Show 558, December 30, 2023: Chef Rich Mead, Farmhouse at Roger’s Garden, Corona del Mar Part Two

Rich Mead of Farmhouse at Rogers Gardens

Chef Rich Mead is the proprietor of the ever-popular Farmhouse at Rogers Garden in Corona del Mar. Chef Rich’s seasonal menus feature ingredients sourced from local and sustainably focused farmers and purveyors. Sunday Brunch in the Gardens is a celebratory Orange County tradition.

Chef Rich’s special New Year’s Eve menu at Farmhouse can be enjoyed ala carte or as a Tasting Menu. Think Roast Stuffed Lobster Tail and Spaghetti Squash “Fra Diavolo.” Dessert is an elegant Champagne Citrus Cake.

Rich is a longtime supporter of The Ecology Center (non-profit) in San Juan Capistrano. He was one of the first chefs to gladly volunteer his services to cook an al fresco repast there. When he prepares a meal there as part of their (fundraising) Community Table Dinner Series it’s an evening not to be missed. In 2024 Chef Rich is scheduled to be at The Ecology Center on Friday evening, May 24th (with Chef Daniel Mattern of Friends and Family in Los Angeles) for a Community Table Dinner. Make your plans accordingly. These anticipated evenings reach capacity very quickly.

Chef Rich Mead takes a further break from his regular Saturday morning sourcing trip at the Santa Monica Farmers Market for his New Year’s Eve menu to continue with us.

Show 281, July 14, 2018: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris

Now an engaging preview of this Saturday’s properly decadent 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, upon careful reflection, that’s probably a pretty good thing…

The OC Promenade Building at the OC Fair is the Home of all the entertaining OC Fair Culinary Arts programming including the OC Promenade Main Stage. It’s the year of “Feed Your Inner Farmer!” celebrating people who play a key role in California agriculture. We’ll meet Pamela Wnuck, the Fair’s long-time Culinary Arts Supervisor for a preview.

Once upon a time Jennifer Segal went to culinary school and worked in fancy restaurants. One marriage and two kids later she created Once Upon a Chef, the popular blog that combines her chef skills with delicious, fresh, and accessible ingredients for family-friendly meals. Today, Jenn cooks dinner for hers every night and in her first, long-in-the-works cookbook, Once Upon a Chef – The Cookbook: 100 Tested, Perfected and Family-Approved Recipes, she shares 100 recipes that will up your kitchen game and surprise you with their ease and bold flavors.

Near the foodie mecca that is Portland, OR is SakeOne located in Forest Grove, “America’s Premium Sake Company.” Why a Sake brewery in Tualatin Valley, OR ? Foremost it’s the pristine, naturally soft water quality. We’ll hear about the Sake brewing process, and a lot more, from SakeOne’s Jack Lien.

The 6th Edition of Puerto Vallarta’s celebrated Ceviche and Aguachile Festival is set for Sunday, July 29th in Old Town Puerto Vallarta from Noon to 7:00 p.m. It’s 40 chef creations of ceviches and aguachiles for the sampling plus local craft beers, specialty Raicilla cocktails and live music. Producer & Founder Edgar Cisneros reels in all the spicy details for us live from Puerto Vallarta.

Friends & Family, a new Thai Town staple and beloved dining destination, launched dinner service this last week. The well-received hybrid dining/takeaway concept created by Chefs Daniel Mattern and Roxana Jullapat transforms into full dinner service in the evenings (Wednesday through Sunday), offering a variety of shared plates and mains that incorporate sustainably-raised, hearth-roasted meats, seasonal vegetables, farmers’ market salads and their favorite heritage grains. We pull the busy Chef Daniel off the line for a chat.

We’re celebrating National Ice Cream Day (July 15th) with Zach Brooks, the Market Manager for DTLA’s Sunday Smorgasburg LA. July 15th marks the return of the ever-popular Ice Cream Alley at Smorgasaburg LA. It runs every Sunday through Labor Day weekend.

Chef Andrew Gruel, the founder of The Slapfish Restaurant Group, joins us with another installment of “Ask the Chef.” Octopus (grilled) and squid / calamari are seen on a lot of restaurant menus. Why are they sustainable and what is the best way of preparing them ? We’ll find out from Chef Andrew.

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s not-to-miss show!

Show 281, July 14, 2018: Executive Chef / Proprietor Daniel Mattern, Friends & Family, Thai Town Los Angeles

Daniel MatternFriends & Family, a new Thai Town staple and beloved dining destination, launched dinner service this last week. The well-received hybrid dining / takeaway concept created by Chefs Daniel Mattern and Roxana Jullapat transforms into full dinner service in the evenings (Wednesday through Sunday), offering a variety of shared plates and mains that incorporate sustainably-raised, hearth-roasted meats, seasonal vegetables, farmers’ market salads and their favorite heritage grains.

“We’re ready to add a great neighborhood dinner option to Thai Town,” said Mattern. “With a comfortable vibe and market-driven food, it’ll be a unique spot in the neighborhood, and the perfect place for an impromptu dinner or casual meet-up meal with friends before catching a show at the Greek.”

“To start, the seasonally-rotating menu will feature savory items paired with bright summer produce such as Chicken Liver Toast with Apricot and Nigella and Spiced Half Chicken with New Potatoes and Purslane Salad as well as hearty mains including Wild Salmon Grilled in Grape Leaves over Almond Wood and Hanger Steak with Kimchi Mayo and Crispy Greens. Guests will also enjoy dishes that focus on the use of heritage grains including the Spelt Pretzel with Mustard Dipping Sauce or the Smoked Fish & Beer Rarebit with Housemade Rye Sourdough, both perfect for sharing over a pint (or two).”

Complementing the market-driven fare will be a selection of natural wines hand-picked by Mattern and Jullapat to pair with the menu’s robust flavors, as well as craft beer on tap from some of their favorite local breweries including Eagle Rock Brewery, Craftsman Brewing and Beachwood Brewing.

To finish, diners will be able to indulge in seasonal housemade desserts like Jullapat’s fan-favorite, Huckleberry Meringue with Blueberry Compote and Buttermilk-Blueberry Ice Cream or Sorghum Sticky Pudding, Dates and Roasted Apricots.

Since it’s National Ice Cream Month it’s of interest to note all the ice creams and sorbets served at Friends & Family are made in-house.

We pull the busy Chef Daniel off the line for a chat.

 

July 14: OC Fair, Jennifer Segal, SakeOne, Ceviche and Aguachile Festival, Daniel Mattern, Smorgasburg LA

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: OC Fair Culinary Arts Programming – OC Promenade Building
Segment Three: “Once Upon a Chef’s” Jennifer Segal
Segment Four: Jack Lien, SakeOne, Forest Grove, Oregon
Segment Five: Edgar Cisneros, Producer, Puerto Vallarta’s 6th Annual Ceviche & Aguachile Festival
Segment Six: Executive Chef / Proprietor Daniel Mattern, Friends & Family, Thai Town Los Angeles
Segment Seven: Zach Brooks, Market Manager, Smorgasburg LA
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel

Now an engaging preview of this Saturday’s properly decadent 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, upon careful reflection, that’s probably a pretty good thing…

The OC Promenade Building at the OC Fair is the Home of all the entertaining OC Fair Culinary Arts programming including the OC Promenade Main Stage. It’s the year of “Feed Your Inner Farmer!” celebrating people who play a key role in California agriculture. We’ll meet Pamela Wnuck, the Fair’s long-time Culinary Arts Supervisor for a preview.

Once upon a time Jennifer Segal went to culinary school and worked in fancy restaurants. One marriage and two kids later she created Once Upon a Chef, the popular blog that combines her chef skills with delicious, fresh, and accessible ingredients for family-friendly meals. Today, Jenn cooks dinner for hers every night and in her first, long-in-the-works cookbook, Once Upon a Chef – The Cookbook: 100 Tested, Perfected and Family-Approved Recipes, she shares 100 recipes that will up your kitchen game and surprise you with their ease and bold flavors.

Near the foodie mecca that is Portland, OR is SakeOne located in Forest Grove, “America’s Premium Sake Company.” Why a Sake brewery in Tualatin Valley, OR ? Foremost it’s the pristine, naturally soft water quality. We’ll hear about the Sake brewing process, and a lot more, from SakeOne’s Jack Lien.

The 6th Edition of Puerto Vallarta’s celebrated Ceviche and Aguachile Festival is set for Sunday, July 29th in Old Town Puerto Vallarta from Noon to 7:00 p.m. Producer & Founder Edgar Cisneros reels in all the spicy details for us live from Puerto Vallarta.

Friends & Family, a new Thai Town staple and beloved dining destination, launched dinner service this last week. The well-received hybrid dining/takeaway concept created by Chefs Daniel Mattern and Roxana Jullapat transforms into full dinner service in the evenings (Wednesday through Sunday), offering a variety of shared plates and mains that incorporate sustainably-raised, hearth-roasted meats, seasonal vegetables, farmers’ market salads and their favorite heritage grains. We pull the busy Chef Daniel off the line for a chat.

We’re celebrating National Ice Cream Day (July 15th) with Zach Brooks, the Market Manager for DTLA’s Sunday Smorgasburg LA. July 15th marks the return of Ice Cream Alley at Smorgasaburg LA. It runs every Sunday through Labor Day weekend.

Chef Andrew Gruel, the founder of The Slapfish Restaurant Group, joins us with another installment of “Ask the Chef.” Octopus (grilled) and squid / calamari are seen on a lot of restaurant menus. Why are they sustainable and what is the best way of preparing them ? We’ll find out from Chef Andrew.

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s not-to-miss show!

Pamela WnuckThe OC Promenade Building at the OC Fair is the Home of all the entertaining OC Fair Culinary Arts programming including the OC Promenade Main Stage. It’s the year of “Feed Your Inner Farmer!” celebrating people who play a key role in California agriculture.

If you love to cook or love to eat, this is the place to meet at The OC Fair!

Culinary Arts is taking center stage at the 2018 OC Fair. The Main Stage is booked every day throughout the fair and will be host to chefs, bakers, farmers, floral artists, food bloggers, mixologists, brewers, butchers and more.

Learn from the best during demos and tasting sessions stocked with kitchen secrets, war stories and more – straight from the experts. The 30-minute culinary demonstrations are always new and exciting, educational and FREE. For the inside scoop on everything culinary, stop by the information desk. The stage schedule changes daily and is subject to change without notice.

We’ll meet Pamela Wnuck, the Fair’s long-time Culinary Arts Supervisor for a tempting preview.

Jennifer SegalOnce upon a time Jennifer Segal went to culinary school and worked in fancy restaurants. One marriage and two kids later she created Once Upon a Chef, the popular blog that combines her chef skills with delicious, fresh, and accessible ingredients for family-friendly meals.

Today, Jenn cooks dinner for hers every night and in her first, long-in-the-works cookbook, Once Upon a Chef – The Cookbook: 100 Tested, Perfected and Family-Approved Recipes, she shares 100 recipes that will up your kitchen game and surprise you with their ease and bold flavors.

There is something for every meal of the day starting with breakfast favorites like Maple, Coconut & Blueberry Granola and Savory Ham & Cheese Waffles. Simple soups, salads, and sandwiches make ideal lunches (try the Fiery Roasted Tomato Soup paired with Smoked Gouda & Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwiches), plus entrées the whole family will love like Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders. And for those casual get-togethers it’s easy to whip up some Buttery Cajun Popcorn and bowls of Sweet, Salty & Spicy Pecans. You’ll also fall in love with go-to sweets such as Toffee Almond Sandies and a Classic Chocolate Lover’s Birthday Cake.

“With the authority of a professional chef and the practicality of a busy working mom, Jenn teaches you to improve your cooking one recipe at a time, with helpful tips on topics such as how to season correctly with salt, how to balance flavors, and how to make the most of leftovers.”

Jack LienNear the foodie mecca that is Portland, OR is SakeOne, located in Forest Grove, “America’s Premium Sake Company.” Why a Sake brewery in Tualatin Valley, OR? Foremost it’s the pristine, naturally soft water quality.

SakeOne brews three lines of premium Sake in Oregon including Momokawa, Moonstone and G Sake. At their Forest Grove brewery you can enjoy Premium Sake Flights in their Tasting Room and also partake of their educational Brewery Tour (at no charge.)

Sake is an ancient beverage dating back nearly 3,000 years, but began its refinement about 1,000 years ago. Today’s premium styles of sake (Junmai, Ginjo, Daiginjo, and others) are only about forty-five years old and still not a significant percentage of all sake produced. But, in the US, premium sake is more than half the market and growing.

“At SakéOne we tap into the idyllic waters of Oregon’s Willamette Valley to brew pure, premium saké in a variety of styles. Check out our bold and crisp G Saké, fruit-infused Moonstone and versatile Momokawa brands.”

We’ll hear about the Sake brewing process, and a lot more, from SakeOne’s expert, Jack Lien.

Edgar CisnerosThe 6th Edition of Puerto Vallarta’s celebrated Ceviche and Aguachile Festival is set for Sunday, July 29th in Old Town Puerto Vallarta from Noon to 7:00 p.m.

The Festival celebrates the local seafood delicacy with participating restaurants, local microbreweries, and raicilla producers. 30, plus, varieties will be available to sample including vegetarian options.

“Aguachile is a Mexican dish made of shrimp, submerged in liquid seasoned with chili peppers, lime juice, salt, cilantro, and slices of onion. Fresh vegetables such as cucumber are usually added.” It can be thought of as a kicked-up version of ceviche.

Producer & Founder Edgar Cisneros reels in all the spicy details for us live from Puerto Vallarta.

Daniel MatternFriends & Family, a new Thai Town staple and beloved dining destination, launched dinner service this last week. The well-received hybrid dining/takeaway concept created by Chefs Daniel Mattern and Roxana Jullapat transforms into full dinner service in the evenings (Wednesday through Sunday), offering a variety of shared plates and mains that incorporate sustainably-raised, hearth-roasted meats, seasonal vegetables, farmers’ market salads and their favorite heritage grains.

“We’re ready to add a great neighborhood dinner option to Thai Town,” said Mattern. “With a comfortable vibe and market-driven food, it’ll be a unique spot in the neighborhood, and the perfect place for an impromptu dinner or casual meet-up meal with friends before catching a show at the Greek.”

“To start, the seasonally-rotating menu will feature savory items paired with bright summer produce such as Chicken Liver Toast with Apricot and Nigella and Spiced Half Chicken with New Potatoes and Purslane Salad as well as hearty mains including Wild Salmon Grilled in Grape Leaves over Almond Wood and Hanger Steak with Kimchi Mayo and Crispy GreensGuests will also enjoy dishes that focus on the use of heritage grains including the Spelt Pretzel with Mustard Dipping Sauce or the Smoked Fish & Beer Rarebit with Housemade Rye Sourdough, both perfect for sharing over a pint (or two).”

Complementing the market-driven fare will be a selection of natural wines hand-picked by Mattern and Jullapat to pair with the menu’s robust flavors, as well as craft beer on tap from some of their favorite local breweries including Eagle Rock BreweryCraftsman Brewing and Beachwood Brewing. To finish, diners will be able to indulge in seasonal housemade desserts like Jullapat’s fan-favorite, Huckleberry Meringue with Blueberry Compote and Buttermilk-Blueberry Ice Cream or Sorghum Sticky Pudding, Dates and Roasted Apricots.

We pull the busy Chef Daniel off the line for a chat.

Zach BrooksWe’re celebrating National Ice Cream Day (July 15th) with Zach Brooks, the Market Manager for DTLA’s Sunday Smorgasburg LA. July 15th marks the return of Ice Cream Alley at Smorgasaburg LA. It runs every Sunday through Labor Day weekend.

“Prepare that sweet tooth! National Ice Cream Day happens once a year, and at Smorgasburg LA, we celebrate all summer long with the launch of Ice Cream Alley featuring over 10 popups from the best ice cream vendors that LA has to offer. Ice cream alley runs July 15 through Labor Day weekend, so don’t miss out on your chance to indulge in scoops, ice cream sandwiches, pops and more.”

Smorgasburg LA is open every Sunday on the five-acre site of the weekday Alameda Produce Market in Downtown Los Angeles, which is part of a larger, new development called ROW DTLA.

Each Sunday, find dozens of exciting food vendors at Smorgasburg LA, plus sophisticated shopping from the realms of design, craft, style, vintage, wellness, and more. Cultural events, pop-ups, and other surprises transform the vast site into a new node in Downtown LA’s burgeoning scene, and a unique destination for the region.

Andy Harris and Andrew Gruel at Cabana 14 at the Cove at Pechanga Resort and CasinoChef Andrew Gruel, the founder of The Slapfish Restaurant Group, joins us from the road with another installment of “Ask the Chef.”

Octopus (grilled) and squid / calamari are seen on a lot of restaurant menus. Why are they sustainable and what is the best way of preparing them ? No rubbery & extra chewy octopus, please. We’ll find out from Chef Andrew.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: OC Fair Culinary Arts Programming – OC Promenade Building
Segment Three: “Once Upon a Chef’s” Jennifer Segal
Segment Four: Jack Lien, SakeOne, Forest Grove, Oregon
Segment Five: Edgar Cisneros, Producer, Puerto Vallarta’s 6th Annual Ceviche & Aguachile Festival
Segment Six: Executive Chef / Proprietor Daniel Mattern, Friends & Family, Thai Town Los Angeles
Segment Seven: Zach Brooks, Market Manager, Smorgasburg LA
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel

Show 230, July 1, 2017: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris

Happy 4th of July Weekend. Have fun but be safe, too…

Now a sparkling preview of this Saturday’s celebratory 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, upon reflection, that’s probably a pretty good thing…

The ownership and culinary team behind Newport Beach’s Juliette Kitchen + Bar present a philosophy based on the exploration of diverse flavors and the commitment to employing only the best ingredients. This all adds up to a continually evolving experience. Weekend brunch has just been added. Proprietor Juliette Chung and Executive Chef Daniel Hyatt are our guests.

The team of Executive Chef Daniel Mattern and Pastry Chef & Baker Roxana Jullapat are fondly remembered as the culinary heart of Cook’s County (now closed.) Happily they have now opened a 4,000 square foot, fast casual breakfast and lunch (for now) place of their own, Friends & Family. It’s a great addition to Los Angeles’ rediscovered Thai Town. Chefs Roxana and Daniel join us.

Vegan: The Cookbook is newly published by the well-traveled, Chef Jean-Christian Jury, a leader in the international vegan community. In the weighty volume the reader will discover a wide range of accessible and appealing plant-based dishes (designed for the home kitchen) that will excite and satisfy vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores alike. We’ll meet Chef Jean-Christian.

The crowd-pleasing, proudly family-owned Porto’s Bakery & Café (think potato balls) opened its biggest, long-anticipated branch in Buena Park (25,000 sq.ft.) up the street from Knott’s Berry Farm in early March. It’s been a resounding success. It even offers complimentary valet parking to negate potential parking hassles. 2nd generation Family member, Betty Porto, joins us with all the delectable details of this incredible and inspiring success story.

Chef Andrew Gruel is on the road but we have him for a few moments by phone. No doubt he’ll have some helpful 4th of July cooking tips for us along the way as well as an insider’s report from the Slapfish booth at last Weekend’s inaugural Arroyo Seco Weekend festival in Pasadena adjacent to, and in, The Rose Bowl. Some 25,000 hungry attendees each day. There was some great food and beverages available out there!

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s show! Don’t forget the potato salad…

Show 230, July 1, 2017: Executive Chef Daniel Mattern & Pastry Chef/Baker Roxana Jullapat, Friends & Family, Los Angeles

Daniel MatternThe team of Executive Chef Daniel Mattern and Pastry Chef & Baker Roxana Jullapat are fondly remembered as the culinary heart of Cook’s County (now closed.) Happily they have now opened a 4,000 square foot, fast casual breakfast and lunch place of their own, Friends & Family. Dinner is coming soon…All breads & pastries are prepared and baked in-house. It’s a great addition to Los Angeles’ rediscovered Thai Town.

It’s a vibrant bakery, coffee bar and café where you can enjoy every menu item there or have it packaged to go. The ice cream counter features eye-catching rotating seasonal flavors presented in housemade waffle cones. They also prepare appealing gift baskets, picnics and have a monthly bread club (Friends & Family Sourdough Club.)

Pies for the 4th of July can be ordered through July 2nd. On the menu are Key Lime Pie, Banana Cream Pie and Blackberry & Nectarine Pie.

Remember Senor Bill Esparza (The Street Gourmet Los Angeles) will be there on Saturday July 8th from Noon to 3:00 p.m. signing copies of his new book, L.A. Mexicano – Recipes, People & Places. Books will be available there for purchase. Also, Bill’s Abuela’s recipe for Huevos Rancheros will be on the menu that day.

Chefs Roxana and Daniel join us.

July 1: Juliette Kitchen + Bar, Friends & Family, Jean-Christian Jury, Porto’s Bakery & Cafe

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Proprietress Juliette Chung & Executive Chef Daniel Hyatt, Juliette Kitchen & Bar, Newport Beach
Segment Three: Executive Chef Daniel Mattern & Pastry Chef/Baker Roxana Jullapat, Friends & Family, Los Angeles
Segment Four: Chef Jean-Christian Jury, Vegan: The Cookbook
Segment Five: Betty Porto, Vice President, Community & Guest Relations, Porto’s Bakery & Cafe Part One
Segment Six: Betty Porto, Vice President, Community & Guest Relations, Porto’s Bakery & Cafe Part Two
Segment Seven: Chef Andrew Gruel

Happy 4th of July Weekend. Have fun but be safe, too…

Now a sparkling preview of this Saturday’s celebratory 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, upon reflection, that’s probably a pretty good thing…

The ownership and culinary team behind Newport Beach’s Juliette Kitchen + Bar present a philosophy based on the exploration of diverse flavors and the commitment to employing only the best ingredients. This all adds up to a continually evolving experience. Weekend brunch has just been added. Proprietor Juliette Chung and Executive Chef Daniel Hyatt are our guests.

The team of Executive Chef Daniel Mattern and Pastry Chef & Baker Roxana Jullapat are fondly remembered as the culinary heart of Cook’s County (now closed.) Happily they have now opened a 4,000 square foot, fast casual breakfast and lunch place of their own, Friends & Family. It’s a great addition to Los Angeles’ rediscovered Thai Town. Chefs Roxana and Daniel join us.

Vegan: The Cookbook is newly published by the well-traveled, Chef Jean-Christian Jury, a leader in the international vegan community. In the weighty volume the reader will discover a wide range of accessible and appealing plant-based dishes (designed for the home kitchen) that will excite and satisfy vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores alike. We’ll meet Chef Jean-Christian.

The crowd-pleasing, proudly family-owned Porto’s Bakery & Café (think potato balls) opened its biggest, long-anticipated branch in Buena Park (25,000 sq.ft.) up the street from Knott’s Berry Farm in early March. It’s been a resounding success. It even offers complimentary valet parking to negate potential parking hassles. Betty Porto joins us with all the delectable details of this incredible and inspiring success story.

Chef Andrew Gruel is on the road but we have him for a few moments by phone. No doubt he’ll have helpful some 4th of July cooking tips for us as well as an insider’s report from the Slapfish booth at last Weekend’s inaugural Arroyo Seco Weekend festival in Pasadena adjacent to The Rose Bowl. There was some great food and beverages available out there!

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

Juliette Chung and Chef Daniel HyattThe ownership and culinary team behind Newport Beach’s Juliette Kitchen + Bar present a philosophy based on the exploration of diverse flavors and the commitment to employing only the best ingredients. This all adds up to a continually evolving experience.

“Juliette Kitchen & Bar is where seasonal and local ingredients come together in vibrant, modern and balanced dishes. Always, rustic, warm and inviting, Juliette Owners Juliette Chung and John Hughes, along with Executive Chef Daniel Hyatt, welcome the community to indulge in good conversation and great food.”

Juliette Kitchen & Bar is now serving Weekend Brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  Executive Daniel Hyatt’s menu draws inspiration from locally sourced ingredients, so guests can look forward to enjoying seasonal brunch dishes with a modern American twist. Lending her own touch to the menu, restaurant co-owner Juliette Chung has added her own house-made granola and fresh biscuits to the menu, which also features housemade juices and brunchtime cocktails, such as the Mimosa Lisa and Top of the Morning Irish Coffee.

Proprietor Juliette Chung and Executive Chef Daniel Hyatt are our guests.

Daniel MatternThe team of Executive Chef Daniel Mattern and Pastry Chef & Baker Roxana Jullapat are fondly remembered as the culinary heart of Cook’s County (now closed.) Happily they have now opened a 4,000 square foot, fast casual breakfast and lunch place of their own, Friends & Family. All breads & pastries are prepared and baked in-house. It’s a great addition to Los Angeles’ rediscovered Thai Town.

It’s a vibrant bakery, coffee bar and café where you can enjoy every menu item there or have it packaged to go. The ice cream counter features eye-catching rotating seasonal flavors presented in housemade waffle cones. They also prepare appealing gift baskets, picnics and have a monthly bread club (Friends & Family Sourdough Club.)

Pies for the 4th of July can be ordered through July 2nd. On the menu are Key Lime Pie, Banana Cream Pie and Blackberry & Nectarine Pie.

Chefs Roxana and Daniel join us.

Jean Christian JuryVegan: The Cookbook is newly published by the well-traveled, Chef Jean-Christian Jury, a leader in the international vegan community. In the weighty volume the reader will discover a wide range of accessible and appealing plant-based dishes (designed for the home kitchen) that will excite and satisfy vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores alike. It features an impressive 450 recipes from more than 150 countries around the world.

The book presents dishes from countries ranging from Albania to Zambia. It showcases the culinary diversity of vegan cuisine, highlighting regional fruits and vegetables, traditional cooking techniques, and universally delectable flavors.

Home cooks will discover sweet and savory starters, soups, salads, mains, and desserts for all to enjoy, accompanied by straightforward instructions and gorgeous color photography. Chef Jury’s recipes have been meticulously tested for accuracy and ease of use.

Jean-Christian Jury is a vegan and raw-food chef from Toulouse, France. In 2008, he opened La Mano Verde in Berlin, Germany, his first vegan restaurant, and received praise from Saveur and Rodale’s Organic Life, and many international publications

We’ll meet Chef Jean-Christian.

Betty PortoThe crowd-pleasing, proudly family-owned Porto’s Bakery & Café (think potato balls & cheese rolls) opened its biggest, long-anticipated branch in Buena Park (25,000 sq.ft.) up the street from Knott’s Berry Farm in early March. Actor Andy Garcia officiated at the ribbon-cutting. It’s been a resounding success. It even offers complimentary valet parking to negate potential parking hassles.

Don’t let the lines scare you. It all moves fast. The three service areas under one roof include the bakery section, the food station which also offers the pastries and an express premium coffee counter with select, best-selling pastries. There is also a convenient station to pick-up pre-orders.

On the new Summer Specials menu are a Guava BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich, Rustic Tomato Soup with San Marzano Tomatoes and outrageous Lemon Bars.

2nd generation Co-proprietor Betty Porto joins us with all the delectable details of this incredible and inspiring success story which started with the Family’s escape from Cuba in 1960.

Betty Porto in front of the Porto's Bakery Bread RackPorto’s traces its origins to the year 1960, when the Porto family made the tough decision to leave their home in Manzanillo, Cuba. After living through the drastic changes that were taking place around them, they requested permission to leave the country. Immediately Raul Sr. was terminated from his job and sent away to manual labor for the duration of the wait period. Wife, Rosa Porto was also let go. Knowing that it may take years to be able to leave the country, Rosa found herself alone and having to find a means to support her three children Betty, Raul Jr., and Margarita.

Rosa, always a talented cake maker, with a passion for baking, entrenched herself in perfecting her recipes and began selling her delicious cakes to friends and neighbors not realizing that she was also building herself a loyal customer base.

When the family finally emigrated from Cuba to California, they had not much more than the clothes on their backs, Raul Sr.’s strong work ethic, Rosa’s exceptional baking skills, and a dream for a better life. Soon after the plane landed, Rosa realized that her reputation had preceded her, and met her first customer just as she got off the plane. Raul Sr. took a job as a mechanic and after work delivered Rosa’s cakes. These were hard times, but the family was now in a country filled with limitless opportunities and their dream for a better future became more real as the years passed.

Rosa continued on with her cake business and when their home could no longer accommodate the increased demand, opened a little 300-square foot bakery on Sunset Blvd, in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles. From day one, the place was busy, serving close to 50 customers a day. After tirelessly working two jobs, Raul Sr. left his latter job at Van De Kamp’s and joined Rosa full time. Meanwhile, their children Betty, Raul Jr., and Margarita managed to maintain their studies and learn the different parts of the business; baking, decorating, food preparation, customer service, and finances.

Rosa’s Cuban cakes were soon joined by French mousses, Italian sweets, and international savories. As customers flocked to the bakery demanding countless quantities of Cheese Rolls™, Refugiados™-guava and cheese strudels, and the infamous Potato Ball™, space became critical. A move was made to a 2,000-square foot facility in Glendale and six years later to one double in size. The bakery continued to grow and more employees where hired to handle the demand for its increasingly broad line of cakes, desserts, and savories.

Porto’s Bakery & Café now serves thousands of customers and employs hundreds of team members in Southern California, with stores in Glendale, Burbank, Downey and now, Buena Park. In 2018 West Covina is on the horizon.

Andrew and William GruelOur own Chef Andrew Gruel is on the road again but in the holiday spirit we have him for a few moments by phone. No doubt he’ll have helpful some 4th of July cooking tips for us as well as an insider’s report from the Slapfish booth at last Weekend’s inaugural Arroyo Seco Weekend festival in Pasadena adjacent to the Rose Bowl. There was some great food and beverages available out there!

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Proprietress Juliette Chung & Executive Chef Daniel Hyatt, Juliette Kitchen & Bar, Newport Beach
Segment Three: Executive Chef Daniel Mattern & Pastry Chef/Baker Roxana Jullapat, Friends & Family, Los Angeles
Segment Four: Chef Jean-Christian Jury, Vegan: The Cookbook
Segment Five: Betty Porto, Vice President, Community & Guest Relations, Porto’s Bakery & Cafe Part One
Segment Six: Betty Porto, Vice President, Community & Guest Relations, Porto’s Bakery & Cafe Part Two
Segment Seven: Chef Andrew Gruel

Show 37, August 3, 2013: Daniel Mattern, Chef / Proprietor of Cook’s County

Daniel Mattern of Cooks CountyRegulars to the show know that Chef Jet is a huge fan of Cook’s County in Los Angeles and dines there often. Starting this month (every Tuesday) it’s their inaugural California Craft Beer and Food Festival.

Chef/Proprietor Daniel Mattern has invited seven of his favorite breweries to come pour their beer selection at the “California Craft Beer and Food Festival” at Cook’s County. The series of beer-centric dinners will take place on Tuesday evenings from August 6th to September 24th. Menus will be tailored around the different craft beers and many dishes will be prepared using beer as a significant ingredient. Each evening’s menu consists of five courses, and all courses, including dessert, will be thoughtfully paired with beer.

Daniel’s talented wife, Roxana, is the pastry chef. They shop at three local Farmers Markets during the course of each week to bring the freshest, local produce of the season to their menu.

August 3: Chaya Brasserie, Kedric Francis, Nancy Zavlasky, Cooks County, Life is Beautiful Festival, Kevin West

Podcasts

Segment One: Thoughts on Breakfast
Segment Two: CHAYA Brasserie Beverly Hills Part One
Segment Three: CHAYA Brasserie Beverly Hills Part Two
Segment Four: Kedric Francis, Executive Editor of Coast Magazine and the Orange County Register Magazine
Segment Five: Nancy Zaslavsky, food journalist, author, food tour guide specializing in the foods of Mexico, cooking instructor, and culinary historian
Segment Six: Daniel Mattern, Chef / Proprietor of Cook’s County
Segment Seven: Life Is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas
Segment Eight: Kevin West, food blogger and journalist

Please join us at our new starting time of 10:00 a.m. “The SoCal Restaurant Show” expands to 2-hours on August 3rd. We’re now with you from 10:00 a.m. to 12 Noon every Saturday morning for the most appetizing food talk..

It seems appropriate to be talking about breakfast this morning. We’re chronicling some recent breakfast dining experiences from Orange County to Las Vegas.

CHAYA Brasserie Beverly HillsCHAYA Brasserie Beverly Hills (located adjacent to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center) is a pioneer in brining innovative Japanese cuisine served in a stylish environment to greater Los Angeles. Amazingly they are celebrating their 30th anniversary in Los Angeles this year. Their celebration kicked-off last Sunday with a “Summer Festival” tasting and celebratory activities continue through October.

Chaya owner Yuta Tsunoda and long-time CHAYA Executive Corporate Chef Shigefumi Tachibe are with us to give us the rich history.

The culinary roots of the founding Tsunoda Family stretch back 400 years when the first CHAYA opened in Japan. It is still in operation today as a restaurant.

CHAYA has four popular restaurants in California including the Flagship in Beverly Hills, Venice, Downtown Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Each location embraces the distinct neighborhood that surrounds it. For instance, CHAYA Brasserie San Francisco, located on the Embarcadero, features sweeping views of the Bay Bridge.

CHAYA also operates two Los Angeles-based locations of M Café, a casual macrobiotic eatery.

Kedric Francis of Coast Magazine and the Orange County Register MagazineMan about Orange County, the always debonair Kedric Francis, is with us in-studio. Kedric is the distinguished Executive Editor of the monthly Coast Orange County Magazine. Kedric is also the co-founder and Executive Editor of the OC Register Magazine.

Kedric will preview a couple of unusual staycation ideas for the OC as well as an exciting food & wine festival set for the Central Coast in late September.

It’s Margarita time! Food journalist and Mexican cuisine-authority, Nancy Zaslavsky, is with us to share the “World’s Best Margaritas Recipe.”

Zaslavsky is an author, cooking teacher, and culinary tour leader specializing in the foods of Mexico. She penned the James Beard Award-nominated, A Cook’s Tour of Mexico.

Daniel Mattern of Cooks CountyRegulars to the show know that Chef Jet is a huge fan of Cook’s County in Los Angeles and dines there often. Starting this month (every Tuesday) it’s their inaugural California Craft Beer and Food Festival.

Chef/Proprietor Daniel Mattern has invited seven of his favorite breweries to come pour their beer selection at the “California Craft Beer and Food Festival” at Cook’s County. The series of beer-centric dinners will take place on Tuesday evenings from August 6th to September 24th. Menus will be tailored around the different craft beers and many dishes will be prepared using beer as a significant ingredient. Each evening’s menu consists of five courses, and all courses, including dessert, will be thoughtfully paired with beer.

Las Vegas has never seen anything quite like this before and it’s a big one !

life-is-beautifulIt’s the Life is Beautiful festival set for many blocks of Downtown Las Vegas from October 25th through Sunday, October 27th. It’s an impressive line-up of world class music, food, art and learning. Tickets are on sale.

With more than 60 prominent chefs and restaurants, 24 wineries and 24 breweries participating in the culinary part of the festival alone, L.I.B presents the attendees with a full-scale food festival experience.

“The food experiences of L.I.B. were carefully designed to be interactive, innovative and unexpected,” says Jolene Mannina, Head of Culinary Arts for the festival. “Working with the vision of our Culinary Advisory Board of 12 world-renowned chefs, we’ve created an approach that we feel will set us apart from other food festivals, giving both our patrons and chefs a chance to enjoy something new, fresh and, of course, delicious.”

Kevin WestCanning, pickling, and preserving has really taken off in local home kitchens. Food journalist Kevin West, a certified food preserver, has just launched Saving the Season: A cook’s guide to home canning, pickling, and preserving from Knopf. In addition to the expected recipes West has mini profiles of his favorite farmers and farm adventures as part of the book.

Kevin is at The Beverly Hills Farmers Market on Sunday, August 4th as part of Pickle Fest. He’ll be signing the book there from 9 to 10:45 a.m.

The block-wide ethnic food court at the historic Grand Central Market (dating back to 1896) in Downtown Los Angeles is undergoing a renaissance. Kevin West is consulting on that effort to bring exciting, one-of-a-kind distinctive food businesses to the Market. It’s already happening…

Podcasts

Segment One: Thoughts on Breakfast
Segment Two: CHAYA Brasserie Beverly Hills Part One
Segment Three: CHAYA Brasserie Beverly Hills Part Two
Segment Four: Kedric Francis, Executive Editor of Coast Magazine and the Orange County Register Magazine
Segment Five: Nancy Zaslavsky, food journalist, author, food tour guide specializing in the foods of Mexico, cooking instructor, and culinary historian
Segment Six: Daniel Mattern, Chef / Proprietor of Cook’s County
Segment Seven: Life Is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas
Segment Eight: Kevin West, food blogger and journalist

Show 31, June 15, 2013: David Walker, co-founder of Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

David Walker of Firestone Walker Brewing CompanyBack in 1996 David and Adam Firestone had this crazy idea to ferment ale in 60 gallon oak barrels reviving a style of brewing ales in England from some 150 years ago. Their first effort was the now popular Double Barrel Ale, the signature of the brewery. The brewery is now located in Paso Robles.

In making the reference to wine David suggests Ales compare to the red varietals. They are bolder in character and full bodied. Lagers are lighter in character and compare to the while varietals.

On Father’s Day, Firestone-Walker Brewing in concert with Food GPS is hosting a Father’s Day Collabrewtive Brunch at Lot 613 in Downtown Los Angeles from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. In addition to the craft beer sampling six food stations will be there featuring the creations of top local chefs including Daniel Mattern and Roxanna Jullapat of Cooks County.

Coffee-infused beers will be on the menu, too, specially created for the event by the brewmasters working with master coffee roasters. Firestone-Walker is matched with Intelligentsia Coffee.