Show 457, January 8, 2022: Joy Wilson – “Joy the Baker,” New Orleans Part One

Joy Wilson is well known for her daily dabbles in butter and sugar as her blogging alter ego, Joy the Baker. A California girl now living in New Orleans, Joy is a 100% taste buds taught baker obsessed with butter, sugar, cream, and dark chocolate. Since 2008, Joy has shared her indulgent and comforting yet approachable recipes through her popular blog joythebaker.com, inspiring home cooks of all ages every step of the way. Joy is also a three-time cookbook author, editor-in-chief of Joy the Baker magazine, and baking instructor. Through it all, Joy proves baking is not about all the latest gadgets and high-tech gizmos; it’s about stepping into the kitchen with a monster sweet tooth and coaxing something beautiful out of the oven.”

“Six years ago, Joy moved from Los Angeles to New Orleans where she transformed her home into a kitchen studio called The Bakehouse where she tests recipes and holds weekly in-person and virtual baking workshops for students from around the country.”

Joy has won numerous awards for her online work including Savuer’s Best Baking Blog and being named one of the Top 50 Food Blogs by The London Times.

Late last year Joy launched the 2nd issue of the Joy the Baker magazine (Fall/Winter 2021) with Bauer Media Group. The current issue is available on the magazine rack at your favorite supermarket, at Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart and online.

“Joy has her own baking and breakfast mixes product line with Williams Sonoma” They are no-fuss mixes that are festive enough for special occasions and easy enough for everyday. Selections include Chocolate Cake with Neapolitan Frosting, Espresso Chocolate Cake with Peanut Buttercream Frosting and Vanilla Cake with Pecan Praline Glaze.

Joy Wilson is our guest with whisk in hand along with a cube of butter.

Show 457, January 8, 2022: Joy Wilson – “Joy the Baker,” New Orleans Part Two

Joy Wilson is well known for her daily dabbles in butter and sugar as her blogging alter ego, Joy the Baker. A California girl now living in New Orleans, Joy is a 100% taste buds taught baker obsessed with butter, sugar, cream, and dark chocolate. Since 2008, Joy has shared her indulgent and comforting yet approachable recipes through her popular blog joythebaker.com, inspiring home cooks of all ages every step of the way. Joy is also a three-time cookbook author, editor-in-chief of Joy the Baker magazine, and baking instructor. Through it all, Joy proves baking is not about all the latest gadgets and high-tech gizmos; it’s about stepping into the kitchen with a monster sweet tooth and coaxing something beautiful out of the oven.”

“Six years ago, Joy moved from Los Angeles to New Orleans where she transformed her home into a kitchen studio called The Bakehouse where she tests recipes and holds weekly in-person and virtual baking workshops for students from around the country.”

Joy has won numerous awards for her online work including Savuer’s Best Baking Blog and being named one of the Top 50 Food Blogs by The London Times.

Late last year Joy debuted the sure to impress 2nd issue of the Joy the Baker magazine (Fall/Winter 2021) with Bauer Media Group. The current issue is available on the magazine rack at your favorite supermarket, at Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart and online.

“Joy has her own baking and breakfast mixes product line with Williams Sonoma” They are no-fuss mixes that are festive enough for special occasions and easy enough for everyday. Selections include Chocolate Cake with Neapolitan Frosting, Espresso Chocolate Cake with Peanut Buttercream Frosting and Vanilla Cake with Pecan Praline Glaze.

Williams Sonoma will be launching a new store at The Grove, adjacent to the Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles in the new few months. Joy will be there for the official grand opening festivities conducting a meet and greet and a baking demo. We’ll announce the details on the show when it’s confirmed.

Joy Wilson continues with us with a bag of freshly-baked cookies in hand.

Show 395, October 17, 2020: Betty Porto, Vice President of Community Relations, Porto’s Bakery & Cafe

Betty Porto in front of the Porto's Bakery Bread RackPorto’s Bakery & Café’s famous Tres Leches Milk’N Berries™ cake is now available for cake lovers all over the US to order through Porto’s Bake at Home. A Porto’s all-time favorite, this light & delicate sponge cake is soaked with Tres Leches (signature house blend of condensed milk, evaporated milk, cream and a touch of brandy) filled & finished with whipped cream and fresh berries. Porto’s Bake at Home will next work on rolling out additional cakes in the coming months like their Parisian Chocolate Cake, Red Velvet Cake, Carrot Cake and more.

“The Milk’N Berries™ cake debuted in the bakery 10 years ago, becoming their best-selling with over a million sold. Originally inspired by the popular Latin American Tres Leches dessert, Porto’s Executive Chef and VP Tony Salazar wanted to create an updated version that would appeal to a wider audience by toning down the overtly sweet note that the classic Tres Leches recipe is known for. The bakery team came up with a unique chiffon process for the sponge to bring a light and airy texture to the cake, adding high quality Mexican vanilla bean and fresh berries to create a balanced more naturally sweet flavor.”

“For the launch of their Porto’s Bake at Home cake line, Porto’s Bakery chose their most popular yet most challenging cake to translate into the new service. The Milk’N Berries™ Bake at Home cake features a twist to the bakery’s original cake showcasing an abundance of fresh whipped cream & berries in between the layers of their signature Tres Leches Cake. The top decoration was adapted to create a more contemporary look made with Porto’s signature whipped cream recipe. To ensure the cake will arrive in perfect condition, the Milk’N’Berries™ is “wrapped” with a customized shipping collar which protects the cake while on its way to the customer. The cake is packaged with care and shipped frozen. Once defrosted the cake is ready to enjoy with family & friends.”

“Bringing cakes to the Porto’s Bake at Home lineup represents a full circle story for the Porto family and Porto’s Bakery. Rosa Porto, the founder, started her baking career in the 60s by selling cakes out of her home in Cuba to friends and family for special occasions before immigrating to Los Angeles and starting the bakeries. Now with Bake at Home, Porto’s Bakery is able to ship the cakes directly to people’s homes across the US to celebrate and carry on the inspiring tradition that Rosa Porto started.”

All Porto’s Bakery & Café locations are open to serve guests with convenient online ordering with in-car pickup at the bakery of your choice. Your order is brought to your vehicle upon arrival. All that is needed is a 2-hour advance window for pickup after ordering. It’s a comprehensive menu available including pastries, whole cakes, hot & cold beverages, savories, breakfast, salads, breads, sandwiches and platos. (No walk-in service currently available for the safety of all guests and Porto’s staff.)

Porto’s Vice President of Community Relations, Betty Porto, joins us to serve the Tres Leches Milk’N Berries™ cake. Betty represents the 2nd generation of proud Porto’s Family ownership.

Show 193, October 15, 2016: Katie Chin, Chinese food authority and best-selling author Continues…

Katie ChinCulinary celebrity Katie Chin is a prominent Chinese food expert and best-selling author. Her newest cookbook is Katie Chin’s Everyday Chinese Cookbook: 101 Delicious Recipes from My Mother’s Kitchen. The book pays homage to Katie’s late Mother, the legendary chef and restaurateur, Leeann Chin.

Katie Chin’s Everyday Chinese Cooking is a celebration of Leeann Chin’s amazing mastery of the complete array of flavors and techniques in Chinese cuisine, and her unique ability to make them accessible to Westerners. Katie provides tips and techniques which allow anyone to create a refined and tasty Chinese meal at home.

Favorite Chinese recipes include:

  • Firecracker Shrimp
  • Mu Shu Pork
  • Peking Duck Summer Rolls
  • General Tso’s Chicken
  • Tangerine Beef
  • Hoisin Lacquered Ribs
  • Tea-Smoked Sea Bass
  • Banana Wontons
  • Five Spice Chocolate Cake
  • And many more…

The “SoCal Restaurant Show” has tasted the unusual Five Spice Chocolate Cake and it’s a winner!

Katie Chin was born and raised in Minneapolis by her award-winning restaurateur mother, Leeann Chin. She is the co-author of Everyday Chinese Cooking (Clarkson Potter, 2000) and author of 300 Best Rice Cooker Recipes and Everyday Thai Cooking. She was co-host with her mother, Leeann, of the 2003 national PBS cooking series Double Happiness. Katie has served as a guest judge on Food Network‘s Iron Chef America and appeared on Cooking Channel‘s Food(ography) program in 2013.

When not testing out her new recipes on family and friends, she divides her time as a private chef, caterer and culinary consultant. Katie has been called the “Asian Rachel Ray” by many of her fans because of her sparkling personality and approachable style.

April 26: Donald Wressel, Melissa’s Great Pepper Cookbook, Eric Greenspan, Choctal Ice Cream

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Guittard Chocolate Co’s Executive Chef, Donald Wressell
Segment Three: Robert Schueller, The Prince of Produce, Melissa’s / World Variety Produce, Inc.
Segment Four: Chef Jet Tila
Segment Five: Chef Eric Greenspan (ex-Foundry on Melrose,) Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese Part One
Segment Six: Chef Eric Greenspan (ex-Foundry on Melrose,) Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese Part Two
Segment Seven: Michael Leb, Chief Executive Officer, Choctal Single-Origin Ice Creams
Segment Eight: Test Kitchen Director, Chef Tom Fraker, Melissa’s / World Variety Produce

Chef Jet and Producer Andy preview the show.

It’s the City of Beverly Hills’ 100th Birthday. It takes a mega-talented pastry chef (and his skilled team) to create and bake a massive edible cake befitting this very special occasion. 15,000 slices will be served.

Peppers are a great addition to almost any dish as they add flavor (and not just heat.) We’ll dive into the just released The Great Pepper Cookbook : The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Cooking with Peppers.

The Corporate Pastry Chef for the Patina Restaurant Group has an incredible story of personal achievement. He’s with us to talk about what it takes to get there.

Chef Eric Greenspan (ex-Foundry on Melrose) is a genuine character and an accomplished chef. He’s now also the maestro of gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches!

Crave rich & decadent ice cream? There is a new super premium brand now available locally that both the chocolate and vanilla are single origin.

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

Donald WressellTwenty five years ago Donald Wressell was then the highly regarded executive pastry chef at The Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. Chef Donald was responsible for the production of everything from the fresh, buttery croissants to eye-popping wedding cakes. He created a stunning edible birthday cake for Beverly Hills’ Diamond Jubilee celebration. It was a miniature of Beverly Hills’ iconic City Hall. The rest of the cake was 100 sheet cakes. 10,000 slices were served!

It’s now the 100th Birthday of Beverly Hills. Chef Donald is now the executive chef for the Guittard Chocolate Co. How do you possibly top yourself?

For the Century Celebration festivities in addition to the 9-foot tall, 8-foot wide replica of Beverly Hills City Hall there is a miniature replica of Rodeo Dr. with edible shopping bags containing items sold on Rodeo Drive. Talk about artistry…

The cake will weigh some 4,000 pounds and serve 15,000 celebrants. It’s a dark chocolate cake with 150 layers with dark chocolate filling and a white chocolate buttercream frosting.

Look for the cake @ 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 27th in front of the Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive in the 300 N. block.

It’s all part of Taste Beverly Hills that afternoon.

Robert Schueller of Melissa's World Variety ProduceOur friends at Melissa’s have done it again. Newly published is Melissa’s “The Great Pepper Cookbook: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Cooking with Peppers.”

Fresh and dried peppers are a key ingredient in many cuisines around the world and they have gained popularity here in the U.S. recently thanks to the culinary world’s embracement of the vast variety of peppers. Beyond jalapenos, home cooks are now looking to learn more about these flavorful fruits, not just for their heat level, but to cook beyond their comfort zone.

This highly visual and engaging book shows readers how simple it is to use 37 different varieties of peppers.

Robert Schueller, Melissa’s resident produce authority, is our guest.

Carlos EnriquezWhat does it take to become the Corporate Pastry Chef at the highly thought of Patina Restaurant Group? Chef Carlos Enriquez, who learned the basics of pastry in his parents Los Angeles bakery, joins us to explain. It takes more than hard work…

Chef Carlos was part of the opening team of the Paris Hotel on The Strip in Las Vegas. He then moved to Colorado to serve as Executive Pastry Chef for Sky Goble at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. A year later, Enriquez joined Goble at the Ahwahnee Resort in Yosemite National Park. In 2006 Chef Carlos returned to Las Vegas and worked as Assistant Pastry Chef at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, and later at Alex Restaurant at Wynn Las Vegas. He was Executive Pastry Chef at Café del Rey in Marina del Rey before joining the Patina Restaurant Group as Corporate Pastry Chef in 2012.

Eric GreenspanChef Eric Greenspan’s (ex-Foundry on Melrose) long in the works grilled cheese café is now open. It’s Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese located next door to the Melrose Umbrella Co, (the former Foundry location.)

Eric won the 2008 Grilled Cheese Invitational in Los Angeles which was the inspiration for the grilled cheese café.

Chef Eric is also the Chef/Owner of The Roof on Wilshire.

Eric talks about his extensive portfolio of Food Television appearances. He is one of the very few chefs to “reign supreme” over an Iron Chef on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America.” He bested Iron Chef Bobby Flay!

He participates in national pop-ups under the catchy El Nosh Latin / Jewish brand.

Choctal Single Origin Ice CreamIt’s ice cream weather. New to SoCal is Choctal – Single-origin Ice Creams. The premium flavors are properly rich and decadent as the name suggests. Michael Leb, Chief Executive Officer, is our guest with all the sinful details.

“Indulgent treats sustainably sourced from the world’s finest indigenous sources.”

“Choctal ice cream is decidedly different because we highlight the different flavor profiles by using:

  • Single-origin chocolate or vanilla from rainforests across the globe.
  • All natural base; no artificial additives.
  • Gluten-free, egg free recipes.
  • Less air for more density.”

Tom FrakerOur friends at Melissa’s have done it again. Newly published is Melissa’s “The Great Pepper Cookbook: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Cooking with Peppers.”

Keep in mind that cooking with peppers is about adding flavor to food. It’s way beyond just adding heat.

Chef and Melissa’s Test Kitchen Director Tom Fraker is our guest. He tested, and retested, each and every recipe in the book using equipment found in home kitchens.

There is a difference in preparing and using chiles in their fresh and dry forms. Chef Tom will be our informed guide in understanding the nuances.

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Guittard Chocolate Co’s Executive Chef, Donald Wressell
Segment Three: Robert Schueller, The Prince of Produce, Melissa’s / World Variety Produce, Inc.
Segment Four: Chef Jet Tila
Segment Five: Chef Eric Greenspan (ex-Foundry on Melrose,) Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese Part One
Segment Six: Chef Eric Greenspan (ex-Foundry on Melrose,) Greenspan’s Grilled Cheese Part Two
Segment Seven: Michael Leb, Chief Executive Officer, Choctal Single-Origin Ice Creams
Segment Eight: Test Kitchen Director, Chef Tom Fraker, Melissa’s / World Variety Produce

Show 3: October 20, 2012: Produce Guru Robert Schueller and Food Republic’s Jason Kessler

Robert Schueller of Melissa’s World Variety Produce explains what organic really means when it comes to fruits and vegetables. He also highlights what new organics are fresh in the marketplace. Jet is particularly fond of the new crop of Honeycrisp Apples.

Jason Kessler is the Los Angeles correspondent for the Food Republic Blog co-founded by Marcus Samuelsson. He’s a Chicago native. Jason is a fan of the 1st Portillo’s Hot Dog location in the West which was opened in Buena Park in early 2006. He describes it as the In-N-Out of Chicago and it’s still Family-owned with no franchising. Jason gets there as often as he can for their specialty, Italian Beef as originated in Chicago. He likes it fully loaded and the sandwich dipped in gravy. It’s a mess but an ethereal nosh. They are also known for the Portillo’s Chocolate Cake for dessert which was adapted from founder Dick Portillo’s daughter-in-laws’s home recipe !