Show 480, June 25, 2022: ButtercuP Diner + Bar, East Bay, with Debbie Shahvar and Ben Shahvar Part One

Debbie and Ben Shahvar of Buttercup Diner and Bar

“The story of the East Bay favorite, ButtercuP Diner + Bar begins in 1988, when founders David and Debbie Shahvar were just starting their family. At the time, David worked for an upscale dinner house. They had a hard time finding a restaurant that offered fresh food, yet was casual enough to bring their children. They dreamed of owning a family style restaurant where they could get fresh homemade food at an affordable price.”

“Fast forward 34 years later, and you can find David, Debbie, and their three grown children working at the five locations in the Bay Area. Locations in Oakland (2,) Walnut Creek, Vallejo and Concord. ButtercuP has truly become a family restaurant.”

They are known for their own addictive pastry creation, “The Cinnascuit.” It’s their house, made from scratch light & fluffy southern-style biscuit dipped in cinnamon sugar, baked and topped with a truly decadent cream cheese frosting. They also create a Cinnascuit French Toast variation of this. A must… Debbie is also proud (being from the South) of their Shrimp and Grits. It’s jumbo shrimp sauteed with bacon, green onions, diced tomatoes and a special blend of Cajun seasoning and served on a bed of cheesy grits

“The goal at ButtercuP Diner is to serve their guests hearty, high quality food at a reasonable price. They serve every meal of the day. Each location currently opens at 7 a.m. seven days a week, and the chefs transition seamlessly from breakfast to lunch to dinner.” The restaurants now close at 8 p.m.

“The kitchen makes pretty much everything from scratch from Debbie’s own personal recipes. Dessert is a must here.” Pies are their specialty. When in doubt The Shahvars suggest the signature upside-down apple-walnut pie, topped with a crunchy brown-sugar-and-walnut glaze.

Founder Debbie Shahvar and son, Ben, join us to share the inspiring success story of ButtercuP Diner + Bar.

Show 480, June 25, 2022: ButtercuP Diner + Bar, East Bay, with Debbie Shahvar and Ben Shahvar Part Two

Debbie and Ben Shahvar of Buttercup Diner and Bar

“The story of the East Bay favorite, ButtercuP Diner + Bar begins in 1988, when founders David and Debbie Shahvar were just starting their family. At the time, David worked for an upscale dinner house. They had a hard time finding a restaurant that offered fresh food, yet was casual enough to bring their children. They dreamed of owning a family style restaurant where they could get fresh homemade food at an affordable price.”

“Fast forward 34 years later, and you can find David, Debbie, and their three grown children working at the five locations in the Bay Area. Locations in Oakland (2,) Walnut Creek, Vallejo and Concord. ButtercuP has truly become a family restaurant.”

They are known for their own addictive pastry creation, “The Cinnascuit.” It’s their house, made from scratch light & fluffy southern-style biscuit dipped in cinnamon sugar, baked and topped with a truly decadent cream cheese frosting. They also create a Cinnascuit French Toast variation of this. A must… Debbie is also proud (being from the South) of their Shrimp and Grits. It’s jumbo shrimp sauteed with bacon, green onions, diced tomatoes and a special blend of Cajun seasoning and served on a bed of cheesy grits.

“The goal at ButtercuP Diner is to serve their guests hearty, high quality food at a reasonable price. They serve every meal of the day. Each location currently opens at 7 a.m. seven days a week, and the chefs transition seamlessly from breakfast to lunch to dinner.” The restaurants now close at 8 p.m.

“The kitchen makes pretty much everything from scratch from Debbie’s own personal recipes. Dessert is a must here.” Pies are their specialty. When in doubt The Shahvars suggest the signature upside-down apple-walnut pie, topped with a crunchy brown-sugar-and-walnut glaze.

Founder Debbie Shahvar and son, Ben, continue with us with a plate of warm Cinnascuits at the ready.

Show 460, February 5, 2022: Maggie McCreath, Author & Home Baker – 52 Weeks of Cookies – How One Mom Refused To Be Beaten By Her Son’s Deployment Part One

Cookbook Author Maggie-McCreath and her Dog Biscuit

“Single mother Maggie McCreath couldn’t decide which was worse: the fact that her only son (not yet twenty-one) was off to war in Iraq for the second time or the fact that they had only five days to prepare. Even more frightening, she knew that he would be part of the Surge and, as a paratrooper in the 82nd Division of the Army, the tip of the Spear. What she did not know—what she couldn’t even bear to consider—was how this deployment would end, both for her son and for his brothers in arms, whom she had come to know and love as her own. So she turned to the one pastime that had always brought her solace: baking.”

“Filled with delicious, original cookie recipes (all shipable), 52 Weeks of Cookies recounts a mom’s unique methods of coping during her son’s deployment. With plenty of sugar cookies but no sugarcoating, 52 Weeks of Cookies is an honest, uplifting story of family love during a crisis, with all the fear, grief, laughter, gratitude, and joy that come with it.”

“Though Maggie’s interest in the military strengthened with her son’s enlistment, her fondness for the Maggie McCreath is our guest with a batch of her ever-popular Cake Batter Cookies baking in the oven.