Podcasts
Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Dominic Palmieri – The Midway Gourmet. OC Fair Edibles Part One
Segment Three: Dominic Palmieri – The Midway Gourmet. OC Fair Edibles Part Two
Segment Four: Robert Schueller – The Prince of Produce. Melissa’s World Variety Produce’s “VP of Produce” Part One
Segment Five: Robert Schueller – The Prince of Produce. Melissa’s World Variety Produce’s “VP of Produce” Part Two
Segment Six: Preview of Long Beach Burger Week with EJ’s Pub with General Manager Richard Avila
Segment Seven: Restaurateur and Chef Sandra Cordero. Xuntos Opens in Santa Monica
Segment Eight: Chef & Co-Host Andrew Gruel with “Ask the Chef”
Andy Harris, Executive Producer and Co-host previews the show.
Outrageous Fair Food (also crave-worthy) is always a mouthwatering highlight of a visit to the OC Fair in Costa Mesa. What crazy edible will they next put on a stick? One of the all-star, Fair Food personalities is the well-traveled Midway Gourmet, Chef Dominic Palmieri of Biggy’s fame on the RCS Carnival Midway. We’ll find out what indulgent deliciousness Chef Dominic is cooking up now for the OC Fair running through Sunday, August 13th. Think Hot Cheetos Cheese Pickle Pizza. We’re taking Fair Food at its tastiest best with The Midway Gourmet.
It’s Summer and time to revisit our “always in the know” resident produce authority, Robert Schueller, of Melissa’s World Variety Produce. When it comes to knowledge of the season’s best there is no better resource than Robert (also known as “The Prince of Produce.”) Robert will brief us on the newest, most flavorful and freshest produce items that are available right now.
Contemplate three varieties of Dragon Fruit, PinkGlow Pineapples and Yellow, Orange and Sunshine Watermelon. Hatch Pepper season is knocking at the door. Robert Schueller is our guest with a bunch of juicy Muscato Grapes in hand.
Long Beach residents and visitors alike are in for a treat as dozens of local restaurants and pop-ups will offer unique over-the-top Burgers and value-priced Burger Offers when the 3rd annual Long Beach Burger Week returns July 23-20, 2023. Organized by local non-profit Long Beach Food & Beverage, the organization felt that in addition to encouraging local and surrounding “foodies” to enjoy what the expanding Long Beach culinary community has to offer, events like Burger Week support the local economy. It’s summertime and who doesn’t love a good burger? One of the participating restaurants in the 3rd Annual Long Beach Burger Week is EJ’s Pub located in Bixby Knolls. The former Irish Pub, EJ Malloy’s, morphed into EJ’s Pub in 2017. It’s an upbeat, neighborhood sports bar offering well-prepared American comfort food, draft micro beers and ample patio seating. General Manager Richard Avila is out guest to preview their burger week menu with spatula in hand.
XUNTOS is a newly launched (July 14th) Tapas Bar from Chef Sandra Cordero located in the heart of Downtown Santa Monica. “The restaurant is space that is warm, fun, not too serious and with plenty to eat and drink. A place to enjoy the company you’re with and feel like home. XUNTOS, “together” in Gallego, serves small plates of things Chef Sandra wants you to try: from the farmer’s market to the traditional dishes of Galicia, Asturias, Catalunya & the Basque Country, as they’re eaten in Spain. The wines follow the food: natural, unrefined, generous, showcasing Spain and California, along with some others the Team loves and want to share with you.” Chef Sandra Cordero is our guest with a plate of thinly sliced Jamon Iberico at the ready.
Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) and also the founder and pizzaiola of Big Parm (New Jersey-style pizza) located in the Mess Hall in Tustin provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries. First it was a 3 to 5 per cent charge added to restaurant checks to contribute to employees’ healthcare costs. This was reversable upon request. Now it’s an 18 per cent (sometimes 20 per cent) service fee added to restaurant checks that is not a gratuity but goes to elevating the compensation of all hourly employees. Should the server also get a real gratuity? Confused? Chef Andrew weighs in.
All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s not-to-miss show!
Outrageous Fair Food (also crave-worthy) is always a mouthwatering highlight of a visit to the OC Fair in Costa Mesa. What crazy edible will they next put on a stick? One of the all-star, Fair Food personalities is the well-traveled Midway Gourmet, Chef Dominic Palmieri of Biggy’s fame on the RCS Carnival Midway. We’ll find out what indulgent deliciousness Chef Dominic is cooking up now for the OC Fair running through Sunday, August 13th. We’re taking Fair Food at its tastiest best with The Midway Gourmet.
Chef Dominic’s Enzo Pizza is always a Fair standout. New on Enzo’s menu for the 2023 season is an outrageous Hot Cheetos Cheese Pickle Pizza. Chef Dominic assures that “this will change how anyone thinks about pizza.” Also coming out of the pizza oven is a Hot Honey Pizza with Pepperoni. Remember it’s his Italian heritage that’s on the line here…At his Biggy’s stand it’s Hot Cheeto Chicken on a Stick and at Dutchman’s a new Marzipan Funnel Cake.
It’s Summer and time to revisit our “always in the know” resident produce authority, Robert Schueller, of Melissa’s World Variety Produce. When it comes to knowledge of the season’s best there is no better resource than Robert (also known as “The Prince of Produce.”) Robert will brief us on the newest and freshest produce items that are available right now. Contemplate the three varieties of Dragon Fruit, PinkGlow Pineapples and Yellow, Orange and Sunshine Watermelon. Hatch Pepper season is knocking at the door. Robert Schueller is our guest with a bunch of juicy Muscato Grapes in hand.
“Yellow Dragon Fruit, the sweetest of all the dragon fruit varieties, has a bright yellow skin with smooth curved spines on the outside and a translucent white flesh on the inside with slightly larger but fewer edible seeds than the pink-skinned varieties.”
“When biting into the flesh of Yellow Dragon Fruit, you will get a rush of sweetness mixed with a floral juice. The fruit can be added to smoothies and smoothie bowls, made into sorbet or granita, or used for sauces, but there is no need to do anything other than just eat the fruit as-is. Peel off the inedible yellow skin and cut the dragon fruit into slices or spoon the fruit right out of the peel, as you might eat a melon.”
“Feast your eyes on the exotic Elefante Green Gold™ pineapple! This extremely rare, dazzling emerald green-skinned pineapple stands taller, skinnier, and larger than your average pineapple. It boasts an edible core and soft, white flesh ripe with honey-sweetness and almost no acidity.”
“The Elefante Green Gold™ is a variety native to West Africa. It’s grown in Ekumfi Abor, just a few hours west of Ghana’s capital, at a farm specializing in ethical pineapple cultivation and creating sustainable farming communities. This variety of pineapple is perfectly ripe and ready-to-eat, even when the outer shell is green.”
Long Beach residents and visitors alike are in for a treat as dozens of local restaurants and pop-ups will offer unique over-the-top Burgers and value-priced Burger Offers when the 3rd annual Long Beach Burger Week returns July 23-20, 2023. Organized by local non-profit Long Beach Food & Beverage, the organization felt that in addition to encouraging local and surrounding “foodies” to enjoy what the expanding Long Beach culinary community has to offer, events like Burger Week support the local economy. It’s summertime and who doesn’t love a good burger?
One of the participating restaurants in the 3rd Annual Long Beach Burger Week is EJ’s Pub located in Bixby Knolls. The former Irish Pub, EJ Malloy’s, morphed into EJ’s Pub in 2017. It’s an upbeat, neighborhood sports bar offering well-prepared American comfort food, draft micro beers and ample patio seating.
One Burger Week special is their Bixby Knolls Garlic Burger. It’s a half-pound Angus beef patty with Swiss cheese, Irish stout onion spread, crispy garlic fries and pepper rings served on grilled garlic toast.
General Manager Richard Avila is out guest to preview their burger week menu with spatula in hand.
XUNTOS is a newly launched (July 14th) Tapas Bar from Chef Sandra Cordero located in the heart of Downtown Santa Monica. “The restaurant is space that is warm, fun, not too serious and with plenty to eat and drink. A place to enjoy the company you’re with and feel like home.”
“XUNTOS, “together” in Gallego, serves small plates of things Chef Sandra wants you to try: from the farmer’s market to the traditional dishes of Galicia, Asturias, Catalunya & the Basque Country, as they’re eaten in Spain. The wines follow the food: natural, unrefined, generous, showcasing Spain and California, along with some others the Staff loves and want to share with you.”
“This is the 2nd restaurant from Chef Cordero, who opened GASOLINA in Woodland Hills in 2015. She is a James Beard Fellow & co-founder of Regarding Her, a national nonprofit supporting women owners in hospitality. Scott Baker, previously the Wine Director at SOMNI, is the General Manager.”
Chef Sandra Cordero is our guest with a plate of coveted, thinly sliced Jamon Iberico at the ready.
Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) and also the founder and pizzaiola of the fast-casual Big Parm (New Jersey-style pizza) located in the Mess Hall in Tustin provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries.
First it was a 3 to 5 per cent charge added to restaurant checks to contribute to employees’ healthcare costs. This was reversable upon request. Now it’s a mandatory 18 per cent (sometimes 20 per cent) service fee added to restaurant checks that is not a gratuity or tip but goes to elevating the compensation of all hourly employees and other operational expenses. Should the server also get a real gratuity? Confused? Chef Andrew weighs in.
Podcasts
Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Dominic Palmieri – The Midway Gourmet. OC Fair Edibles Part One
Segment Three: Dominic Palmieri – The Midway Gourmet. OC Fair Edibles Part Two
Segment Four: Robert Schueller – The Prince of Produce. Melissa’s World Variety Produce’s “VP of Produce” Part One
Segment Five: Robert Schueller – The Prince of Produce. Melissa’s World Variety Produce’s “VP of Produce” Part Two
Segment Six: Preview of Long Beach Burger Week with EJ’s Pub with General Manager Richard Avila
Segment Seven: Restaurateur and Chef Sandra Cordero. Xuntos Opens in Santa Monica
Segment Eight: Chef & Co-Host Andrew Gruel with “Ask the Chef”