Executive Chef Andrew Gruel of the rapidly growing Slapfish empire with restaurants in Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, LAX, Irvine at UCI and, most recently, Brea, is back as today’s special Guest Host. In May in Chicago he received Nation’s Restaurant News’ Trendsetter MenuMaster Award for Slapfish during the National Restaurant Association’s annual gathering.

Now a (hopefully) tantalizing preview of Saturday’s overloaded show and 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 a pretty good thing…

The skills of butchery meet the world of fresh produce in The Vegetable Butcher – How to Select, Prep, Slice, Dice, and Masterfully Cook Vegetables from Artichokes to Zucchini. This well-researched, essential, inspiring guide demystifies the world of vegetables. Author and Chef Cara Mangini joins us from Columbus, Ohio.

For 77 years, the Los Angeles International Wine Competition has showcased the finest domestic and international vintages through a wine-tasting event that is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious in the United States. The winning wines are available for tasting at the upcoming L.A. County Fair. Malibu winemaker Jim Palmer Vineyards scored an impressive 98-point rating from the judges for his 2014 Pinot Noir earning a Gold Medal. He’s our guest along with Master Sommelier Michael Jordan, the Competition Chairman.

What’s new, fresh and exciting in the world of Summer fruits and vegetables? Glad you asked. Joining us for an informative update is our resident Produce authority, Robert Schueller of Melissa’s World Variety Produce. For starters it’s everything grapes. Think Red Muscato, Green Muscato, Black Muscato, Jelly Drop, Candy Sweet Grapes, Cotton Candy and Champagne grapes. They are all now best of the season. Also Jackfruit, the hefty cousin of breadfruit and figs.

Since 2012 Clarissa Nagy has been the Winemaker at Santa Maria’s Riverbench Vineyard & Winery. Riverbench Vineyard was established in 1973 when its first Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes were planted on the property. Clarissa also has her own label, c nagy, with a rustic tasting room in Orcutt. Her first release was in 2005. Clarissa uncorks it for us.

Our Mad Hungry Woman blogger, Anita Lau, has just returned from a visit to Melbourne and Queensland state in Australia. Among her finds is Bass & Flinders, a boutique gin distillery in Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. Anita joins us with her spirited report.

In 2009, Stuart Skversky, a Los Angeles rising star chef, gave up his life in Los Angeles and moved to Chiang Mai, Thailand to become a full time volunteer at the Wat Dan Chan (a local Buddhist temple), teaching local children English, cooking and baking. Recognizing a need to help prepare these high risk Hill Tribe kids following their graduation, he founded Stu and the Kids to better prepare them for adulthood, helping them get into a university or technical college and giving them the tools for an independent future. Stu and the Kids’ 2016 Los Angeles Fundraiser was at Vibiana on July 31^st. Chef Stuart Skversky is our guest.

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