Show 207, January 21, 2017: Show Preview with Andy Harris, Co-Host & Executive Producer

The Dumpling Trail in Richmond British Columbia“The SoCal Restaurant Show” is going international. On Saturday morning, January 28th the show is live from Richmond, B.C. (“Where the Far East Meets the Canadian West Coast”) for their festive celebration of Chinese New Year.

Now am enticing preview of this Saturday’s overflowing show with Co-Host & Executive Producer Andy Harris. 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 probably a pretty good thing…

The Founder and Co-Proprietor of James Republic Restaurant in Long Beach is Chef Dean James Max of DJM Restaurants, a multiple James Beard Award nominee. His opening Executive Chef there is the talented David MacLennan. In a bit over three years they have made this relaxed vibe restaurant one of the prominent dining destinations in Long Beach. On February 8th at James Republic at Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Long Beach they are presenting a multi-course dining spectacular with Chef Amar Santana to benefit Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP.) Chefs Dean & David join us to preview C-CAP’s Winter Harvest Benefit Dinner at James Republic on Wednesday, February 8th.

Our regular Contributor on the San Diego dining scene, Anita Lau, The Diary of a Mad Hungry Woman blogger, joins us. She will provide us with the highlights of her “Best Meal” of 2016. Surprisingly (because Orange County is her regular beat) it turns out to be the destination restaurant in a boutique hotel in Downtown San Diego!

The original Water Grill, one of the area’s premier fine-dining seafood restaurants, opened in Downtown Los Angeles in 1989. There are now busy locations in Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Diego, South Coast Plaza – Costa Mesa, and, just launched this month, Dallas. The new South Coast Plaza location is nearly 18,000 square feet. We’ll meet proprietor & distinguished restaurateur Sam King of King’s Seafood Company.

Chicken is a versatile protein, typically a good value, and much in the news these days. We’re talking Chicken 101 with our resident Meatheads from West Coast Prime Meats, Terry Hanks and Jay Henderson. Between the two of them they clock in with over 50 years of experience in the business!

How about some premium wine to celebrate the New Year? Our resident wine expert, Kyle Meyer of Wine Exchange in Santa Ana, joins us. He’ll preview the expectations for the 2015 vintage in California and we’ll see what else he’ll uncork for us. Always highly informative & entertaining.

We love it when competitive chefs generously donate their time to support a worthy cause. Behold, the Pizza Throwdown on Sunday, January 29th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Master Baker Dean Kim’s OC Baking Co. in Orange benefiting Chef Bill Bracken’s Bracken’s Kitchen (created to help end food insecurity in Orange County and beyond.) Only 100 VIP and General Admission tickets are available.

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

Show 207, January 21, 2017: Executive Chef / Restaurateur Dean James Max of DJM Restaurants & Executive Chef David MacLennan of James Republic, Long Beach

Dean James MaxThe Founder and Co-Proprietor of James Republic Restaurant in Long Beach is Chef Dean James Max of DJM Restaurants, a multiple James Beard Award nominee. His opening Executive Chef there is the talented David MacLennan. In a bit over three years they have made this relaxed vibe restaurant one of the best dining destinations in Long Beach. Their Brunch is a standout, too. Think Chorizo & Cheddar Croissant.

On February 8th at James Republic at Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Long Beach they are presenting a multi-course dining spectacular along with Chef Amar Santana (Vaca & Broadway by Amar Santana) to benefit the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP.) Chef Amar is a distinguished C-CAP Alum.

The evening includes a cocktail reception with local craft beer, sparkling wine and still wine and passed hors d’oeuvres. Then it’s a sumptuous seated dinner with three waves of ample food platters served Family-style. Each wave of the three incudes separate platters from each chef. That’s three platters of delights for each wave. Dessert and gourmet chocolates conclude the festivities. If you go away hungry it’s your own fault. There is also both a live & silent auction with crave-worthy items with great appeal for any foodie.

Tickets (and there are only 150 reservations available) are $195 per guest with $150 of that being Tax Deductible.

Chefs Dean & David join us to preview C-CAP’s Winter Harvest Benefit Dinner at James Republic on Wednesday, February 8th.

January 21: James Republic, Mad Hungry Woman, Sam King, West Coast Prime Meats, Wine Exchange, Pizza Throwdown

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Andy Harris, Co-Host & Executive Producer
Segment Two: Executive Chef / Restaurateur Dean James Max of DJM Restaurants & Executive Chef David MacLennan of James Republic, Long Beach
Segment Three: Anita Lau, “Diary of a Mag Hungry Woman” Blogger
Segment Four: Restaurateur Sam King, CEO, King’s Seafood Company Part One
Segment Five: Restaurateur Sam King, CEO, King’s Seafood Company Part Two
Segment Six: The “Meatheads” from West Coast Prime Meats, Terry Hanks and Jay Henderson on Chicken
Segment Seven: Kyle Meyer, Co-Proprietor, Wine Exchange, Santa Ana
Segment Eight: The Pizza Throwdown. OC Baking’s Dean Kim and Brent Omeste of Centro Collective

The Dumpling Trail in Richmond British Columbia“The SoCal Restaurant Show” is going international. On Saturday morning, January 28th the show is live from Richmond, B.C. (“Where the Far East Meets the Canadian West Coast”) for their festive celebration of Chinese New Year.

Now am enticing preview of this Saturday’s overflowing show with Co-Host & Executive Producer Andy Harris. 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 probably a pretty good thing…

The Founder and Co-Proprietor of James Republic Restaurant in Long Beach is Chef Dean James Max of DJM Restaurants, a multiple James Beard Award nominee. His opening Executive Chef there is the talented David MacLennan. In a bit over three years they have made this relaxed vibe restaurant one of the best dining destinations in Long Beach. On February 8th at James Republic at Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Long Beach they are presenting a multi-course dining spectacular with Chef Amar Santana to benefit Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP.) Chefs Dean & David join us to preview C-CAP’s Winter Harvest Benefit Dinner at James Republic on Wednesday, February 8th.

Our regular Contributor on the San Diego dining scene, Anita Lau, The Mad Hungry Woman blogger, joins us. She will provide us with the highlights of her “Best Meal” of 2016. Surprisingly (because Orange County is her regular beat) it turns out to be the destination restaurant in a boutique hotel in Downtown San Diego!

The original Water Grill, one of the area’s best fine-dining seafood restaurants, opened in Downtown Los Angeles in 1989. There are now busy locations in Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Diego, South Coast Plaza – Costa Mesa, and, just launched this month, Dallas. The new South Coast Plaza location is nearly 18,000 square feet. We’ll meet proprietor & distinguished restaurateur Sam King of King’s Seafood Company.

Chicken is a versatile protein, typically a good value, and much in the news these days. We’re talking Chicken 101 with our resident Meatheads from West Coast Prime Meats, Terry Hanks and Jay Henderson. Between the two of them they clock in with over 50 years of experience in the business!

How about some premium wine to celebrate the New Year? Our resident wine expert, Kyle Meyer of Wine Exchange in Santa Ana, joins us. He’ll preview the expectations for the 2016 vintage in California and we’ll see what else he’ll uncork for us. Always highly informative & entertaining.

We love it when competitive chefs generously donate their time to support a worthy cause. Behold, the Pizza Throwdown on Sunday, January 28th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Master Baker Dean Kim’s OC Baking in Orange benefiting Chef Bill Bracken’s Bracken’s Kitchen (created to help end food insecurity in Orange County and beyond.) Only 100 VIP and General Admission tickets are available.

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

Dean James MaxThe Founder and Co-Proprietor of James Republic Restaurant in Long Beach is Chef Dean James Max of DJM Restaurants, a multiple James Beard Award nominee. His opening Executive Chef there is the talented David MacLennan. In a bit over three years they have made this relaxed vibe restaurant one of the best dining destinations in Long Beach. Their Brunch is a standout, too. Think Chorizo & Cheddar Croissant.

On February 8th at James Republic at Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Long Beach they are presenting a multi-course dining spectacular along with Chef Amar Santana (Vaca & Broadway by Amar Santana) to benefit the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP.) Chef Amar is a distinguished C-CAP Alum.

The evening includes a cocktail reception with local craft beer, sparkling wine and still wine and passed hors d’oeuvres. Then it’s a sumptuous seated dinner with three waves of ample food platters served Family-style. Each wave of the three incudes separate platters from each chef. That’s three platters of delights for each wave. Dessert and gourmet chocolates conclude the festivities. If you go away hungry it’s your own fault. There is also both a live & silent auction with crave-worthy items with great appeal for any foodie.

Tickets (and there are only 150 reservations available) are $195 per guest with $150 of that being Tax Deductible.

Chefs Dean & David join us to preview C-CAP’s Winter Harvest Benefit Dinner at James Republic on Wednesday, February 8th.

Anita Lau of Mad Hungry WomanOur regular Contributor on the San Diego dining scene, Anita Lau, The Mad Hungry Woman blogger, joins us. She will provide us with the tempting highlights of her Best Meal” of 2016.

Surprisingly (because Orange County is her regular beat) It turns out to be the destination restaurant in a boutique hotel in Downtown San Diego! A new executive chef is stirring the pot there with the unexpected addition of some Filipino ingredients.

Think Venison Tartare…

Sam KingThe original Water Grill, one of the area’s best fine-dining seafood restaurants, opened in Downtown Los Angeles in 1989. There are now busy locations in Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Diego, South Coast Plaza – Costa Mesa, and, just launched this month, Dallas. The new South Coast Plaza location is nearly 18,000 square feet.

Focusing on first-of-season seafood, Water Grill prides itself in offering the broadest selection of fin fish, oysters, crustaceans and shellfish to its guests.

“It’s been a dream of ours to bring Water Grill to Orange County,” says Sam King, CEO of the Orange County based King’s Seafood Company. “We hold this project near and dear to our hearts, and we’re so excited to open Water Grill right here in our own backyard. We look forward to sharing our passion for outstanding quality seafood and attentive service with our longtime friends and neighbors.”

The largest Water Grill to date, the nearly 18,000 square-foot restaurant and adjacent patio were designed in partnership with Hatch Design Group. Taking inspiration from a refurbished ship, the restaurant features reclaimed locally-sourced woods and authentic nautical components paired with rustic and iron finishes. A central, copper-top bar anchors the space, while an additional bar is located in the outdoor patio area, offering a multitude of seating options.

The 500-seat restaurant boasts several private dining options and multiple event spaces, ideal for intimate celebrations, business gatherings, large parties and charity events.

We’ll meet proprietor & distinguished restaurateur Sam King of King’s Seafood Company.

King’s Seafood Distribution, the company’s private seafood distribution operation based in Santa Ana, CA provides all the seafood for Water Grill’s menu. Streamlining the process from ocean to table, King’s Seafood Company provides the best quality and largest variety of available seafood to its 20 restaurants. Menus are crafted daily to account for freshly caught fish and seasonal culinary changes for Water Grill guest to enjoy.

“We’re lucky to have incredibly long-lasting relationships with fishermen and purveyors along both coasts, providing a vast selection of quality products for our restaurants,” said King. “We pride ourselves in having a wide variety of fresh seafood. Our continued goal is to have as many live products as possible.”

King’s Seafood Company is based in Costa Mesa, California and has evolved from more than 70 years of family restaurant and hospitality experience, opening their first restaurant in Los Angeles in 1945. Founded by cousins Sam and Jeff King, the company operates six different restaurant concepts that include the King’s Fish House concept with 11 locations throughout Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona.  King’s also operates King Signature Group, which includes Water Grill in Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica South Coast Plaza, Dallas and San Diego, 555 East in Long Beach, Lou & Mickey’s in San Diego’s Gaslamp District, Pier Burger on the Santa Monica Pier, and Fish Camp in Huntington Beach.

Chicken 101 from the Meatheads at West Coast Prime MeatsChicken is a versatile protein, typically a good value, and much in the news these days. What should you know about the antibiotics in fresh chicken that many of the fast food chains have promised to eliminate?

Also, what is Free Range Chicken anyway? Is it really worth the premium price?

We’re talking Chicken 101 with our resident Meatheads from West Coast Prime Meats, Terry Hanks and Jay Henderson. Between the two of them they clock in with over 50 years of experience in the business!

Kyle Meyer of Wine ExchangeHow about some premium wine to celebrate the New Year? Our resident wine expert, Kyle Meyer of Wine Exchange in Santa Ana, joins us.

Kyle will preview the expectations for the 2016 vintage in California and we’ll see what else he’ll uncork for us. Always highly informative & entertaining.

Pizza ThrowdownWe love it when competitive chefs generously donate their time to support a worthy cause. Behold, the Pizza Throwdown on Sunday, January 29th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Master Baker Dean Kim’s OC Baking Co. in Orange benefiting Chef Bill Bracken’s Bracken’s Kitchen (created to help end food insecurity in Orange County and beyond.) Only 100 VIP & Regular Admission tickets available.

It all began when Chefs Chad Urata and Brent Omeste of the embryonic Centro Collective challenged OC Baking Company’s Master Baker Dean Kim to a pizza throwdown. Not realizing that Dean thrives on wagers, Dean took it one step further and enlisted veteran OC pizza master Sandro Nardone to join him.

When other chefs caught wind of it via social media, The Veterans’ team is now six strong with the addition of Chef Dee Nyugen, Chef Greg Daniels, Lisa Gilmore and of course, Chef Bill Bracken.

On Sunday, January 29th, the friendly rivalry will include both teams creating their best pizza to be judged by participants at the event. Who will win the challenge? You be the judge!

All tickets (VIP @ $50 & General Admission @ $20) include pizza, non-alcoholic beverages and a token to vote for your favorite team.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Andy Harris, Co-Host & Executive Producer
Segment Two: Executive Chef / Restaurateur Dean James Max of DJM Restaurants & Executive Chef David MacLennan of James Republic, Long Beach
Segment Three: Anita Lau, “Diary of a Mag Hungry Woman” Blogger
Segment Four: Restaurateur Sam King, CEO, King’s Seafood Company Part One
Segment Five: Restaurateur Sam King, CEO, King’s Seafood Company Part Two
Segment Six: The “Meatheads” from West Coast Prime Meats, Terry Hanks and Jay Henderson on Chicken
Segment Seven: Kyle Meyer, Co-Proprietor, Wine Exchange, Santa Ana
Segment Eight: The Pizza Throwdown. OC Baking’s Dean Kim and Brent Omeste of Centro Collective

Show 176, June 18, 2016: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris

Happy Father’s Day to all of our listening Dads! You really deserve some extra credit, too…

Now an appetizing preview of Saturday’s tantalizing show and not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re doing it right we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s actually a pretty good thing…

Chef Maeve Rochford is the proprietress of the ever-popular Sugar & Scribe Bakery Café in La Jolla. She is also the winner of Food Network’s “Holiday Baking Championship” and the cool $50,000 cash prize. Chef Maeve is our guest.

It’s a good sign of the times. The old-fashioned, full-service, neighborhood butcher shop is back in fashion. This is where you can source the exact cut of meat or poultry that you need and get expert advice from a master butcher who also knows how to prepare and cook everything they sell. What a concept. Master butcher Jim Cascone of Huntington Meats and Farmers Market Poultry at The Original Farmers Market at Third & Fairfax in Los Angeles brings us up-to-date.

One of the most personal wineries and tasting rooms operating in Santa Barbara County as part of the Urban Wine Trail is former race car driver’s Jamie Slone’s, Jamie Slone Wines. They specialize in limited production, premium wines from the best vineyards of Santa Barbara County, featuring red blends, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and more. We’ll meet him.

Last year celebrated the 50th anniversary of the iconic Five Crowns in Corona del Mar. It also marked the start of the just-completed revitalization which includes a new look for The Greenhouse room and the addition of the new Cooper’s Bar. Overseeing the renovations with great care is our guest, Jim Colombo, the General Manager of Five Crowns (who is also a skilled chef by training).

James Republic, under the culinary direction of Chef David MacLennan and Proprietor / Chef Dean James Max, sets the standard for unpretentious fine dining with imagination in Long Beach. Their popular Summer Dinner Bell Supper Series showcasing the fresh products of local farmers kicks off on Sunday, June 26th. Chef David pops out of the kitchen to provide us with the fresh-from-the-field details.

Our resident wine authority, Kyle Meyer of Santa Ana’s Wine Exchange, is just back from a visit (and many tastings) to a couple of Australia’s premier wine producing areas. We’ll get the delightfully quaffable highlights…Cheers.

Chef Andrew Gruel is in Manhattan this week exhibiting at the International Franchise Expo at Javits Center. We’ll pull him away from the action on the show floor for a chat. He’ll also talk about his debut experience at last Saturday’s Tacolandia on Los Angeles’ historic Olvera Street.

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

Show 176, June 18, 2016: Executive Chef Dave MacLennan, James Republic, Long Beach

Dave MaclennanJames Republic under the culinary direction of Chef David MacLennan and Proprietor / Chef Dean James Max sets the standard for unpretentious fine dining with imagination in Long Beach.

Their popular Summer Dinner Bell Supper Series showcasing the fresh products of local farmers kicks off on Sunday, June 26th. Chef David pops out of the kitchen to provide us with all the fresh-from-the-field details.

“Join our table as we share passion for food, combining new and traditional flavors, fresh ingredients and all naturally raised meats, poultry and seafood during our celebration of spring. We’ll be spending Sunday morning at the Long Beach Farmers Market, finding the best in seasonality and locality, coming back to our kitchen to prepare an inspired family style dinner.”

“Our market inspired reception includes seasonal cocktails and canapes beginning at 4:30 pm, followed by dinner from 5 pm to 7 pm. Each delicious course features three distinct dishes served in a communal setting.”

“Our local farmers will be dining with us and be available for questions and discussing what they do best!”

June 18: Maeve Rochford, Huntington Meats, Jamie Slone Wines, Five Crowns, James Republic, Wine Exchange, Andrew Gruel

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chef Maeve Rochford, Sugar and Scribe, La Jolla, CA
Segment Three: Jim Cascone, Huntington Meats and Farmers Market Poultry, Los Angeles
Segment Four: Jamie Slone Wines, El Paseo, Santa Barbara
Segment Five: Jim Colombo, General Manager, Five Crowns, Corona del Mar
Segment Six: Executive Chef Dave MacLennan, James Republic, Long Beach
Segment Seven: Kyle Meyer, Wine Exchange, Tasting in Australia’s Top Three Wine Regions
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish Restaurant Group, Huntington Beach

Happy Father’s Day to all of our listening Dads! You deserve some credit, too…

Now an appetizing preview of Saturday’s tantalizing show and not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re doing it right we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s actually a pretty good thing…

Chef Maeve Rochford is the proprietress of the ever-popular Sugar & Scribe Bakery Café in La Jolla. She is also the winner of Food Network’s “Holiday Baking Championship” and the cool $50,000 cash prize. Chef Maeve is our guest.

It’s a good sign of the times. The old-fashioned, full-service, neighborhood butcher shop is back in fashion. This is where you can source the exact cut of meat or poultry that you need and get expert advice from a master butcher who also knows how to prepare and cook everything they sell. What a concept. Master butcher Jim Cascone of Huntington Meats and Farmers Market Poultry at The Original Farmers Market at Third & Fairfax in Los Angeles brings us up-to-date.

One of the most personal wineries and tasting rooms operating in Santa Barbara County as part of the Urban Wine Trail is former race car driver’s Jamie Slone’s, Jamie Slone Wines. They specialize in limited production, premium wines from the best vineyards of Santa Barbara County, featuring red blends, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and more. We’ll meet him.

Last year celebrated the 50th anniversary of the iconic Five Crowns in Corona del Mar. It also marked the start of the just-completed revitalization which includes a new look for The Greenhouse room and the addition of the new Cooper’s Bar. Overseeing the renovations with great care is our guest, Jim Colombo, the General Manager of Five Crowns (who is also a skilled chef by training).

James Republic, under the culinary direction of Chef David MacLennan and Proprietor / Chef Dean James Max, sets the standard for unpretentious fine dining with imagination in Long Beach. Their popular Summer Dinner Bell Supper Series showcasing the fresh products of local farmers kicks off on Sunday, June 26th. Chef David pops out of the kitchen to provide us with the fresh-from-the-field details.

Our resident wine authority, Kyle Meyer of Santa Ana’s Wine Exchange, is just back from a visit (and many tastings) to a couple of Australia’s premier wine producing areas. We’ll get the delightfully quaffable highlights…Cheers.

Chef Andrew Gruel is in Manhattan this week exhibiting at the International Franchise Expo at Javits Center. We’ll pull him away from the action on the show floor for a chat. He’ll also talk about his debut experience at last Saturday’s Tacolandia on Los Angeles’ historic Olvera Street.

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

“Be Sweet. Be Tempted.”

Mauve RochfordChef Maeve Rochford is the proprietress of the ever-popular Sugar & Scribe Bakery Café in La Jolla. She is also the winner of Food Network’s “Holiday Baking Championship” and the cool $50,000 cash prize. Chef Maeve is our guest.

“Born an only child in Cincinnati, Ohio to an Irish-born mother and third generation German Father, Maeve’s life was destined to be greatly influenced by food! She attended an all-girls high school, St. Ursula Academy, and rowed her way into college. After graduating from Boston University on a rowing scholarship, Maeve started her career quest!”

“After college Maeve struggled to settle on a direction. She checked out a few career paths in NYC and then spent several months in South Africa. While cooking dinner for the family she was living with in Walvis Bay, it finally became clear: “I’M A CHEF!” Looking back, Maeve realized she had been on this path since she was two. She moved to Los Angeles and landed her first job as a private chef. It was Maeve’s husband’s career that brought her to San Diego.”

“With the move, Maeve started all over again, but this time she followed her passion, threw caution to the wind, and in the middle of a major recession, opened Sugar and Scribe, a small upscale bakery in Pacific Beach on a shoestring budget. Sugar and Scribe launched in November 2010. The current Sugar and Scribe location opened in La Jolla in February of 2015.”

“Maeve’s love of food and the memories that great foods inspire drive her to create morsels of excellence every day. “I think my keen understanding of flavor combinations comes from mixing leftovers, never being afraid of food and loving the experience of cooking. When I’m happy, I eat. When I’m sad, I eat. When I’m angry, I eat. So it’s important to have great food for every emotion!””

Jim CasconeIt’s a good sign of the times. The old-fashioned, full-service, neighborhood butcher shop is back in fashion. This is where you can source the exact cut of meat or poultry that you need and get expert advice from a master butcher who also knows how to prepare and cook everything they sell. What a concept.

Master butcher Jim Cascone of Huntington Meats and Farmers Market Poultry at The Original Farmers Market at Third & Fairfax in Los Angeles brings us up-to-date.

Located at the Farmer’s Market at 3rd and Fairfax since 1986, Huntington Meats is proud to offer the finest quality meats and sausages.

“A true old-fashioned butcher shop, Huntington Meats offers traditional roasts, steaks, chops, ground beef and much more. You’ll discover an astonishing selection of sausages here (Cajun, three-cheese, chicken sausage, Italian from mild to Wow! and many more). For parties, select a variety to barbecue so everyone can have a taste! Huntington is also one of the city’s exclusive purveyors of Harris Ranch meats.”

They also offer educational classes.

Find them at Stall 350.

Jim Cascone of Huntington Meats has also taken flight with the experts at Farmers Market Poultry. The chicken here is more flavorful than any found on freezer shelves in chain stores, the turkey comes from several exceptional purveyors (try the ground turkey as an outstanding substitute for ground beef), and fresh eggs and exotic fowl are also readily available. Find them at Stall 216.

Jamie SloneOne of the most personal wineries and tasting rooms operating in Santa Barbara County as part of the Urban Wine Trail is former race car driver’s Jamie Slone’s, Jamie Slone Wines. The destination Tasting Room is located in Downtown Santa Barbara’s Wine Collection of El Paseo. This is at Historic El Paseo in The Presidio neighborhood.

They specialize in limited production, premium wines from the best vineyards of Santa Barbara County, featuring red blends, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and more. We’ll meet him.

“At Jamie Slone Wines we are committed to providing an Outstanding Santa Barbara County Wine Experience. This begins with the goal of producing wines of balance and character that are handcrafted, personal and full of the obsession we’ve come to be known for, the Terroir of Santa Barbara County! Our focus is exclusively on exceptional vineyard sites in Santa Barbara County.”

“Santa Barbara County is truly Diversity Perfected with it’s wonderful blend of microclimates, each defined by unique soils that run the list from chirt and limestone to ancient beach and diatomaceous earth. Couple that with transverse mountain ranges that have cool and moderate temperatures toward the west and warm daytimes and cold nights to the east and the results are complex wines full of acids, tannins, and a myriad of flavors. We are about making authentic and compelling wine from special vineyard sites with subtle nuances and characteristics that tell a particular wine’s story.”

“We are our toughest critic and our micro boutique production level means we can pay attention to the details, producing wines that we personally enjoy, not only approachable today but wines that will age for a long time to come.”

Jim ColomboLast year celebrated the 50th anniversary of the iconic Five Crowns in Corona del Mar. It also marked the start of the just-completed revitalization which includes a new look for The Greenhouse room and the addition of the new Cooper’s Bar.

Overseeing the renovations with great care at every step of the way is our guest, Jim Colombo, the General Manager of Five Crowns (who is also a skilled chef by training).

“We’ve invigorated the Five Crowns experience,” said Ryan O’Melveny Wilson, Executive Chef and Vice President. “From our updated sign out front, to refreshed dining rooms, the new bar and a menu that honors our classics and highlights seasonality, we’re setting the table for the next 50 years.”

Complementing the renovation, Five Crowns’ forward-looking menu balances innovative seasonality with the classic dishes that have made the restaurant a landmark. Guests can now enjoy greater flexibility by pairing seasonal small plates with a shared main dish or a heritage entrée from the Crown Classics section.

“The new menu offers favorites from our 50-year menu archives in addition to a daily selection of fresh fish, hand cut pasta and interesting wines,” commented Wilson. “There is something for every discerning palate, long-time guest or first time Five Crowns diner.”

Dave MaclennanJames Republic under the culinary direction of Chef David MacLennan and Proprietor / Chef Dean James Max sets the standard for unpretentious fine dining with imagination in Long Beach.

Their popular Summer Dinner Bell Supper Series showcasing the fresh products of local farmers kicks off on Sunday, June 26th. Chef David pops out of the kitchen to provide us with all the fresh-from-the-field details.

“Join our table as we share passion for food, combining new and traditional flavors, fresh ingredients and all naturally raised meats, poultry and seafood during our celebration of spring. We’ll be spending Sunday morning at the Long Beach Farmers Market, finding the best in seasonality and locality, coming back to our kitchen to prepare an inspired family style dinner.”

“Our market inspired reception includes seasonal cocktails and canapes beginning at 4:30 pm, followed by dinner from 5 pm to 7 pm. Each delicious course features three distinct dishes served in a communal setting.”

“Our local farmers will be dining with us and be available for questions and discussing what they do best!”

Kyle Meyer of Wine ExchangeOur resident wine authority, Kyle Meyer of Santa Ana’s Wine Exchange, is just back from a visit (and many tastings) to a couple of Australia’s premier wine producing areas. We’ll get the delightfully quaffable highlights…

On Kyle’s ambitious down under trek were the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale in South Australia and Margaret River in Western Australia.

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosChef Andrew Gruel is in Manhattan this week exhibiting at the International Franchise Expo at Javits Center. We’ll pull him away from the action on the show floor for a chat.

He’ll also talk about his debut experience at last Saturday’s Tacolandia on Los Angeles’ historic Olvera Street. It was super busy…

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chef Maeve Rochford, Sugar and Scribe, La Jolla, CA
Segment Three: Jim Cascone, Huntington Meats and Farmers Market Poultry, Los Angeles
Segment Four: Jamie Slone Wines, El Paseo, Santa Barbara
Segment Five: Jim Colombo, General Manager, Five Crowns, Corona del Mar
Segment Six: Executive Chef Dave MacLennan, James Republic, Long Beach
Segment Seven: Kyle Meyer, Wine Exchange, Tasting in Australia’s Top Three Wine Regions
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish Restaurant Group, Huntington Beach

Show 118, April 18, 2015: Show Preview with Guest Host Chef Andrew Gruel and Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris

Andrew GruelExecutive Chef Andrew Gruel of the rapidly growing Slapfish empire with restaurants in Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, and, now, Newport Beach is today’s special Guest Host for the first segment. He’s off on location shooting FYI’s “Say It To My Face.”

Now a preview of today’s decadently overstuffed show.

In celebration of National Grilled Cheese Month in April Provisions Market (Chef Greg Daniels) and OC Baking Company (Dean Kim) will join forces to once again host The Big Cheese, Orange County’s grilled cheese festival and competition. Event Co-Founder Greg Daniels and his fellow Orange County Chefs will compete for the title of “The Big Cheese” on Monday, April 20th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Provisions Market. All proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to You Are Special, a local nonprofit that operates a food pantry to feed the hungry in the Orange community. This week we’ll continue our preview of the event with Co-Founder Chef Greg Daniels of Provisions Market and Haven Gastropub.

Time to set sail for the 5th annual Celebrity Cruises Great Wine Festival. The festivities on Saturday afternoon, May 2nd will feature unlimited tastings from more than 30 exceptional wineries, breweries and spirits, fine cuisine, a silent auction and live musical entertainment. The event benefits the Legal Aid Society of Orange County and Community Legal Services. Celebrity Cruises’ Sommelier Chanelle Duarte and Executive Chef David MacLennan of James Republic in Long Beach join us to preview the benefit.

It’s seemingly always tomato planting time somewhere in the U.S. From striped heirlooms to golden cherry tomatoes, and everything in between to be found at your local farmer’s market tomatoes are creating “Tomatomaniacs” everywhere. Now, Scott Daigre, the founder of the wildly popular, Tomatomania annual seedling sale in California, has teamed up with Jenn Garbee to bring the reader a beautiful and fun guide to growing, preparing and cooking tomatoes, with TOMATOMANIA! A Fresh Approach to Celebrating Tomatoes in the Garden and in the Kitchen. Scott is performing a cooking demonstration at the L.A. Times Festival of Books, Saturday afternoon, April 18th. He’s our guest.

ChocXO “Bean To Bar Chocolatier” starts with fine flavor cacao beans from Central and South America. ChocXO believes in the quality of the bean above all else. They process them using the latest technology and highest quality raw materials locally in their Irvine factory. From this incredible liquid chocolate ChocXO creates their own chocolate bars, filled chocolates, chocolate bark, and other chocolate specialties. The factory is available for tours Tuesday through Saturday. ChocXO Partner and General Manager Armon Demarco is our guest.

Del Frisco’s Grille’s (Irvine SpectrumExecutive Chef Sarah Daniels is joining forces with San Clemente’s award-winning craft brewery, Left Coast Brewery, to present a special beer dinner on Monday, April 27th. It’s four-courses along with four Left Coast Brewery pairings for a modest $35.00 per person plus tax and gratuity. The menu for the evening is a total original created for the evening by Chef Sarah, the first female executive chef in the Del Frisco’s Grille system. Chef Sarah Daniels and Shawn Hadjis of Left Coast Brewing Co. (Director of Sales and Marketing) join us with a preview.

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

Show 118, April 18, 2015: Celebrity Cruises Great Wine Festival

Chanelle DuarteTime to set sail for the 5th annual Celebrity Cruises Great Wine Festival. The festivities on Saturday afternoon, May 2nd , in honor of Drink Wine Day, will feature unlimited tastings from more than 30 exceptional wineries, breweries and spirits, fine cuisine, a silent auction and live musical entertainment. Within the benefit Celebrity Cruises will also host Celebrity’s Wine Lounge featuring Jackson Family premium wines. The event will take place at Hangar 244 in the Orange County Great Park, the first great metropolitan park of the 21st century, located in the heart of Orange County.

The event benefits the Legal Aid Society of Orange County and Community Legal Services who provide free legal services to those in the community who would otherwise be denied access to justice.

Celebrity Cruises’ Sommelier Chanelle Duarte and Executive Chef David MacLennan of James Republic in Long Beach (a participating restaurant) join us to preview the benefit.

Chef David is just back from the James Beard Foundation in New York where he presented a dinner with his colleague, Chef/Restaurateur Dean James Max. On May 6th at James Republic the same team is presenting a Dinner Bell Series evening with local farmers (and ingredients from the Long Beach Farmer’s Market) to benefit Chefs to End Hunger.”

April 18: Andrew Gruel, Greg Daniels, David MacLennan, Scott Daigre, ChocXO, Del Frisco’s Grille, Left Coast Brewing

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Guest Host Chef Andrew Gruel and Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Executive Chef Greg Daniels, “The Big Cheese” Competition
Segment Three: Celebrity Cruises Great Wine Festival
Segment Four: Scott Daigre and Tomatomania!
Segment Five: ChocXo Bean to Bar Chocolatier Part One
Segment Six: ChocXo Bean to Bar Chocolatier Part Two
Segment Seven: Del Frisco’s Grille Plates & Pints Dinner with Left Coast Brewing
Segment Eight: Left Coast Brewing Co.

Andrew GruelExecutive Chef Andrew Gruel of the rapidly growing Slapfish empire with restaurants in Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, and, now, Newport Beach is today’s special Guest Host.

Now a preview of today’s decadently overstuffed show.

In celebration of National Grilled Cheese Month in April Provisions Market (Chef Greg Daniels) and OC Baking Company (Dean Kim) will join forces to once again host The Big Cheese, Orange County’s grilled cheese festival and competition. Event Co-Founder Greg Daniels and his fellow Orange County Chefs will compete for the title of “The Big Cheese” on Monday, April 20th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Provisions Market. All proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to You Are Special, a local nonprofit that operates a food pantry to feed the hungry in the Orange community. This week we’ll preview the event with Co-Founder Chef Greg Daniels of Provisions Market and Haven Gastropub.

Time to set sail for the 5th annual Celebrity Cruises Great Wine Festival. The festivities on Saturday afternoon, May 2nd will feature unlimited tastings from more than 30 exceptional wineries, breweries and spirits, fine cuisine, a silent auction and live musical entertainment. The event benefits the Legal Aid Society of Orange County and Community Legal Services. Celebrity Cruises’ Sommelier Chanelle Duarte and Executive Chef David MacLennan of James Republic restaurant in Long Beach join us to preview the benefit.

It’s seemingly always tomato planting time somewhere in the U.S. From striped heirlooms to golden cherry tomatoes, and everything in between to be found at your local farmer’s market tomatoes are creating “Tomatomaniacs” everywhere. Now, Scott Daigre, the founder of the wildly popular, “Tomatomania” annual seedling sale in California, has teamed up with Jenn Garbee to bring the reader a beautiful and fun guide to growing, preparing and cooking tomatoes, with TOMATOMANIA! A Fresh Approach to Celebrating Tomatoes in the Garden and in the Kitchen. Scott is performing a cooking demonstration at the L.A. Times Festival of Books, Saturday afternoon, April 18th. He’s our guest.

ChocXO “Bean To Bar Chocolatier” starts with fine flavor cacao beans from Central and South America. ChocXO believes in the quality of the bean above all else. They process them using the latest technology and highest quality raw materials locally in their Irvine factory. From this incredible liquid chocolate ChocXO creates their own chocolate bars, filled chocolates, chocolate bark, and other chocolate specialties. The factory is available for tours Tuesday through Saturday. ChocXO Partner and General Manager Armon Demarco is our guest.

Del Frisco’s Grille’s (Irvine Spectrum) Executive Chef Sarah Daniels is joining forces with San Clemente’s award-winning craft brewery, Left Coast Brewery, to present a special beer pairing dinner on Monday, April 27th. It’s four-courses along with four Left Coast Brewery pairings for a modest $35.00 per person. The menu for the evening is a total original created for the event by Chef Sarah, the first female executive chef in the Del Frisco’s Grille system. Chef Sarah Daniels and Shawn Hadjis of Left Coast Brewing Co. (Director of Sales and Marketing) join us with a preview.

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

Greg Daniels of Haven GastropubIn celebration of National Grilled Cheese Month in April Provisions Market (Chef Greg Daniels) and OC Baking Company (Dean Kim) will join forces to once again host The Big Cheese, Orange County’s grilled cheese festival and competition. Event Co-Founder Greg Daniels and his fellow Orange County Chefs will compete for the title of “The Big Cheese” on Monday, April 20th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Provisions Market. All proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to You Are Special, a local nonprofit that operates a food pantry to feed the hungry in the Orange community.

OC Baking Company Master Baker Dean Kim will supply locally produced freshly baked bread to the competing chefs. The competitors will present their own spin on the classic grilled cheese sandwich that festival attendees will sample and then vote on.

This year, the professional chefs will be joined by one ProAm competitor who will be selected by event organizers in an Instagram contest. The winning entry will be announced Friday, April 17th and the ProAm contender for “The Big Cheese” will participate in the festival on Monday, April 20th.

Chef Greg Daniels (just back from France) of Provisions Market and Haven Gastropub joins us with all the needed 411.

Chanelle DuarteTime to set sail for the 5th annual Celebrity Cruises Great Wine Festival. The festivities on Saturday afternoon, May 2nd , in honor of Drink Wine Day, will feature unlimited tastings from more than 30 exceptional wineries, breweries and spirits, fine cuisine, a silent auction and live musical entertainment. Within the benefit Celebrity Cruises will also host Celebrity’s Wine Lounge featuring Jackson Family premium wines. The event will take place at Hangar 244 in the Orange County Great Park, the first great metropolitan park of the 21st century, located in the heart of Orange County.

The event benefits the Legal Aid Society of Orange County and Community Legal Services who provide free legal services to those in the community who would otherwise be denied access to justice.

Celebrity Cruises’ Sommelier Chanelle Duarte and Executive Chef David MacLennan of James Republic in Long Beach (a participating restaurant) join us to preview the benefit.

Scott DaigreIt’s seemingly always tomato planting time somewhere in the U.S. From striped heirlooms to golden cherry tomatoes, and everything in between to be found at your local farmer’s market tomatoes are creating “Tomatomaniacs” everywhere.

Now, Scott Daigre, the founder of the wildly popular, Tomatomania annual seedling sale in California, has teamed up with Jenn Garbee to bring the reader a beautiful and fun guide to growing, preparing and cooking tomatoes, with TOMATOMANIA! A Fresh Approach to Celebrating Tomatoes in the Garden and in the Kitchen.

“I want people to grow tomatoes,” says Daigre, “but I wanted to create a book that guides people in a fun way, and not get so serious about success. It’s about the challenge – and sometimes it IS a challenge.” Daigre doesn’t sugar coat things, either. TOMATOMANIA! is a reality gardening book. Sometimes you’ll have a good year, sometimes…not so good. But Daigre makes sure anyone, from beginner to seasoned gardener, will have fun while they try.

Scott is performing a cooking demonstration at the L.A. Times Festival of Books, Saturday afternoon, April 18th at 3:30 p.m. on the Cooking Stage.

Scott Daigre is our guest.

ChocXOCraving chocolate? Who doesn’t?

ChocXO “Bean To Bar Chocolatier” starts with fine flavor cacao beans from Central and South America. ChocXO believes in the quality of the bean above all else. They process them using the latest technology and highest quality raw materials locally in their Irvine factory. From this incredible liquid chocolate ChocXO creates their own chocolate bars, filled chocolates, chocolate bark, and other chocolate specialties. The factory is available for informative tours Tuesday through Saturday.

ChocXO Partner and General Manager Armon Demarco is our guest.

ChocXO is the brainchild of Richard Foley, a third generation chocolate guy. Richard literally bleeds chocolate. For the past 30 years, Richard has immersed himself in the chocolate industry. From distribution to manufacturing, he’s about done it all.

“Come visit our Irvine factory and look through our viewing windows and see our factory for yourself. Take a tour while you’re here or just stop in to buy a chocolate bar. We’re proud of what we’re doing and look forward to sharing it with you.”

Sarah Daniels of Del Frisco's Grille in IrvineDel Frisco’s Grille’s (Irvine Spectrum) Executive Chef Sarah Daniels is joining forces with San Clemente’s award-winning craft brewery, Left Coast Brewery, to present a special beer dinner on Monday, April 27th. It’s four-courses along with four Left Coast Brewery pairings for a modest $35.00 per person. The menu for the evening is a total original created for the dinner by Chef Sarah, the first female executive chef in the Del Frisco’s Grille system.

Left Coast Brewing Co. is a family-owned craft brewery in San Clemente specializing in IPAs and ales. All eight of the year-round craft beers available at the popular Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Co. restaurants in Orange County and beyond are brewed by Left Coast Brewing Co.

One of the courses at the Craft Beer Dinner on May 27th is cioppino with mussels, shrimp, chorizo and a rich tomato broth paired with Left Coast’s Red Tide. Red Tide is a seasonal American Belgian-style Red Ale.

Chef Sarah Daniels and Shawn Hadjis of Left Coast Brewing Co. (Director of Sales and Marketing) join us with a preview.

Shawn HadjisLeft Coast Brewing Co. primarily distributes beer to bars and restaurants in kegs and bottles. The brewery also produces 8 full-time beers for the Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Co. restaurants. They project to produce 15,000 barrels of beer in 2015.

They also operate a Taproom at The Brewery in San Clemente that is open at night on Weekdays and extended hours on Weekends. All of the year-round styles and the current seasonal beers are available to sample in 5 oz., 10 oz. and 16 oz. pours. All beers are available in half-gallon growlers to go.

Left Coast produces six beers year-round with the flagship beer being Hop Juice Double IPA. The other year-round beers are the Asylum Belgian Style Tripel Ale, Trestles IPA, Voo Doo American Stout, Del Mar St. Dortmunder Style Export Lager and Una Mas Amber Lager. The seasonal beer for Spring is Red Tide Belgian-Style Red Ale.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Guest Host Chef Andrew Gruel and Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Executive Chef Greg Daniels, “The Big Cheese” Competition
Segment Three: Celebrity Cruises Great Wine Festival
Segment Four: Scott Daigre and Tomatomania!
Segment Five: ChocXo Bean to Bar Chocolatier Part One
Segment Six: ChocXo Bean to Bar Chocolatier Part Two
Segment Seven: Del Frisco’s Grille Plates & Pints Dinner with Left Coast Brewing
Segment Eight: Left Coast Brewing Co.

Show 82, August 2, 2014: Guest Host Richard (Rich) B. Perelman and Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris preview the show

Guest Host Richard (Rich) B. Perelman and Producer Andy preview the show.

It’s our salute to the 30th Anniversary of the Games of the Twenty-Third Olympiad, Los Angeles, 1984. Guest Host Rich Perelman was the youngest Vice President of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee (LAOOC) responsible for Press Operations and the Editor-in-Chief of the Official Report after the Games. Rich explains the continuing financial legacy to youth sports in Southern California as a direct result of the incredible success of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

SYNEK (a recent Kickstarter success story) is a nifty countertop draft system that serves any beer, fresh from the tap, anywhere you want it. Steve Young, based in St. Louis, MO is the Founder. His modest objective is to do for quality beer what Keurig did for single-brewed cups of coffee. With the phenomenal success of his cleverly orchestrated Kickstarter campaign he’s now well on his way…

Chef Andrew Gruel’s (of Slapfish) mission is to make quality seafood popular with everyday folks. He started with one modest food truck in 2010. It quickly expanded into four food trucks. The first Slapfish brick and mortar restaurant opened in Huntington Beach a year later. Laguna Beach recently launched and more restaurants are in the works.

James Republic in Long Beach orchestrates one of the very best, honest Farm-to-Fork dinner series around. It happens monthly on a Sunday under the name of the Dinner Bell Supper Series. The restaurant’s chef, David MacLennan, joins us with the specifics.

Every year in Northern Baja is the Fiestas del la Vendimina celebrating the bounty of wine and food in the region over an extended two-week period. One of the best single events is Chef Javier Plascencia’s (Tijuana’s Mision 19) “From Farm and Vineyard to Your Table” dinner at his ranch, Finca Altozano, in Valle de Guadalupe. It’s a 6-course, wine paired feast.

Time to hit the OC Fair in its final week. We’ll hear about Bakeology and all the tasty culinary events in the OC Promenade Building. Also the winning Fair Food item!

As part of our tribute to the Los Angeles Olympics we’ll also be looking back at the food served to the spectators. Surprisingly there was lots more variety to the offerings than plain boiled hot dogs and bagged chips. Innovations in food for 1984 are now part of guest expectations in 2014!

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