Show 486, August 6, 2022: Anne Marie Panoringan, The Voice of OC’s Food Columnist Part Two

Food Journalist Anne Marie Panoringan

Anne Marie Panoringan is Voice of OC’s well-informed food columnist. She reports industry news, current events and trends. The column publishes every other Friday.

Anne Marie continues with us in-studio to complete her dining report of her recent evening at possibly the ultimate Orange County dining experience at 21 Royal at The Disneyland Resort with 11 other foodie guests.

Anne Marie will then update us on the expansion plans of master mixologist Gaby Dion of Mixing Glass in Costa Mesa at the OC Mix and previews her next column including the expansion of the Culinary Lab to the 4th Street Market. Anne Marie is also talking something new in burgers with the launch of Ojai Burger in Orange.

Show 287, August 25, 2018: FOODBEAST’s SPAM Restaurant Month Continues…

Geoff KutnickFor the entire month of August, FOODBEAST is bringing you SPAM® Restaurant Month! This month-long event showcases the versatility of SPAM® and its place on the restaurant scene nationwide, from fast-casual to fine dining concepts. Think $100 Gold SPAM® Musubis in San Francisco to SPAM® Tamales in Orlando.

Locally in Santa Ana (4th Street Market) look for Dos Chinos’ Al Pastor SPAM Papas Fritas. It’s SPAM® marinated in Al Pastor sauce topped with onions, cilantro, sour cream and pineapple served on top of fries. Also Pineapple Teriyaki Crispy SPAM® Pizza (NY-style with thin crust) from Jinny’s Pizzeria (Also at 4th Street Market.)

FOODBEAST’s Geoff Kutnick continues….

Show 229, June 24, 2017: Jeff & Christa Duggan, Portola Coffee Roasters Continues…

What began as the selfish pursuit for delicious coffee turned into a decade-long fanatic passion for home-roasting coffee for Jeff Duggan, who first opened Portola Handcrafted Coffee Roasters in Irvine in 2009. Using a very small batch roaster, Jeff worked feverishly to keep the pantries and hoppers full in many homes and food establishments throughout Orange County, but roasting meticulously sourced coffee beans and serving them ultra-fresh was not enough. He found that far too many great beans were destroyed at the hands of poor equipment, flawed technique, and coffee service dispensers.

With a focus on quality ingredients, brewing science and freshness – all still relatively uncommon in the industry – Jeff and his wife, Christa, created Portola Coffee Roasters in 2011. The goal was to create a quality-centric coffeehouse that re-focused on the most important ingredient – coffee.

Within a year of bringing a never-before-seen concept and style of coffee to Orange County, Portola Coffee Roasters began creating a distinct brand that revolves around producing an artisanal culinary product, Craft Coffee.

Jeff and Christa Duggan now own and operate six locations within Orange County. Their focus remains on empowering the community with quality, traceable, fresh-roasted and fresh-brewed coffee, presented in an artful context – one cup at a time.

Portola Coffee Roasters locations:

Show 183, August 6, 2016: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosExecutive Chef Andrew Gruel of the rapidly growing Slapfish empire with restaurants in Huntington Beach, Brea, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, LAX, Irvine at UCI and, most recently, The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the Rams and USC Football, is back as today’s special Guest Host. In May in Chicago during the National Restaurant Association’s annual conclave he received Nation’s Restaurant News’ Trendsetter MenuMaster Award for Slapfish.

Now a provocatively tempting preview of Saturday’s abundant 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 OC Fair in Costa Mesa continues through August 14th. What’s new in Fair Food? We’ll chat with the well-known “Chicken Charlie” Boghosian, a pioneer in fair food favorites. You just might call him the “King” of fried fair food and other treats!

Huntington Beach restaurateur Alicia Whitney is seemingly taking over the City one block at a time. Her newest full-service restaurant is SeaSalt Woodfire Grill featuring Santa Maria-style barbecue. She is also now on the sand at Bolsa Chica State Beach with two open beach food stands and a third set to open soon. We’ll detour Alica for a quick respite and get all the tasty details.

Brouwerij West is a unique Belgian-inspired craft brewery and venue located in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles. The company was founded in 2010 by talented brewer Brian Mercer and is now led by Mercer and his partner Dave Holop. Brouwerij West’s new home opened in February 2016 in a former Port Warehouse originally built by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Proprietor Brian Mercer taps the keg on Brouwerij West for us.

One of the pioneering food trucks in Orange County is the innovative Dos Chinos taco truck (Chef Hop Phan) which is a tasty fusion of Latin-Vietnamese fare. It’s also now a permanent food stall at the 4th Street Market in Santa Ana. Hop Phan’s newest concept is Sit Low Pho (Vietnamese) at the 4th Street Market. We’ll meet him.

Introducing non-native fish to United States waters can disturb the existing delicate ecological balance. Such is the case of Asian carp in the Great Lakes. To the rescue may be the prehistoric-looking, and fast growing, alligator gar. It was previously native to these same waters. Chef Andrew Gruel will explain this fish tale.

The three waves of voting for The Golden Foodie Awards, the People’s Choice Food Awards in Orange County, is on now through August 21st. Voting for the 1st categories concludes on August 7th. Hosting the Awards is Food Network’s Simon Majumdar(“Cutthroat Kitchen.”) He’s our guest.

Gold Medals won by wines at our area County Fairs used to have a tremendous impact on wine sales. Now, this is much less the case. Our resident wine authority, Kyle Meyer of Wine Exchange, has his informed perspective.

All of this and lots more absolutely incredible deliciousness on Saturday’s show!

Show 183, August 6, 2016: Chef Hop Phan, Dos Chinos & Sit Low Pho, 4th Street Market Santa Ana

Hop PhanOne of the pioneering food trucks in Orange County is the innovative Dos Chinos taco truck (Chef Hop Phan) which is a tasty fusion of Latin-Vietnamese fare. It’s also a permanent food stall at the 4th Street Market in Santa Ana.

Hop Phan’s newest concept is Sit Low Pho (Vietnamese) at the 4th Street Market. He’s planning something fresh for the upcoming Trade market hall in Irvine arriving before year’s end. It will have a captivating Hawaiian flair with a few twists.

Chef Hop is already a veteran of Food TV. Most recently he competed on FYI’s Man versus Child: Chef Showdown. You’ve also seen him on NBC’s “Food Fighters,” Cooking Channel’s “Eat Street”, Food Network‘s “Cutthroat Kitchen” and “Chopped.”

We’ll meet him.

“Southern California raised us on Asian and Latin food. It’s what were made of – every sinew is built on years of carne asada and Vietnamese pho…”

August 6: Chicken Charlie Boghosian, SeaSalt Woodfire Grill, Brouwerij West, Dos Chinos, Simon Majumdar, Wine Exchange

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel
Segment Two: Celebrity Fair Food Concessionaire, “Chicken” Charlie Boghosian
Segment Three: Restaurateur Alicia Whitney’s Sea Salt Wood Fired Grill, Huntington Beach
Segment Four: Brian Mercer, Founder, Brouwerij West, San Pedro
Segment Five: Chef Hop Phan, Dos Chinos & Sit Low Pho, 4th Street Market Santa Ana
Segment Six: Chef Andrew Gruel, The Alligator Gar Makes a Comeback
Segment Seven: Simon Majumdar, Voting for the Golden Foodie Awards
Segment Eight: Kyle Meyer, The Wine Exchange, Wine Competitions at County Fairs

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosExecutive Chef Andrew Gruel of the rapidly growing Slapfish empire with restaurants in Huntington Beach, Brea, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, LAX, Irvine at UCI and, most recently, The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the Rams and USC Football, is back as today’s special Guest Host. In May in Chicago during the National Restaurant Association’s annual conclave he received Nation’s Restaurant News’ Trendsetter MenuMaster Award for Slapfish.

Now a provocatively tempting preview of Saturday’s abundant 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 OC Fair in Costa Mesa continues through August 14th. What’s new in Fair Food? We’ll chat with the well-known “Chicken Charlie” Boghosian, a pioneer in fair food favorites. You just might call him the “King” of fried fair food!

Huntington Beach restaurateur Alicia Whitney is seemingly taking over the City one block at a time. Her newest full-service restaurant is SeaSalt Woodfire Grill featuring Santa Maria-style barbecue. She is also now on the sand at Bolsa Chica State Beach with two open beach food stands and a third set to open soon. We’ll detour Alica for a quick respite and get all the tasty details.

Brouwerij West is a unique Belgian-inspired craft brewery and venue located in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles. The company was founded in 2010 by talented brewer Brian Mercer and is now led by Mercer and his partner Dave Holop. Brouwerij West’s new home opened in February 2016 in a former Port Warehouse originally built by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Proprietor Brian Mercer taps the keg on Brouwerij West for us.

One of the pioneering food trucks in Orange County is the innovative Dos Chinos taco truck (Chef Hop Phan) which is a tasty fusion of Latin-Vietnamese fare. It’s also a permanent food stall at the 4th Street Market in Santa Ana. Hop Phan’s newest concept is Sit Low Pho (Vietnamese) at the 4th Street Market. We’ll meet him.

Introducing non-native fish to United States waters can disturb the existing delicate ecological balance. Such is the case of Asian carp in the Great Lakes. To the rescue may be the prehistoric-looking, and fast growing, alligator gar. It was previously native to these same waters. Chef Andrew Gruel will explain all.

The three waves of voting for The Golden Foodie Awards, the People’s Choice Food Awards in Orange County, is on now through August 21st. Voting for the 1st categories concludes on August 7th. Hosting the Awards is Food Network’s Simon Majumdar
(“Cutthroat Kitchen.”) He’s our guest.

Gold Medals won by wines at our area County Fairs used to have a tremendous impact on wine sales. Now, this is much less the case. Our resident wine authority, Kyle Meyer of Wine Exchange, has his informed perspective.

All of this and lots more absolutely incredible deliciousness on Saturday’s show!

Chicken Charlie BoghosianThe OC Fair in Costa Mesa continues through August 14th. What’s new in Fair Food? We’ll chat with the “Chicken Charlie” Boghosian, a pioneer in fair food favorites. You just might call him the “King” of fried fair food! He invented the deep-fried Twinkie.

In the just concluded Fair Food Competition, Charlie was awarded Gold medals for his bacon-wrapped fried chicken leg (Best Fried Food) and for his Maui Bowl (Ethnic Category.)

New for Chicken Charlie this year is the clever Chicken In a Waffle On a Stick, and Escargot and Caviar Doritos.

Away from the Fair circuit “Chicken Charlie” Boghosian has a year-round restaurant in San Diego. It’s Chicken Charlie’s FryBQ.

Alicia WhitneyHuntington Beach restaurateur Alicia Whitney is seemingly taking over the City one block at a time. Her newest full-service restaurant is SeaSalt Woodfire Grill featuring Santa Maria-style barbecue. Her pitmasters are actually from one of the well-known Santa Maria barbecue spots in the hamlet of Santa Maria! Santa Maria wines are highlighted on the list.

She is also now on the sand at Bolsa Chica State Beach with two renovated, open beach food stands and a third set to open in the near future. We’ll detour Alica for a quick respite and get all the tasty details.

Right now Alicia is bookending Bolsa Chica State Beach with the already operating SeaLegs at the Beach and Pacific Kitchen. Opening soon is SeaSalt Burger.

Brian MercerBrouwerij West is a unique Belgian-inspired craft brewery and venue located in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles. The company was founded in 2010 by talented brewer Brian Mercer and is now led by Mercer and his partner Dave Holop. Brouwerij West’s new home opened in February 2016 in a former Port Warehouse originally built by the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Brouwerij West’s operation encompasses 26,000 sq. ft. of the Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles facility, including 8,000 sq. ft. devoted to visitor use for its Tasting Room and events, as well as a 17,000 sq. ft. outdoor courtyard / beer garden.

Brouwerij West brews its beers using traditional ingredients and methods mixed with creative inspiration to produce its own take on classic Belgian-style ales. Brouwerij West’s new facility is covered with solar panels and generates more electricity than it uses, and its mash filter-based brewery uses 30% less water than traditional breweries.

Proprietor Brian Mercer taps the keg on Brouwerij West for us.

Hop PhanOne of the pioneering food trucks in Orange County is the innovative Dos Chinos taco truck (Chef Hop Phan) which is a tasty fusion of Latin-Vietnamese fare. It’s also a permanent food stall at the 4th Street Market in Santa Ana.

Hop Phan’s newest concept is Sit Low Pho (Vietnamese) at the 4th Street Market. He’s planning something fresh for the upcoming Trade market hall in Irvine arriving before year’s end.

Chef Hop is already a veteran of Food TV. Most recently he competed on FYI’s Man versus Child: Chef Showdown.

You’ve also seen him on NBC’s “Food Fighters,” Cooking Channel’s “Eat Street”, Food Network‘s “Cutthroat Kitchen” and “Chopped.”

We’ll meet him.

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA Studios“Southern California raised us on Asian and Latin food. It’s what were made of – every sinew is built on years of carne asada and Vietnamese pho…”

Introducing non-native fish to United States waters can disturb the existing delicate ecological balance. Such is the case of Asian carp moving into the Great Lakes.

To the rescue may be the prehistoric-looking, and fast growing, alligator gar. According to the AP it can grow longer than a horse and heavier than a refrigerator. It’s previously been considered a trash fish. It used to thrive in this habitat before being decimated because the thought was that it threatened sport fish.

Chef Andrew Gruel will explain all.

Simon MajumdarThe three waves of voting for The Golden Foodie Awards, the People’s Choice Food Awards in Orange County, is on now through August 21st. Voting for the 1st categories concludes on August 7th.

This first Week includes, Best American Cuisine, Best Mexican, Food, Best Vegetarian Food, Bartender of The Year, Best Pizza, Best Italian Food and Best French Cuisine.The Golden Foodie Award’s celebrates chef driven and/or independent restaurants and allows for food lovers to decide the winners. Voting takes place from August 1 – 21, with each week offering different categories. Nominees are announced at the end of each week. The Golden Foodie Awards are comprised of 24 categories.

The Golden Foodie Award’s is a democracy and recognizes the best chefs, libations and cuisine. With its focus on involving the Orange County community to vote, the GFA’s serve as a great honor allowing the people to decide who is best. Winners will be announced on September 25th in Newport Beach at the red carpet gala event at the Fairmont Newport Beach.

Hosting the Awards is Food Network’s Simon Majumdar (permanent judge on “Cutthroat Kitchen.”) He’s our guest.

Kyle Meyer of Wine ExchangeCoveted Gold Medals won by wines at our area County Fairs used to have a tremendous impact on wine sales. Now, this is much less the case. Our resident wine authority, Kyle Meyer of Wine Exchange, has his informed perspective.

“As we were drifting through a few reflective moments about where the wine world has been, and where it was going, a question arose.  What ever happened to fairs?  You know, pig contests, funnel cakes, and wine judgings. As we think back to the early days of Wine Exchange (such as it was), we remember what a big deal fair judgings and gold medals used to be in the scheme of wine marketing.  A gold medal at a wine competition like the Orange County Fair, L.A. County Fair, Sonoma Harvest Fair, and the California State Fair were kind of a big deal.  Now, not so much.  What happened?”

“Well, history happened.  Now mind you we speak from a fair bit of experience having been involved with the local fair for nearly a decade and part of a few judging panels as well.  Over the years we have been on both sides of the do-these-competitions-matter debate, and can play both sides.  But ‘back in the day’, the results of a major competition used to resonate throughout the industry.  Now the effect is pretty short term and localized.  Why?  There are lots of reasons.”

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel
Segment Two: Celebrity Fair Food Concessionaire, “Chicken” Charlie Boghosian
Segment Three: Restaurateur Alicia Whitney’s Sea Salt Wood Fired Grill, Huntington Beach
Segment Four: Brian Mercer, Founder, Brouwerij West, San Pedro
Segment Five: Chef Hop Phan, Dos Chinos & Sit Low Pho, 4th Street Market Santa Ana
Segment Six: Chef Andrew Gruel, The Alligator Gar Makes a Comeback
Segment Seven: Simon Majumdar, Voting for the Golden Foodie Awards
Segment Eight: Kyle Meyer, The Wine Exchange, Wine Competitions at County Fairs

Show 181, July 23, 2016: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosExecutive 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. Last month in Chicago he received Nation’s Restaurant News’ Trendsetter MenuMaster Award for Slapfish.

On July 20th Chef Andrew was on ABC 7’s “Eyewitness News” with their Food Coach, Lori Corbin talking about tasty seafood alternatives to some over-fished varieties. Choose the Dish, not the Fish.”

Now a provocatively tempting preview of Saturday’s abundant 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…

Richmond, British Columbia is an incorporated city of 210,000 residents just South of Vancouver. It’s known for having some of the most authentic regional Chinese cuisine outside of China. The “SoCal Restaurant Show” was recently on assignment in Richmond B.C. Joining us to further delve into the vibrant Richmond food scene is Vancouver’s acclaimed Chef Alex Chen (ex-Beverly Hills Hotel.)

The OC Fair is on now through August 14th. What’s new in Fair Food? We’ll chat with the Midway Gourmet himself, Dominic Palmieri. Think Bacon Wrapped Pork Belly Dog and Deep Fried Butter! There’s more…

Cesar’s Bistro tucked away in Long Beach is one of our discoveries from DINE LBC – Long Beach Restaurant Week. Their specialty is “The New Latin American Cuisine.” Co-owner Luz Angelica Torres Vargas has all the delicious 411. Think creative Empanadas and Arepas.

Alta Baja Market, open in the 4th Street Market in Downtown Santa Ana, is the creation of Delilah Snell and Natasha Monnereau, who have invested many years into Downtown Santa Ana and the culture of the area. Their “not-the-usual” boutique market sources one-of-a-kind items from above and below the Southwestern border, including goods, specialty foods and more from California, Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico. Delilah Snell joins us to fill our virtual shopping carts.

Specialty salts are appearing everywhere. There are a whole variety of salts to cook and prepare foods with. There are also now pricey finishing salts available. Let’s not forget salt substitutes. It’s all a bit confusing. Our resident chef, Andrew Gruel, is here to cook-up some clarity…

All of this and lots more absolutely incredible deliciousness on Saturday’s show!

Show 181, July 23, 2016: Delilah Snell, Co-Proprietress, Alta Baja Market, 4th Street Market, Downtown Santa Ana

Delilah SnellAlta Baja Market, open in the 4th Street Market in Downtown Santa Ana, is the creation of Delilah Snell and Natasha Monnereau, who have invested many years into Downtown Santa Ana and the culture of the area.

Their “not-the-usual” boutique market sources one-of-a-kind items from above and below the Southwestern border, including goods, specialty foods and more from California, Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico. Delilah Snell joins us to fill our virtual shopping carts.

The market is a love letter to the unique fare and rare finds from above and below the border including kitchen items, dry goods, gifts, books, wines and beers, chiles, moles, heirloom beans, spices, fresh produce, aguas frescas from backyard fruit, and gourmet meats and cheeses from California, Arizona, New Mexico, Tijuana, Ensenada, Valle De Guadalupe and beyond.

Every week there are new meat items available from the Electric City Butcher located next door. Their incredible meat balls are stocked in the freezer case.

Micheladas are not simply the South-of-the Border version of a Bloody Mary. Alta Baja Market has a whole menu of Micheladas to sip and discover. They also stock the Michelada kit from Guelaguetza in Los Angeles. (A 2015 James Beard Award recipient as an America’s Classic.)

 

Show 181, July 23, 2016: Delilah Snell, Co-Proprietress, Alta Baja Market, 4th Street Market, Downtown Santa Ana Continues…

Michelada Menu at Alta Baja MarketAlta Baja Market, now open in the 4th Street Market in Downtown Santa Ana, is the creation of Delilah Snell and Natasha Monnereau, who have invested many years into Downtown Santa Ana and the culture of the area.

“Latinos make up a significant percentage of the population in Southern California and Orange County. Mexican food is incredibly popular and now, more than ever, the border is an important topic of conversation,” said Delilah Snell. “We will celebrate culture and bring community together by sharing, discovering and enjoying the foods that connect us.”

The market will also host cooking classes and lectures, hands-on activities, and monthly community dinners using 4th Street Market’s incubator kitchens. Guest chefs from professional and home kitchens will host pop-ups. Co-ops and artisan makers will be highlighted regularly.

“Alta Baja Market is the perfect fit for the area. Delilah is heavily immersed, involved, and most importantly, respected, in the community. The Alta Baja Market team brings a level of expertise, connectivity and programming that will take things to the next level,” said Ryan Chase, 4th Street Market owner. “This market will be an important bridge for our Latino and non-Latino communities, which is an important bridge for Downtown Santa Ana and the community as a whole.”

 

July 23: Boulevard Kitchen, Midway Gourmet, Cesar’s Bistro, Alta Baja Market

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel
Segment Two: Chef Alex Chen, Boulevard Kitchen, Vancouver, B.C.
Segment Three: Dominic Palmieri, The Midway Gourmet, OC Fair Part One
Segment Four: Dominic Palmieri, The Midway Gourmet, OC Fair Part Two
Segment Five: Luz Angelica Torres Vargas, Cesar’s Bistro, Long Beach
Segment Six: Delilah Snell, Co-Proprietress, Alta Baja Market, 4th Street Market, Downtown Santa Ana Part One
Segment Seven: Delilah Snell, Co-Proprietress, Alta Baja Market, 4th Street Market, Downtown Santa Ana Part Two
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish Restaurant Group, Huntington Beach

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosExecutive 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. Last month in Chicago he received Nation’s Restaurant News’ Trendsetter MenuMaster Award for Slapfish.

Now a provocatively tempting preview of Saturday’s abundant 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…

Richmond, British Columbia is an incorporated city of 210,000 residents just South of Vancouver. It’s known for having some of the most authentic regional Chinese cuisine outside of China. The “SoCal Restaurant Show” was recently on assignment in Richmond B.C. Joining us to further delve into the vibrant Richmond food scene is Vancouver’s acclaimed Chef Alex Chen (ex-Beverly Hills Hotel.)

The OC Fair is on now through August 14th. What’s new in Fair Food ? We’ll chat with the Midway Gourmet himself, Dominic Palmieri. Think Bacon Wrapped Pork Belly Dog and Deep Fried Butter ! There’s more…

Cesar’s Bistro tucked away in Long Beach is one of our discoveries from DINE LBC – Long Beach Restaurant Week. Their specialty is “The New Latin American Cuisine.” Co-owner Luz Angelica Torres Vargas has all the delicious 411. Think creative Empanadas and Arepas.

Alta Baja Market, open in the 4th Street Market in Downtown Santa Ana, is the creation of Delilah Snell and Natasha Monnereau, who have invested many years into Downtown Santa Ana and the culture of the area. Their “not-the-usual” boutique market sources one-of-a-kind items from above and below the Southwestern border, including goods, specialty foods and more from California, Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico. Delilah Snell joins us to fill our virtual shopping carts.

Specialty salts are appearing everywhere. There are a whole variety of salts to cook and prepare foods with. There are also now pricey finishing salts available. Let’s not forget salt substitutes. It’s all a bit confusing. Our resident chef, Andrew Gruel, is here with some clarity…

All of this and lots more absolutely incredible deliciousness on Saturday’s show!

Alex Chen of Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster BarRichmond, British Columbia is an incorporated city of 210,000 residents just South of Vancouver. 65 per cent of the residents are Asian and half of that group is of Chinese ancestry. It’s known for having some of the most authentic regional Chinese cuisine outside of China.

It’s home to Vancouver International Airport and the iconic Richmond Olympic Oval. It’s nestled where the Pacific Ocean and the mighty Fraser River meet. Richmond is a thriving multicultural destination city offering a growing range of cultural, heritage, culinary and leisure experiences.

The “SoCal Restaurant Show” was recently on assignment in Richmond B.C. Joining us to further delve into the vibrant Richmond food scene is Vancouver’s acclaimed Chef Alex Chen (ex-Beverly Hills Hotel.) He is currently the greatly respected chef at Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar in Vancouver.

Where does Chef Chen eat on his time away from Boulevard Kitchen? He particularly enjoys the Chinese street food in Richmond. Cantonese specialties are at the top of the list but he savors food discoveries from all eight principal culinary regions of China. They are all represented in Richmond.

We talk about some of his favorites. Pass the tea, please…

Dominic Palmieri of Midway GourmetThe OC Fair is hosting “Get Your Fair Face On!” from July 25th to August 14th in celebration of its 126th anniversary with culinary creations to suit all palates. Foodies can enjoy wild and new fare mixed in with the traditional fair food.

The word is already out on the new grilled, bacon-wrapped pork belly dog on a stick from Biggy’s. We’ll meet the creator, Dominic Palmieri, The Midway Gourmet!

Biggy’s big hit from previous years, The Big Rib, is back for an encore. It’s a 2-pound beef rib on a 17-inch bone (ala “the stick”). The weight is both the meat and the bone.

Their motto: Bringing Everything Delicious! From Gourmet Fare to Wild and Wacky Treats.

The OC Fair is hosting “Get Your Fair Face On!” from July 25th to August 14th in celebration of its 126th anniversary with culinary creations to suit all palates. Foodies can enjoy wild and new fare mixed in with the traditional fair food.

 In 2015 at the OC Fair Biggy’s Meat Market (Dominic Palmieri) sold 2,500 pounds of Bacon-Wrapped Pork Belly skewers wrapped in 1.25 miles of thick-cut honey bacon plus 600 gluten-free burgers and 22,000 pounds of sausage.

Dominic is also part of RCS, the entity that operates the popular Midway (Carnival) at the OC Fair.

Ray Cammack Shows, Inc. (RCS) has been providing carnival entertainment to fairs and guests since 1963. Each year, RCS rides over 10 million people on their amusement rides. They pride themselves in attention to detail. That detail is reflected in their safety records, RCS’s guest satisfaction, and their capability to gross maximum revenues.

Cesar’s Bistro tucked away in Long Beach is one of our discoveries from the 2016 DINE LBC – Long Beach Restaurant Week. Their specialty is “The New Latin American Cuisine.”

Co-owner Luz Angelica Torres Vargas has all the delicious 411. Think creative Empanadas and Arepas.

One of their new poultry dishes is Gaucho Chicken. It’s two boneless chicken thighs marinated in house-made chimichurri sauce and garlic & onion mojo. It’s served with the house salad and rustic potatoes.

“Here at Cesar’s Bistro we select our ingredients from the best quality sources. We offer friendly and respectful attention toward our customers and partners; we provide great service in our family-friendly casual atmosphere.”

“We make good moments.” – Chef Cesar Villarreal.

Delilah SnellAlta Baja Market, open in the 4th Street Market in Downtown Santa Ana, is the creation of Delilah Snell and Natasha Monnereau, who have invested many years into Downtown Santa Ana and the culture of the area.

Their “not-the-usual” boutique market sources one-of-a-kind items from above and below the Southwestern border, including goods, specialty foods and more from California, Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico. Delilah Snell joins us to fill our virtual shopping carts.

The market is a love letter to the unique fare and rare finds from above and below the border including kitchen items, dry goods, gifts, books, wines and beers, chiles, moles, heirloom beans, spices, fresh produce, aguas frescas from backyard fruit, and gourmet meats and cheeses from California, Arizona, New Mexico, Tijuana, Ensenada, Valle De Guadalupe and beyond.

Michelada Menu at Alta Baja Market“Latinos make up a significant percentage of the population in Southern California and Orange County. Mexican food is incredibly popular and now, more than ever, the border is an important topic of conversation,” said Delilah Snell. “We will celebrate culture and bring community together by sharing, discovering and enjoying the foods that connect us.”

The market will also host cooking classes and lectures, hands-on activities, and monthly community dinners using 4th Street Market’s incubator kitchens. Guest chefs from professional and home kitchens will host pop-ups. Co-ops and artisan makers will be highlighted regularly.

“Alta Baja Market is the perfect fit for the area. Delilah is heavily immersed, involved, and most importantly, respected, in the community. The Alta Baja Market team brings a level of expertise, connectivity and programming that will take things to the next level,” said Ryan Chase, 4th Street Market owner. “This market will be an important bridge for our Latino and non-Latino communities, which is an important bridge for Downtown Santa Ana and the community as a whole.”

Andrew Gruel and his son WilliamSpecialty salts are appearing everywhere. There are a whole array of salts to cook and prepare foods with. There are also now pricey, very precious finishing salts available. Let’s not forget salt substitutes. It’s all a bit confusing. Our resident chef, Andrew Gruel, is here with some clarity…

According to the 4th Edition of Food Lover’s Companion there is table-salt, iodized salt, Kosher salt, sea salt, Celtic salt, rock salt, pickling salt, sour salt and seasoned salt. See what we mean…

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel
Segment Two: Chef Alex Chen, Boulevard Kitchen, Vancouver, B.C.
Segment Three: Dominic Palmieri, The Midway Gourmet, OC Fair Part One
Segment Four: Dominic Palmieri, The Midway Gourmet, OC Fair Part Two
Segment Five: Luz Angelica Torres Vargas, Cesar’s Bistro, Long Beach
Segment Six: Delilah Snell, Co-Proprietress, Alta Baja Market, 4th Street Market, Downtown Santa Ana Part One
Segment Seven: Delilah Snell, Co-Proprietress, Alta Baja Market, 4th Street Market, Downtown Santa Ana Part Two
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish Restaurant Group, Huntington Beach