Show 657, December 13, 2025: ISM Brewing & Kitchen, Downtown Long Beach with Restaurateur Ian McCall

Posted on December 15, 2025 by Adam Bell

“Ian McCall’s ISM Brewing & Kitchen in Downtown Long Beach marks its second anniversary with a three-day celebration (December 12^th – 14^th) highlighting fresh beer, community partnerships, culinary creativity, and local artistry.”

“In 2025, ISM earned significant recognition on the global and national stage, bringing home two silver medals at the World Beer Cup for Hamburghini, its Italian Pilsner, and Plough & Harrow, its Classic Saison. The brewery also secured a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in the New Zealand-Style IPA category for Chepedelic. Throughout the year, ISM continued to build community through food and beer collaborations with Hamburgers Nice, Got Your Back LB, Loquat Oysters, Battambong BBQ, LA Taco, Terrible Burger, and Moonlight Mash.”

“The anniversary weekend invites guests to celebrate alongside the ISM team with three days of fresh beer, friends, and family. ISM’s kitchen will offer a special “greatest hits” menu along with limited-time dishes created by the culinary team, led by Chef Bobby Gill.” Think Poke Nachos…

Ian McCall joins us to tap the keg on all that is ISM Brewing.

Show 381, July 11, 2020: Chef & Proprietor John Park, Toast Kitchen + Bakery, Costa Mesa

Posted on July 12, 2020 by Adam Bell

Chef John Park’s Toast Kitchen + Bakery, now celebrating its 2^nd Anniversary, is a welcome addition to the moderately priced dining scene in Costa Mesa. The actual anniversary date is July 24^th but Toast will be celebrating with changing weekly specials for the entire month. From Tuesday, July 14^th through Sunday, July 19^th all the signature house-baked cookies are $2 each.

They serve Breakfast & Brunch daily (closed on Monday.) Early Dinner is Tuesday through Friday with Happy Hour (with food & libation specials) on Weekdays from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Some salivating new menu items have just been introduced including creative libations and both savory & sweet creations. Think Mapo Tofu Noodles with mapo tofu, noodles, zucchini, roasted sesame seeds and cilantro.

Chef John Park, the Chef of the Year at the 2019 Golden Foodie Awards, joins us.

Show 107, January 24, 2015: Blackmarket Bakery’s Rachel Klemek

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Adam Bell

The OC Fair Celebrates their 125^th Anniversary this Summer from July 17^th to August 16^th. The theme is “OC Fair – One Big Party.”

To get things going the Blackmarket Bakery in Costa Mesa (celebrating their 2^nd Anniversary) is hosting an OC Fair Pop-Up Party at their location at The Camp in Costa Mesa on Sunday, January 25^th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. They are providing free sweet treats for the first 125 guests.

Proprietress & Baker Rachel Klemek has all the decadent details.