Show 459, January 22, 2022: Chef Vida Virgillito of the Gone Loco Spicy Food Truck, Long Beach

Vida Virgillito of the Gone Lock Spicy Food Truck

“The city-wide inaugural Long Beach Black Restaurant Week will take place January 23-30, 2022. Long Beach Black Restaurant Week will be a platform to bring everyone to the table, from all walks of life, to showcase the city’s diverse Black food scene. Organized by Long Beach Food & Beverage, a California registered 501(c)3 non-profit, along with Velika Turner, former co-owner of Derricks on Atlantic, Long Black Restaurant Week will be an eight day event devoted to celebrating African, African American, and Caribbean fare in and around Long Beach. The event also seeks to highlight Black-owned food businesses as well as Black chefs and bartenders.”

A participating food truck is Chef Vida Virgillito’s Gone Loco Spicy Food Truck. It’s the first certified rolling grill in Long Beach that features a menu of all spicy foods. You choose your preferred level of spice ranging from “Tame” to “Insane.” All the hot sauces and special seasonings are Chef Vida’s creations. They are vegan and vegetarian options on the Gone Loco menu.

Popular menu items include My Chick Bangin’ Sandwich with a spicy chicken breast (grilled or fried,) spicy house aioli, spicy pickles, lettuce and tomato; and Mom’s Grilled PB&PJ Sammie with pepper jelly and peanut butter on grilled artisan bread. The onion rings have a special seasoning that elevates the taste and flavor. Chef Vida takes a break from the rolling grill and joins us with spatula in hand.

Show 418, March 27, 2021: Executive Chef Michael Rossi, The Ranch Restaurant, Anaheim

Michael Rossi of the Ranch Restaurant and Saloon

The Ranch Restaurant in Anaheim is, again, available for full service dine-in for lunch and dinner on an open-air patio and with inside dining (at a reduced capacity) with proper social distancing between tables. To-Go meals are also on the menu.

The Ranch Restaurant features true American regional cuisine. It’s cooking from scratch with the finest ingredients possible to capture the rustic style of wine country and the freshest flavors of the farm. The Ranch honors California’s great ranches, farms and dairies, the artisan bread bakers and cheese and wine makers. Their seasonally driven menu showcases the freshest produce in season – as nature intended. The emphasis is on farm to table, fresh organically grown fruits and vegetables from local farms and from The Ranch’s own ranch in the Santa Ana Mountains.”

“In the kitchen, brothers Michael Rossi (Executive Chef) and Dave Rossi (Pastry Chef) create menus that journey between classic dishes and elevated interpretations of global fare.”

Executive Chef Michael Rossi joins us from The Ranch.

Show 367, April 4, 2020: Chef Dee Nguyen of Break of Dawn & Dean Kim of OC Baking Co. – Feeding Healthcare Workers

Dee Nguyen of Break of DawnA group of community-spirited, local chefs is offering those on the front line at local Urgent Care and Emergency Rooms a free meal to take to their family. As their way of showing appreciation,

Break of Dawn Chef / Owner Dee Nguyen, OC Baking Company Baker / Owner Dean Kim, and Crema Artisan Cafe Baker / Owner Tarit Tanjasiri will offer these local heroes the opportunity to pick up home-made chicken noodle soup, a loaf of fresh-baked bread, and a decadent gourmet cookie. Also involved in this act of generosity to acknowledge the hard work and long hours put in by our local healthcare workers, are Glenn Tanaka of Tanaka Farms and Anne Cutner of Solutions for Urban Agriculture, who have donated their fresh produce for the chicken noodle soup.

Pickup for local Healthcare Workers is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m to 8 p.m. at OC Baking Company, 1960 N. Glassell St., Orange, CA 92865

This team has already made deliveries to local care centers and are attempting to make their meals available to more who may not have time to pick up food or make meals after long shifts. Those interested in assisting in feeding local healthcare workers who are keeping our community safe, may contact Dee Nguyen. Any assistance will be graciously accepted, from hands-on kitchen assistance, to product and monetary donations.

Chef Dee takes a break from the simmering soup caldron (along with Master Baker Dean Kim) to join us.

Show 71, May 3, 2014: Nan Kohler, Managing Partner, Grist & Toll – An Urban Flour Mill, Pasadena Continues…

Nan KohlerThe conversation continues with Nan Kohler of Grist & Toll – An Urban Flour Mill.

Nan explains how the flours produced by Grist & Toll differ from the commercial enriched flour that goes into plain white bread. A lot of the nutritional value is surprisingly lost with the processing of conventional enriched flour.

With stone milling the bran and wheat germ in wheat is left intact. The nutritional value remains (instead of needing to be artificially added back.)

On Saturdays Nan sells whole grain artisan bread made with her flours.

Nan is also starting to offer baking classes.

Show 59, February 1, 2013: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris

Chef Jet and Producer Andy preview the show.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching so plan ahead and don’t panic. It falls on a Friday this year. Friday is an especially tough day for restaurants due to Valentine’s Day anxiety so if you want to be a bit more relaxed make your plans for Saturday or Sunday instead. Still the Valentine’s Day orbit but a bit less crazed for the restaurant. You’ll definitely have better service and less stress…

Chef jet Tila and Alton BrownFood Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen” with host Alton Brown is back on Sunday nights for Season 2. Our own Chef Jet Tila is the most frequently appearing solo judge on this tough competition show that requires strategy as well as cooking chops. Look for Jet’s new episodes starting in February.

Congrats to Chef Chris Oh of Seoul Sausage Co. in West Los Angeles. Last Sunday (Jan. 26th.) he competed against three other chefs on Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen.” He won big and took home the most cash of any winner to date!

Sliders from Cafe RockenwagnerEveryone’s favorite sexy Aussie Chef is Curtis Stone. He’s opening an intimate new restaurant on Feb. 1st and we’ll get all the 411 right from the source. Fine dining chef Hans Rockenwagner, in recent years, has become known for his line of artisan breads. He’s just opened his most ambitious bakery café to date in Brentwood and joins us to provide the details. Wolfgang Puck is back in Orange County with the newly launched Puck’s Tavern at Honda Center, home of the Anaheim Ducks. The executive chef of Wolfgang Puck Catering is with us to preview what’s on the menu.

All of that and lots more incredible deliciousness on the “SoCal Restaurant Show.”

For Valentine’s Day the original Zov’s Bistro in Tustin has a choice of their classic entrees for dinner including an 18 oz. bone-in rib-eye steak.

At The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar in Tustin it’s the “Oh Baby” Valentine’s Day evening celebration. There are two fixed price options at a reasonable $69 and $89 per guest. It’s a four course spectacular from Executive Chef & Partner Yvon Goetz. Creative wine pairing are available from “Sir” William Lewis (Sommelier & Partner.)

Show 59, February 1, 2013: Chef Hans Rockenwagner, Rockenwagner Bakery and Café Rockenwagner

Hans RockenwagnerChef Hans Rockenwagner burst on the local Venice dining scene in 1985 when he opened the original (40 seat) Rockenwagner on Abbot Kinney Blvd. where Joe’s is now.

In 1991 Rockenwagner moved to a much larger space in the Frank Gehry-designed Edgemar Complex in Santa Monica. A master bread baker from Germany was added to the culinary staff.

White asparagus, in season, became a signature menu item. He direct imported it himself from Germany bringing in 300 lbs. per week via air freight during the season.

Hans eventually discovered there was more money (and stability) in artisan bread and eventually closed Rockenwagner to concentrate on his growing wholesale bread baking business. He now has 60 bakers working around the clock seven days a week! Rockenwagner Bakery is a fixture at area Farmers Markets including the Sunday Beverly Hills Farmers Market.

February 1: Curtis Stone, Cookies for a Koz, Hans Rockenwagner, Puck’s Tavern, Pacific Coast Wine Festival

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Curtis Stone, Owner/Chef of Maude, Beverly Hills Part One
Segment Three: Curtis Stone, Owner/Chef of Maude, Beverly Hills Part Two
Segment Four: Roberta Koz Wilson, Cookies for a Koz
Segment Five: Chef Hans Rockenwagner, Rockenwagner Bakery and Café Rockenwagner Part One
Segment Six: Chef Hans Rockenwagner, Rockenwagner Bakery and Café Rockenwagner Part Two
Segment Seven: Matt Bencivenga, Wolfgang Puck Catering and Puck’s Tavern at Honda Center
Segment Eight: Tristen Beamon and Kyle Meyer, BestWinesOnline.com and Pacific Coast Wine Festival

Chef Jet and Producer Andy preview the show.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching so plan ahead and don’t panic. It falls on a Friday this year. Friday is an especially tough day for restaurants due to Valentine’s Day anxiety so if you want to be a bit more relaxed make your plans for Saturday or Sunday instead. Still the Valentine’s Day orbit but a bit less crazed for the restaurant. You’ll definitely have better service…

Chef jet Tila and Alton BrownFood Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen” with host Alton Brown is back on Sunday nights for Season 2. Our own Chef Jet Tila is the most frequently appearing solo judge on this tough competition show that requires strategy as well as cooking chops. Look for Jet’s new episodes starting in February.

Congrats to Chef Chris Oh of Seoul Sausage Co. in West Los Angeles. Last Sunday (Jan. 26th.) he competed against three other chefs on Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen.” He won big and took home the most cash of any winner to date!

Everyone’s favorite sexy Aussie Chef is Curtis Stone. He’s opening an intimate new restaurant on Feb. 1st and we’ll get all the 411 right from the source. Fine dining chef Hans Rockenwagner, in recent years, has become known for his line of artisan breads. He’s just opened his most ambitious bakery café to date in Brentwood and joins us to provide the details. Wolfgang Puck is back in Orange County with the newly launched Puck’s Tavern at Honda Center, home of the Anaheim Ducks. The executive chef of Wolfgang Puck Catering is with us to preview what’s on the menu.

All of that and lots more incredible deliciousness on the “SoCal Restaurant Show.”

Curtis StoneYou know Aussie celebrity chef, Curtis Stone, from Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters” which he hosts. He’s now a resident of Los Angeles.

What you may not know is that he has a serious culinary background. He trained with the legendary English Chef, Marco Pierre White. Chef Curtis worked his way up Marco Pierre White’s tall culinary ladder and eventually became the Head Chef of Quo Vadis in London.

On February 1st Curtis Stone opens Maude in Beverly Hills. Maude is named after his grandmother. It’s an intimate 25 seats and Chef Curtis will actually be there cooking. The menu will change monthly and all of the nine tasting plates served each night will contain a featured ingredient.

His most recent cookbook, What’s for Dinner?: Delicious Recipes for a Busy Life was published last year by Ballantine Books Hardcover. The concept is getting dinner on the table without a hassle. The book features 130 effortless and inspired recipes that carry Chef Curtis’ promise of working.

Roberta Koz WilsonIt’s almost Valentine’s Day and what more thoughtful edible gift than absolutely delicious chocolate chip cookies baked in small batches! The big plus is that each sale benefits The Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Roberta Koz Wilson (jazz saxophone great Dave Koz’s sister) of Cookies for a Koz joins us to share the inspirational story. The cookies are a tribute to their late mother, Audrey, who created the original cookie recipe. The truth is that these famous cookies opened a lot of doors for Dave in his early days as a struggling musician!

The Red Velvet Cookie was originally created as a Valentine’s Day special. It became so popular that it was added to the year-round line. It’s their take on a moist and delicious Red Velvet Cupcake.

Hans RockenwagnerChef Hans Rockenwagner burst on the local Venice dining scene in 1985 when he opened the original (40 seat) Rockenwagner on Abbot Kinney Blvd. where Joe’s is now.

In 1991 Rockenwagner moved to a much larger space in the Frank Gehry-designed Edgemar Complex in Santa Monica.

White asparagus, in season, became a signature menu item.

Hans eventually discovered there was more money in artisan bread and eventually closed Rockenwagner to concentrate on his growing wholesale bread baking business. He now has 60 bakers working around the clock seven days a week! Rockenwagner Bakery is a fixture at area Farmers Markets including the Sunday Beverly Hills Farmers Market.

Cafe RockenwagnerIn addition to the growing wholesale bakery Hans Rockenwagner has a network of busy bakery cafes in Santa Monica, Venice, and Mar Vista. The most ambitious café to date just launched in Brentwood. This Café Rockenwagner is in the bw (a high-rise luxury apartment building) at the corner of Barrington Ave. and Wilshire Blvd.

Besides a full food menu there is on an on-site pastry chef here so there is an impressive selection of fresh breakfast pastries, desserts, breads and pretzels available.

Pucks Tavern at Honda CenterCelebrated chef Wolfgang Puck and Wolfgang Puck Catering have just launched two new dining destinations at Honda Center, the home of the Anaheim Ducks. They are Puck’s Tavern, an approachable fine-dining restaurant serving modern comfort food and The Window at Puck’s Tavern, a made-to-order pizza concession stand. Both operations are located on the South Side of the arena’s main level.

Open during Honda Center’s events, Puck’s Tavern (230 seats) caters to both the general public and ticketholders alike. The 7,000 square-foot, indoor-outdoor restaurant features a direct entrance to the arena allowing a seamless transition from a sit-down meal or private event to the evening’s entertainment.

Matt Bencivenga, Executive Chef and Partner of Wolfgang Puck Catering joins us to chat about the opening of Puck’s Tavern and Wolfgang’s high-profile return to Orange County.

Tristen Beamon and Kyle MeyerIf you’re a wine lover then the upcoming Pacific Coast Wine Festival evening on March 1st at The Island Hotel in Newport Beach to benefit the Pacific Symphony is definitely for you.

The evening starts off with tastings from highly touted wineries including Domaine Faively and Nickel & Nickel. The live and silent auction will feature renowned selections such as Margaux, Mouton, Paul Hobbs, and Screaming Eagle. The sumptuous dinner will be followed by a select chocolate and port tasting.

All the impressive wine selections for the benefit and auctions have been meticulously curated by Tristen Beamon and Kyle Meyer of Orange County’s Bestwinesonline.

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Curtis Stone, Owner/Chef of Maude, Beverly Hills Part One
Segment Three: Curtis Stone, Owner/Chef of Maude, Beverly Hills Part Two
Segment Four: Roberta Koz Wilson, Cookies for a Koz
Segment Five: Chef Hans Rockenwagner, Rockenwagner Bakery and Café Rockenwagner Part One
Segment Six: Chef Hans Rockenwagner, Rockenwagner Bakery and Café Rockenwagner Part Two
Segment Seven: Matt Bencivenga, Wolfgang Puck Catering and Puck’s Tavern at Honda Center
Segment Eight: Tristen Beamon and Kyle Meyer, BestWinesOnline.com and Pacific Coast Wine Festival

Show 13, January 19, 2013: Dean Kim, OC Baking Company

Dean Kim of OC Baking CompanyWhen it comes to bread no one does it better than Dean Kim of the celebrated OC Baking Co. His fresh, limited-production product is available at one Farmers Market in Orange on Saturday morning. Otherwise you find his line of artisan breads at the better restaurants in Orange County. He’s baking seven days…

Some of his bigger, more prestigious accounts are The Montage Hotel in Laguna Beach & Beverly Hills and Charlie Palmer at South Coast Plaza.

January 19: Dean Kim, Trip Feast, Brock Radke, Delilah Snell

Podcasts

Segment One: Dean Kim, OC Baking Company Part One
Segment Two: Dean Kim, OC Baking Company Part Two
Segment Three: Rahul Aggarwal, Director & Founder – Trip Feast
Segment Four: Brock Radke, Food & Web Editor, Las Vegas Weekly
Segment Five: Delilah Snell, home canning and master food preservation authority Part One
Segment Six: Delilah Snell, home canning and preservation Part Two

Appreciating artisan food products is the subject of the day.

We’ll talk bread, desserts, and home caning.

We’ll get the 411 on Trip Feast out of London which offers global cultural tours with a culinary twist.

Along the way we’ll take a quick detour to Las Vegas to get updated on some significant new restaurant openings.

Dean Kim of the OC Baking CompanyWhen it comes to artisan baked products including bread and desserts the standard of excellence is Dean Kim of The OC Baking Co.

Dean will talk about his popular business and offer some tips for the home bread baker.

If you want to combine great travel adventures with food tourism then you need to know about Trip Feast out of London.
Trip Feast was started by two food and travel enthusiasts, David and Rahul. It was created with the aim of helping the guest discover and learn the secrets of the world’s best cuisines.

Food and drink are very much an integral part of the travel experience and Trip Feast concentrates on countries with a rich culinary heritage. Whether you enjoy sampling sensational street food, cooking with local experts in extraordinary surroundings, meeting passionate food and drink producers, or dining with locals in their homes there is a Trip Feast experience for you.

Brock Radke of Las Vegas WeeklyOur man in Las Vegas, Brock Radke, is back with his first dining report of 2013. Brock is the distinguished Web & Food Editor for Las Vegas Weekly and really knows the town.

Canning and home food preservation is increasing in popularity with the whole farm-to-table movement. Authority Delilah Snell joins us to provide an overview. In California there is a new law which allows cottage/artisan food products to be made at home with the right approvals and inspections.

Podcasts

Segment One: Dean Kim, OC Baking Company Part One
Segment Two: Dean Kim, OC Baking Company Part Two
Segment Three: Rahul Aggarwal, Director & Founder – Trip Feast
Segment Four: Brock Radke, Food & Web Editor, Las Vegas Weekly
Segment Five: Delilah Snell, home canning and master food preservation authority Part One
Segment Six: Delilah Snell, home canning and preservation Part Two