May 25: Culinary Clash, Bill Esparza’s Taqueando, Lara Lyn Carter, WSLA Drink + Eat 2019, Ricardo Zarate

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Alycia Harshfield, The California Restaurant Association Foundation – The Culinary Clash Benefit in Anaheim
Segment Three: James Beard Award – Winning Food Journalist Bill Esparza, Bill Esparza’s Taqueando…
Segment Four: Private Chef & Emmy-Award winner Lara Lyn Carter with Skinny Southern: 90 Reinvented Classics Without The Guilt! Part One
Segment Five: Private Chef & Emmy-Award winner Lara Lyn Carter with Skinny Southern: 90 Reinvented Classics Without The Guilt! Part Two
Segment Six: Joshua Greene, Editor & Publisher, Wine & Sprits Magazine on WSLA Drink + Eat 2019
Segment Seven: Chef Ricardo Zarate of Studio City’s Los Balcones
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel, Co-Host and Founder of Slapfish Restaurant Group – “Ask the Chef”

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all and a grateful salute to all Veterans both active and retired. We truly owe you all one…

Now a mouthwatering preview of this Saturday’s abundant 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 that’s probably a pretty good thing… As always, we greatly appreciate you being a part of our loyal listening audience on a Holiday Weekend.

The California Restaurant Association Foundation is organizing The Culinary Clash at the STC Anaheim Garden Walk on Sunday afternoon, June 2nd. It’s a fiery competition that pits top multiple-unit restaurant groups head-to-head. The spirited event is free and open to the community. CRA Foundation’s Executive Director Alycia Harshfield has the details for us.

The grand taco fest is back! On June 15th, Bill Esparza’s Taqueando, an all-you-can-eat taco lifestyle event, will celebrate the best traditional and contemporary taqueros at Skylight ROW DTLA from 1pm–5pm (VIP 12pm–5pm). Bill Esparza was the curator of LA Weekly’s hugely popular Tacolandia from 2013-2017. Taqueando will be a gathering of the best taquerias in Los Angeles, Mexico, the state of California, and in the USA for a grand tasting of America’s favorite snack; the taco. Senor Esparza is our well-traveled guide.

Private chef and Emmy-Award winner, Lara Lyn Carter is considered Georgia’s go-to authority on Southern entertaining. Her impressive, debut cookbook is Skinny Southern : 90 Reinvented Classics Without The Guilt! The recipes in this cookbook don’t just “lighten up” Southern food-they offer gluten-free and paleo options as well. It’s the Southern cuisine you know and love, at it’s very finest. Bring on the Shrimp & Grits.

Wine & Spirits Magazine is hosting the WSLA Drink + Eat 2019 event on the afternoon of June 2nd in DTLA at The Unique Space. Some 75 plus wineries from around the world will be pouring that afternoon, with food provided by a collection of Los Angeles’ most noteworthy restaurants (including Hippo, Maude, NoMad, 71 Above, Faith and Flower and more). Wine & Spirits’ Editor/Publisher, Joshua Greene, uncorks all the quaffable event details for us.

As part of the Los Angeles Times Food Bowl embrace Latin cuisine with Latin Roots: Food & Wine With Passion showcasing a four- course meal created by chef Ricardo Zarate (Rosaline) and featuring wine pairings by Bibiana González Rave of Cattleya Winery. (This is the evening of May 26th at Los Balcones in North Hollywood.) The theme of the meal is Latin Roots, and each course will be a blend of Peruvian and Colombian cuisine, with the spirit of Los Balcones Studio City’s “mestizo style” of cooking (a blend of Spanish and other European influences). All four courses will celebrate the flavors of Colombia, Peru, Europe and California. We gently pull Chef Ricardo away from Brunch service to join us.

Our Co-Host, Chef Andrew Gruel, the Founder of The Slapfish Restaurant Group, joins us from the road where he is in the process of opening 3 new Slapfish restaurants. We’re continuing “Ask the Chef”

responding to your questions about all things culinary. To our benefit Chef Andrew is a real, working chef.

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

Alycia HarshfieldThe California Restaurant Association Foundation is organizing The Culinary Clash at the STC Anaheim Garden Walk on Sunday afternoon, June 2nd. It’s a fiery competition that pits top multiple-unit restaurant groups head-to-head. Restaurant execs are paired with high school sous chefs to compete in this battle royale. Culinary teams have just 30 minutes to create an entrée and appetizer using special ingredients.

Some of the competing Restaurant Teams include BJ’s Restaurants, California Fish Grill, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and Lemonade.

The spirited event from 1 to 5:00 p.m. (cooking from 3 to 5:00 p.m.) is free and open to the community. Starting at 1p.m. there will be live music, bites, and activities for the whole family. Bring out your inner “foodie” at the Culinary Clash!

Funds raised from this event will support culinary arts programs in public high schools throughout the state. Each year, the CRA Foundation empowers 13,500 teens with hands-on learning, job skills, mentors, and scholarships. The CRA Foundation leverages the power of the state’s restaurant industry to change lives.

CRA Foundation’s Executive Director Alycia Harshfield has the details for us.

Bill EsparzaThe grand taco fest is back! On June 15th, Bill Esparza’s Taqueando, an all-you-can-eat taco lifestyle event, will celebrate the best traditional and contemporary taqueros at Skylight ROW DTLA from 1pm–5pm (VIP 12pm–5pm). Bill Esparza was the curator of LA Weekly’s Tacolandia from 2013-2017.

Taqueando will be a gathering of the best taquerias in Los Angeles, Mexico, the state of California, and in the USA for a grand tasting of America’s favorite snack; the taco.

Tickets are available to purchase now and cost $45 per person for General Admission, and $75 for VIP. General Admission ticket cost includes guaranteed entry to event, all-you-can-eat samples, cash bar, and vendor village access. (Limited) VIP ticket cost includes all the same amenities as GA, and also includes early entrance at Noon, a VIP area for exclusive tastings, and a VIP gift bag w/ t-shirt. Each ticket will be $5 more at the door, if available.

Senor Esparza is our well-traveled guide.

Cookbook Author Lara Lyn CarterPrivate chef and Emmy-Award winner, Lara Lyn Carter is considered Georgia’s go-to authority on Southern entertaining. Her impressive, debut cookbook is Skinny Southern: 90 Reinvented Classics Without The Guilt!

The recipes in this cookbook don’t just “lighten up” Southern food-they offer gluten-free and paleo options as well. It’s the Southern cuisine you know and love, at it’s very finest. Bring on the Shrimp & Grits.

“With 90 reinvented Southern Classic entrées such as truffle and rosemary chicken, or grilled lamb with sweet onion sauce; dabble with the citrus vinaigrette; sample the seafood gumbo, the quinoa salad, or the spaghetti squash with pecan truffle oil and herbs. You won’t regret it!”

“Lara Lyn’s converted to healthy, clean cooking and shares her vast experience and array of healthy Southern recipes in this groundbreaking cookbook, an invaluable addition to any health-conscious kitchen. Get a taste of this satisfying lifestyle with Lara Lyn’s Olive Pecan Dip, Shrimp and Grits & Classic Southern Pound Cake.”

“Lara Lyn Carter recently won her first Emmy in the category of On Camera Talent for hosting Thyme for Sharing with Lara Lyn Carter, which she also created and produced. It was part of Georgia Public Broadcasting‘s summer cooking lineup and received excellent ratings and praise. The show was nominated for four Emmys in the categories of lighting, photography, directing, and on-camera talent. In addition, Lara Lyn created and hosted Savor the Good Life with Gray Television‘s WALB, the NBC and ABC affiliate in Southwest Georgia, for three years. This show received a Gabby (Georgia Association of Broadcasters) Award in its first year.”

Joshua Greene of Wine and Spirits MagazineWine & Spirits Magazine is hosting the WSLA Drink + Eat 2019 event on the afternoon of June 2nd in DTLA at The Unique Space. Some 75 plus wineries from around the world will be pouring that afternoon, with food provided by a collection of Los Angeles’ most noteworthy restaurants (including Hippo, Maude, NoMad, 71 Above, Faith and Flower, E.R.B. and more).

“All of the participating wineries had a wine that earned a place in the magazine’s 30th Annual Restaurant Poll. Wine Directors from some of the country’s top restaurants responded to the query with their top sellers in the by-the-glass and full bottle categories. Not surprisingly, the results showcase a compelling lineup of wines that might be considered the most popular wines in the country. These wines encompass a broad range of grape varieties, winemaking styles, and places of origin.”

The WSLA Drink + Eat afternoon will celebrate not only the 30th annual publication of this list, but also the elevation of Los Angeles to its present status as a premier food destination city. Some of the area’s hottest restaurants will be serving dishes specially selected to pair with the wines. All of the invited restaurants were included in Patrick Comiskey’s recent Essential LA wine-and-food Experience piece in the magazine.

Wine & Spirits’ Editor/Publisher, Joshua Greene, uncorks all the event details for us.

Chef Ricardo ZarateAs part of the Los Angeles Times Food Bowl embrace Latin cuisine with Latin Roots: Food & Wine With Passion showcasing a four-course meal created by chef Ricardo Zarate and featuring wine pairings by Bibiana González Rave of Cattleya Winery. (This is the evening of May 26th at Los Balcones in Studio City.)

The theme of the meal is Latin Roots, and each course will be a blend of Peruvian and Colombian cuisine, with the spirit of Los Balcones Studio City’s “mestizo style” of cooking (a blend of Spanish and other European influences). All four courses will celebrate the flavors of Colombia, Peru, Europe and California.

Chef Ricardo Zarate escapes his busy kitchens and is our guest.

Andy Harris and Andrew Gruel at the Fifth Anniversary of the SoCal Restaurant ShowOur own Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group joins us with another informative “Ask the Chef” segment. With the Summer grilling season on the horizon it’s great to have a real working chef in our corner always providing handy and practical advice!

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Alycia Harshfield, The California Restaurant Association Foundation – The Culinary Clash Benefit in Anaheim
Segment Three: James Beard Award – Winning Food Journalist Bill Esparza, Bill Esparza’s Taqueando…
Segment Four: Private Chef & Emmy-Award winner Lara Lyn Carter with Skinny Southern: 90 Reinvented Classics Without The Guilt! Part One
Segment Five: Private Chef & Emmy-Award winner Lara Lyn Carter with Skinny Southern: 90 Reinvented Classics Without The Guilt! Part Two
Segment Six: Joshua Greene, Editor & Publisher, Wine & Sprits Magazine on WSLA Drink + Eat 2019
Segment Seven: Chef Ricardo Zarate of Studio City’s Los Balcones
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel, Co-Host and Founder of Slapfish Restaurant Group – “Ask the Chef”

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