Show 339, August 31, 2019: Cookie Good’s Co-Founder & Baker, Ross Canter Part One

Ross Canter of Cookie Good“You know that feeling when you take your first bite of a cookie? When you crunch through that crisp exterior and get to the chewy often chocolaty center; when the buttery, slightly salty sweetness hits your tongue? It’s just an instant but suddenly your brain is flooded, senses over-loaded and without even being aware, you find yourself smiling. That’s what we call feeling “Cookie Good”.”

“We take that feeling one step further, working hard to make cookies that not only taste amazing but also feed your soul; that make you remember something wonderful – the gooey, toasted, marshmallowy treat you ate around a campfire, that favorite childhood cereal you only got when your dad went to the market, your grandmother’s once-a-year-apple pie…Cookie Good: it’s how you wanna feel.”

“After a few years of baking thousands of cookies at home with only a 6-quart mixer and a single oven, we decided to move to a commercial kitchen. In just 5 hours a day, 4 days a week, we baked and baked and baked. As the business grew, we knew it was finally time to take the biggest leap of all – building our own bakery. We found the perfect spot in Santa Monica – a small, 1930s brick building right across the street from a park with palm trees, lawn bowling, and a duck pond.”

Cookie Good’s (Santa Monica) Co-Founder & Baker Ross Canter joins us with all the sweet details.

Show 339, August 31, 2019: Cookie Good’s Co-Founder & Baker, Ross Canter Part Two

Ross Canter of Cookie Good“For years I was a “writer who bakes”. I’d spend my days in coffee shops writing screenplays, tv shows. Each day was an emotional rollercoaster as I struggled to find self-worth while being mocked by blank pages. But, relief came on weekends and holidays when I’d get into the kitchen and make cookies. I love that you can take lots of different, totally unrelated ingredients, mix them together, nurture them just a little bit and come out with something wonderful, edible and delicious. I realized that I rarely got that feeling of complete satisfaction while sitting at my computer and I knew that I wanted to feel “cookie good” more often.”

As luck would have it, Hollywood writers went on strike in 2007 and now, with no source of income, Melanie suggested it was time for a career change. We perfected my cookie & brownie recipes, sent an email out to family and friends and three minutes later we had our first order (in truth, it was for my best friend but I still think it counts). We’ve been baking, shipping, developing new flavors and feeling “cookie good” ever since.” – Ross Canter, Baker & Co-Founder

“Unlike Ross, the baker who writes, I don’t bake or write. But luckily after 25 years of marriage, 23 years of parenting, birthday parties & holidays galore, I can wrap a mean gift so we make a great team in the bakery.”

“On a deeper note, Cookie Good isn’t just about delicious cookies and pretty packaging. It’s about our family’s struggle to find our passion in life and our ability to survive; it’s about our desire to give back and make an impact on this crazy world – and having lived with breast cancer for the past 21 years, surviving is something our family knows a lot about. So in 2007, when presented with a sink or swim situation, we decided to dive in and combine Ross’ passion for baking and my quest to give back in the hope that Cookie Good might somehow make the world a better place – even if it’s just one cookie at a time. Besides supporting many schools and charities year-round, every October we donate proceeds from our cookies to the Breast Cancer Care & Research Fund, an organization that is very close to our hearts.” – Melanie Canter, Co-Founder

New from Cookie Good is Cookie Corn.” “This just might be the best thing you’ve never had before.”

Cookie Good’s Ross Canter continues…

Show 260, February 10, 2018: Restaurateur & Baker Tarit Tanjasiri, Crema Café, Seal Beach

Tarit Tanjasiri of Crema CafeBaker and restaurateur Tarit Tanjasari closed his popular Crema Café in Seal Beach late last year for a total remodel. It originally launched on Main St. in 2006. It feels more open now as the wall between the Bakery & Café was removed.

“The Crema Cafe is a European-inspired restaurant and bakery in beautiful downtown Seal Beach, California. We serve breakfast and lunch 7 days a week. Our menu offers classic favorites and delicious new alternatives. From our famous sweet and savory crepes to our tempting pastries, hearty sandwiches and fresh salads, we offer a variety of great breakfast and lunch choices.”

“Our artisan bakery offers a full range of fresh-baked goods. We use the finest ingredients like real butter and wholesome grains. Our assortment of handcrafted breads includes our signature 7-grain Crema Multigrain bread, sourdough and raisin pecan. See our schedule for a complete list of available daily breads. You can also indulge your sweet tooth with our enticing array of cookies, muffins, scones, sweet croissants and macarons, baked to perfection.”

“We invite you to dine al fresco on our airy patio or in our cozy interior. Our patio is pet-friendly, so feel free to bring man’s best friend along, too (please make sure Fido is on a leash).”

We’re on the rise with Tarit.

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

Rachel Klemek of Blackmarket Bakery and the CampThe OC Fair Celebrates their 125th Anniversary this Summer from July 17th to August 16th. The theme is “OC Fair – One Big Party.

To get things going the Blackmarket Bakery in Costa Mesa (celebrating their 2nd Anniversary) is hosting an OC Fair Pop-Up Party at their location at The Camp in Costa Mesa on Sunday, January 25th 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.

Show 83, August 9, 2014: Guest Host Chef Jimmy Shaw and Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris preview the show

Guest Host Chef Jimmy Shaw of Loteria! Grill restaurants and Producer Andy preview the show.

Chef Jimmy Shaw of Loteria! Grill is with us. He brought the rich Mexican Street Food of his native Mexico City to Los Angeles. Keep in mind that Los Angeles is the 2nd largest Mexican City in the World. It all started in 2002 with a modest stand in the Original Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax in Los Angeles.

Chef Jimmy Shaw educates us on the ample Mexican sandwich, The Torta. He also talks about stocking Mexican ingredients in your home pantry.

Josh Lurie of Food GPS is at it again with delectable food and beverage events. The 3rd Annual Food GPS Fried Chicken Festival is set for Sunday afternoon, August 17th in Chinatown’s historic Central Plaza.

The Museum of the American Cocktail (based in New Orleans at the Southern Food & Beverage Museum) is presenting an evening of cocktails, food, and entertainment featuring (the always entertaining) culinary historian and author Richard Foss on August 18th at 6:30 p.m. at Roxanne’s Lounge in Long Beach. The presentation is : “Dry With a Twist: A Liquid Lesson in How Prohibition Changed America.”

One of the most important wine regions in Mexico is the Valle de Guadalupe located about an hour and one-half South of Tijuana. The best of these wines are slowly finding their way North to Southern California. Manuel Alvarez of AlXimia Vino Elemental winery joins us from the Valle de Guadalupe with his Family’s story.

Tarit Tanjasiri is the baker/proprietor of the revered CremaCafe in Seal Beach. It started as a small breakfast and lunch spot. Tarit couldn’t source a bread for his sandwiches that satisfied him so he added an adjacent production bakery. We’ll meet him.

“A new kind of cocktail book, The 12 Bottle Bar, distills the craft cocktail movement for the home bar. Irresistibly uncomplicated, just 12 bottles create over 200 distinct and seasonal cocktails, including beer and wine cocktails.” The husband-and-wife authors are with us.

Orange County’s answer to the prestigious, red carpet awards shows is The Golden Foodies. Voting has started for this year in the first group of categories and the public is invited to vote for their favorite restaurants and related categories. Good luck to all…

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

Show 83, August 9, 2014: Tarit Tanjasiri of CremaCafe & Bakery

Tarit TanjasiriTarit Tanjasiri is the consumed baker/proprietor of the revered CremaCafe & Artisan Bakery in Seal Beach. It started eight years ago as a small breakfast and lunch spot. Tarit couldn’t source a bread for his sandwiches that satisfied him so two years ago he added an adjacent production bakery. It’s the café on one side and the bakery on the other. We’ll meet him.

Tarit’s Kouign Amann was one of the OC Weekly’s “100 Favorite Dishes of 2014.”

According to Anne Marie Panoringan of the OC Weekly : “Per Tarit, a Kouign Amann is a pastry from the Brittany region of France. It’s often considered more of a cake than a pastry, although Crema utilizes croissant dough for their version. Layers of butter, dough, sugar and a bit of sea salt are formed. Shaped to resemble a blooming rose, it is then placed in the deck oven to bake. Sweetness and density are much higher in France, and they come in many more sizes, shapes and filling flavors.”