Show 559, January 6, 2024: Chef Keith Corbin and Shelbi Johnson, The LA Chef Con / LATTC Student Mentorship Program

Keith Corbin of Alta Adams

One of the new programming elements in the recently concluded LA Chef Conference 2023 was the activation of the LA Chef Con / Los Angeles Trade Technical College (LATTC) Student Mentorship Program. Five outstanding LATTC Culinary Arts Pathway Students were each awarded $1,000 and then paired with a leading industry mentor for one year with the objective of furthering their growth and education on the Culinary Arts. The Mentorship Program was funded by a grant from Lawry’s Restaurants.

One of the Mentorship Program’s recipients is LATTC Culinary Arts Pathway student Shelbi Johnson. Shelbi has been paired with Chef/Proprietor Keith Corbin of Alta Adams in Los Angeles. We’ll meet them both.

Alta Adams in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles just celebrated their 5th Anniversary. New operating hours for 2024 are Dinner served Tuesday through Sunday and Brunch service Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

When Shelbi was previously a high school student at LACES in the C-CAP Program she was one of 2 winners in the Beaver Creek Recipe Soup Contest. She was awarded a $5,000 scholarship and a trip to Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Show 556, December 16, 2023: The LA Chef Con / LATTC Student Mentorship Program with Pastry Chef Della Gossett and Daisy Garcia

Della Gossett of Spago Beverly Hills

One of the new programming elements in the recently concluded LA Chef Conference 2023 was the activation of the LA Chef Con / Los Angeles Trade Technical College (LATTC) Student Mentorship Program. Five outstanding LATTC Culinary Arts Pathway Students were each awarded $1,000 and then paired with a leading industry mentor for one year with the objective of furthering their growth and education on the Culinary Arts. The Mentorship Program was funded by a grant from Lawry’s Restaurants.

One of the Mentorship Program’s recipients is LATTC Culinary Arts Pathway student Daisy Garcia. Daisy has been paired with Spago Beverly Hills’ Executive Pastry Chef, Della Gossett. We’ll meet them both.

Show 301, December 8, 2018: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris

Now an irresistible preview of Saturday’s sinfully delicious show. We’re in the true Holiday spirit…It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case, and upon careful reflection, that’s probably a pretty good thing…

What are the “Top 10” Specialty Produce items in 2018? What’s sprouting on the horizon for 2019? All will be revealed by our enthusiastic resident produce authority, Robert Schueller of Melissa’s.We respectfully refer to him as The Prince of Produce.

Chef Brian Huskey’s modest Tackle Box (Local Grub Shack,) located on the beach in Corona del Mar, is known for serving fine-dining cuisine out of a beach shack. Chef Brian has recently gone up-market with a more ambitious Tackle Box located at SoCo in Costa Mesa. We’ll reel Chef Brian in for an update.

You would not expect to find an incredible artisan bakery which also serves popular word-of-mouth breakfast and lunch (extraordinary sandwiches) in the small town of Los Alamos in Santa Barbara County just off the 101 Freeway. Bob’s Well Bread Bakery and Café delightfully defies expectations. We’re on the rise with Proprietor / Boulanger Bob Oswaks.

Yes, The Holidays and Craft Beer do pair together well. At Holiday time there are a number of seasonal Holiday pours available for the quaffing. For the best in holiday cheer we’re joined by our brewing authorities from Golden Road Brewing – Brewmaster Victor Novak and Anaheim Head Brewer Steven Torres.

A great way to be introduced to the foods of a new area is to partake of the highest rated food walking tour of that neighborhood. Beach City Food Tours has been doing just that very successfully in Long Beach for the last couple of years. They have just added the irresistible East Village Craft Cocktail Tour. Proprietress Layla Ali-Ahmad joins us with all the details of what’s on the menu.

Ryan Wilson, an accomplished chef, is part of the fourth generation of proud Frank / Van de Kamp family ownership of Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc. Most recently he served as Vice President and Corporate Executive Chef but recently transitioned to an expanded position with Lawry’s Restaurants looking to the future. We’ll talk to Ryan about the 80thAnniversary of Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Beverly Hills this year as well as his new, expanded responsibilities.

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

December 8: Melissa’s World Variety Produce, Brian Huskey, Bob’s Well Bread, Golden Road Brewing, Beach City Food Tours, Lawry’s Restaurants

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Robert Schueller, Melissa’s World Variety Produce’s “Prince of Produce”
Segment Three: Chef Brian Huskey, Tackle Box, SoCo, Costa Mesa
Segment Four: Bob Oswaks, Proprietor / Boulanger, Bob’s Well Bread Bakery, Los Alamos
Segment Five: Golden Road Brewing’s Brewmaster Victor Novak and Steven Torres (Anaheim Head Brewer)
Segment Six: Layla Ali-Ahmad, Beach City Food Tours’ East Village Cocktail Tour
Segment Seven: Ryan Wilson, Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc. Part One
Segment Eight: Ryan Wilson, Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc. Part Two

Now an irresistible preview of this Saturday’s sinfully delicious show. We’re in the true Holiday spirit…It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case, and upon careful reflection, that’s probably a pretty good thing…

What are the “Top 10” Specialty Produce items in 2018? What’s sprouting on the horizon for 2019? All will be revealed by our enthusiastic resident produce authority, Robert Schueller of Melissa’s.We respectfully refer to him as The Prince of Produce.

Chef Brian Huskey’smodest Tackle Box (Local Grub Shack,) located on the beach in Corona del Mar, is known for serving fine-dining cuisine out of a beach shack. Chef Brian has recently gone up-market with a more ambitious Tackle Box located at SoCo in Costa Mesa. We’ll reel Chef Brian in for an update.

You would not expect to find an incredible artisan bakery which also serves ardent word-of-mouth breakfast and lunch (extraordinary sandwiches) in the small town of Los Alamos in Santa Barbara County just off the 101 Freeway. Bob’s Well Bread Bakery and Café delightfully defies expectations. We’re on the rise with Proprietor/ Boulanger Bob Oswaks.

Yes, The Holidays and Craft Beer do pair together well. At Holiday time there are a number of seasonal Holiday pours available for the quaffing. For the best in holiday cheer we’re joined by our brewing authorities from Golden Road Brewing –Brewmaster Victor Novak and Anaheim Head Brewer Steven Torres.

A great way to be introduced to the foods of a new area is to partake of the highest rated food walking tour of that neighborhood. Beach City Food Tours has been doing that very successfully in Long Beach for the last couple of years. They have just added the irresistible East Village Craft Cocktail Tour. Proprietress Layla Ali-Ahmad joins us with all the details of what’s on the menu.

Ryan Wilson, an accomplished chef, is part of the fourth generation of proud Frank / Van de Kamp family ownership of Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc. Most recently he served as Vice President and Corporate Executive Chef but recently transitioned to an expanded position with Lawry’s Restaurants. We’ll talk to Ryan about the 80th Anniversary of Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Beverly Hills this year as well as his new, expanded responsibilities.

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

Melissa's Robert Schueller at the SoCal Restaurant Show 5th Anniversary

What are the “Top 10” Specialty Produce items in 2018? What’s sprouting on the horizon for 2019? We’ll tease that Jackfruit was the tenth most popular specialty produce item for 2018 based on sales.

All will be revealed by our enthusiastic resident produce authority, Robert Schueller of Melissa’s.We respectfully refer to him as The Prince of Produce.

Brian Huskey

Chef Brian Huskey’s modest Tackle Box (Local Grub Shack,) located on the beach in Corona del Mar, is known for serving fine-dining cuisine out of a beach shack. Chef Brian has recently gone up-market with a more ambitious Tackle Box located at SoCo in Costa Mesa. It’s Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Weekend Brunch.

“Tackle Box is the epicenter of fresh honest food. As a local grub shack, we provide our community with quick, simple, and unique flavors that appeal to the masses. We are inspired by local and sustainable purveyors in delivering the best quality product. Tackle Box is an interpretation of community through food, and we are here to share our everyday catch with you.”

“Huskey is a native of Pasadena, California. After attending and studying Economics at UCLA, where he had his first job as a short order cook at The Grove, Brian moved to San Francisco to get his formal culinary education at California Culinary Academy (CCA).”

“After CCA, Brian went on a culinary journey, traveling to places as far as the Caribbean – but eventually landing back in Los Angeles.” 

“Brian has been able to travel and cultivate his culinary voice by learning how to incorporate Asian, French, Peruvian and Californian influences into his food.”

Brian previously competed on BRAVO’s nationally acclaimed and Emmy-winning TV show, Top Chef Season 11: New Orleans, where he had a national audience of foodies each week to showcase his culinary talent. He cooked his way through the difficult Season to finish as the Number 5 Cheftestant.

We’ll reel Chef Brian in for an update.

Bob Oswaks

You would not expect to find an incredible artisan bakery which also serves popular word-of-mouth breakfast and lunch (extraordinary sandwiches) in the small town of Los Alamos in the heart of Santa Ynez wine country located just off the 101 Freeway. Bob’s Well Bread Bakery and Café delightfully defies expectations.

Unusually there are two cottages (“The Cottages”) available for guests on the Bob’s Well Bread property.

“Bob’s Well Bread was started by an entertainment executive-turned-baker who was looking for some balance in his life, and found a passion and a new calling that was both delightful and unexpected.  “When you make something naturally, and with your hands, there’s a magic to it.  If you’re eating a loaf of our bread, or drinking a bottle of our local wine, and you know that someone put in the time to make it by hand, there is just this personal connection.  It may not change the way it tastes, but it changes your experience, and that is what everyone wants—the experience.”

Bob and Jane Oswaks designed Bob’s Well Bread out of an old 1920’s gas station historic Los Alamos, opening their doors on August 1,2014.  They pride themselves on the finest ingredients, sourced locally and seasonally, in all of their products, including Jane’s house made jams, marmalades, marshmallows and gluten-free specialties.”  

“Using natural fermentation for yeast and allowing the dough to rise slowly, Bob’s Well Bread makes artisan breads by hand in small batches, in a custom-built stone deck oven.”

We’re on the rise with Proprietor/ Boulanger Bob Oswaks.

Victor Novak and Steven Torres

Yes, The Holidays and Craft Beer do pair together well. At Holiday time there are a number of seasonal Holiday pours available for the quaffing.

Would you believe there is a trending new style of craft beer that tastes like Sparkling Wine? This festive pour is a Brut IPA. We’ll get the effervescent details.

For the best in holiday cheer we’re joined by our brewing authorities from Golden Road Brewing– Brewmaster Victor Novak and Anaheim Head Brewer Steven Torres.

Layla Ali Ahmad

A great way to be introduced to the foods of a new area is to partake of the highest rated food walking tour of that neighborhood. Beach City Food Tours has been doing that very successfully in Long Beach for the last couple of years.

They have just added the irresistible East Village Craft Cocktail Tour highlighting five thirst-quenching stops over the three-hour guided expedition.

It’s a carefully selected mélange of farm-to-table libations, Whiskey-centric craft cocktails, cider & mead and tequila and mezcal creations. There are also tasty small bar bites on the menu to be enjoyed along the way.

“Sip your way through Downtown Long Beach’s favorite watering holes, while learning about the City’s growing craft cocktail movement.”

Proprietress Layla Ali-Ahmad joins us with all the details of what’s on the menu.

Ryan Wilson

Ryan Wilson, an accomplished chef, is part of the fourth generation of proud Frank / Van de Kamp family ownership of Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc. Most recently he served a s Vice President and Corporate Executive Chef but recently transitioned to an expanded position with Lawry’s Restaurants. We’ll talk to Ryan about the 80th Anniversary of Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Beverly Hills this year as well as his new, expanded responsibilities.

With a new Stanford Graduate School of Business Master of Sciencein Management for Experienced Leaders degree Ryan has transitioned into the new post as Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer.

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Robert Schueller, Melissa’s World Variety Produce’s “Prince of Produce”
Segment Three: Chef Brian Huskey, Tackle Box, SoCo, Costa Mesa
Segment Four: Bob Oswaks, Proprietor / Boulanger, Bob’s Well Bread Bakery, Los Alamos
Segment Five: Golden Road Brewing’s Brewmaster Victor Novak and Steven Torres (Anaheim Head Brewer)
Segment Six: Layla Ali-Ahmad, Beach City Food Tours’ East Village Cocktail Tour
Segment Seven: Ryan Wilson, Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc. Part One
Segment Eight: Ryan Wilson, Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc. Part Two

Show 269, April 14, 2018: Alejandra Padilla, Executive Chef, Five Crowns and SideDoor, Corona del Mar

Alejandra PadillaLawry’s Restaurants Inc. announced the appointment of Alejandra Padilla as Executive Chef of Five Crowns and SideDoor in Corona del Mar back in January. Chef Padilla recently introduced her new Spring menu. Chef Padilla joins us.

Featuring the season’s freshest flavors to compliment the restaurant’s classic dishes, the colorful Spring menu welcomes several new small plates such as the Smoked Octopus with meyer lemon yogurt, spring peas and pickled red onions, main dishes like the Coffee Rubbed Short Rib with broccolini, tomato petals, grilled leeks, horseradish gremolata and bordelaise and desserts including the Cheesecake with carrot cake crumbles, walnut ice cream and carrot chips.

Chef Padilla comes to Five Crowns and SideDoor from Hillstone Restaurant Group, where she served as Culinary Manager since 2015. Prior to joining Hillstone, Padilla moved up the ranks at Patina Restaurant Group where she started in 2010 as Sous Chef at La Fonda Del Sol in New York before moving to Los Angeles to take a position as Sous Chef at Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse. She was quickly promoted to Executive Chef, a position she served at two different Market Café locations in Los Angeles.

Chef Alejandra appeared on Cooking Channel’s Unique Eats in 2010 and was also the winner of the Season 6 premier episode of Food Network’s, Chopped in 2011.

Show 200, December 3, 2016: Ryan Wilson, Vice President and Executive Chef for Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc.

Ryan WilsonRyan Wilson is the Vice President and Executive Chef for Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc. the parent company of SideDoor and Five Crowns. He represents the 4th generation of Frank/Van de Kamp Family ownership.

Before pursuing his culinary ambitions around the world, Ryan grew up creating dishes for his mother and sister. He officially stepped into the family business in 2002 as the prep cook at the Tam O’Shanter and later transitioned to the Five Crowns kitchen as a line cook.

After following culinary opportunities outside the Lawry’s realm, he returned as the opening chef for The Prime Rib restaurants in China and Japan. Stateside, he served as opening chef for Lawry’s Carvery at L.A. Live and in 2008 returned to the Tam O’Shanter as Executive Chef.

During his time at the Tam O’Shanter, Ryan worked closely on the concept and execution for SideDoor in Corona del Mar and later became the Executive Chef for both SideDoor and Five Crowns. In 2014, Ryan assisted in opening the SideDoor gastropub in Chicago and remains focused on providing the highest quality food service available through his corporate and operational roles.

Chef Ryan’s responsibilities have grown to include the operational oversight of the six licensed Lawry’s Prime Rib locations in Asia and the future growth of Lawry’s international and domestic portfolio.

Executive Chef Ryan Wilson is our guest.

 

Show 108, January 31, 2015: “Restaurant Coach” Phyllis Ann Marshall, FoodPower

Phyllis Ann MarshallPhyllis Ann Marshall of FoodPower is known as the go-to “growth coach for independent restaurants.” The mission and her passion is to work side-by-side with restaurateurs to help them grow every aspect of their business – from menu and décor to service and operations. As the Founder of FoodPower, Phyllis Ann Marshall offers clients more than 40 years of experience as a culinary expert, business owner, consultant and coach in the restaurant industry.

Marshall’s expertise comes from owning and running restaurants of all sizes, themes and locations coast to coast. As Phyllis Ann says : “You don’t fully understand the restaurant industry until you’ve carried the keys.”

“Independents (restaurants) are the soul of the foodservice industry. They are the source of new ideas. They are the guardians of regional cuisines. Without them, the world of restaurants would be very boring,” she says.

As a service to the hospitality business FoodPower publishes a content rich, monthly newsletter with material genuinely useful to chefs and restaurateurs. It’s available for the asking via the FoodPower Website.

When Phyllis Ann established FoodPower in 1984 her first client was Lawry’s Restaurants. Enough said…

Phyllis Ann Marshall is our guest.

Show 39, August 17, 2013: Gina Doyle, General Manager of Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Beverly Hills

Gina Doyle of Lawty's The Prime RibLawry’s The Prime Rib is celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the original restaurant on Restaurant Row in Beverly Hills this year. Gina Doyle, the General Manager, was with us to talk about this memorable landmark operation that is still proudly family-owned.

Gina has the honor of being the first female GM in the company at The Tam O’Shanter Inn and now at the flagship Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Beverly Hills. All of the employees at the restaurants are known as co-workers but Gina started as a server at Lawry’s.

Change at Lawry’s doesn’t come easily, or taken lightly, but a new menu item was introduced this month. It’s the first new entrée in some two decades! It’s a grilled Lawry’s Ribeye Steak! Every Ribeye is grilled to order. The steak is served with Scallop Potatoes and Crispy Fried Onions.

December 15: Holiday Party Planning Special

Podcasts

Segment One: Jet Tila, William Lewis, and Chef Elizabeth Whitt
Segment Two: Jet Tila, William Lewis, and Chef Elizabeth Whitt
Segment Three: Jet Tila, Chef Mark Kalenderian of The Tam O’Shanter Inn, William Lewis and Chef Elizabeth Whitt
Segment Four: Jet Tila, William Lewis, and Chef Elizabeth Whitt

SoCal Restaurant Show Holiday PartyIt’s holiday time on “The SoCal Restaurant Show” today so let the festivities begin. Jet and his panel of distinguished experts, are presenting the celebratory menu for a full holiday feast along with some great cooking & entertaining tips.

With Chef Jet in-studio are William Lewis, sommelier and managing partner of The Winery Restaurant and Wine Bar in The District in Tustin and Le Cordon Bleu Paris – trained Elizabeth Whitt, an accomplished chef instructor and pastry chef.

Joining the panel by phone at 11:00 a.m. is Chef Mark Kalenderian of the historic Tam O’Shanter Inn in Atwater Village. Chef Mark is our beef expert this morning.

Podcasts

Segment One: Jet Tila, William Lewis, and Chef Elizabeth Whitt
Segment Two: Jet Tila, William Lewis, and Chef Elizabeth Whitt
Segment Three: Jet Tila, Chef Mark Kalenderian of The Tam O’Shanter Inn, William Lewis and Chef Elizabeth Whitt
Segment Four: Jet Tila, William Lewis, and Chef Elizabeth Whitt

Show 9, December 15, 2012: Jet Tila, William Lewis and Chef Elizabeth Whitt Part Three

The historic Tam O’Shanter Inn celebrated it’s 90th birthday in 2012. It is actually the first establishment in what is now Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc.  Walt Disney frequented the atmospheric spot.

Prime Rib is the entrée for Jet’s Holiday Menu. The Tam has been expertly cooking roasted Prime Rib for 90 years so who better than the Tam’s new chef, Mark Kalenderian, to join the panel as the beef expert. They cook some 400 pounds of prime rib each day!