Show 318, April 6, 2019: Pechanga Sake and Beer Festival Preview with Pechanga’s Sommelier, Mark Amodeo

Mark AmodeoFor enthusiasts of Japanese beer, sake and sushi, a new festival comes to the calendar in April at Pechanga Resort Casino. The inaugural Pechanga Sake & Beer Festival takes over the Pechanga Summit Events Center on Saturday, April 20 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. with VIP entry at 12 p.m. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley.

More than 40 premium sakes (daiginjo, ginjo, junmai and sparkling) including many award-winning brands and styles from all over Japan will be poured alongside Japanese beers. Brews include premium beers, reserve, super dry (European style) and black beers from the island nation. Guests can learn about sakes’ flavors and production styles from experts – the brewers themselves and those close to the brewing process. Pechanga chefs get rolled up in the festival as they prepare fresh sushi to pair with the sake and beer selections.

Chefs Kiyo Ikeda, head chef of Umi Sushi & Oyster Bar, Kok Che, executive sous chef of Pechanga’s Asian restaurants, and Duane Owen, Pechanga Executive Chef, will be on hand to meet with guests, present them fresh, made-on-site sushi, and allow visitors to find out their expert suggestions for matching sushi with sake.

Tickets are now on sale and available at Pechanga’s website, by calling (877) 711-2946 or at the Pechanga Box Office. General admission tickets are $75 and include a keepsake sake sampling cup. VIP tickets are $150 and include early entry at 12 p.m. and a wooden sake holder and cup. Tickets include unlimited samples of sake, beer and sushi. Guests must be 21 or older to attend.

The festival’s idea sprang from the popularity of beer and sake within Southern California, as well as the continued rise of sushi as a mainstay of sought-after fare in America. The 2nd place win for Pechanga’s Umi Sushi & Oyster Bar in USA Today’s Best Casino Restaurant readers’ poll also helped cement the festival’s possibility at the Temecula resort/casino.

Pechanga Resort Casino’s newly arrived Sommelier, Mark Amodeo, is our spirited guide.

Show 296, November 3, 2018: Nick Hirsch, Property Mixologist, Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula

Nick HirschWhat’s a destination resort and casino without creative and appealing libations? Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula wine country has just brought on staff a Property Mixologist with a background at high-volume Las Vegas establishments.

He’s already revamped the libation menus at three Pechanga outlets, including Lobby Bar & Grill. Look for the seasonal PSA (pumpkin spice and apple.) A new bar, Corner Bar, is soon on the way near the Pechanga Theater and High Limit Gaming Area. Look for a New Year’s Eve launch.

The Property Mixologist is Nick Hirsch and he’s shaking it up just for us.

Show 294, October 20, 2018: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel

Now a tantalizing preview of Saturday’s properly mouthwatering show. It’s burger mania with a side of outrageous fries…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…

Battle ofv the BurgersWe’re live from the Pechanga Resort Casino in the beautiful Temecula Valley wine country for the “2nd Annual Battle of the Burgers” and the new “Loaded Fries” competition. This is a benefit for the Career Technical Education students in the Culinary Arts program at Temecula Valley High School.

First we’re delighted to briefly welcome back our peripatetic Co-Host, Chef AndrewGruel, of Slapfish fame. He’s been busily on the road speaking at high profile hospitality industry gatherings and opening new Slapfish restaurants on the East Coast. Like to have his frequent flyer miles…

The defending champ from the inaugural “Battle of the Burgers” is owner/chef Sid Hamilton of Mad Madeline’s Grill located in Old Town Temecula. Their winning Tractor Racer Burger from 2017 is a half-pound beef patty lathered with homemade BBQ sauce, special seasoning, and topped with a thick, beer-battered onion ring. We’ll hear what new creation Chef Sid has in store for 2018!

Regular listeners will remember Chef Ivan Flowers as a past show guest when he was overseeing the creative, seafood-centric menu at Top of the Market in San Diego. Chef Instructor Ivan is now part of the Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation program at Temecula Valley High School. “Battle of the Burgers” is a benefit for Chef Ivan’s culinary students.

El Cholo Restaurants are celebrating its 95th year in Los Angeles by offering its all-time bestselling dish, a Number 1 combination plate (cheese enchilada, rolled beef taco, Spanish rice and refried beans), for 95 cents all day on Tuesday, October 23rd at its six restaurant locations, including three locations in Orange County:  Corona del Mar, Anaheim Hills and La Habra. 3rd generation Family Patriarch, Senor Ron Salisbury, is our guest with all the celebratory details.

Seasoned Executive Chef Duane Owen oversees all the busy, high-volume kitchens at the Pechanga Resort Casino. He’s coordinating Pechanga’s participation in the “Loaded Fries” competition and also is serving as a Competition Judge. Thirteen Pechanga Resort Casino chefs are partnering with third year CTE students at Temecula Valley High School to create their original Loaded Fries recipes. The culinary arts students are the executive chefs while the Pechanga chefs function as their sous chefs. Chef Duane joins us with the hot and crispy specifics.

One of the esteemed judges for “Battle of the Burgers” is food entrepreneur Lawrence Longo. He’s on a mission to eat a burger each and every day in 2018. He’s also the architect of the Off The Menu app. Off The Menu discovers and curates secret menu items from restaurants, bars and cafes across North America. Their mandate is to: “Make Every Meal More Exciting.” We’ll meet burger devotee Lawrence Longo.

Visit Temecula Valley created and organizes “Battle of the Burgers.” On our Oct. 6th show we met their Director of Public Relations, Annette Brown, and previewed the “2nd Annual Battle of the Burgers.” Visit Temecula Valley is the region’s official tourism marketing organization and an online resource for visitors at VisitTemeculaValley.com. Temecula Valley Visitors Center is located in Old Town Temecula (Third Street and Mercedes). Visit Temecula Valley’s Annette Brown encores with more juicy details.

Pechanga’s Chef Krystle Schenk was promoted to Garde Manger Chef a year ago. Chef Krystle has been with Pechanga since 2010, starting off as a line cook in the production kitchen and was quickly promoted to other positions at the Pechanga Buffet, Kelsey’s, and Garde Manger before she became its head chef. For “Loaded Fries” Chef Schenk is serving as Sous Chef for a 3rd Year CTE TVHS Student.

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

Show 294, October 20, 2018: Executive Chef Duane Owen, Pechanga Resort Casino, Temecula

Duane Owen of Pechanga Casino and ResortSeasoned Executive Chef Duane Owen oversees all the busy, high-volume kitchens at the Pechanga Resort Casino. He’s coordinating Pechanga’s participation in the “Loaded Fries” competition. Thirteen Pechanga Resort Casino chefs are partnering with third year Career Technical Education (CTE) students at Temecula Valley High School to create their Loaded Fries recipes. The culinary arts students are the executive chefs for the afternoon while the Pechanga chefs function as their sous chefs.

Duane comes from a restaurant family, and was introduced to cooking at a young age through his three uncles, who were all professional chefs at a variety of East Coast restaurants. Duane began his culinary career while working summers in Cape Cod at the famous Chatham Bars Inn. From there, he moved on to some of the top resorts in the country, including the Belleview Biltmore Hotel in Clearwater, FL and The Inn at Mystic in Mystic, CT.

Chef Duane (also serving as a Competition Judge for Battle of the Burgers & Loaded Fries) joins us with the hot and crispy specifics.

Show 294, October 20, 2018: Annette Brown, Director of Public Relations, Visit Temecula Valley

Annette BrownVisit Temecula Valley originally created and organizes “Battle of the Burgers.” The first year was so successful that they outgrew the original Old Town location and needed to move to the bigger space at Pechanga’s Summit. (More parking, too…)

On our Oct. 6th show we met their Director of Public Relations, Annette Brown, and previewed the “2nd Annual Battle of the Burgers.” Visit Temecula Valley is the region’s official tourism marketing organization and an online resource for visitors at VisitTemeculaValley.com.

Temecula Valley Visitors Center is located in Old Town Temecula (Third Street and Mercedes).

Visit Temecula Valley’s Annette Brown encores with more juicy details and a tempting overview of all the attractions for visitors to the area.

Show 294, October 20, 2018: Chef Krystle Schenk, Garde Manger, Pechanga Resort & Casino

Krystle SchenkPechanga’s Chef Krystle Schenk was promoted to Garde Manager Chef a year ago. Chef Krystle has been with Pechanga since 2010, starting off as a line cook in the production kitchen and was quickly promoted to other positions at the Pechanga Buffet, Kelsey’s, and Garde Manger before she became its head chef.

For the “Loaded Fries” competition as part of “Battle of the Burgers” Chef Krystle is the Sous Chef for Mattie Dominguez, one of the 3rd year Career Technical Education students in the Culinary Arts program at TVHS.

Prior to Pechanga, Krystle worked in the kitchen at a popular international hotel chain for five years and really honed in her best cooking techniques. She jumped straight into culinary school at The Art Institute of California at Orange County immediately after graduating high school, as she has thoroughly enjoyed the art of cooking since she was a child.

We’ll meet Chef Krystle and find out what goes on in Garde Manager. It’s both an important position, and place, in a restaurant kitchen.

Update: Congrats to Chef Schenk and “Chef” Mattie of TVHS. Mattie’s Loaded Fries was the People’s Choice Winner for the “Loaded Fries” competition. The creation is Waffle Fries with Sriracha Shredded Chicken with Maple Bits and Spiced Caramel Sauce.

October 20: Live from Battle of the Burgers at Pechanga

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel
Segment Two: Owner / Chef Sid Hamilton, Mad Madeline’s Grill, Temecula
Segment Three: Chef Instructor Ivan Flowers, Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation, Temecula Valley High School
Segment Four: Restaurateur Ron Salisbury, El Cholo Restaurants, Celebrating 95 Years
Segment Five: Executive Chef Duane Owen, Pechanga Resort Casino, Temecula
Segment Six: Food Entrepreneur Lawrence Longo, Judge for “Battle of the Burgers”
Segment Seven: Annette Brown, Director of Public Relations, Visit Temecula Valley
Segment Eight: Chef Krystle Schenk, Garde Manger, Pechanga Resort & Casino

Now a tantalizing preview of this Saturday’s properly mouthwatering show. It’s burger mania with a side of outrageous fries…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…

Battle ofv the BurgersWe’re live from the Pechanga Resort Casino in the beautiful Temecula Valley wine country for the “2nd Annual Battle of the Burgers” and the new “Loaded Fries” competition. This is a benefit for the Career Technical Education students in the Culinary Arts program at Temecula Valley High School.

First we’re delighted to briefly welcome back our peripatetic Co-Host, Chef Andrew Gruel, of Slapfish fame. He’s been busily on the road speaking at high profile hospitality industry gatherings and opening new Slapfish restaurants on the East Coast. Like to have his frequent flyer miles…

The defending champ from the inaugural “Battle of the Burgers” is owner/chef Sid Hamilton of Mad Madeline’s Grill located in Old Town Temecula. Their winning Tractor Racer Burger from 2017 is a half-pound beef patty lathered with homemade BBQ sauce, special seasoning, and topped with a thick, beer-battered onion ring. We’ll hear what new creation Chef Sid has in store for 2018!

Regular listeners will remember Chef Ivan Flowers as a past show guest when he was overseeing the creative, seafood-centric menu at Top of the Market in San Diego. Chef Instructor Ivan is now part of the Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation program at Temecula Valley High School. “Battle of the Burgers” is a benefit for Chef Ivan’s culinary students.

El Cholo Restaurants are celebrating its 95th year in Los Angeles by offering its all-time bestselling dish, a Number 1 combination plate (cheese enchilada, rolled beef taco, Spanish rice and refried beans), for 95 cents all day on Tuesday, October 23rd at its six restaurant locations, including three locations in Orange County:  Corona del Mar, Anaheim Hills and La Habra. 3rd generation Family Patriarch, Senor Ron Salisbury, is our guest with all the celebratory details.

Seasoned Executive Chef Duane Owen oversees all the busy, high-volume kitchens at the Pechanga Resort Casino. He’s coordinating Pechanga’s participation in the “Loaded Fries” competition. Thirteen Pechanga Resort Casino chefs are partnering with third year CTE students at Temecula Valley High School to create their original Loaded Fries recipes. The culinary arts students are the executive chefs while the Pechanga chefs function as their sous chefs. Chef Duane joins us with the hot and crispy specifics.

One of the esteemed judges for “Battle of the Burgers” is food entrepreneur Lawrence Longo. He’s on a mission to eat a burger each and every day in 2018. He’s also the architect of the Off The Menu app. Off The Menu discovers and curates secret menu items from restaurants, bars and cafes across North America. Their mandate is to: “Make Every Meal More Exciting.” We’ll meet burger devotee Lawrence Longo.

Visit Temecula Valley created and organizes “Battle of the Burgers.” On our Oct. 6th show we met their Director of Public Relations, Annette Brown, and previewed the “2nd Annual Battle of the Burgers.” Visit Temecula Valley is the region’s official tourism marketing organization and an online resource for visitors at VisitTemeculaValley.com. Temecula Valley Visitors Center is located in Old Town Temecula (Third Street and Mercedes). Visit Temecula Valley’s Annette Brown encores with more juicy details.

Pechanga’s Chef Krystle Schenk was promoted to Garde Manager Chef a little over a year ago. Chef Krystle has been with Pechanga since 2010, starting off as a line cook in the production kitchen and was quickly promoted to other positions at the Pechanga Buffet, Kelsey’s, and Garde Manger before she became its head chef. We’ll meet Chef Krystle and find out what goes on in Garde Manager.

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

Mad Meline's Grill Chile Relleno BurgerThe defending champ from the inaugural “Battle of the Burgers” is owner/chef Sid Hamilton of Mad Madeline’s Grill located in Old Town Temecula. They launched back in 1991. It’s a real Family affair.

The outdoor patio is pet friendly.

Their winning Tractor Racer Burger is a half-pound beef patty lathered with homemade BBQ sauce, special seasoning, and topped with a thick, beer-battered onion ring. Sid says the secret to the winning burger is charbroiling.

“Prominently located on Front Street, Old Town Temecula, Mad Madeline’s Grill has a reputation based on the freshness of all their ingredients and friendly, hard-working staff. There are 18 different kinds of burgers, there’s also pastrami, chili, chicken and fish, and their special BBQ ribs every Friday! Come for the award-winning burgers, and save room for a good, old-fashioned root beer float, shake or malt. Mad Madeline’s is the place to be.”

We’ll hear what new creation Chef Sid has in store for 2018’s competition!

Ivan Flowers of Top of the MarketRegular listeners will remember Chef Ivan Flowers as a past show guest when he was overseeing the creative, seafood-centric menu at Top of the Market in San Diego.

Chef Instructor Ivan is now part of the Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation program at Temecula Valley High School. The teaching classroom is a $5.2 million state-of-the-art kitchen facility. All of the proceeds from the $10 admission price for “Battle of the Burgers” goes directly to the purchase of the needed food handler cards for the culinary students.

“Battle of the Burgers” is a benefit for Chef Ivan’s culinary students.

Ron SalisburyEl Cholo Restaurants are celebrating its 95th year in Los Angeles by offering its all-time bestselling dish, a Number 1 combination plate (cheese enchilada, rolled beef taco, Spanish rice and refried beans), for 95 cents all day on Tuesday, October 23rd at its six restaurant locations, including three locations in Orange County:  Corona del Mar, Anaheim Hills and La Habra. The original El Cholo (greatly expanded over the years) is located on S. Western Avenue in Los Angeles.

Since first opening its doors in 1923, El Cholo has operated as a family-owned business and today, the restaurants are run by Ron Salisbury, grandson of the founders, together with fourth, fifth and sixth generation family members. El Cholo’s legacy lies in its steadfast commitment to quality ingredients, long family history, loyal employees and devoted clientele.

Growing up it was always interesting to see the diversity of Angelenos that came into the restaurant. Our food is what set us apart and everyone wanted a bite of it,” said owner Ron Salisbury. “By staying true to our original recipes, we have not only made it to 95 years, but we have also grown from one restaurant to six.”

3rd generation Family Patriarch, Senor Ron Salisbury, is our guest with all the celebratory details.

Duane Owen of Pechanga Casino and ResortSeasoned Executive Chef Duane Owen oversees all the busy, high-volume kitchens at the Pechanga Resort Casino. He’s coordinating Pechanga’s participation in the “Loaded Fries” competition. Thirteen Pechanga Resort Casino chefs are partnering with third year Career Technical Education (CTE) students at Temecula Valley High School to create their Loaded Fries recipes. The culinary arts students are the executive chefs for the afternoon while the Pechanga chefs function as their sous chefs.

Duane comes from a restaurant family, and was introduced to cooking at a young age through his three uncles, who were all professional chefs at a variety of East Coast restaurants. Duane began his culinary career while working summers in Cape Cod at the famous Chatham Bars Inn. From there, he moved on to some of the top resorts in the country, including the Belleview Biltmore Hotel in Clearwater, FL and The Inn at Mystic in Mystic, CT.

Chef Duane joins us with the hot and crispy specifics.

Lawrence LongoOne of the esteemed members of the judging panel for “Battle of the Burgers” is food entrepreneur Lawrence Longo. He’s on the enviable mission to eat a burger each and every day in 2018.

He’s also the architect of the Off The Menu app. Off The Menu discovers and curates secret menu items from restaurants, bars and cafes across North America. Their worthy mandate is to: “Make Every Meal More Exciting.”

We’ll meet burger devotee and “Battle of the Burgers” judge Lawrence Longo.

Annette BrownVisit Temecula Valley originally created and organizes “Battle of the Burgers.” The first year was so successful that they outgrew the original Old Town location and needed to move to the bigger space at Pechanga’s Summit. (More parking, too…)

On our Oct. 6th show we met their Director of Public Relations, Annette Brown, and previewed the “2nd Annual Battle of the Burgers.” Visit Temecula Valley is the region’s official tourism marketing organization and an online resource for visitors at VisitTemeculaValley.com. Temecula Valley Visitors Center is located in Old Town Temecula (Third Street and Mercedes).

Visit Temecula Valley’s Annette Brown encores with more juicy details.

Krystle SchenkPechanga’s Chef Krystle Schenk was promoted to Garde Manager Chef a year ago. Chef Krystle has been with Pechanga since 2010, starting off as a line cook in the production kitchen and was quickly promoted to other positions at the Pechanga Buffet, Kelsey’s, and Garde Manger before she became its head chef.

Prior to Pechanga, Krystle worked in the kitchen at a popular international hotel chain for five years and really honed in her best cooking techniques. She jumped straight into culinary school at The Art Institute of California at Orange County immediately after graduating high school, as she has thoroughly enjoyed the art of cooking since she was a child.

We’ll meet Chef Krystle and find out what goes on in Garde Manager. It’s both an important position, and place, in a restaurant kitchen.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel
Segment Two: Owner / Chef Sid Hamilton, Mad Madeline’s Grill, Temecula
Segment Three: Chef Instructor Ivan Flowers, Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation, Temecula Valley High School
Segment Four: Restaurateur Ron Salisbury, El Cholo Restaurants, Celebrating 95 Years
Segment Five: Executive Chef Duane Owen, Pechanga Resort Casino, Temecula
Segment Six: Food Entrepreneur Lawrence Longo, Judge for “Battle of the Burgers”
Segment Seven: Annette Brown, Director of Public Relations, Visit Temecula Valley
Segment Eight: Chef Krystle Schenk, Garde Manger, Pechanga Resort & Casino

Show 293, October 6, 2018: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris

Now a tantalizing preview of 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 Tualatin Valley, Oregon’s esteemed Ponzi Vineyards is one of Oregon’s premier wineries. Established in 1970 as one of the pioneering wineries in Willamette Valley, Ponzi is now being run by the family’s 2nd generation of two sisters. Luisa Ponzi (trained in Burgundy) is Winemaker and Anna Maria Ponzi is President & Director of Sales and Marketing. Maria Ponzi artfully pulls the cork for us.

It’s all about butter with Charles Duque, the Managing Director for The French Dairy Board and the French Cheese Board based in New York. Indispensable to new culinary trends, butter is a source of inspiration that never grows old. Butter is an emblem of French cuisine. We’ll find out why with Charles.

The StubHub Center in Carson is the interim home of LA Chargers Football and LA Galaxy Soccer. Executive Chef Ross Luciano of Levy Restaurants oversees the menu there. It’s the expected hot dogs, peanuts and nachos plus more upscale fare favorites including Chicken Caesar Salad and a Seared Tuna Poke Bowl. Vegetarian and gluten-free options on the menu, too.

On Saturday, Oct. 13th from 5 to 10:00 p.m. in Downtown Los Angeles the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles is presenting the 10th Annual Taste of Italy showcasing fine restaurants, world-class wines, live entertainment and celebrated chefs. Proceeds from Taste of Italy support educational programming and other initiatives related to the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles’ mission. Executive Director of IAMLA, Marianna Gatto, joins us with all the tempting details. Mangia, mangia…

The historic LA Memorial Coliseum (host of 2 previous Olympic Games) is home to SC Trojan Football and LA Rams Football. Executive Chef John Brenning of Legends Hospitality oversees the menu there. New for this season is Chef John’s LA Hot Chicken Sandwich with both “Hot” and “Extra Hot” versions!

Piero Selvaggio of Valentino, Santa Monica fame is one of the pioneers of Italian fine-dining in Los Angeles. He also has been one of the visionaries introducing premium wines of Sicily to the United States. Piero joins us to talk about the noble Nero d’Avola grape grown in Sicily and Sicily’s Planeta wines.

Visit Temecula Valley will hold its 2nd Annual Battle of the Burgers on Saturday, October 20, 2018 in conjunction with Pechanga Resort Casino and Temecula Valley Unified School District. Some 20 restaurants are expected to compete for the championship title at Pechanga Resort Casino. New to the event, is a “Loaded Fries” competition that will include thirteen Pechanga Resort Casino executive chefs partnering with third year Career Technical Education (CTE) students at Temecula Valley High School. The students will team up with the chefs to create their Loaded Fries recipes and will be the executive chefs for the day, while Pechanga chefs will be their sous chefs. Visit Temecula Valley’s Annette Brown serves up all the details.

Program Note for October 13th:
We’re graciously stepping aside for Notre Dame Football on Saturday morning, October 13 and will return to the airwaves at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20th. We’re live from Pechanga Resort Casino for the 2nd Annual Battle of the Burgers competition to benefit the culinary arts students at Temecula Valley High School.

Show 293, October 6, 2018: 2nd Annual “Battle of the Burgers,” Annette Brown, Director of Public Relations, Visit Temecula Valley

Battle of the BurgersVisit Temecula Valley will hold its 2nd Annual Battle of the Burgers on Saturday, October 20, 2018 in conjunction with Pechanga Resort Casino and Temecula Valley Unified School District. Some 20 restaurants are expected to compete for the championship title at Pechanga Resort Casino. New to the event, is a “Loaded Fries” competition that will include thirteen Pechanga Resort Casino executive chefs partnering with third year Career Technical Education (CTE) students at Temecula Valley High School. The students will team up with the chefs to create their Loaded Fries recipes and will be the executive chefs for the day, while Pechanga chefs will be their sous chefs.

Temecula Valley Unified School District CTE students will volunteer for the event, with the third-year students competing in the cooking challenge. The school is selling tickets to the event for $10 each as a fundraiser. All the proceeds will go directly to purchase food handler cards for their culinary students.

Attendees will be able to try several burgers from participating restaurants, as well as loaded fries from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The winners will be announced after 3:00 p.m. at the event, and posted online right here.

Visit Temecula Valley’s Director of Public Relations, Annette Brown, serves up all the juicy details.

October 6: Ponzi Vineyards, French Cheese Board, Chargers and Rams Football Food, Taste of Italy, Piero Selvaggio, Battle of the Burgers

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Maria Ponzi, President & Director of Sales and Marketing, Ponzi Vineyards, Tualatin Valley, Oregon
Segment Three: Charles Duque, Managing Director, French Dairy Board and French Cheese Board, New York
Segment Four: Executive Chef Ross Luciano for Levy Restaurants, StubHub Center, Carson
Segment Five: Marianna Gatto, Executive Director, Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, Taste of Italy Benefit
Segment Six: Executive Chef John Brenning, Legends Hospitality for LA Memorial Coliseum
Segment Seven: Restaurateur Piero Selvaggio of Santa Monica’s Valentino, Planeta wines of Sicily
Segment Eight: 2nd Annual “Battle of the Burgers,” Annette Brown, Director of Public Relations, Visit Temecula Valley

Now a tantalizing 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 Tualatin Valley, Oregon’s esteemed Ponzi Vineyards is one of Oregon’s premier wineries. Established in 1970 as one of the pioneering wineries in Willamette Valley, Ponzi is now being run by the family’s 2nd generation of two sisters. Luisa Ponzi (trained in Burgundy) is Winemaker and Anna Maria Ponzi is President & Director of Sales and Marketing. Maria Ponzi artfully pulls the cork for us.

It’s all about butter with Charles Duque, the Managing Director for The French Dairy Board and the French Cheese Board. Indispensable to new culinary trends, butter is a source of inspiration that never grows old. Butter is an emblem of French cuisine. We’ll find out why with Charles.

The StubHub Center in Carson is the interim home of LA Chargers Football and LA Galaxy Soccer. Executive Chef Ross Luciano of Levy Restaurants oversees the menu there. It’s the expected hot dogs, peanuts and nachos plus more upscale fare favorites including Chicken Caesar Salad and a Seared Tuna Poke Bowl. Vegetarian and gluten-free options on the menu, too.

On Saturday, Oct. 13th from 5 to 10:00 p.m. in Downtown Los Angeles the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles is presenting the 10th Annual Taste of Italy showcasing fine restaurants, world-class wines, live entertainment and celebrated chefs. Proceeds from Taste of Italy support educational programming and other initiatives related to the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles’ mission. Executive Director of IAMLA, Marianna Gatto, joins us with all the tempting details. Mangia, mangia…

The historic LA Memorial Coliseum (host of 2 previous Olympic Games) is home to USC Trojan Football and LA Rams Football. Executive Chef John Brenning of Legends Hospitality oversees the menu there. New for this season is Chef John’s LA Hot Chicken Sandwich with both “Hot” and “Extra Hot” versions!

Piero Selvaggio of Valentino, Santa Monica fame is one of the pioneers of Italian fine-dining in Los Angeles. He also has been one of the visionaries introducing premium wines of Sicily to the United States. Piero joins us to talk about the noble Nero d’Avola grape grown in Sicily and Sicily’s Planeta wines.

Visit Temecula Valley will hold its 2nd Annual Battle of the Burgers on Saturday, October 20, 2018 in conjunction with Pechanga Resort and Casino and Temecula Valley Unified School District. Some 20 restaurants are expected to compete for the championship title at Pechanga Resort Casino. New to the event, is a “Loaded Fries” competition that will include thirteen Pechanga Resort Casino executive chefs partnering with third year Career Technical Education (CTE) students at Temecula Valley High School. The students will team up with the chefs to create their Loaded Fries recipes and will be the executive chefs for the day, while Pechanga chefs will be their sous chefs. Visit Temecula Valley’s Annette Brown serves up all the details.

Program Note for October 13th:
We’re graciously stepping aside for Notre Dame Football on Saturday morning, October 13 and will return to the airwaves at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20th. We’re live from Pechanga Resort Casino for the 2nd Annual Battle of the Burgers competition to benefit the culinary arts students at Temecula Valley High School.

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

Anna Maria PonziThe Tualatin Valley, Oregon’s esteemed Ponzi Vineyards is one of Oregon’s premier wineries. Established in 1970 as one of the pioneering wineries in Willamette Valley, Ponzi is now being run by the family’s 2nd generation of two sisters. Luisa Ponzi (trained in Burgundy) is Winemaker and Anna Maria Ponzi is President & Director of Sales and Marketing.

Founders Dick and Nancy Ponzi moved their young family to the Willamette Valley in the late 1960s with a spirit of adventure and a passion for making world class Pinot Noir. After many research trips to Burgundy and an extensive search for the ideal location, they purchased 20 acres on a small farm just southwest of Portland, Oregon. It was a daring risk — at the time, the Pacific Northwest was not thought to be a place to grow Pinot noir, but Dick and Nancy realized the Northern Willamette Valley’s climate was ideal for cool climate varieties. Pinot noir cuttings were planted, and in 1970 Ponzi Vineyards was founded.

The methods, philosophies and winemaking passion established nearly 50 years ago are still practiced today under the family’s second generation.

Ponzi Vineyards continues to set the standard for Oregon’s viticultural innovation while maintaining an unwavering commitment to a tradition of winemaking excellence. For the last 25 years, this philosophy has been carried on by the Ponzi family’s second generation.

All 130 acres of family-owned vineyards are LIVE Certified Sustainable, the world’s highest standard for sustainable viticulture and enology. Driven by the concept that the varietal must match the terroir and climate, Ponzi Vineyards continues to set the bar for Oregon and remains at the forefront of the nation’s top wine producers.

Maria Ponzi pulls the cork for us.

Charles DuqueIt’s all about butter with Charles Duque, the Managing Director for The French Dairy Board and the French Cheese Board. Indispensable to new culinary trends, butter is a source of inspiration that never grows old. Butter is an emblem of French cuisine.

Butter is an entirely natural product in its pure state. To make 35 oz. of butter, you need 23 quarts of milk.

Butter has survived for thousands of years. It has not aged in the slightest and is still smooth, soft and melting. Even through the ages, it has remained a natural and traditional product.

Butter production methods have remained virtually unchanged for 5,000 years. The churning system has been perfected over the centuries and health precautions have improved, especially with pasteurization, but, incredibly, the process has remained essentially the same.

We’ll find out why with Charles.

Ross LucianoThe StubHub Center in Carson is the interim home of LA Chargers Football and LA Galaxy Soccer. The menu changes a bit between Soccer and Football. The LA Galaxy plays a lot more home games and their season is currently winding down.

Executive Chef Ross Luciano of Levy Restaurants oversees the menu there. It’s the expected hot dogs, peanuts and nachos plus more upscale fare favorites including Chicken Caesar Salad and a Seared Tuna Poke Bowl (for the Chargers.) In the Galaxy’s Healthy Kitchen are rotating chef-created healthy options including Jamaican Jerk Chicken with Mary’s organic chicken. Vegetarian and gluten-free options on the menu, too.

We’ll meet Chef Luciano.

Marianna GattoOn Saturday, Oct. 13th from 5 to 10:00 p.m. in Downtown Los Angeles the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles is presenting the 10th Annual Taste of Italy showcasing fine restaurants, world-class wines, live entertainment and celebrated chefs. Proceeds from Taste of Italy support educational programming and other initiatives related to the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles’ mission.

General Admission ($60) and Premiere tickets ($125) are still available but the event does sell out before October 13th. Capacity is thoughtfully limited to ensure the comfort of all guests.

Executive Director of IAMLA, Marianna Gatto, joins us with all the tempting details. Mangia, mangia…

John BrenningThe historic LA Memorial Coliseum (host of 2 previous Olympic Games) is home to USC Trojan Football and LA Rams Football. Executive Chef John Brenning of Legends Hospitality oversees the menu there. New for this season is Chef John’s LA Hot Chicken Sandwich with both “Hot” and “Extra Hot” versions!

Chef Brenning began his career in the culinary arts more than 20 years ago. Before joining Legends and spending the past three years in the sports and entertainment side of the business at The Coliseum, Chef John held positions at the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons Hotels across California.

“It’s all about the food and service. The food and service will only be as good as the passion and heart put into it.” – Chef John Brenning

Piero Salvaggio of Valentino Santa MonicaPiero Selvaggio of Valentino, Santa Monica fame is one of the pioneers of Italian fine-dining in Los Angeles. He also has been one of the visionaries introducing the premium wines of Sicily to the United States. Piero joins us to talk about the noble Nero d’Avola grape grown in Sicily and Sicily’s Planeta wines.

“We travelled through Sicily as on a great wine continent, establishing our estates in five different areas from west to east, seeking our interpretation of them through research into indigenous varieties, including those by now forgotten, and into the suitability of the different terroirs to welcome international varieties as well. We planned to eventually build around each territory a comprehensive system of experience composed of hospitality, cooking, nature and culture. On these elements the history of our company has always been based. This instinct for the future, together with our curiosity to see the world and compare ourselves with it, has guided our choices.”

Battle of the BurgersVisit Temecula Valley will hold its 2nd Annual Battle of the Burgers on Saturday, October 20, 2018 in conjunction with Pechanga Resort Casino and Temecula Valley Unified School District. Some 20 restaurants are expected to compete for the championship title at Pechanga Resort Casino. New to the event, is a “Loaded Fries” competition that will include thirteen Pechanga Resort Casino executive chefs partnering with third year Career Technical Education (CTE) students at Temecula Valley High School. The students will team up with the chefs to create their Loaded Fries recipes and will be the executive chefs for the day, while Pechanga chefs will be their sous chefs.

Temecula Valley Unified School District CTE students will volunteer for the event, with the third-year students competing in the event. The school is selling tickets to the event for $10 each as a fundraiser. All the proceeds will go directly to purchase food handler cards for their culinary students.

Attendees will be able to try several burgers from participating restaurants, as well as loaded fries from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The winners will be announced after 3:00 p.m. at the event, and posted online right here.

Visit Temecula Valley’s Director of Public Relations, Annette Brown, serves up all the juicy details.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Maria Ponzi, President & Director of Sales and Marketing, Ponzi Vineyards, Tualatin Valley, Oregon
Segment Three: Charles Duque, Managing Director, French Dairy Board and French Cheese Board, New York
Segment Four: Executive Chef Ross Luciano for Levy Restaurants, StubHub Center, Carson
Segment Five: Marianna Gatto, Executive Director, Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, Taste of Italy Benefit
Segment Six: Executive Chef John Brenning, Legends Hospitality for LA Memorial Coliseum
Segment Seven: Restaurateur Piero Selvaggio of Santa Monica’s Valentino, Planeta wines of Sicily
Segment Eight: 2nd Annual “Battle of the Burgers,” Annette Brown, Director of Public Relations, Visit Temecula Valley