November 30: Jeffrey Hayashi, Beckham Estate Vineyard, Jonathan Blackford, John Taube

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chef Jeffrey Hayashi, Head Chef, Team USA at 2021 Bocuse d’Or Culinary Competition
Segment Three: Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group with “Ask the Chef”
Segment Four: Winemaker and Ceramicist Andrew Beckham, Beckham Estate Vineyard, Sherwood, OR
Segment Five: Jonathan Blackford, Corporate Executive Chef, River Jetty Restaurant Group Part One
Segment Six: Jonathan Blackford, Corporate Executive Chef, River Jetty Restaurant Group Part Two
Segment Seven: Executive Chef John Taube, The Hoxton DTLA Part One
Segment Eight: Executive Chef John Taube, The Hoxton DTLA Part Two

It’s great to be back after being preempted by Notre Dame Football the last two weeks. Sorry about that and we do greatly appreciate being missed! The good news is that there are no further interruptions through year’s end.

Now an intriguing preview of this Saturday’s craveable show. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will hopefully 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. Truly couldn’t do it without you.

Ment’or BKB foundation, based in New York, sponsors and guides Team USA which competes biennially (every 2 years) in the prestigious Bocuse d’Or international culinary competition held in Lyon, France. On November 18th at the Culinary Institute of America’s Copia campus in the Napa Valley three noteworthy finalist teams of a Head Chef & Commis competed to head Team USA 2021. Chef Jeffrey Hayashi (most recently the Chef de Cuisine at Honolulu’s Senia Restaurant) prevailed and we’ll meet him.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group was in New York last weekend as a Judge in the Oyster Sucking Championship as part of the first ever All Canadian Oyster Festival held at Manhattan’s Docks Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill. We’ll slurp with Chef Andrew as he reports on the salty festivities with a Canadian accent.

“Andrew and Annedria Beckham arrived in the Chehalem Mountains, Oregon in 2005 with the dream of purchasing land to build a studio for Andrew’s art. Immersed in the contagious passion of their pioneering neighbors and fascinated by the incredible potential beneath the surface of their high-elevation site, they started a vineyard row by row, coming home from their day jobs to plant vines all night, raising three children all the while. In 2009 they made their first wine.” Andrew Beckham pulls the cork on the unusual Beckham Estate Vineyard for us.

Hollywood producer McG and restaurateur Jordan Otterbein, River Jetty Restaurant Group partners known for acclaimed A Restaurant and A Market in Newport Beach, California, debuted their new Corona del Mar dining concept, CdM in early March. It’s dinner nightly and is already immensely popular. Corporate Executive Chef Jonathan Blackford’s creative American menu highlights unique, hand selected ingredients in each of his flavorful dishes, drawing influence from America’s melting pot of cuisines. We spirit Chef Jonathan out of his busy kitchen for an update.

Newly arrived in Downtown Los Angeles in a tastefully restored Beaux Arts building is The Hoxton hotel with sister properties in Williamsburg, Portland, Chicago and International. Their 174 rooms are spread across four different size categories from Snug to Biggy, meaning there’s something to suit everyone. Destination restaurants located at Hoxton properties are a trademark. The Hoxton DTLA has Sibling Rival, the elevated, all-day restaurant located on the ground floor, and Pilot (dinner only) on the rooftop (with eye-catching L.A. skyline views) which also includes the daytime Pilot Bar adjacent to the pool. We’ll meet Executive Chef John Taube, who oversees the ample culinary portfolio.

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

Jeffrey Hayashi is the head chef for the 2021 Bocuse D'OrMent’or BKB foundation, based in New York, sponsors Team USA which competes biennially (every 2 years) in the prestigious Bocuse d’Or international culinary competition held in Lyon, France. On November 18th at the Culinary Institute of America’s Copia campus in the Napa Valley three noteworthy finalist teams of a Head Chef & Commis competed to head Team USA 2021. Chef Jeffrey Hayashi (most recently the Chef de Cuisine at Honolulu’s Senia Restaurant) prevailed and we’ll meet him.

“The three finalist Team USA 2021 teams competed over a five hour and 35 – minute period, following the rigorous format of the actual Bocuse d’Or competition. The platter theme was Whole Chicken, from Palisades Ranch in California, and the plated theme was Ratatouille.”

“Chef Jeffery Hayashi and Commis William Barrera will now begin the rigorous journey to the Bocuse d’Or as Team USA 2021, relocating closer to the training facility at Copia in Napa, California and dedicating the next fourteen months to prepare for the 2021 competition. During this crucial training period, Ment’or will support Team USA, with the Foundation’s esteemed Chef Council continuing to play an invaluable role in mentoring them.”

“I feel very fortunate for this once in a lifetime opportunity,” shares Chef Hayashi, who previously competed for Team USA in 2019. “Any one of the competing chefs could have won. To now officially be on the road to Lyon for Bocuse d’Or is surreal, and I’m incredibly thankful for all the support.”

“Hayashi, originally from Oahu, moved to Arizona at age four and spent the bulk of his upbringing on the mainland, though visited his grandparents in Hawaii throughout his childhood. While culinary arts were not his passion in his formative years, he spent his time focused on building, art, and creating things with his hands, which led him to study architecture at Arizona State University. After realizing that architecture wasn’t his path, Hayashi serendipitously was introduced to French-Australian Chef Philippe Padovani, who had made a name for himself in Hawaii. Philippe, who had learned cooking by fire in the kitchen, encouraged Hayashi to come and work for him as an apprentice, as Padovani opened his namesake, Padovani Grill. Hayashi, who had never worked in a kitchen before but liked hand crafts, worked for Padovani as an apprentice for a year and a half before moving to Vintage Cave as a commis under Chef Chris Kajioka. Kajioka then convinced Hayashi to join him on the team for Chef Mourad Lahlou’s new restaurant in San Francisco, Mourad, in 2014. Hayashi worked as Executive Sous Chef at Mourad for four years, at which time the restaurant earned one Michelin star, among other awards and accolades for its Moroccan fine dining cuisine. In 2018, Hayashi headed back to Hawaii to work at Senia, the elevated Hawaiian restaurant opened in 2016 by both Kajioka and Chef Anthony Rush, where Hayashi served as the Chef de Cuisine.”

Andy Harris and Andrew Gruel at Cabana 14 at the Cove at Pechanga Resort and CasinoOur own Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group was in New York last weekend as a Judge in the Oyster Shucking Championship as part of the first ever All Canadian Oyster Festival held at Manhattan’s Docks Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill. We’ll slurp with Chef Andrew as he reports on the salty festivities with a Canadian accent.

The capacity crowd of 250 guests had the unusual opportunity to sniff, sip and slurp eighteen varieties of both West & East Coast Canadian Oysters.

First Place was awarded to Jose Valdesz of Empire Oyster.

Andrew Beckham of Backham Estate VIneyards“Andrew and Annedria Beckham arrived in the Chehalem Mountains, Oregon in 2005 with the dream of purchasing land to build a studio for Andrew’s art. Immersed in the contagious passion of their pioneering neighbors and fascinated by the incredible potential beneath the surface of their high-elevation site, they started a vineyard row by row, coming home from their day jobs to plant vines all night, raising three children all the while. In 2009 they made their first wine.”

“In 2012 their winemaking truly found its voice with the introduction of Andrew’s handmade amphora (clay pot) as unique aging vessels, used in conjunction with organic farming and low-intervention practices that they believe reflect their vineyard best.”

Beckham Estate Vineyards’ traditional, barrel aged wines carry the Beckham Estate label. Andrew’s amphora wines are under the moniker of A.D. Beckham (“creta” pinot noir, “50/50” noir/gris and pinot gris.)

Winemaker Andrew Beckham joins us to pull the cork on Beckham Estate Vineyard for us.

Jonathan Blackford of A Restaurant and CDM RestaurantHollywood producer McG and restaurateur Jordan Otterbein, River Jetty Restaurant Group partners known for acclaimed A Restaurant and A Market in Newport Beach, California, debuted their new Corona del Mar dining concept, CdM in early March. It’s dinner nightly and is already, consistently, a tough reservation. Corporate Executive Chef Jonathan Blackford’s creative American menu highlights unique, hand selected ingredients in each of his flavorful dishes, drawing influence from America’s melting pot of cuisines.

Think house-baked Parker House Rolls with whipped A5 tallow and Roasted Lamb Ribs with garam masala, Greek yogurt and cucumber salad.

Larger plates include Mangalitsa Pork Chop with potato pancakes, celery root puree and Hungarian braised red cabbage.

A hidden feature of CdM is “Under CdM.” It’s a speakeasy style room located downstairs from the CdM Restaurant. The cocktail list there (under the direction of Bar Manager Ravin Buzzell) is distinct from the cocktail program at the restaurant. The full CdM menu is now available at Under CdM.

Newly debuted above CdM is “The Apartment,” a private event space that can accommodate up to 20 seated guests. It, conveniently, has its own separate entrance.

We spirit Chef Jonathan out of his busy kitchen for an update.

John Taube of Sibling Rival at the Hoxton DTLANewly arrived in Downtown Los Angeles in a tastefully restored Beaux Arts building is The Hoxton with sister properties in Williamsburg, Portland, Chicago and International. Their 174 rooms are spread across four different size categories from Snug to Biggy, meaning there’s something to suit everyone. Destination restaurants located at Hoxton properties are a trademark. The Hoxton DTLA has Sibling Rival, the elevated, all-day restaurant with an open kitchen located on the ground floor and Pilot (dinner only) on the rooftop (with eye-catching L.A. skyline views) which also includes the daytime Pilot Bar (daily Happy Hour specials) adjacent to the pool.

All rooms are cleverly designed to make the most of the space, and all come with the same Hox Perks including free fast WiFi, free daily calls to anywhere in the world, coffee, tea, water and milk, and a light breakfast bag delivered to your room.

Destination restaurants located at Hoxton properties are a trademark. The Hoxton DTLA has Sibling Rival, the elevated, all-day restaurant located on the ground floor (serving an already popular Weekend Brunch) and Pilot (dinner only) on the rooftop (with eye-catching L.A. skyline views) which also includes the separate daytime Pilot Bar adjacent to the pool featuring a daily Happy Hour from 3 to 6:00 p.m..

Sibling Rival brings to life the timeless rivalries of weekday vs. weekend diet and East Coast vs. West Coast through innovative takes on Californian classics, served in an all-day, elevated diner setting. From quinoa bowls and fresh-pressed juices to togarashi chicken sandwiches and innovative cocktails, Sibling Rival lets guests choose their own adventure and give into whichever voice on their shoulder is most tempting.” Happy Hour Daily from 3 to 6:00 p.m.

“Pilot is a rooftop restaurant and bar inspired by the coast of the Mediterranean, situated atop The Hoxton, Downtown L.A. The menu is centered around live-fire cooking and features fresh, locally sourced seafood, seasonal vegetables, and more. Led by Executive Chef John Taube IV, in partnership with Sunday Hospitality, the dining experience is interactive with fun takes on tableside preparation and multiple large format dishes meant to be shared like the whole wood-fired fish for two. A signature dish is the Grand Aioli — a platter of the guests’ choice of vegetables and raw bar selections paired with aioli prepared to-order. Cocktails are made for warm weather drinking and presented in Sunday Hospitality’s signature whimsical and playful style, featuring Gin and Tonic variations.”

“Pilot’s airy indoor/outdoor atmosphere, designed by Ennismore Design Studio, is punctuated by bright pops of color throughout and anchored by a large display of fresh seafood and vegetables presented over ice. The restaurant extends out to the pool deck where a separate food and drink menu can be enjoyed alongside views of the Los Angeles skyline.”

“Pilot is named in tribute to The Hoxton, Downtown L.A. rooftop’s cameo in the 1921 film “Stranger than Fiction” where it served as the launch pad from which stuntman Frank Clarke and pilot Wally Timm flew their plane.”

We’ll meet Executive Chef John Taube, who oversees the ample, in-house culinary portfolio.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chef Jeffrey Hayashi, Head Chef, Team USA at 2021 Bocuse d’Or Culinary Competition
Segment Three: Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group with “Ask the Chef”
Segment Four: Winemaker and Ceramicist Andrew Beckham, Beckham Estate Vineyard, Sherwood, OR
Segment Five: Jonathan Blackford, Corporate Executive Chef, River Jetty Restaurant Group Part One
Segment Six: Jonathan Blackford, Corporate Executive Chef, River Jetty Restaurant Group Part Two
Segment Seven: Executive Chef John Taube, The Hoxton DTLA Part One
Segment Eight: Executive Chef John Taube, The Hoxton DTLA Part Two

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