Show 381, July 11, 2020: Dana Slatkin, Proprietress, Violet Bistro, School & Shop, Westwood Village

Dana Slatkin of Violet BistroViolet Los Angeles, newly opened, is a vibrant Cali-French bistro, full bar, cooking school and shop in the heart of Westwood Village. In the spirit of European cafés and cookery schools, Violet aims to bring together the community over memorable meals and culinary adventures.”

Featuring a romantic courtyard in a historic 1930’s brick building, Violet Bistro is a charming eatery currently serving Dinner and cocktails Tuesday through Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Seating is within the picturesque courtyard and reservations are needed to properly adhere to all the current outdoor dining and safety regulations.

“Violet Los Angeles founder Dana Slatkin always dreamed of opening a delightful neighborhood gathering place, like the ones where she spent so much time while studying and working in Italy and France. Born in Los Angeles, Dana is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley and The Culinary Institute of America. She trained with chefs Georges Blanc and Michel Guèrard at their eponymous Michelin three-star restaurants in France, patissier Pierre Hermé at Fauchon in Paris, and David Bouley in New York City.”

“Dana moved back to Los Angeles to become General Manager at L’Orangerie. In 1994, she helped launch the Beverly Hills Farmers Market, later using the name and inspiration for her own line of snacks and baked goods, which she sold to airlines and supermarkets for a decade. Dana’s first cookbook, Summertime Anytime: Recipes From Shutters On The Beach, was published in 2008 by Clarkson Potter. As the Beverly Hills Farmgirl, she ran a cooking school and shop for twelve years. She is a mother of three, a board member of the Berkeley Food Institute, a classical pianist, and an avid crosswordist.”

Show 359, February 8, 2020: Napa Valley Grille in Westwood Village Part One

Brian Cousins of Napa Valley Grille“Combining local, seasonal ingredients, artisan products and an expansive selection of regional wine, Napa Valley Grille recreates the charm, bounty and palates distinctive of West Coast wine country in a sophisticated setting within Westwood Village.” Also available are several private dining rooms of varying sizes and attractive patio seating.

Napa Valley Grille serves lunch and dinner daily with Weekend Brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Also known for their Daily Happy Hour with Bar Bites like Lamb Lollipops and Buttermilk Fried Chicken sliders. Chef Ben Diaz’s revamped menu will be launched in the coming weeks.

Veteran General Manager and Wine Director, Brian Cousins, and newly arrived Executive Chef Ben Diaz are our guests.

Show 359, February 8, 2020: Napa Valley Grille in Westwood Village Part Two

Ben Diaz of Napa Valley Grille“Combining local, seasonal ingredients, artisan products and an expansive selection of regional wine, Napa Valley Grille recreates the charm, bounty and palates distinctive of West Coast wine country in a sophisticated setting within Westwood Village.” Also available are several private dining rooms of varying sizes and attractive patio seating (an unusual feature for a Westwood Village restaurant).

“Born in Los Angeles, California, Executive Chef Ben Diaz has always had a fascination with cooking, which stemmed from watching his father (an already accomplished chef himself) cooking and making breakfast. Chef Ben is a graduate of the prestigious California School of Culinary Arts.”

“Chef Ben holds six certifications, including Master Certified Food Executive and Certified Food and Beverage Executive; he has worked alongside the world’s top chefs as a member of the Los Angeles Chefs de Cuisine Association. Chef Ben is also a published author with “From a Cook To a Professional Chef” a culinary reference book that Chef Ben created and launched in 2011.”

“With all this and more going on, Chef Ben also finds time to support local charities. Most notably are the Boys and Girls Club of San Gabriel and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Irvine.”

Chef Ben has worked in some of the best kitchens in town including The Silver Trumpet Restaurant, JW Marriott, Luxe City Center and Stockdale Country Club where the main focus was always on fresh, seasonal and locally grown produce.

Veteran restaurant General Manager and Wine Director, Brian Cousins, and newly arrived Executive Chef Ben Diaz continue…

Show 90, September 27, 2014: Sherry Yard, iPic Theaters and Helms Bakery Part Two

Sherry YardChef Sherry Yard encores for a 2nd segment.

Sherry will talk about how she is changing movie theater food for the better in her special role at iPic Theaters. In Southern California iPic has luxury theater complexes in Old Pasadena and Westwood Village.

Coming soon are new iPic Theaters in North Bethesda, Maryland and Houston, Texas.

Show 24, April 6, 2013: Chef Scott Leibfried, Gordon Ramsay’s sous chef on Fox TV’s “Hell’s Kitchen” for the past 10 years. Executive Chef of Arch Rock Fish is Santa Barbara

Scott Leibfried of Hells Kitchen and Arch Rock GrillChef Scott landed in Los Angeles in 1999. Before “Hell’s Kitchen” his most notable local credit was as Executive Chef at Napa Valley Grille in Westwood Village.

During his time with “Hell’s Kitchen” he also was the Culinary Advisor for Santa Monica Seafood on their ambitious new retail store, fresh seafood café and oyster bar on Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica which opened in 2009.

Show 18, February 23, 2013: Daniel Shemtob of The Lime Truck and TLT Food in Westwood Village

Daniel ShemtobDaniel Shemtob is the founding entrepreneur of The Lime Truck, one of the pioneering food trucks in Orange County. There are now 2 popular Lime Trucks making the rounds in the OC in addition to a truck serving Los Angeles and environs. A fourth truck is used for catering and special events.

Daniel and his colleagues were part of Season 2 of Food Network’s “Great Food Truck Race.” In a spirited, cross-country competition The Lime Truck bested the Hodge Podge truck from Cleveland in the finale. The prize was a cool $100,000! Daniel only had one truck at the time “Great Food Truck Race” was in production so he created a 2nd truck for the competition so The Lime Truck was still on the road in Orange County during the 8-weeks he was gone. Incredibly the new truck was delivered the first day of production and hadn’t been previously tested!

Show 18, February 23, 2013: Daniel Shemtob of The Lime Truck and TLT Food in Westwood Village (Continued…)

Daniel Shemtob of TLT Food and The Lime TruckThe success of The Lime Truck motivated Daniel to open his first bricks and mortar location, TLT Food. It’s located in the heart of Westwood Village at 1116 Westwood Blvd. and open late until Midnight nightly.

There is an expanded menu with crowd-pleasers like the Beef Shortrib Sliders and the Ultimate Taco. Lots of fun and creative vegetable sides, too.

There are 6 rotating craft beers on draft in addition to a wide selection of craft beers in bottles. Also keg wines featured by the glass or carafe and more than a few selections of whites and reds by the bottle. Daniel made all the selections himself and there is good value here.

As Daniel says, “The bottom line is that I want you to enjoy them with your friends as much as I did in finding them.”

On Tuesday evening Daniel is being recognized by Zagat as a member of their prestigious “30 Under 30” in the Los Angeles area’s culinary arts.

February 23: Richard Rosendale, Daniel Shemtob, Govind Armstrong, OC Restaurant Week

Podcasts

Segment One: Richard Rosendale, Executive Chef and Director of Food & Beverage, The Greenbrier, West Virginia & Bocuse d’Or USA Captain 2013”
Segment Two: Daniel Shemtob of The Lime Truck and TLT Food in Westwood Village, Part One
Segment Three: Daniel Shemtob of The Lime Truck and TLT Food in Westwood Village, Part Two
Segment Four: Govind Armstrong the Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Post & Beam in Baldwin Hills
Segment Five: Orange County Restaurant Week, February 24th to March 2nd, Part One
Segment Six: Orange County Restaurant Week, February 24th to March 2nd, Part Two

We’re all over these great United States today with celebrated chefs, a local food entrepreneur, and bargain dining at extraordinary restaurants in Orange County for the next week.

Richard Rosendale of the Greenbrier Resort in Sulphur Springs West VirginiaWhen we spoke with Thomas Keller back in December he was giving us the background on the talented American chef representing the USA in the prestigious Bocuse d’Or culinary competition in Lyon, France in late January. That distinguished chef is Richard Rosendale, the executive chef of the historic Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia.

Chef Rosendale is with us this morning to share the extraordinary experience of competing in the Bocuse d’Or on the international stage. If you think “Chopped” is tough wait until you hear what is required for this intense international competition! The winner comes as close to achieving perfection in the culinary arts as humanly possible…

Daniel ShemtobYou’ve no doubt heard about The Lime Truck, one of Orange County’s pioneering gourmet food trucks. Perhaps you’ve even enjoyed one of their Ultimate Tacos. It’s been so successful that there are now three of them on the road in Orange and Los Angeles Counties. The food is both original and tasty.

The fame of The Lime Truck is now national. In a spirited competition The Lime Truck deftly maneuvered it’s way across the USA on Food Network’s “Great Food Truck Race” (Season 2) and crossed the finish line first. That earned young food entrepreneur Daniel Shemtob and his colleagues a $50,000 cash prize.

Last year Daniel debuted his first bricks and mortar spot in Westwood Village. TLT Food has an expanded menu and a thoughtful collection of craft beers and boutique wines. You’ll actually see Daniel there regularly cooking!

Chef Govind Armstrong of Post and BeamOn Tuesday evening, February 26th super chef Marcus Samuelsson will be joining forces with Chef Govind Armstrong (Table 8) to present “A Taste of Harlem” at Govind’s new restaurant, Post & Beam, located in Baldwin Hills. The menu is reimagined soul classics. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to C-CAP Los Angeles.

Unfortunately the dinner reached capacity some two weeks ago. The good news is that an After Party benefiting C-CAP has been added so foodies will have a chance to meet Chef Marcus and Chef Armstrong and enjoy some good music.

Chef Govind Armstrong will be with us to talk about the festivities and how to obtain a coveted ticket for the After Party.

orange_county_restaurant_weekOrange County Restaurant Week (The 5th Annual) starts on Sunday and it’s your chance to experience Orange County’s best for lunch and dinner at very consumer-friendly special pricing! Yes, it’s a real bargain. The 2013 OC Restaurant Week will be held Sunday, February 24th through Saturday, March 2nd.

Explains Pamela Waitt, president of the OC Restaurant Association, “This year’s five-year anniversary will serve as a grand celebration as restaurants offer the best menus and ensure that diners will be presented with a truly special weeklong celebration. After all, the goal is for everyone involved to have fun!”

Executive Chef Roy Hendrickson of Zimzala Restaurant & Bar at The Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach and proprietress/restaurateur Nancy Wilhelm and Executive Chef Rayne Frey of Tabu Grill in Laguna Beach will all be in-studio to reveal their ambitious menu creations for OC Restaurant Week.

Podcasts

Segment One: Richard Rosendale, Executive Chef and Director of Food & Beverage, The Greenbrier, West Virginia & Bocuse d’Or USA Captain 2013”
Segment Two: Daniel Shemtob of The Lime Truck and TLT Food in Westwood Village, Part One
Segment Three: Daniel Shemtob of The Lime Truck and TLT Food in Westwood Village, Part Two
Segment Four: Govind Armstrong the Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Post & Beam in Baldwin Hills
Segment Five: Orange County Restaurant Week, February 24th to March 2nd, Part One
Segment Six: Orange County Restaurant Week, February 24th to March 2nd, Part Two