining in the restaurants that have been allowed to reopen in Las Vegas.

James Beard Award-winning Chef & Author Suzanne Goin is the Co-Proprietor (with Caroline Styne) of The Lucques Group. a.o.c and Tavern are back on Thursday through Sunday with take-out for pick up or delivery via TOCK. Lucques’ Sunday Suppers are newly available via Lucques Catering with curbside pick up or delivery via TOCK. Chef Suzanne Goin joins us with all the tantalizing specifics.

Previously we’ve met passionate winemaker Clarissa Nagy who has her own boutique label, c nagy, with a rustic tasting room in historic Orcutt. C nagy wines are “A pure expression of grapes from a vineyard celebrating the experience of Santa Barbara County.” Clarissa has a particular affinity for Pinot Noir but other available current releases include Syrah, Grenache, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Blanc. Winemaker Clarissa Nagy is our encore guest.

Sol Agave, the popular elevated regional Mexican restaurant in South County, operates the original location in San Juan Capistrano and the 2-year old branch in Mission Viejo in Kaleidoscope. San Juan Capistrano is open for to-go orders and Mission Viejo will soon reopen for curbside take out on June 1st. Restaurateur Jesse Galvez shares the secrets of Sol Agave’s Famous Carnitas.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where Chef Andrew responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries. Chef Andrew is updating us on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis in the hospitality field and what we, as diners, can do to support the very survival of restaurants. Take-out/delivery when you can surely helps…Of course, the safety of restaurant employees and guests comes first. Chef Andrew will conclude his revealing commentary on 3rd Party Delivery Services and explain why he suggests you tip the delivery driver in cash. It’s the start of Summer Grilling Season. Chef Andrew has some meaty tips for the backyard master of the grill.

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness (with proper Social Distancing) on this week’s not-to-miss show!

Show 374, May 23, 2020: Chef & Restaurateur Suzanne Goin, The Lucques Group Part One

Suzanne Goin of the Lucques GroupJames Beard Award-winning Chef & Author Suzanne Goin is the Co-Proprietor of The Lucques Group. a.o.c. is back on Thursday through Sunday with an all- day menu and classic dinner menu for 4 guests through TOCK. Hours are 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Tavern in Brentwood has returned with an all-day menu offered Thursday through Sunday. Also box assortments of bread and pastries from Larder Baking Co.

With the opening of Lucques, their flagship restaurant, in 1998, James Beard award-winning Che f/ Author Suzanne Goin and award-winning Restaurateur Caroline Styne planted the seeds for The Lucques Group, a Los Angeles hospitality company that comprises two fine dining restaurants – a.o.c. and Tavern.

Along with these culinary enterprises, the company also operates Lucques Catering, the Larder Baking Company and comprehensive food services for the Hollywood Bowl. They will operate new restaurants at the highly anticipated Proper Hotel opening in downtown Los Angeles in 2020. The Lucques Group is dedicated to seasonally influenced cooking and focuses on sourcing local, organic produce from which Goin creates soulful dishes that are bold in flavor, vibrant, layered and complex.

Chef Suzanne Goin continues the conversation about the return of Lucques.

May 23: Ross Pangilinan, Al Mancini, Suzanne Goin, Clarissa Nagy, Sol Agave

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chef / Proprietor Ross Pangilinan, Mix Mix Kitchen Bar, Terrace by Mix Mix & ReMix Kitchen Bar
Segment Three: Journalist Al Mancini, Staff Writer, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Segment Four: Chef & Restaurateur Suzanne Goin, The Lucques Group Part One
Segment Five: Chef & Restaurateur Suzanne Goin, The Lucques Group Part Two
Segment Six: Winemaker Clarissa Nagy, c nagy Wines
Segment Seven: Restaurateur Jesse Galvez, Sol Agave, Kaleidoscope Mission Viejo and San Juan Capistrano
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish with “Ask the Chef”

Happy Memorial Day Weekend. Let the season of inspired & relaxing grilling commence…

Chefs and restaurateurs are honestly the most generous people we know. In times of need they are always the very first in generously giving back and meaningfully supporting their communities. Truly remarkable…Right now restaurants urgently need our support to stay afloat. Kindly keep this in mind and please do what you possibly can (as you can afford) to support a community-focused, local restaurant….

As always, we greatly appreciate you being a part of our loyal listening audience. Truly couldn’t do it without the enthusiastic encouragement of the foodie community.

When accomplished fine dining chef Ross Pangilinan left the Patina Group’s Leatherby’s Café Rouge (Segerstrom Center for the Arts) to venture out on his own he wanted to create a more personal, chef-driven concept. His vision came to be as Mix Mix Kitchen Bar located in a bit of an unlikely location in Santa Ana. In normal times it’s a globally inspired dining concept presenting dishes which see influence from traditional French and Italian to modern Filipino cuisines. During the ban on dine-in Chef Ross has shifted to preparing Tapas Family Kits (for 2 or 4 guests) for curbside pick-up. Also in Chef Ross’ family of restaurants is Terrace by Mix Mix at South Coast Plaza and the newly opened ReMix Kitchen Bar in the Long Beach Exchange. Chef Ross joins us with the overview.

One of our most reliable sources of restaurant news in fabulous Las Vegas is Al Mancini, who is a staff writer for The Las Vegas Review-Journal covering food, restaurants and other aspects of entertainment. Al has been working the Vegas food scene for 19 years. He was one of the creators of the popular, and widely referenced, Eating Las Vegas restaurant guidebook series. Al joins us with a report on dining in the restaurants that have been allowed to reopen in Las Vegas.

James Beard Award-winning Chef & Author Suzanne Goin is the Co-Proprietor (with Caroline Styne) of The Lucques Group. a.o.c.and Tavern are back on Thursday through Sunday with take-out for pick up or delivery via TOCK. Lucques’ Sunday Suppers are newly available via Lucques Catering with curbside pick up or delivery via TOCK. Chef Suzanne Goin joins us with all the tantalizing specifics.

Previously we’ve met passionate winemaker Clarissa Nagy who has her own boutique label, c nagy, with a rustic tasting room in historic Orcutt. C nagy wines are “A pure expression of grapes from a vineyard celebrating the experience of Santa Barbara County.” Clarissa has a particular affinity for Pinot Noir but other available current releases include Syrah, Grenache, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Blanc. Winemaker Clarissa Nagy is our encore guest.

Sol Agave, the popular elevated regional Mexican restaurant in South County, operates the original location in San Juan Capistrano and the 2-year old branch in Mission Viejo in Kaleidoscope. San Juan Capistrano is open for to-go orders and Mission Viejo will soon reopen for curbside take out on June 1st. Restaurateur Jesse Galvez shares the secrets of Sol Agave’s Famous Carnitas.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where Chef Andrew responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries. Chef Andrew is updating us on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis in the hospitality field and what we, as diners, can do to support the very survival of restaurants. Take-out/delivery when you can surely helps…Of course, the safety of restaurant employees and guests comes first. Chef Andrew will conclude his revealing commentary on 3rd Party Delivery Services and explain why he suggests you tip the delivery driver in cash. It’s the start of Summer Grilling Season. Chef Andrew has some meaty tips for the backyard master of the grill.

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness (with proper Social Distancing) on this week’s not-to-miss show!

Ross Pangilinan of Mix Mix Kitchen BarWhen accomplished fine dining chef Ross Pangilinan left the Patina Group’s Leatherby’s Café Rouge (Segerstrom Center for the Arts) to venture out on his own he wanted to create a more personal, chef-driven concept. His vision came to be as Mix Mix Kitchen Bar located in a bit of an unlikely location in Santa Ana. In normal times it’s a globally inspired dining concept presenting dishes which see influence from traditional French and Italian to modern Filipino cuisines.

During the ban on dine-in Chef Ross has shifted to preparing Tapas Family Kits (for 2 or 4 guests) for curbside pick-up. Also in Chef Ross’ family of restaurants is Terrace by Mix Mix at South Coast Plaza and the newly opened ReMix Kitchen Bar in the Long Beach Exchange.

For Friday, Saturday and Sunday Terrace by Mix Mix is serving Share Plates (for 1 to 10 guests) for curbside pick-up. For Friday, Saturday and Sunday Remix Kitchen Bar offers a Tasting Menu for 2 or 4 guests for curbside pick-up.

Chef Ross joins us with the cuisine overview.

Al Mancini of the Las Vegas Review JournalOne of our most reliable sources of accurate restaurant news in fabulous Las Vegas is Al Mancini, who is a staff writer for The Las Vegas Review Journal covering food, restaurants and other aspects of entertainment. Al has been working the Vegas food scene for 19 years. He was one of the creators of the popular, and widely referenced, Eating Las Vegas restaurant guidebook series.

Al joins us with a report on dining in the restaurants that have been allowed to reopen in Las Vegas. Restaurants located off The Strip have permission to reopen for dine-in with precautions. Establishments located in The Strip hotel casinos (and other hotel casinos) can only reopen if they have outside access to the restaurants that doesn’t necessitate walking through a closed casino floor.

Suzanne Goin of the Lucques GroupJames Beard Award-winning Chef & Author Suzanne Goin is the Co-Proprietor of The Lucques Group. a.o.c. is back on Thursday through Sunday with an all- day menu and classic dinner menu for 4 guests through TOCK. Hours are 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Tavern in Brentwood has returned with an all-day menu offered Thursday through Sunday. Also box assortments of bread and pastries from Larder Baking Co.

With the opening of Lucques, their flagship restaurant, in 1998, James Beard award-winning Che f/ Author Suzanne Goin and award-winning Restaurateur Caroline Styne planted the seeds for The Lucques Group, a Los Angeles hospitality company that comprises two fine dining restaurants – a.o.c. and Tavern. Along with these culinary enterprises, the company also operates Lucques Catering, the Larder Baking Company and comprehensive food services for the Hollywood Bowl. They will operate new restaurants at the highly anticipated Proper Hotel opening in downtown Los Angeles in 2020. The Lucques Group is dedicated to seasonally influenced cooking and focuses on sourcing local, organic produce from which Goin creates soulful dishes that are bold in flavor, vibrant, layered and complex.

LUCQUES CATERING, the full-service catering arm of The Lucques Group, has started take-out and delivery of Suzanne Goin’s signature dishes and menus for enjoying at home. The menus continue with a weekly changing Lucques Supper Series menu created by Suzanne Goin in addition to a complete brunch kit, pantry items and other selections.

An inspired list of sparkling, white, rosé and red wines, and all favorites of Caroline Styne, are available by the bottle or boxed sets. Bar man, Christiaan Röllich, completes the menu with two of his ready-mixed batched cocktails to-go.

Ordering is exclusively through TOCK for safety-compliant curbside pick-up at The Larder Maple Drive from Thursday through Sunday from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Delivery is also available within a five-mile radius for $15.

“My whole team and I have missed the restaurant and cooking for our guests so terribly for these past weeks, states Suzanne Goin. “We are thrilled to be back with our new version of Sunday Suppers for our guests to enjoy at home—and not just on Sundays! In our new Supper Series, our latest weekly seasonal menus from the market will be available Thursday to Sunday each week.”

Chef Suzanne Goin continues the conversation about the return of Lucques.

Clarissa Nagy of c.nagy winesPreviously we’ve met passionate winemaker Clarissa Nagy who has her own boutique label, c nagy, with a rustic tasting room in historic Orcutt. C nagy wines are “A pure expression of grapes from a vineyard celebrating the experience of Santa Barbara County.” Clarissa has a particular affinity for Pinot Noir but other available current releases include Syrah, Grenache, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Blanc.

Curbside pickup of wines by the bottle is available at the Tasting Room while the signature tastings are on hold.

“People often ask how I started in the wine industry. It was never my plan to make wine. Actually, my original intention was to work with food. Thankfully, food and wine are often paired together. Through that means, wine found me.”

“Pinot Noir and Syrah were my main focus for the next 6 years. I made a Viognier in 2010, but frost would prevent me from doing so in 2011. The loss of Viognier opened the door to work with Pinot Blanc as well, and my journey continued to unfold. The newest chapter of my story is the addition of the tasting room.”

“Winemaking has become my passion. Sharing that joy with others is a priority. I’d love to be able to bring everyone into the vineyard and cellar to experience winemaking firsthand. Since that isn’t realistic, I offer you a taste of my labor. Here is that experience captured in bottle. I hope to share this passion with you in person. Until then, enjoy!”
– Owner/Winemaker Clarissa Nagy

Winemaker Clarissa Nagy is our encore guest.

Jess Galvez of Sol AgaveSol Agave, the popular elevated regional Mexican restaurant in South County, has the original location in San Juan Capistrano and the 2-year old branch in Mission Viejo in Kaleidoscope. San Juan Capistrano is open for to-go orders and Mission Viejo will reopen for curbside take out on June 1st.

Restaurateur Jesse Galvez and his partner Chef Manny Velasco, who was honored as the Golden Foodies 2017 Rising Star Chef of the Year, were at the forefront of the food truck trend when they started Sol Agave as a taco truck in 2015. They attracted such a loyal following for their elevated Mexican cuisine that they decided to open a restaurant in San Juan Capistrano in 2016. The success of that original location lead to moving into a larger space within the same retail center just a year later.

At Sol Agave the focus is on organic ingredients, fresh seafood, USDA Prime steak, and all-natural pork for its carnitas. Signature dishes include Our Famous Carnitas (chef’s famous Mexican braised pork, served with rice, refried beans, sour cream, guacamole, “trocka” sauce, and hand-made corn tortillas), Tacos de Hongo (skirt steak, portabello mushrooms, grilled onions, and cheese served on a hot skillet with salsa morita, rice, refried beans and hand-made tortillas), and Camarones Vallarta (jumbo breaded Mexican prawns, butterflied and stuffed with Dungeness crab, topped in a Creole tomato spicy sauce, and served with cilantro rice.)

Restaurateur Jesse Galvez shares the secrets of Sol Agave’s Famous Carnitas.

Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant GroupOur own Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where Chef Andrew responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries. Chef Andrew is updating us on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis in the hospitality field and what we, as diners, can do to support the very survival of restaurants. Take-out/delivery when you can surely helps…Of course, the safety of restaurant employees and guests comes first.

Chef Andrew will conclude his revealing commentary on 3rd Party Delivery Services for restaurants and explain why he suggests you tip the delivery driver in cash. It’s the start of Summer Grilling Season. Chef Andrew has some meaty tips for the backyard master of the grill.

Slapfish is hosting Doctors, Nurses, Medical Personnel, Police, Firefighters & EMT’s to a complimentary meal To-Go. Need to be in uniform or have appropriate ID to qualify. The participating Slapfish locations are Huntington Beach, Brea, Irvine and Laguna Beach.

Kids eat free at Slapfish, too, when their parents order Takeout.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chef / Proprietor Ross Pangilinan, Mix Mix Kitchen Bar, Terrace by Mix Mix & ReMix Kitchen Bar
Segment Three: Journalist Al Mancini, Staff Writer, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Segment Four: Chef & Restaurateur Suzanne Goin, The Lucques Group Part One
Segment Five: Chef & Restaurateur Suzanne Goin, The Lucques Group Part Two
Segment Six: Winemaker Clarissa Nagy, c nagy Wines
Segment Seven: Restaurateur Jesse Galvez, Sol Agave, Kaleidoscope Mission Viejo and San Juan Capistrano
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish with “Ask the Chef”

Show 238, August 26, 2017: Restaurateur Caroline Styne and Chef Chris Bianco, L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade Culinary Cookout

Caroline StyneL.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade, hosted by Chef Suzanne Goin, partner Caroline Styne (Lucques, A.O.C.,Tavern) along with Chef David Lentz (The Hungry Cat), returns to UCLA’s Royce Quad on Saturday, September 9, 2017 from 12 – 4pm for its eighth highly-anticipated event. Goin, Styne and Lentz have again enlisted the support and generosity of their culinary friends around the country who graciously donate their time and services to raise funds and awareness for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) in their quest to find better treatments and cures for all kids with cancer.

Featuring fantastic food, wine and cocktails prepared by the nation’s best chefs, winemakers and mixologists, L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade is an afternoon of fantastic fare, cocktails for a cause, children’s activities, silent and live auctions, and much more. The 2017 event is guaranteed to surpass the aspirations of previous years with returning chefs Chris Bianco, Giada De Laurentiis, Donald Link, Mary Sue Milliken, April Bloomfield, Nancy Silverton, Nancy Oakes, Zach Pollack, Michael Voltaggio, Jonathan Waxman and Marc Vetri coming together to cook for childhood cancer cures.

Chris Bianco“What we’ve accomplished in seven years is so gratifying. It’s a tremendous amount of work to produce, but the rewards of knowing that the money we’ve raised truly helps research for better treatments and cures makes it worthwhile,” said Caroline Styne. “There are so many people that come together to make this happen; they work tirelessly to come up with ideas to make this year’s celebration better than the one before. And we do this because Alex Scott’s legacy inspires us to rise to the challenge.”

L.A. Benefit Co-Founder Caroline Styne and returning participating chef, Chris Bianco (Phoenix’s ethereal Pizzeria Bianco and author of Bianco: Pizza, Pasta & Other Food I Like) are our guests.

Program Note : Chef Chris Bianco is back on the show on Saturday, September 16th at the special time of 3:15 p.m. to discuss the new cookbook and his upcoming DTLA restaurant as part of the ambitious Tartine Manufactory.

Show 87, September 6, 2014: Guest Host Chef Andrew Gruel and Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris preview the show

Guest Host Executive Chef Andrew Gruel, CEO of Slapfish Restaurant Group and Producer Andy Harris preview the show.

The 5th Annual L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade culinary cookout returns this year on Saturday, September 20th. When it comes to having the most impressive roster of nationally-known celebrity chefs cooking locally for charity this Benefit is the clear standout. It’s hosted by Chef Suzanne Goin, her business partner Caroline Styne (Lucques, A.O.C., Tavern) along with Chef David Lentz (The Hungry Cat.)

McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream is a 70-year old iconic brand of super premium ice cream which is still based where it was founded in Santa Barbara. Michael Palmer (winemaker) and his wife Eva Ein (chef) purchased this heritage brand in 2012. A McConnell’s scoop shop recently opened in the Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles.

Food, wine & travel writer Michelle Winner is the President of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA.). She will be talking to us from Hawaii. Over Labor Day Weekend she was part of the Kaanapali Fresh – A Culinary Experience on Maui and right now she is in the middle of the 4th Annual Hawaii Food & Wine Festival on Oahu.

Ida Rodriguez is the long-time Corporate Chef for Melissa’s / World Variety Produce. Until the end of the month it’s Hatch Chile season. Over Labor Day Weekend Chef Ida was in Hatch, New Mexico for the annual Hatch Chile Festival. It gets crazy there. Chef Ida is with us to give us the flavorful report.

Executive Chef Andrew Gruel is CEO of Slapfish Restaurant Group with locations in Huntington Beach, Laguna, Dubai, and soon – Newport Beach. Chef Andrew is a guest judge on Food Network’s upcoming “Food Truck Face-Off” series, was a participant on Sept. 5th at OC Weekly’s 11th Annual Decadence 2014 Tasting Event, and has a new video our explaining the secrets of preparing Slapfish’s Clobster Roll to the Orange County Register’s distinguished food writer, Cathy Thomas.

It’s a singular honor as a chef & restaurateur to be invited to prepare and present a meal at The James Beard Foundation in New York. Chef Geeta Bansal of Clay Oven has that distinct honor on September 27th. On Monday, Sept. 15th Clay Oven will be previewing that same grand five-course, wine-paired menu for a small group of lucky locals. Not one to miss…

David Solmonson and Lesley Jacobs Solmonson have penned a new kind of cocktail book, The 12 Bottle Bar. Just twelve bottles create over 200 distinct and seasonal cocktails, including beer and wine cocktails. When we first interviewed the Solmonsons we ran out of time before we could discuss the clever “Acknowledgements” section of their book. We’ll resume the conversation…

All of this and lots more absolutely incredible deliciousness on Saturday’s show!

Show 87, September 6, 2014: LA Loves Alex’s Lemonade

Caroline StyneThe 5th Annual L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade culinary cookout returns this year on Saturday, September 20th. When it comes to having the most impressive roster of nationally-known celebrity chefs cooking locally for charity this Benefit is the clear standout. It’s hosted by Chef Suzanne Goin, her business partner Caroline Styne (Lucques, A.O.C., Tavern) along with Chef David Lentz (The Hungry Cat.)

The new location is Wilson Plaza at UCLA in Westwood.

The 5th Annual Benefit invites food and wine lovers from all corners of the globe for an afternoon of fantastic fare, cocktails for a cause, children’s activities, silent and live auctions, and a whole lot more. The incredible chef brigade includes big name cooks ranging from Giada De Laurentiis to Tom Colicchio.

“We can only describe what happens each year as magical. To see all of these talented people who happily come together for such a worthy cause is incredibly gratifying. The bonus is to witness everyone having a great time with the best food, wine and spirits and even see kids at play, all in the name of Alex Scott,” said Caroline Styne.

November 30, Suzanne Goin, Griffin Hammond, Robert Wemischner, Pascal Olhats, Gavin Kaysen, David LeFevre

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chef & Restaurateur Suzanne Goin of Lucques, A.O.C. and Tavern Part One
Segment Three: Chef & Restaurateur Suzanne Goin of Lucques, A.O.C. and Tavern Part Two
Segment Four: Griffin Hammond, of “Sriracha – a documentary by Griffin Hammond.”
Segment Five: Chef Instructor Robert Wemischner of L.A. Trade-Tech College
Segment Six: Pascal Olhats, owner/chef of Pascal Epicerie, Brasserie Pascal, and Café Jardin
Segment Seven: Gavin Kaysen, Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Operations for Café Boulud
Segment Eight: David LeFevre, Executive Chef & Partner of MB Post and Fishing with Dynamite

We hope you’re all enjoying the extended Thanksgiving Weekend. Remember to give us a listen along the way on Saturday morning…

As we complete our 14th month on the air with the “SoCal Restaurant Show” with Jet Tila we want to again thank our loyal listeners and sponsors for their enthusiasm and support. We wouldn’t be here without you and we never forget that.

Thanks to positive listener feedback Jet has a new segment on Friday morning. Be sure to tune in Friday mornings at 7:50 a.m. for “What’s Cooking with Travis and Chef Jet Tila” on the “Travis Rodgers Show.” Jet talks with Travis about food and cooking from the dude’s perspective. It’s on the lighter side and you won’t hear this AM 830 KLAA exclusive feature elsewhere.

Chef Jet and Producer Andy preview the show.

Suzanne GoinChef & Restaurateur Suzanne Goin is true culinary royalty in Los Angeles. She has just published her second cookbook, the A.O.C. Cookbook. It was a two year process.

Suzanne is the recipient of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef: California (2006) and is a multiple past nominee. She worked for Alice Waters at Chez Panisse earlier in her career. Her final position at Campanile (now closed) in Hollywood (before going out on her own) was as executive chef.

Suzanne partnered with sommelier, Caroline Styne, to open Lucques in West Hollywood in 1998. That was followed by A.O.C. in 2002. Next was Tavern and The Larder in Brentwood. The President has dined at Tavern.

A new Larder is soon to open in January at The Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport.

A.O.C. CookbookSuzanne talks about cooking with seasonal vegetables and how that passion of hers found its way into the A.O.C. Cookbook.

She feels it’s very important to balance flavors which you only learn by tasting.

All the recipes in the cookbook were tested in a home kitchen by an enthusiastic home cook.

Suzanne’s long-time business partner, Caroline Styne, has wonderfully informative wine notes that go with each recipe in the book.

A.O.C. (the restaurant) has recently moved a mile West to the old Orso location on W. Third Street across from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Suzanne shares how the move came about.

Griffin HammondGriffin Hammond is a respected documentary filmmaker. He’s just completed his fascinating film on Sriracha. This documentary has taken him to Southern California on multiple occasions and even to Thailand where Sriracha originated. In Thailand the people are amazed that Sriracha is a popular condiment in the United States.

Griffin financed this unusual documentary via an incredibly successful Kickstarter campaign that was actually oversubscribed.

Robert WemischnerChef Instructor Robert Wemischner is a mainstay in the Baking Department at L.A. Trade Tech in Downtown Los Angeles. He’s also an accomplished pastry chef and author. The Dessert Architect is his most recent title.

Chef Bob shares his holiday dessert ideas for using fresh pomegranates, persimmons, and (the underappreciated) quince.

Pascal OlhatsThe Dean of French Chefs in Orange County is the ever charming Pascal Olhats of the Pascal Epicerie in Newport Beach. This is located next door to the site of his long-running Traditions by Pascal fine dining restaurant which he sold last year. Pascal originally came to Orange County in 1984 to open Hotel Le Meridian in Newport Beach. The property is now the Fairmont Newport Beach. Earlier in his career he worked for Master Chef Paul Bocuse (a French culinary legend) in Lyon.

In Newport Beach Pascal also operates Brasserie Pascal in Fashion Island and Café Jardin.

Pascal talks about a new fundraising effort he’s putting together to benefit the Orange County Food Bank.

How the French celebrate the Christmas meal is also part of the conversation.

Gavin kaysenGavin Kaysen is the greatly respected Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Operations for Daniel Boulud’s Café Boulud in New York, Palm Beach and Toronto.

He put previously San Diego on the national culinary map during his much-praised tenure at El Bizcocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. Fortunately for us he finds his way back to SoCal periodically to cook at fundraisers.

In his spare time he’s the Head Coach for Bocuse d’Or Team USA 2015. Chef Gavin has completed in this prestigious International Culinary Olympics and explains what the level of competition is all about. It’s a year of rigorous practice. Go Team USA in 2015!

Charlie TrotterEarlier in the month the food world lost Chef Charlie Trotter who was the first superstar celebrity chef in Chicago and influenced a network of young chefs. Charlie Trotter’s (the restaurant) on W. Armitage was known to foodies around the world for his innovative tasting menus and brilliant wine cellar.

Our own David LeFevre, the executive chef & partner of both MB Post and Fishing with Dynamite in Manhattan Beach worked for Charlie over a period of ten years in a couple of stints. David joins us to share memories of the real Charlie Trotter. Fortunately his legacy will live on.

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chef & Restaurateur Suzanne Goin of Lucques, A.O.C. and Tavern Part One
Segment Three: Chef & Restaurateur Suzanne Goin of Lucques, A.O.C. and Tavern Part Two
Segment Four: Griffin Hammond, of “Sriracha – a documentary by Griffin Hammond.”
Segment Five: Chef Instructor Robert Wemischner of L.A. Trade-Tech College
Segment Six: Pascal Olhats, owner/chef of Pascal Epicerie, Brasserie Pascal, and Café Jardin
Segment Seven: Gavin Kaysen, Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Operations for Café Boulud
Segment Eight: David LeFevre, Executive Chef & Partner of MB Post and Fishing with Dynamite