Show 219, April 15, 2017: Show Preview with Co-Hosts Andy Harris & Chef Andrew Gruel

Easter and Passover good wishes to all of our listeners.

Now an appealing preview of this Saturday’s over-stuffed Holiday Weekend show. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s probably a pretty good thing…

What’s Easter & Passover without some special Holiday sweets? Pastry Chef extraordinaire, Heather Roseborough, is the co-proprietress of the aptly named Crave Dessert Company in Marina del Rey. A selection of incredibly rich brownies are among her specialties. We’ll meet her and hear about her collection of properly decadent treats.

Eat well…be well” is the motto of the unusual, 3-meal-a-day Moxie Café located well off the beaten path is a light industrial area of Santa Maria. Creator Jay Hardy, the founder of Hardy Diagnostics, has realized his dream of having healthy food that was also delicious. Moxie’s Catering & Events Manager, Caleb Granski, joins us to explain all.

Veggie Fries (really tasty) are frozen French fries made from a blend of all-natural, farm grown vegetables, legumes, and potatoes, chopped and blended together with herbs, spices, and just a pinch of sea salt. Veggie Fries are vegan, non-GMO certified and free of the top 8 allergens including gluten, soy, dairy, and wheat. We’ll pull Founder & CEO Dave Peters out of the veggie patch for a chat.

Foodbeast is launching, Meat Street, what they ambitiously bill as the ultimate meat festival of Southern California. All of the meat-centric grub you can imagine is coming to the Main Place Mall on April 22, 2017. Presented by Foodbeast and The Makers of The SPAM Brand, this one-day meat fest will feature a wide variety of delicious and crazy exclusive culinary creations, as well as drinks and other fun activities. Producer Bobby Navarro of 100eats joins us with participating Chef Cody Storts of Salt and Ash with the meaty specifics.

What’s the Easter Holiday without access to a real chef’s fun tips and practical advice for that sumptuous Holiday Table? Don’t stress…Chef Andrew Gruel to the rescue.

Ca’ Del Grevino is located in the Santa Maria Valley appellation of Santa Barbara County. The vineyard is located just 10 miles from the Pacific Coast and benefits greatly from cool, maritime influences. The vineyard is planted methodically and meticulously, with special attention paid to varietals best suited to the estate’s terroir. Taking into account the soils, the meso- and micro-climates, the coastal influences and the orientation of the sun upon the hillsides, you can find here Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Grenache, Dolcetto, Riesling and Syrah. Jon Karlo Macias, Café & Tasting Room Mannager, walks us through the lush vineyard estate.

The 4th Annual “The Big Cheese” Grilled Cheese Festival & Competition appropriately conducted on National Grilled Cheese Day (April 12th) is now history. We’ll report on the winners and their melty and gooey creations.

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s show!

Show 219, April 15, 2017: FOODBEAST’s Meat Street Festival

Cody StortsFoodbeast is launching, Meat Street, what they ambitiously bill as the ultimate meat festival of Southern California. All of the meat-centric grub you can imagine is coming to the Main Place Mall on April 22, 2017. Meat Street, Presented by Foodbeast and The Makers of The SPAM Brand, this one-day meat fest will feature a wide variety of delicious and crazy exclusive culinary creations, as well as drinks and other fun activities.

“MEAT STREET will showcase the best meat dishes that Southern California has to offer. Grilled, fried, on a stick… however you like your carne you can bet it’ll be there. You can expect exclusive items from eateries such as Slater’s 50/50, Bruxie, Mess Hall Canteen, Elbows Mac n Cheese, and more. With a large number of participating vendors bringing the best of their offerings, and incorporating the Foodbeast elements we all know and love (we’re talking epic eats you won’t find anywhere else), guests are guaranteed to leave full and maybe even considering vegetarianism.”

There is a Marketplace for General Admission guests and two sessions of VIP.

Producer Bobby Navarro of 100eats joins us along with participating Chef Cody Storts of Salt and Ash with the meaty specifics.

April 15: Crave Desserts, Moxie Cafe, Veggie Fries, Meat Street, Ca’ Del Grevino, Big Cheese ‘Wrap’

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Hosts Andy Harris & Chef Andrew Gruel
Segment Two: Pastry Chef Heather Roseborough, Crave Dessert Company, Marina del Rey / Culver City
Segment Three: Caleb Granski, Catering & Events Manager, Moxie Café, Santa Maria, CA
Segment Four: Dave Peters, Founder & CEO, Veggie Fries (Farmwise)
Segment Five: FOODBEAST’s Meat Street Festival
Segment Six: Easter Cooking Tips with Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish Restaurant Group
Segment Seven: Jon Karlo Macias, Café & Tasting Room Manager, Ca’ Del Grevino Estate, Santa Maria, CA
Segment Eight: 4th Annual The Big Cheese Festival & Competition: “People’s Choice” Winner

Easter and Passover good wishes to all of our listeners.

Now an appealing preview of this Saturday’s over-stuffed Holiday Weekend show. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s probably a pretty good thing…

What’s Easter & Passover without some special Holiday sweets? Pastry Chef extraordinaire, Heather Roseborough, is the co-proprietress of the aptly named Crave Dessert Company in Marina del Rey. A selection of incredibly rich brownies are among her specialties. We’ll meet her and hear about her collection of properly decadent treats.

Eat well…be well” is the motto of the unusual, 3-meal-a-day Moxie Café located well off the beaten path is a light industrial area of Santa Maria. Creator Jay Hardy, the founder of Hardy Diagnostics, has realized his dream of having healthy food that was also delicious. Moxie’s Catering & Events Manager, Caleb Granski, joins us to explain all.

Veggie Fries (really tasty) are frozen French fries made from a blend of all-natural, farm grown vegetables, legumes, and potatoes, chopped and blended together with herbs, spices, and just a pinch of sea salt. Veggie Fries are vegan, Non-GMO certified and free of the top 8 allergens including gluten, soy, dairy, and wheat. We’ll pull Founder & CEO Dave Peters out of the veggie patch for a chat.

Foodbeast is launching what they bill as the ultimate meat festival of Southern California. All of the meat-centric grub you can imagine is coming to the Main Place Mall on April 22, 2017. Presented by Foodbeast and The Makers of The SPAM Brand, this one-day meat fest will feature a wide variety of delicious and crazy exclusive culinary creations, as well as drinks and other fun activities. Producer Bobby Navarro of 100eats joins us with participating Chef Cody Storts of Salt and Ash with the meaty specifics.

What’s the Easter Holiday without access to a real chef’s fun tips and practical advice for that sumptuous Holiday Table? Chef Andrew Gruel to the rescue.

Ca’ Del Grevino is located in the Santa Maria Valley appellation of Santa Barbara County. The vineyard is located just 10 miles from the Pacific Coast and benefits greatly from cool, maritime influences. The vineyard is planted methodically and meticulously, with special attention paid to varietals best suited to the estate’s terroir. Taking into account the soils, the meso- and micro-climates, the coastal influences and the orientation of the sun upon the hillsides, you can find here Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Grenache, Dolcetto, Riesling and Syrah. Jon Karlo Macias, Café & Tasting Room Mannager, walks us through the lush vineyard estate.

The 4th Annual “The Big Cheese” Grilled Cheese Festival & Competition appropriately conducted on National Grilled Cheese Day (April 12th) is now history. We’ll report on the winners and their melty and gooey creations.

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s show!

Heather RoseboroughWhat’s Easter & Passover without some special Holiday sweets? Pastry Chef extraordinaire, Heather Roseborough, is the co-proprietress of the aptly named Crave Dessert Company in Marina del Rey. A selection of incredibly rich brownies are among her specialties.

Chef Heather was the pastry chef at the original Ford’s Filling Station in Culver City. She also worked in the pastry department at Chef Tom Colicchio’s Craft, Century City

“We offer a wide range of desserts with unique flavors, customizable for a variety of private events and catering.”

“We specialize in small batch baking and offer a variety of house-made delicious desserts. We also love to tailor desserts for whatever your needs are. Stop by and see us, or call / e-mail to inquire about our custom desserts. We offer a large selection of gluten free desserts, too, which taste amazing!”

We’ll meet Pastry Chef Heather and hear about her collection of properly decadent treats.

Moxie CafeEat well…be well” is the motto of the unusual, 3-meal-a-day Moxie Café located well off the beaten path is a light industrial area of Santa Maria. Creator Jay Hardy, the founder of Hardy Diagnostics, has realized his dream of having healthy food that was also delicious.

“Since you care about your health, at the Moxie Cafe you can depend on us to offer a selection of tasty, fresh, and healthy choices. We pledge to never tempt you with excessive fat or sugar laden meals. In fact, you will not find a fryer or a soda fountain at the Moxie! We believe that healthy food should taste good. Come in and let us prove it to you!”

“Our goal was to create a selection of fresh, wholesome foods you could eat day-after-day, feel satisfied afterward (not bloated and sluggish), and not gain weight. We wanted to source our food locally and go organic whenever possible. We wanted to completely ban trans-fats, fried foods, and MSG from the premises. We wanted to create a place where our guests would not be tempted to eat things that are not good for them and their children.” Jay Hardy, Founder, Moxie Cafe

Moxie’s Catering & Events Manager, Caleb Granski, joins us to explain all.

Dave Peters of Veggie Fries“Our story is probably your story; a family searching for healthy and delicious food for our three daughters. We achieved the best of both worlds in some of America’s most iconic foods. Our whole family loves French fries and tater tots, so we made them healthier; blending in our favorite vegetables to make a tasty nutritious treat. We experimented with over 300 recipes to create perfect fries and tots –extra crispy on the outside, fluffy and tender on the inside using a delicious blend of vegetables, legumes, and potatoes. We hope your family loves them as much as we do.”

Veggie Fries are really tasty frozen French fries made from a blend of all-natural, farm grown vegetables, legumes, and potatoes, chopped and blended together with herbs, spices, and just a pinch of sea salt. Veggie Fries are vegan, Non-GMO certified and free of the top 8 allergens including gluten, soy, dairy, and wheat.

Each batch of Veggie Fries provides a crispy texture on the outside, fluffy and tender on the inside. Every variety has at least 27% of non-potato vegetables and legumes, containing 9 vegetable servings and a substantial amount of vegetable nutrition in every14 oz. bag.

We’ll pull Founder & CEO Dave Peters out of the veggie patch for a chat.

Cody StortsFoodbeast is launching what they bill as the ultimate meat festival of Southern California. All of the meat-centric grub you can imagine is coming to the Main Place Mall on April 22, 2017. Meat Street, Presented by Foodbeast and The Makers of The SPAM Brand, this one-day meat fest will feature a wide variety of delicious and crazy exclusive culinary creations, as well as drinks and other fun activities.

“MEAT STREET will showcase the best meat dishes that Southern California has to offer. Grilled, fried, on a stick… however you like your carne you can bet it’ll be there. You can expect exclusive items from eateries such as Slater’s 50/50, Bruxie, Mess Hall Canteen, Elbows Mac n Cheese, and more. With a large number of participating vendors bringing the best of their offerings, and incorporating the Foodbeast elements we all know and love (we’re talking epic eats you won’t find anywhere else), guests are guaranteed to leave full and maybe even considering vegetarianism.”

There is a Marketplace for General Admission guests and two sessions of VIP.

Producer Bobby Navarro of 100eats joins us along with participating Chef Cody Storts of Salt and Ash with the meaty specifics.

Andrew and William GruelWhat’s the family-focused Easter Holiday without access to a real chef’s helpful tips and genuinely useful advice for that sumptuous Holiday Table? Chef Andrew Gruel to the rescue.

Ca’ Del Grevino is located in the Santa Maria Valley appellation of Santa Barbara County. The vineyard is located just 10 miles from the Pacific Coast and benefits greatly from cool, maritime influences. The vineyard is planted methodically and meticulously, with special attention paid to varietals best suited to the estate’s terroir. Taking into account the soils, the meso- and micro-climates, the coastal influences and the orientation of the sun upon the hillsides, you can find here Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Grenache, Dolcetto, Riesling and Syrah.

“Our vineyard produces some of the finest wines in California. The region’s cool climate, geology and topography provide the opportunity to create uncompromised, premium wines. Ca’ Del Grevino, meaning “House of Grewal Family Wines”, produces fine wines steeped in Italian tradition with a distinctive California style.”

Jon Karlo MaciasCa’ Del Grevino is the signature wine brand of our estate representing regality, tradition and opulence. Nestled in California’s prestigious Central Coast is the lovely Santa Maria Valley. The unique micro-climate of the valley produces cool mornings and long warm afternoons. Together with us the best quality fruit produced and attention to detail produces our award -winning Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, White Riesling and Syrah wines.”

Ca’ Del Grevino wines are available to their Wine Club members and at their distinctive area Tasting Rooms. Each Tasting Room has a bit of a different character. The Orcutt Tasting Room is also a Café. The Los Olivos Tasting Room skillfully pairs their wines with cheese, charcuterie or chocolate plates. The Tasting Room in Santa Barbara is in the vibrant “Funk Zone” at the Santa Barbara Wine Collective. An attraction there is Helena’s Bakery with a menu of custom-baked sweet and savory goods.

Jon Karlo Macias, Café & Tasting Room Manager, walks us through the lush vineyard estate.

The Big Cheese Grilled Cheese CompetitionThe “SoCal Restaurant Show” was honored to be part of the Judges’ Panel for the 4th Annual “The Big Cheese” Grilled Cheese Festival & Competition on National Grilled Cheese Day at Orange’s Provisions Market.

We’ll chat with the winner of the People’s Choice recognition and recap the winning sandwich from the Judges’ Panel.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Hosts Andy Harris & Chef Andrew Gruel
Segment Two: Pastry Chef Heather Roseborough, Crave Dessert Company, Marina del Rey / Culver City
Segment Three: Caleb Granski, Catering & Events Manager, Moxie Café, Santa Maria, CA
Segment Four: Dave Peters, Founder & CEO, Veggie Fries (Farmwise)
Segment Five: FOODBEAST’s Meat Street Festival
Segment Six: Easter Cooking Tips with Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish Restaurant Group
Segment Seven: Jon Karlo Macias, Café & Tasting Room Manager, Ca’ Del Grevino Estate, Santa Maria, CA
Segment Eight: 4th Annual The Big Cheese Festival & Competition: “People’s Choice” Winner

Show 206, January 14, 2017: Show Preview with Andy Harris, Co-Host & Executive Producer and Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group

Andy Harris and Andrew Gruel at the Pechanga Wine Festival for Angels Radio AM830 KLAANow a hunger-evoking preview of Saturday’s fully-loaded show with Co-Hosts Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s actually a pretty good thing…

The 11th Annual Newport Beach Restaurant Week is upon us from January 16th to 29th, 2017. The Bungalow Restaurant, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last October, is one of the 60 plus restaurants participating. Terri Henry of Terri Henry Marketing joins us to highlight her client’s Lunch and Dinner Restaurant Week menu options.

The always “in-the-know” Anne Marie Panoringan is a contributing writer for OC Weekly. She is also a recognized authority on cocktails from the consumers’ point-of-view. Experience counts! Anne Marie joins us with a recap of her recent OC Weekly piece, “Top 5 Orange County Cocktails of 2016, Anne Marie Edition!” Cheers…

Amar Santana is the Executive Chef/Proprietor of Vaca in Costa Mesa and Broadway by Amar Santana in Laguna Beach. Vaca was Orange County Register Restaurant Critic, Brad A. Johnson’s “Best New Restaurant of 2016. Chef Amar is also a distinguished alum of the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP.) Amar joins us to preview C-CAP’s Winter Harvest Benefit Dinner at James Republic on Wednesday, February 8th.

We know Chef Marc Johnson as the opening chef for both the Oak Grill Restaurant and Aqua Lounge at The Island Hotel in Newport Beach. Chef Marc has now taken his spice rack and seasonings over to the Red O Restaurants (Fashion Island, Los Angeles and Santa Monica) where is the Corporate Executive Chef. We’ll get all the spicy details with Chef Marc.

Some of the best Mexican street food available in Puerto Vallarta is found at the 10 year-old Vallarta Botanical Garden. Let’s talk about those incredible fish tacos and really fresh chunky guacamole! It’s all served with style, too, in an unequaled setting. The garden itself is an impressive attraction, too. We’re sipping local Raicilla (available in their gift shop) with Curator and Founder, Bob Price.

“Noods Noods Noods” – The Noodle & Asian Themed Food Festival in on for January 14th, 2017 in historic Downtown Santa Ana. This one-day Festival presented by Foodbeast and Nissin, The Original Cup Noodles will feature some of the craziest, most delicious noodle and Asian-themed creations. Our own Chef Andrew Gruel will be debuting an item from his soon-to-open Two Birds at Trade in Irvine. Festival Producer Bobby Navarro of 100 Eats is our guest.

What’s trending in fruits and vegetables for the new year? Produce Guru (aka The Prince of Produce) Robert Schueller of Melissa’s World Variety Produce has the answers. For openers everything “Coconut” is hot…

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

Show 206, January 14, 2017: Bobby Navarro, Producer, Noods Noods Noods Noodle and Asian Fusion Festival

Bobby Navarro“Noods Noods Noods” – The Noodle & Asian Themed Food Festival in on for January 14th, 2017 in historic Downtown Santa Ana. This one-day Festival will feature some of the craziest, most delicious noodle and Asian-themed creations. Our own Chef Andrew Gruel will be debuting an item from his soon-to-open Two Birds at Trade in Irvine.

Asian-Inspired Comfort Foods — NOODS has brought some of the best food geniuses around to this epicenter of Asian-eats. The innovative dishes at NOODS are promised to be nothing short of newsworthy and drool-worthy. This event will host multiple vendors, each supplying exclusive Asian-inspired and/or noodle-tastic comfort-food items.

Among the lineup of participating restaurants and their creative food items:

Anchor Hitch: Deep Fried Uni pasta with swiss cheese, lightly coated in panko, drizzled in uni cream sauce, topped with Smelt Roe and Shredded Nori

Mess Hall Canteen: Award Winning White Boy Ramen with tonkatsu style pork broth, crispy pork belly, pickled jalapeños and shallots, dandelion greens, mushroom, sous vide egg

Two Birds: Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish debuts his newest concept to NOODS and will present Jidori Chicken and a Ramen Burrito

Shrimp Daddy: The OC Debut of June Quan’s AKA @stirandstyle’s Hawaiian garlic shrimp concept

Festival Producer Bobby Navarro of 100 Eats is our guest.

January 14: The Bungalow, OC Weekly, Amar Santana, Marc Johnson, Vallarta Botanical Garden, Noods Noods Noods, Melissa’s Produce

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Andy Harris, Co-Host & Executive Producer and Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group
Segment Two: The Bungalow Restaurant, Corona del Mar, for Newport Beach Restaurant Week
Segment Three: Food & Libation journalist, Anne Marie Panoringan, Contributor to OC Weekly
Segment Four: Executive Chef Amar Santana, Vaca and Broadway by Amar Santana
Segment Five: Marc Johnson, Corporate Executive Chef, Red O Restaurants
Segment Six: Bob Price, Curator and Founder, Vallarta Botanical Garden, Jardin Botanico De Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta
Segment Seven: Bobby Navarro, Producer, Noods Noods Noods Noodle and Asian Fusion Festival
Segment Eight: Robert Schueller, Director of Public Relations (The Produce Guru), Melissa’s / World Variety Produce, Inc.

Now a hunger-evoking preview of Saturday’s fully-loaded show with Co-Hosts Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s actually a pretty good thing…

The 11th Annual Newport Beach Restaurant Week is upon us from January 16th to 29th, 2017. The Bungalow Restaurant, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last October, is one of the 60 plus restaurants participating. Restaurant management veteran Louie Feinstein (a co-owner) joins us to highlight their Lunch and Dinner Restaurant Week menu options.

The always “in-the-know” Anne Marie Panoringan is a contributing writer for OC Weekly. She is also a recognized expert on cocktails. Experience counts! Anne Marie joins us with a recap of her recent OC Weekly piece, “Top 5 Orange County Cocktails of 2016, Anne Marie Edition!” Cheers…

Amar Santana is the Executive Chef/Proprietor of Vaca in Costa Mesa and Broadway by Amar Santana in Laguna Beach. Vaca was Orange County Register Restaurant Critic, Brad A. Johnson’s “Best New Restaurant of 2016. Chef Amar is also a distinguished alum of the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP.) Amar joins us to preview C-CAP’s Winter Harvest Benefit Dinner at James Republic on Wednesday, February 8th.

We know Chef Marc Johnson as the opening chef for both the Oak Grill Restaurant and Aqua Lounge at The Island Hotel in Newport Beach. Chef Marc has now taken his spice rack and seasonings over to the Red O Restaurants (Fashion Island, Los Angeles and Santa Monica) where is the Corporate Executive Chef. We’ll get all the spicy details with Chef Marc.

Some of the best Mexican street food available in Puerto Vallarta is found at the 10 year-old Vallarta Botanical Garden. Let’s talk about those incredible fish tacos and really fresh guacamole! It’s all served with style, too, in an unequaled setting. The garden itself is an impressive attraction, too. We’re sipping local Raicilla with Curator and Founder, Bob Price.

“Noods Noods Noods” – The Noodle & Asian Themed Food Festival in on for January 14th, 2017 in historic Downtown Santa Ana. This one-day Festival will feature some of the craziest, most delicious noodle and Asian-themed creations. Our own Chef Andrew Gruel will be debuting an item from his soon-to-open Two Birds at Trade in Irvine. Festival Producer Bobby Navarro of 100 Eats is our guest.

What’s trending in fruits and vegetables for the new year? Produce Guru (aka The Prince of Produce) Robert Schueller of Melissa’s / World Variety Produce has the answers. Everything “Coconut” is hot…

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

Louie FeinsteinThe 11th Annual Newport Beach Restaurant Week is upon us from January 16th to 29th, 2017. The Bungalow Restaurant, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last October, is one of the 60 plus restaurants participating.

For Restaurant Week The Bungalow offers a $20 per guest 3-course Lunch menu with a choice of 8 entrée options including Grilled Mahi Mahi & Wild Rice Salad. For Dinner there is a $40 menu option as well as a $50 menu.

The Bungalow is a local favorite at the crossroads of Coast Highway and MacArthur Boulevard in Corona del Mar. Its shingle façade, striking black awnings, and Arts and Crafts font displaying the restaurant’s name gives the feel of dining in a charming Craftsman retreat.

The Bungalow’s menu specializes in USDA Prime Steaks, fresh seafood and handcrafted cocktails. The restaurant also boasts a 160-label wine cellar featuring premium vintages. A full bar and menu of signature cocktails adds to the restaurant’s allure.

Restaurant management veteran and co-owner Louie Feinstein (ex-Grill Concepts) joins us to highlight their Lunch and Dinner Restaurant Week menu options.

Anne Marie PanoringanThe always “in-the-know” Anne Marie Panoringan is a contributing writer for OC Weekly. She is also a recognized expert on cocktails. Anne Marie joins us with a recap of her recent OC Weekly piece, Top 5 Orange County Cocktails of 2016, Anne Marie Edition!”

“Another year, another round of drinks. It’s a great time to love me some cocktails, because more places than ever have been pouring some of the best I’ve seen and tasted. We turn back the clock 300-ish days to recap on some of my favorites for the year. Any hey – they don’t all contain whiskey.”

One hint: “Pineapple Under the Sea at TAPS Fish House & Brewery ranks #5.

Amar SantanaAmar Santana is the Executive Chef/Proprietor of Vaca in Costa Mesa and Broadway by Amar Santana in Laguna Beach. Vaca was Orange County Register Restaurant Critic, Brad A. Johnson’s “Best New Restaurant of 2016. For Season 13 of Bravo’s Top Chef Amar was the runner-up by the thickness of an onion skin. Chef Amar is also a distinguished alum of the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP.)

Amar joins us to preview C-CAP’s Winter Harvest Benefit Dinner at James Republic in Long Beach on February 8th. The popular James Republic is one of the top destination restaurants in Long Beach.

It’s co-owned by Executive Chef and Restaurateur Dean James Max (a multiple James Beard Award nominee) of DJM Restaurants. Chef Dean will be flying in from his base in southern Florida to present a course. James Republic’s executive chef, David MacLennan (opening exec chef) will also be preparing a course.

Marc JohnsonWe know Chef Marc Johnson as the opening chef for both the Oak Grill Restaurant and Aqua Lounge at The Island Hotel in Newport Beach. Chef Marc has now taken his spice rack and rubs over to the Red O Restaurants (Fashion Island, Los Angeles and Santa Monica) where is the Corporate Executive Chef. La Jolla launches in April.

Focusing on Red O Restaurants, Chef Johnson is shaking things up with his passionate drive. “Joining Red O Restaurants has been an amazing opportunity to push the limits of what I can do creatively in the kitchen,” says Chef Johnson.

With a focus on flavors from Central Mexico, Baja and MexiCali, Chef Johnson finds a balance with Red O mainstays that guests have come to love, while introducing new menu offerings with a seafood focal point. Hearty or light, all of Chef Johnson’s dishes feature fresh, vibrant ingredients reminiscent of the beachy lifestyle South of the Border.

From the sauces to the tortillas all made fresh daily, nearly 100% of the food prepared at Red O Restaurants is made in-house. “A lot of labor and passion goes into the process of bringing the components of these dishes to life,” says Johnson.

We’ll get all the spicy details with a side of guacamole with Chef Marc.

Bob PriceSome of the best & tastiest Mexican street food available in Puerto Vallarta is found at the Vallarta Botanical Garden (“Where Mexican plants meet the imagination!”) Let’s talk about those incredible fish tacos and fresh guacamole! It’s all served with style, too, in an unequaled setting. The garden itself is an impressive attraction, too.

“The mission of the Vallarta Botanical Gardens is to create Mexico’s foremost botanical garden for the discovery, study, propagation, conservation and display of native and exotic plants for the enjoyment of Puerto Vallarta’s residents and visitors.”

We’re sipping local Raicilla with Curator and Founder, Bob Price.

Bobby Navarro“Noods Noods Noods” – The Noodle & Asian Themed Food Festival in on for January 14th, 2017 in historic Downtown Santa Ana. This one-day Festival will feature some of the craziest, most delicious noodle and Asian-themed creations. Our own Chef Andrew Gruel will be debuting an item from his soon-to-open Two Birds at Trade in Irvine.

Asian-Inspired Comfort Foods — NOODS has brought some of the best food geniuses around to this epicenter of Asian-eats. The innovative dishes at NOODS are promised to be nothing short of newsworthy and drool-worthy. This event will host multiple vendors, each supplying exclusive Asian-inspired and/or noodle-tastic comfort-food items.

Among the lineup of participating restaurants and their creative food items:

Anchor Hitch: Deep Fried Uni pasta with swiss cheese, lightly coated in panko, drizzled in uni cream sauce, topped with Smelt Roe and Shredded Nori

Mess Hall Canteen: Award Winning White Boy Ramen with tonkatsu style pork broth, crispy pork belly, pickled jalapeños and shallots, dandelion greens, mushroom, sous vide egg

Two Birds: Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish debuts his newest concept to NOODS and will present Jidori Chicken and a Ramen Burrito

Shrimp Daddy: The OC Debut of June Quan’s AKA @stirandstyle’s Hawaiian garlic shrimp concept

Festival Producer Bobby Navarro of 100 Eats is our guest.

Robert Schueller of Melissa's World Variety Produce in the AM830 KLAA StudioWhat’s trending in fruits and vegetables for the new year? Produce Guru (aka The Prince of Produce) Robert Schueller of Melissa’s World Variety Produce has the answers.

Everything “Coconut,” for instance, is hot…Melissa’s is introducing Fresh Coconut. It’s fresh coconut juice (with no additives) in a genuine coconut grown in Vietnam. Also available are coconut hearts & slices, young coconuts, packaged coconut clean snaxs and lots more.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Andy Harris, Co-Host & Executive Producer and Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group
Segment Two: The Bungalow Restaurant, Corona del Mar, for Newport Beach Restaurant Week
Segment Three: Food & Libation journalist, Anne Marie Panoringan, Contributor to OC Weekly
Segment Four: Executive Chef Amar Santana, Vaca and Broadway by Amar Santana
Segment Five: Marc Johnson, Corporate Executive Chef, Red O Restaurants
Segment Six: Bob Price, Curator and Founder, Vallarta Botanical Garden, Jardin Botanico De Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta
Segment Seven: Bobby Navarro, Producer, Noods Noods Noods Noodle and Asian Fusion Festival
Segment Eight: Robert Schueller, Director of Public Relations (The Produce Guru), Melissa’s / World Variety Produce, Inc.

Show 190, September 24, 2016: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group

Please note… Next Saturday, October 1st we’re preempted in our usual morning slot for Fighting Irish Football. No worries as we’ll still have a live show for you at the special afternoon time of 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on October 1st only. Thanks & please help spread the word…

Andrew Gruel and his son WilliamExecutive Chef Andrew Gruel of the rapidly growing Slapfish empire with restaurants in Huntington Beach, Brea, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, LAX, Irvine at UCI and, most recently, The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for Rams and USC Football, is back as today’s Guest Host. San Clemente is launching next. In May in Chicago during the National Restaurant Association’s annual conclave he received Nation’s Restaurant News’ Trendsetter MenuMaster Award for Slapfish.

Our food-loving colleagues in Richmond, British Columbia are at it again. Richmond is known for having some of the best and most authentic regional Chinese food outside of China. For all of us in SoCal it’s a whole lot closer. Just launched is “Travel the Dumpling Trail.” Colin Wong, Director of Communications for Tourism Richmond, joins us with all the crave-worthy details.

Noted gourmand Darrell Corti of Corti Brothers gourmet grocery and spirit purveyors in Sacramento is the Chairman of the globally respected L.A. International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition. We’ll chat about the Southern Hemisphere tasting and lots more, and how the public can sample some of the winning oils during the closing Weekend of the L.A. County Fair. TheDailyMeal.com has dubbed him one of the coolest people in food and drink in America.

L.A. Kitchen is a high-profile, local non-profit whose thoughtful mission is that food and people should never go to waste. On Saturday evening, October 22nd they are launching their first ever fundraiser: Shared Plates. It’s “a night of 100 dinner parties” across Los Angeles. Robert Egger, Founder & CEO of L.A. Kitchen is our guest with a preview.

At 25, Chef Marcel Vigneron competed on the memorable Season 2 of Bravo’s “Top Chef” and, impressively, was the Runner-Up. He now has two side-by-side restaurants on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, Wolf (Seasonal LA Cuisine) and the plant-based, Beefsteak. We’ll meet him.

Austin-born burger joint Hopdoddy Burger Bar, known for its thoughtfully crafted selection of high quality burgers, craft beer and handspun shakes, has recently opened their second Orange County location at The Market Place in Tustin. Hopdoddy’s Brand Manager, Erin Fohn>, joins us with all the hot & juicy specifics.

Foodbeast presents the 2nd Annual OozeFest in Downtown Santa Ana on the Weekend of October 15th and 16th. It’s the very cheesiest of course, with awesome cheese creations and premium beer! There is a VIP all-you-can-eat option this year. Producer Bobby Navarro of 100eats.com has the gooey details for us.

Co-host Chef Andrew Gruel> of Slapfish Restaurant Group has two young children and also enjoys dining out at all levels of establishments. What to do? Chef Andrew shares his top picks for chef-driven restaurants that are also kid-friendly. Mangia…

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

Show 190, September 24, 2016: Foodbeast Presents: The 2nd Annual OozeFest

Foodbeast OozefestFoodbeast presents the 2nd Annual OozeFest in Downtown Santa Ana on the Weekend of October 15th and 16th. It’s the very cheesiest of course with awesome cheese creations and premium beer on tap! There is a VIP all-you-can-eat option this year.

OozeFest is an amazing festival with tons of chef-driven, awesome cheese creations and premium beer.

Marketplace tickets ($5.00) include entry to the Marketplace section which has vendors you can buy food and drinks from. VIP tickets ($40.00) include all-you-can-enjoy food and beer from great establishments including Five Crowns and Slapfish.

Producer Bobby Navarro of 100eats.com has all the gooey details for us.

September 24: Tourism Richmond, Corti Brothers, LA Kitchen, Marcel Vigneron, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, OozeFest

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group
Segment Two: “The Dumpling Trail” with Colin Wong, Director of Communications, Tourism Richmond
Segment Three: Darrell Corti, Chair, L.A. International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition
Segment Four: Robert Egger, Founder & CEO, L.A. Kitchen
Segment Five: Owner/Chef Marcel Vigneron, Wolf & Beefsteak
Segment Six: Erin Fohn, Brand Manager, Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Segment Seven: Foodbeast Presents: The 2nd Annual OozeFest
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish Restaurant Group

Please note… Next Saturday, October 1st we’re preempted in our usual morning slot for Fighting Irish Football. No worries as we’ll still have a live show for you at the special afternoon time of 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on October 1st only. Thanks & please help spread the word…

Andrew Gruel and his son WilliamExecutive Chef Andrew Gruel of the rapidly growing Slapfish empire with restaurants in Huntington Beach, Brea, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, LAX, Irvine at UCI and, most recently, The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for Rams and USC Football, is back as today’s Guest Host. San Clemente is launching next. In May in Chicago during the National Restaurant Association’s annual conclave he received Nation’s Restaurant News’ Trendsetter MenuMaster Award for Slapfish.

Our food-loving colleagues in Richmond, British Columbia are at it again. Richmond is known for having some of the best and most authentic regional Chinese food outside of China. For for all of us in SoCal it’s a whole lot closer. Just launched is “Travel the Dumpling Trail.” Colin Wong, Director of Communications for Tourism Richmond, joins us with all the crave-worthy details.

Noted gourmand Darrell Corti of Corti Brothers gourmet grocery and spirit purveyors in Sacramento is the Chairman of the globally respected L.A. International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition. We’ll chat about the Southern Hemisphere tasting and lots more, and how the public can sample some of the winning oils during the closing Weekend of the L.A. County Fair. TheDailyMeal.com has dubbed him one of the coolest people in food and drink in America.

L.A. Kitchen is a high-profile, local non-profit whose thoughtful mission is that food and people should never go to waste. On Saturday evening, October 22nd they are launching their first ever fundraiser : Shared Plates. It’s “a night of 100 dinner parties” across Los Angeles. Robert Egger, Founder & CEO of L.A. Kitchen is our guest with a preview.

At 25, Chef Marcel Vigneron competed on the memorable Season 2 of Bravo’s “Top Chef” and, impressively, was the Runner-Up. He now has two side-by-side restaurants on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, Wolf (Seasonal LA Cuisine) and the plant-based, Beefsteak. We’ll meet him.

Austin-born burger joint Hopdoddy Burger Bar, known for its thoughtfully crafted selection of high quality burgers, craft beer and handspun shakes, has recently opened their second Orange County location at The Market Place in Tustin. Hopdoddy’s Brand Manager, Erin Fohn, joins us with all the hot & juicy specifics.

Foodbeast presents the 2nd Annual OozeFest in Downtown Santa Ana on the Weekend of October 15th and 16th. It’s the very cheesiest of course, with awesome cheese creations and premium beer! There is a VIP all-you-can-eat option this year. Producer Bobby Navarro of 100eats.com has the gooey details for us.

Co-host Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group has two young children and also enjoys dining out at all levels of establishments. What to do? Chef Andrew shares his top picks for chef-driven restaurants that are also kid-friendly. Mangia…

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

Colin WongOur food-loving colleagues in Richmond, British Columbia are at it again. Richmond has some of the best regional Chinese food outside of China and for all of us in SoCal it’s a whole lot closer. Just launched is “Travel the Dumpling Trail.”

“Did you know there are over 20 different types of Asian dumplings? Dumplings come in all shapes and forms, from water-boiled, to deep-fried, steamed and even dessert dumplings. In Richmond, B.C. there is no shortage of dumplings to choose from and Tourism Richmond is inviting visitors to sample some of the delicious options that the city has to offer through a new tour, the Dumpling Trail.”

“With over 800 restaurants in Richmond, dining choices can be overwhelming,” said Tracy Lakeman, CEO of Tourism Richmond. “We’ve carefully selected 15 eateries with some of the best dumplings, from upscale restaurants to hidden gems and food court stalls. These restaurants make up the Dumpling Trail, a walkable, self-guided tour that showcases Richmond as a culinary destination. Each location on the Trail offers unique varieties of dumplings and Tourism Richmond has identified some of the city’s best.”

Here’s a preview of Tourism Richmond’s top picks for dumplings:

  • Su Hang Restaurant: Xiao long bao (soup dumplings) & water-boiled dumplings
  • Shiang Garden: Har Gow (shrimp dumplings)
  • Shibuyatei Sushi & Larmen: Japanese scallop gyoza
  • Golden Sichuan Restaurant: Spicy Chinese dumplings

Colin Wong, Director of Communications for Tourism Richmond, joins us with all the crave-worthy details.

Darrell CortiNoted gourmand Darrell Corti of Corti Brothers gourmet grocery and spirit purveyors in Sacramento is the Chairman of the globally respected L.A. International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition. We’ll chat about the Southern Hemisphere tasting and lots more and how the public can sample some of the winning oils during the final Weekend of the L.A. County Fair. TheDailyMeal.com has dubbed him one of the coolest people in food and drink in America.

Now in its 17th year, the Los Angeles International Olive Oil Competition is the top ranking EVOO competition in the United States and fifth worldwide. The goal is to bring together the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in awarding medals to the best oils from around the globe.

Robert EggarL.A. Kitchen is a growing-in-profile, local non-profit whose thoughtful mission is that food and people should never go to waste. On Saturday evening, October 22nd they are launching their first ever fundraiser : Shared Plates. It’s “a night of 100 dinner parties” across Los Angeles.

“On behalf of the L.A. Kitchen, I’m thrilled to invite you to SHARED PLATES, an extraordinary night of 100 dinner parties hosted in homes all across our great city on Saturday, October 22nd. By sharing plates, stories, and a few surprises, these dinners will bring Angelenos from every walk of life together to reveal the power of food”

“Thanks to the generosity of our hosts, 100 per cent of your ticket revenue goes to support the L.A. Kitchen’s vital work to ensure that neither food nor people will ever go to waste.” – From Robert Egger, Founder & CEO, L.A. Kitchen

Robert Egger, Founder & CEO of L.A. Kitchen is our guest with a tantalizing preview.

Marcel VigneronAt 25, Chef Marcel Vigneron competed on the memorable Season 2 of Bravo’s “Top Chef” and, impressively, was the Runner-Up. He now has two side-by-side restaurants on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, Wolf (Seasonal LA Cuisine) and the plant-based, Beefsteak. We’ll meet him.

“At WOLF, we are influenced by fresh local ingredients and the farmers that grow them. We pay tribute to the food by preparing it with care, using every edible part from flower to root and nose to tail. Our inspiration stems from the variety of cultures that make up our city, from Thai Town to Taco Trucks. Our goal is to combine these traditional flavors into something uniquely Los Angeles.  Come in and experience food and service that are precise, but never pretentious.  Join Marcel and his team to take your place in the Wolfpack.”

“At Beefsteak, we strive to bring the best produce and local ingredients to our guests in a casual environment that serves fresh and seasonal California cuisine. We aim to source everything from socially conscious purveyors that will in turn be used in dishes that are not only healthy, but also intended to be super tasty, and ecologically responsible. We value the intimate connection between our food, our farms, our planet and our health and aim to be sustainable in all of our practices.  We support our community through partnerships with local vendors and producers.”

Erin FohmAustin-born burger joint Hopdoddy Burger Bar, known for its thoughtfully crafted selection of high quality burgers, craft beer and handspun shakes, has recently opened their second Orange County location at The Market Place in Tustin.

Hopdoddy delivers fresh, all-natural angus burgers alongside Kennebec hand cut fries, farm fresh salads and handcrafted milkshakes. Their buns are baked in-house from scratch every day. Craft local beer is a passion for Hopdoddy, as well as their full bar including house-made liqueurs and fresh-squeezed juices. Founded in 2010, Hopdoddy now has locations in Texas, Arizona, Colorado and California.

Hopdoddy’s Brand Manager, Erin Fohn, joins us with all the hot & juicy specifics.

Foodbeast OozefestFoodbeast presents the 2nd Annual OozeFest in Downtown Santa Ana on the Weekend of October 15th and 16th. It’s the very cheesiest of course with awesome cheese creations and premium beer! There is a VIP all-you-can-eat option this year.

OozeFest is an amazing festival with tons of chef-driven, awesome cheese creations and premium beer.

Marketplace tickets ($5.00) include entry to the Marketplace section which has vendors you can buy food and drinks from. VIP tickets ($40.00) include all-you-can-enjoy food and beer from great establishments including Five Crowns and Slapfish.

Producer Bobby Navarro of 100eats.com has all the gooey details for us.

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosCo-host Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group has two young children and also enjoys dining out at all levels of establishments. What to do? Chef Andrew shares his top picks for chef-driven restaurants that are also kid-friendly. Manga…

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group
Segment Two: “The Dumpling Trail” with Colin Wong, Director of Communications, Tourism Richmond
Segment Three: Darrell Corti, Chair, L.A. International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition
Segment Four: Robert Egger, Founder & CEO, L.A. Kitchen
Segment Five: Owner/Chef Marcel Vigneron, Wolf & Beefsteak
Segment Six: Erin Fohn, Brand Manager, Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Segment Seven: Foodbeast Presents: The 2nd Annual OozeFest
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish Restaurant Group

Show 140, October 3, 2015: 100eats.com and Foodbeast’s Ooze Fest

Foodbeast OozefestWe’re celebrating American Cheese Month with the World’s Tallest Cheese Stack (hopefully) as part of the inaugural Ooze Fest on October 10th. Bobby Navarro’s 100eats Team has partnered with Foodbeast to create a stream of unique and creative events with (promised) never seen before activations and food items unique to Ooze Fest.

The debut of 20 original cheese dishes from energized area restaurants will be on the tasting menu including creations from SOCIAL Costa Mesa (Best New Restaurant at The Golden Foodies,) Chef Andrew Gruel’s Slapfish (Lobster Marscapone Beignets,) Little Sparrow, Blackmarket Bakery and Grits Fullerton. A variety of craft beers will be there on-tap to quench the thirst of all melted cheese-lovers.

“Ooze Fest. Where the cheese drools as much as the people who are anxiously waiting to eat. The national food publication, Foodbeast, is bringing record breaking, heart burn amounts of cheese at Ooze Fest, a cheese festival located in Santa Ana.”

Foodbeast.com is working toward the goal of making internet food a reality to their legion of fans, and the local community. Nguyen Tran of Starry Kitchen and the new Button Mash in LA is coming to OC to host. Tran will rally the crowd and share about the cheese love.

Standard and VIP tickets include all-you-can-eat-and-drink food and beer. Cheers! Nosh on one of a kind, never before seen fare, brought to you by local restaurants that love cheese just as much as you do. VIP tickets include early admittance to the event, along with a t-shirt and a commemorative glass.

The standard ticket is 50 dollars and VIP is 75 dollars. The event is broken up into two sessions, first session is from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and second session is from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. (VIP’s enjoy 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. respectively). Early birds in the first session get the glory of seeing the world’s tallest grilled cheese stack first ever attempt.  The second session will feature the Famous Eaters Grilled Cheese Eating Competition and the award for best cheese item of the festival.