Show 372, May 9, 2020: South Coast Plaza’s Dining Options with Lee Healy

Lee Healy representing South Coast PlazaWhen it comes to fashionable restaurant take-out in Orange County don’t forget the numerous appealing and varied restaurant options available at South Coast Plaza. “During these trying times and shelter-at-home, South Coast Plaza restaurants have adapted to take-out and curbside pick-up with success. Thirteen restaurants offer abbreviated and family-style menus ranging from Japanese cuisine (who isn’t craving sushi), prime steaks, contemporary cuisine and more.”

Chef Amar Santana‘s take-out at VACA has been lauded by restaurant critics Bill Addison with the Los Angeles Times and Brad Johnson of the Orange County Register. Their recommendations: Paella Valenciana family-menu with Vaca Tonics to go! Water Grill has a dazzling pop-up market three days a week (premium seafood and live lobster to prepare at home). Din Tai Fung has been busy and check out Royal Khyber‘s special three-course curbside menu for two for $30. Award-winning chef Ross Pangilinan has just begun take-out at TERRACE by Mix Mix.”

South Coast Plaza’s long-time restaurant marketing consultant, Lee Healy, joins us with the specifics.

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: Restaurateur Sam King, CEO, King’s Seafood Company Part Two

Sam KingKing’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.

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 149, December 5, 2015: West Coast Prime Meats Cooks – Professional Recipes For The Home Kitchen Continues…

Amy and Craig Nickoloff of West Coast Prime MeatsAuthors Craig and Amy Nickoloff continue...

You might say it was primed to happen …! Our friends at West Coast Prime Meats have published the perfect cookbook for the Holidays: West Coast Prime Meats Cooks – Professional Recipes for the Home Kitchen. In the spirit of the Holidays the proceeds benefit two important Veteran’s charities, The Wounded Warrior Project and The Gary Sinise Foundation. $5.00 from the sale of each book goes to the benefiting charities. Given what’s going on in the World these days It’s an appropriate time to remember our veterans.

Some of the top toques from prominent restaurants in Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii have graciously contributed the tested recipes including ARC, Bourbon Steak, Connie & Ted’s, il Pastaio, The Musso & Frank Grill, N9NE Steak House, Loteria! Grill, Providence, Temecula Creek Inn, Valentino and Water Grill.

The book includes chef-created recipes for Beef, Burgers, Lamb, Goat, Poultry, Veal and Seafood. There are dozens of genuinely useful tips including instructions on how to debone a Leg of Lamb. The principals of West Coast Prime Meats know meat from years of practical experience and graciously share a lot of handy secrets with the reader.

From the Prologue

“For those nights when you’d rather let someone else do the cooking and clean-up, consider this your guide to some of the best restaurants in Southern California, Nevada, and Hawaii. We are honored to serve them and proud to support them.”

“There is one other group we stand behind : our men and women in the Armed Services. To help them, we will donate 100 percent of the profits from book sales [a guaranteed $5.00 per book] to assist our wounded veterans, through the Wounded Warrior Project and through the Gary Sinise Foundation. We encourage everyone to learn about these two worthy charities.”

West Coast Prime Meats Cooks is available through their website and Amazon.com.

 

Show 132, July 25, 2015: Matthew De Marte, General Manager, Connie and Ted’s

Matthew de MarteThe casual, seafood centric Connie & Ted’s in West Hollywood has been a crowd-pleasing phenomenon since it opened its door two years ago.

Co-owner Chef Michael Cimarusti (Providence) is one of the most respected seafood chefs in the country. Partner Donato Poto (Providence) has a long reputation as one of L.A.’s consummate hosts. He speaks three languages.

Partner Craig Nickoloff is a veteran restaurateur best known for founding the hugely successful Claim Jumper restaurants (which he sold at their peak of popularity.) Craig knows how to feed a crowd and give them every reason to return.

Executive Chef Sam Baxter began his career with Chef Michael Cimarusti at Water Grill. Chef Baxter looks to demonstrate that the freshest seafood needs only a light touch and the simplest of preparations to make outstanding food.

At any given time the busy oyster bar showcases some 16 to 24 varieties of fresh oysters.

Connie & Ted’s opening General Manager, Matthew De Marte is our guest to share a few secrets of their incredible success. He’s a veteran of Providence.

Show 49, November 23, 2013: Entrepreneur Dave Danhi the founder, director, and executive chef of The Grilled Cheese Truck. Continues…

Dave Danhi of the Grilled Cheese TruckBefore some health concerns turned Dave in another direction a few years ago he was a sought-after executive chef. In a couple of different stints Dave was the Corporate Executive Chef for Kings Seafood Co. of Water Grill fame. He also was the menu-maker for the (now departed) Georgia on Melrose Avenue.

Dave is the 4th owner of DD Factor which was started by Mimi Factor back in 1959. When Dave was at King’s he used their services to recruit needed culinary talent. All of his recruiters have extensive experience in the hospitality industry.

Show 41, September 21, 2013: Executive Chef David LeFevre of Fishing with Dynamite

Chef David LeFevre of M.B. Post in Manhattan BeachExecutive Chef David LeFevre (ex-Water Grill) of the acclaimed Manhattan Beach Post and Fishing with Dynamite joined us.

Fishing with Dynamite in Manhattan Beach is his latest venture. It’s only 40 seats. The oyster bar is already enormously popular. They will serve some 300 to 700 oysters on a given day.

In a blind taste test Chef David explained how he could distinguish an East Coast oyster from a West Coast oyster. There are some different characteristics. He also shared some of his favorite types of oysters.

Chef LeFevre will be participating in the upcoming Thai Food Festival. He previews his dish for September 29th.

September 21: Thai Food Fest preview with Susan Feniger, Kajsa Alger, David LeFevre

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Paul Greive, Farmer & Founder, Primal Pastures, Temecula Part One
Segment Three: Paul Greive, Farmer & Founder, Primal Pastures, Temecula Part Two
Segment Four: Executive Chef David LeFevre of Fishing with Dynamite
Segment Five: Celebrity Chef Susan Feniger, Proprietress of Susan Feniger’s Street
Segment Six: Kajsa (Sasha) Alger, Executive Chef and Partner, Susan Feniger’s Street
Segment Seven: Steve Samson and Zach Pollack, Co-Executive Chefs / Partners, Sotto Restaurant
Segment Eight: Neal Fraser, Executive Chef / Owner of bld

Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris preview the show.

Thai 2013 Food FestivalMark Sunday afternoon, September 29th on your calendar. Our very own Jet Tila is hosting the Thai 2013 Food Festival at Paramount Pictures Studios in the heart of Hollywood. It starts at 3:00 p.m.

Celebrity chefs from around the country and outstanding local Thai chefs will be there presenting their signature dishes for the guests to sample and enjoy. Entertainment will include music, Thai dancers and fruit carving.

VIP and Regular Tickets are now on sale!

Primal Pastures“Farmer Paul” Greive, the co-founder with his in-laws, of Primal Pastures in Temecula is with us. Primal Pastures is a pastured, “beyond organic and sustainable” livestock farm.

They just funded an amazing Kickstarter campaign to bankroll their expansion. The goal was to raise $40,000. Instead they realized $57,810.

They have recently leased over 200 acres of pastureland to expand.

“Our vision is to establish a “permaculture” – a system that effectively models the natural ecosystem with many varieties of plants and animals acting in synergy with one another on one farm. There are beautiful things that happen when cattle and sheep are incorporated with chickens, turkeys, and ducks.”

Chef David LeFevre of M.B. Post in Manhattan BeachExecutive Chef David LeFevre (ex-Water Grill) of the acclaimed Manhattan Beach Post and Fishing with Dynamite joins us.

Fishing with Dynamite in Manhattan Beach is his latest venture. It’s only 40 seats. The oyster bar is already enormously popular. They will serve some 300 to 700 oysters on a given day.

Chef LeFevre will be participating in the upcoming Thai Food Festival. He previews his dish for September 29th.

Susan Feniger of Border Grill and Susan Feniger's StreetSusan Feniger of Susan Feniger’s Street and Border Grill fame needs no introduction to listeners of the “SoCal Restaurant Show.” She was also one of the early super stars of Food Network with her business partner Mary Sue Milliken in the long running “Too Hot Tamales” series.

Susan Feniger’s Street will be a featured restaurant in the upcoming Thai Food Festival.

There are lots of Thai items on the regular Street menu.

The dish they are showcasing at the festival is Khao Gee, a Northeastern Thai snack.

Kajsa Alger of Susan Feniger's StreetKajsa Alger is the executive chef and partner for Susan Feniger’s Street.

As a teenager she snuck into the kitchen at CITY restaurant to begin an informal apprenticeship. That was the start of her long association with Susan and Mary Sue. She eventually rose to the post of Corporate Chef for all of Mary Sue and Susan’s restaurants.

She was on the Street project since the inception. There was months of intense recipe testing before the opening in 2009.

Kajsa is particularly proud of the Saturday and Sunday brunch menu they are offering until the end of the month. It’s an “All You Can Eat” small plate brunch with breakfast items as well as sandwiches and salads. It’s a modest $25 per guest and for an additional $15 you can partake of bottomless sparkling cocktails.

Steve Samson and Zach Pollack of SottoSteve Samson and Zach Pollack are the Executive Chefs and co-owners of Sotto near Century City in Los Angeles. They have an incredible wood-burning pizza oven that is from Sicily that was installed by Italian craftsmen. Orange County foodies remember them as the opening culinary team for highly-regarded Pizzeria Ortica.

In-mid-August they were the only Los Angeles chefs to be invited by Chef Javier Plascencia (the Wolfgang Puck of Northern Baja) to join with acclaimed San Diego chefs to prepare a seven-course, wine-paired meal at Chef Javier’s ranch, Finca Altozano, located in the Guadalupe Valley, Mexico’s premier wine region. Each course was matched with an appropriate Baja wine from the local region. This was one event as part of a bigger annual vintners’ festival.

Steve’s and Zach’s dish was a beautiful spit-roasted lamb loin.

Restaurateur Javier Plascencia has Romesco in Bonita in the United States and multiple restaurants in Tijuana including Mision 19 and Caesar’s Restaurante Bar (where the original Caesar Salad was created.)

Neal Fraser of bld and RedbirdExecutive Chef Neal Fraser of bld joins us.

Chef Fraser is a contestant on Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters” this season. He comments on the ups and downs he experienced as a competitor. He observed that it’s a lot harder than he anticipated. That’s significant given that he previously bested an Iron Chef on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America”.

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Paul Greive, Farmer & Founder, Primal Pastures, Temecula Part One
Segment Three: Paul Greive, Farmer & Founder, Primal Pastures, Temecula Part Two
Segment Four: Executive Chef David LeFevre of Fishing with Dynamite
Segment Five: Celebrity Chef Susan Feniger, Proprietress of Susan Feniger’s Street
Segment Six: Kajsa (Sasha) Alger, Executive Chef and Partner, Susan Feniger’s Street
Segment Seven: Steve Samson and Zach Pollack, Co-Executive Chefs / Partners, Sotto Restaurant
Segment Eight: Neal Fraser, Executive Chef / Owner of bld

On the horizon for Chef Neal is a bld at LAX in the United Terminal and a casual ice cream, donuts, and coffee café.

Show 33, June 29, 2013: On the Road with Chef Jet and Producer Andy

Jet talked about his standout Father’s Day meal at Providence. It’s really a one-of-a-kind Los Angeles experience.

Providence RestaurantIn the opinion of the “SoCal Restaurant Show” this is L.A.’s finest seafood restaurant owned by Executive Chef Michael Cimarusti and business partner Donato Poto. Poto oversees the smooth-running front-of-the house there and also is the ultimate curator of the superb wine list. They previously worked together to great acclaim at Water Grill in Downtown Los Angeles before going out on their own and establishing Providence in the original home of Joachim Splichal’s Patina.