Show 443, September 18, 2021: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris

“Deemed one of the best restaurants in Paso Robles since its launch in 2009, Thomas Hill Organics is a farm-to-table restaurant dedicated to serving creative, organic cuisine and highlighting unique wines from the Central Coast.” Serving Lunch, Dinner and Sunday Brunch. Proprietress Debbie Thomas joins us.

“Baking is an integral part of Jewish culture and traditions. Whether you’re making challah for Shabbat, macaroons for Passover or babka for family brunch, The Essential Jewish Baking Cookbook (Rockridge Press) by first time cookbook author and food blogger (OMG! Yummy) Beth Lee helps capture the essence of traditional Jewish baking in your kitchen. It’s filled with 50 classic recipes―those you might remember your bubbe (grandma) or mom whipping up―with clear instructions to help make them successfully every time.” “With appealing photographs from photographer Annie Martin and stories and recipes representing Ashkenazic, Sephardic, and Mizrahi backgrounds, Essential Jewish Baking celebrates the rich history and warmth of traditional Jewish baked goods.” Beth Lee is out guest with rolling pin in hand.

Mayfield Restaurant & Market is an ambitious, glowingly reviewed, modern California restaurant and market located in Downtown San Juan Capistrano in an extensively refurbished historic building. It’s on two levels and includes a comfortable upper level covered patio. The menu has a distinctive Mediterranean and Levant flair and there is also an extensive cocktail list along with an ample selection of craft beers and natural wines. They just celebrated their Year Anniversary. Proprietor George Barker joins us with an update.

El Granjero Cantina under the culinary direction of Chef Jenni Sklar, celebrates Mexican cuisine at the historic Original Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax. El Granjero’s bright and festive cantina including a spacious outdoor patio is a true neighborhood locale, built for local neighbors and visitors alike.” “El Granjero offers guests a wide selection of options to choose from, including rice bowls, tacos, tlayuda, tacos dorados for a diverse range of meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. Their bar program is dedicated to honoring traditional agave- based spirits of Mexico with frozen margaritas and cocktails on tap.”

“This summer, Brooklyn-born Kombrewcha Hard Kombucha and Los Angeles-based Golden Road Brewing have come together to create a one-of-kind product, Passion Fruit Hard Kombucha.” “Working with the Kombrewcha team to create this new flavor was a complete collaboration and we couldn’t be prouder of the final result,” said Victor Novak, Brewmaster, Golden Road Brewing. “The Passion Fruit Hard Kombrewcha is a harmonious balance that’s true to both Golden Road and Kombrewcha’s craft, with a hint of classic kombucha acidity on the nose and palate, complemented by the passion fruit. We’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to create something new in the kombucha space and hope folks love it as much as we do.” Golden Road’s acclaimed Brewmaster Victor Novak pops the tab on a chilled can of Passion Fruit Hard Kombucha and joins us.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where Chef Andrew responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries. Bracken’s Kitchen presented their annual benefit, The Hungry Games 4.0 on Thursday evening, September 9th to benefit the less fortunate and food insecure in Southern California. Chef Andrew was one of the very busy participating chefs. We’ll get a wrap-up report.

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

Show 443, September 18, 2021: Beth Lee of “OMG! Yummy” with The Essential Jewish Baking Cookbook

Beth Lee author of the Essential Jewish Cookbook

“Baking is an integral part of Jewish culture and traditions. Whether you’re making challah for Shabbat, macaroons for Passover or babka for family brunch, The Essential Jewish Baking Cookbook (Rockridge Press) by first time cookbook author and food blogger (OMG! Yummy) Beth Lee helps capture the essence of traditional Jewish baking in your kitchen. It’s filled with 50 classic recipes―those you might remember your bubbe (grandma) or mom whipping up―with clear instructions to help make them successfully every time.”

“With appealing photographs from photographer Annie Martin and stories and recipes representing Ashkenazic, Sephardic, and Mizrahi backgrounds, Essential Jewish Baking celebrates the rich history and warmth of traditional Jewish baked goods.”

“Beth A. Lee grew up on the East Coast before moving to Northern California, far away from the traditional Jewish food she was raised on. She attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she received a degree in business and pursued a marketing career in Silicon Valley.”

“In 2010, Beth realized she preferred pita chips over computer chips and launched her food blog, OMG! Yummy. Through her blog, she reconnected with her love of cooking and her passion for documenting her family’s multicultural food traditions.”

Beth shares her recipe from The Essential Jewish Baking Cookbook for Sweet Challah Rolls with Apple Currant Filling.

Beth Lee is our guest with rolling pin in hand.

Sweet Challah Rolls with Apple Currant Filling

Sweet Challah Rolls by Beth A Lee

Recipe excerpt from:
The Essential Jewish Baking Cookbook
by Beth Lee

Dairy-free, Nut-free, Pareve

Prep Time: 40 minutes Inactive Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 27 minutes

Challah rolls filled with apples and currants are the ideal sweet baked good for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. I originally developed this recipe for a High Holidays cooking class, but these little gems are perfect all year round. Ready faster than a traditional challah recipe, these rolls are also versatile: Leave the filling out, make one loaf instead of individual rolls, or double the recipe and freeze some for another day. Makes 8 rolls

For the dough

  • 2 ¼ teaspoons (7 grams/1 packet) active dry yeast or instant yeast
  • 3 ½ cups (438 grams) all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
  • ¼ cup (47 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (235 grams) warm water (105°F to 115°F)
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup (56 grams) vegetable oil
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

For the filling

  • 1 cup (118 grams) chopped and peeled sweet firm apple
  • 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ¼ cup (36 grams) currants or raisins
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

For egg wash

  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon water
  1. Mix: In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the yeast, flour, and sugar. Add the warm water, egg, oil, and salt.
  2. Knead: Using the stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, knead on medium-low speed for 3 to 4 minutes, making sure the dough is thoroughly combined and scraping down the sides as necessary. Once kneaded, the dough should be smooth and pulling away from the sides of the bowl. If the dough is overly sticky, add flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, as necessary.
  3. First rise: Remove the dough from the bowl, form it into a round, and place it on a sheet of parchment paper. Use your finger to poke a 1-inch hole through the center of the dough. Cover the dough loosely with a kitchen towel and let rest for 30 minutes.
  4. Make filling: While the dough is resting, in a medium bowl, combine the chopped apple, lemon juice, currants, cinnamon, and sugar. Set aside.
  5. Prep: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  6. Fill and shape: Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Flatten a piece into a roughly 6-by-4-inch rectangle and spread a heaping tablespoon of filling down the center. Close the dough up around the filling and gently roll it out with your hands to a roughly 9-inch rope. Loosely coil the rope, tuck the end under, and pinch to seal. Repeat with the remaining pieces of dough to create 8 rolls. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
  7. Second rise: Loosely cover the challah rolls with a kitchen towel, set in a warm location, and let rise for about 30 minutes, or until the dough slowly springs back when poked with your finger.
  8. Preheat: Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  9. Egg wash: Whisk together the egg and water. Use a pastry brush to coat each roll with the egg wash, getting into all the nooks and crannies.
  10. Bake: Bake the rolls for 5 minutes at 375°F, then lower the heat to 350°F and cook for about 22 minutes longer. Transfer to a wire rack and cool at least 30 minutes before serving.

September 17: Thomas Hill Organics, Beth Lee, Mayfield Restaurant & Market, El Granjero Cantina, Golden Road Brewing

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Restaurateur Debbie Thomas, Thomas Hill Organics, Paso Robles
Segment Three: Beth Lee of “OMG! Yummy” with The Essential Jewish Baking Cookbook
Segment Four: George Barker, Proprietor, Mayfield Restaurant & Market, San Juan Capistrano
Segment Five: Chef Jenni Sklar, El Granjero Cantina, Original Farmers Market Part One
Segment Six: Chef Jenni Sklar, El Granjero Cantina, Original Farmers Market Part Two
Segment Seven: Brewmaster Victor Novak, Golden Road Brewing – collaboration with Kombrewcha Hard Kombucha
Segment Eight: Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group with “Ask the Chef”

We’re previewing the show with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris.

“Deemed one of the best restaurants in Paso Robles since its launch in 2009, Thomas Hill Organics is a farm-to-table restaurant dedicated to serving creative, organic cuisine and highlighting unique wines from the Central Coast.” Serving Lunch, Dinner and Sunday Brunch. Proprietress Debbie Thomas joins us.

“Baking is an integral part of Jewish culture and traditions. Whether you’re making challah for Shabbat, macaroons for Passover or babka for family brunch, The Essential Jewish Baking Cookbook (Rockridge Press) by first time cookbook author and food blogger (OMG! Yummy) Beth Lee helps capture the essence of traditional Jewish baking in your kitchen. It’s filled with 50 classic recipes―those you might remember your bubbe (grandma) or mom whipping up―with clear instructions to help make them successfully every time.” “With appealing photographs from photographer Annie Martin and stories and recipes representing Ashkenazic, Sephardic, and Mizrahi backgrounds, Essential Jewish Baking celebrates the rich history and warmth of traditional Jewish baked goods.” Beth Lee is out guest with rolling pin in hand.

Mayfield Restaurant & Market is an ambitious, glowingly reviewed, modern California restaurant and market located in Downtown San Juan Capistrano in an extensively refurbished historic building. It’s on two levels and includes a comfortable covered patio. The menu has a distinctive Mediterranean and Levant flair and there is also an extensive cocktail list along with an ample selection of craft beers and natural wines. They just celebrated their Year Anniversary. Proprietor George Barker joins us with an update.

“El Granjero Cantina under the culinary direction of Chef Jenni Sklar, celebrates Mexican cuisine at the historic Original Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax. El Granjero’s bright and festive cantina including a spacious outdoor patio is a true neighborhood locale, built for local neighbors and visitors alike.” “El Granjero offers guests a wide selection of options to choose from, including rice bowls, tacos, tlayuda, tacos dorados for a wide range of meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. Their bar program is dedicated to honoring traditional agave- based spirits of Mexico with frozen margaritas and cocktails on tap.”

“This summer, Brooklyn-born Kombrewcha Hard Kombucha and Los Angeles-based Golden Road Brewing have come together to create a one-of-kind product, Passion Fruit Hard Kombucha.” “Working with the Kombrewcha team to create this new flavor was a complete collaboration and we couldn’t be prouder of the final result,” said Victor Novak, Brewmaster, Golden Road Brewing. “The Passion Fruit Hard Kombrewcha is a harmonious balance that’s true to both Golden Road and Kombrewcha’s craft, with a hint of classic kombucha acidity on the nose and palate, complemented by the passion fruit. We’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to create something new in the kombucha space and hope folks love it as much as we do.” Golden Road’s acclaimed Brewmaster Victor Novak pops the tab on a chilled can of Passion Fruit Hard Kombucha and joins us.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where Chef Andrew responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries. Chef Andrew is the Host Chef for the Outstanding in the Field Dinner on the Huntington Beach Pier on October 12th. We’ll get a preview of this unusual dining experience. Bracken’s Kitchen presented their annual benefit, The Hungry Games 4.0 on Thursday evening, September 9th to benefit the less fortunate and food insecure in Southern California. Chef Andrew was one of the very busy participating chefs. We’ll get a wrap-up report.

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

Debbie Thomas of Thomas Hill Organics

“Deemed one of the best restaurants in Paso Robles since its launch in 2009, Thomas Hill Organics is a farm-to-table restaurant dedicated to serving creative, organic cuisine and highlighting unique wines from the Central Coast.” Serving Lunch, Dinner and Sunday Brunch.

“With a dynamic menu reflecting Paso Robles’ local abundance, Thomas Hill Organics sources a vivid array of fresh ingredients to concoct bold, imaginative dishes. What began as a humble organic CSA showcasing the Central Coast’s bounty quickly evolved into a popular destination for creatively prepared, honest food.”

“Thomas Hill Organics believes in the significance of organic, regionally-produced food, working with California purveyors for their poultry, fish, beef, lamb, and exotic meats. Nearby farmers provide their fruits and vegetables, which are always straight-from-the-earth fresh, and the breads are crafted by local bakers who are celebrated artisans of their trade.”

Proprietress and Founder Debbie Thomas joins us.

Beth Lee author of the Essential Jewish Cookbook

“Baking is an integral part of Jewish culture and traditions. Whether you’re making challah for Shabbat, macaroons for Passover or babka for family brunch, The Essential Jewish Baking Cookbook (Rockridge Press) by first time cookbook author and food blogger (OMG! Yummy) Beth Lee helps capture the essence of traditional Jewish baking in your kitchen. It’s filled with 50 classic recipes―those you might remember your bubbe (grandma) or mom whipping up―with clear instructions to help make them successfully every time.”

“With appealing photographs from photographer Annie Martin and stories and recipes representing Ashkenazic, Sephardic, and Mizrahi backgrounds, Essential Jewish Baking celebrates the rich history and warmth of traditional Jewish baked goods.”

“Beth A. Lee grew up on the East Coast before moving to Northern California, far away from the traditional Jewish food she was raised on. She attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she received a degree in business and pursued a marketing career in Silicon Valley.”

“In 2010, Beth realized she preferred pita chips over computer chips and launched her food blog, OMG! Yummy. Through her blog, she reconnected with her love of cooking and her passion for documenting her family’s multicultural food traditions.”

Beth Lee is our guest with rolling pin in hand.

George Barker of Mayfield Restaurant and Market

Mayfield Restaurant & Market is an ambitious, glowingly reviewed modern California restaurant and market located in Downtown San Juan Capistrano in an extensively refurbished historic building. It’s on two levels and includes a comfortable covered patio. The menu has a distinctive Mediterranean and Levant flair and there is also an extensive cocktail list along with an ample selection of craft beers and natural wines. They just celebrated their Year Anniversary as a welcome addition to the burgeoning San Juan Capistrano dining scene.

The Mayfield Market is stocked with premium food products made in-house and items Mayfield uses and loves. They carry anything to do with eating and drinking well, including pantry items, natural wines, homeware, cookbooks and more.

Proprietor George Barker joins us with an update.

Jenni Sklar of El Granjero Cantina

El Granjero Cantina under the culinary direction of Chef Jenni Sklar, (ex-Lucques and Son of a Gun) celebrates Mexican cuisine at the historic Original Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax. El Granjero’s bright and festive cantina including a spacious outdoor patio is a true neighborhood locale, built for local neighbors and visitors alike.”

“El Granjero offers guests a wide selection of options to choose from, including rice bowls, tacos, tlayuda, tacos dorados for a wide range of meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. Their bar program is dedicated to honoring traditional agave based spirits of Mexico with frozen margaritas and cocktails on tap.”

El Granjero serves Lunch (weekdays) and Dinner nightly and a newly introduced Weekend Brunch.

Chef Jenni Sklar is our guest with fresh guacamole in hand.

Victor Novak of Golden Road Brewing

“This summer, Brooklyn-born Kombrewcha Hard Kombucha and Los Angeles-based Golden Road Brewing came together to create a one-of-kind product, Passion Fruit Hard Kombucha.”

“Now on shelves throughout California for a limited-run, Passion Fruit Hard Kombucha reflects the unique personalities of both collaborators – nailing Kombrewcha’s penchant for refreshing fruit flavors and Golden Road’s fan-favorite fruit-forward beers and seltzers. This tangy, refreshing, gluten-free, 100% organic beverage is brewed to 6% ABV through natural fermentation.”

“Passion Fruit Hard Kombucha will not only appeal to hard kombucha lovers, but all consumers, including those who may love hard seltzers, wine, craft beers, or are seeking alternative and refreshing beverage options to cap off the remaining weeks of the summer season.”

“Working with the Kombrewcha team to create this new flavor was a complete collaboration and we couldn’t be prouder of the final result,” said Victor Novak, Brewmaster, Golden Road Brewing. “The Passion Fruit Hard Kombrewcha is a harmonious balance that’s true to both Golden Road and Kombrewcha’s craft, with a hint of classic kombucha acidity on the nose and palate, complemented by the passion fruit. We’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to create something new in the kombucha space and hope folks love it as much as we do.”

“Passion Fruit Hard Kombucha is now available in 12 oz. can six-packs at select retailers throughout California while supplies last.”

Golden Road’s acclaimed Brewmaster Victor Novak pops the tab on a can of a properly chilled Passion Fruit Hard Kombucha and joins us.

Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where Chef Andrew responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries.

Chef Andrew is the Host Chef for the high-profile Outstanding in the Field Dinner on the Huntington Beach Pier on October 12th. We’ll get a preview of this unusual dining experience.

Bracken’s Kitchen presented their annual benefit, The Hungry Games 4.0 on Thursday evening, September 9th to benefit the less fortunate and food insecure in Southern California. Chef Andrew was one of the participating chefs. We’ll get the wrap-up report.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Restaurateur Debbie Thomas, Thomas Hill Organics, Paso Robles
Segment Three: Beth Lee of “OMG! Yummy” with The Essential Jewish Baking Cookbook
Segment Four: George Barker, Proprietor, Mayfield Restaurant & Market, San Juan Capistrano
Segment Five: Chef Jenni Sklar, El Granjero Cantina, Original Farmers Market Part One
Segment Six: Chef Jenni Sklar, El Granjero Cantina, Original Farmers Market Part Two
Segment Seven: Brewmaster Victor Novak, Golden Road Brewing – collaboration with Kombrewcha Hard Kombucha
Segment Eight: Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group with “Ask the Chef”