Show 358, February 2, 2020: Melting Pot Food Tours Part One

Scalia Sisters of Melting Pot Food ToursOne of the best ways to come to know a city is through its food. When we go to a new city we’ve found our best insiders introduction is by partaking of a highly regarded, local food walking tour. One of the premier food walking tour operators locally is the long-established Melting Pot Food Tours. The principals are Lisa and Diane Scalia (sisters.) The Scalias hospitably lead the background tour for us.

“Melting Pot Food Tours offers delicious food tasting tours throughout the LA area that will indulge your taste buds and delight your senses! Whether you’re looking to explore the Original Farmers Market and the eclectic Third Street area of mid-city Los Angeles, discover the vibrant past of Old Pasadena, or enjoy a fabulous guided tour through the flavors of East Los Angeles, Melting Pot Food Tours will be your guide.”

Show 358, February 2, 2020: Melting Pot Food Tours Part Two

Scalia Sisters of Melting Pot Food ToursOne of the best ways to come to know a city is through its food. When we go to a new city we’ve found our best insiders introduction is by partaking of a highly regarded, local food walking tour. One of the premier food walking tour operators locally is the long-established Melting Pot Food Tours. The principals are Lisa and Diane Scalia (sisters.) The Scalias hospitably continue the background tour for us.

One of Melting Pot’s proprietary tours is the La Espanola Meats VIP Tour and Paella Lunch. This tour, dining and shopping experience is produced by Melting Pot Food Tours in cooperation with the Dona Juana family of La Espanola Meats in Harbor City, CA. “Our two-generation family of hosts are the premier purveyors of fine, authentic Spanish charcuterie, cheeses, wines, and a myriad of imported specialties.”

“The experience begins with an exclusive tour of La Espanola’s manufacturing facilities, where premium sausages and cured meats are crafted with recipes procured from Spain’s finest master artisans. Following the tour, a specially-prepared patio lunch of tapas and paella is served with wine, plus homemade churros with dark chocolate dipping sauce.”

Melting Pot Food Tours Presents “Chef Jet Tila’s Ultimate Insiders Flavors of Thai Town Tour”

City of Los Angeles Thai Town SignMelting Pot Food Tours is proud to announce the Chef Jet Tila’s Ultimate Insiders Flavors of Thai Town Tour, hosted personally by celebrity Chef Jet Tila. This is the fourth culinary tour offered by the original Los Angeles food tours company, and the first hosted by a popular food television and national media personality. For an all-inclusive price of $99, the once-monthly Sunday food tour features authentic tastings at Chef Jet Tila’s favorite restaurants, a visit to a Thai grocery store, recipes, and unique storytelling by Thai Town’s honorary Mayor himself.

“Chef Jet Tila is exactly the type of personality that we love partnering with at Melting Pot Food Tours,” exclaims Diane Scalia, founding partner. “His passion for Los Angeles – our mutual hometown, his amazing food savvy, and his kind, genuine manner are all things that make us extremely proud to be associated with him.”

The new Thai Town tasting tour, now on the regularly scheduled Melting Pot Food Tours’ menu, was once available only privately for prominent journalists and distinguished visiting chefs, including Travel Channel’s Anthony Bourdain. His Emmy Award-winning “No Reservations” LA show featuring Chef Jet’s exclusive insider’s view of Thai Town, whet viewers’ appetites for the epicurean treasures found in this East Hollywood neighborhood, a true hidden LA gem.

“We’re very excited about this tour,” adds Lisa Scalia. “To have a tour of this caliber in our arsenal of options is tremendous! I love that we’ve partnered with Chef Jet to make such an opportunity available in the Los Angeles market.”

Chef Jet Tila, whose father was one of the principals in founding LA’s Thai Town, grew up working in his family’s kitchens and markets. Los Angeles has the largest Thai population outside of Thailand. This unique pocket is the only officially recognized Thai Town in all of America, and is even considered Thailand’s 77th province.

Papaya SaladThis “Ultimate Insider’s Flavors of Thai Town Tour” is purposely limited to 15 persons to ensure a cozier, more personal experience. Guests enjoy authentic Thai traditions at the table alongside Chef Jet as he serves up his favorite signature dishes, including Papaya Salad, Jade Noodles, and delicate finger desserts like Banana Coconut Fritter.

In addition to tastings and Chef Jet’s unique gourmet storytelling, the tour includes a visit to a Thai grocery store, and recipes from the tasting stops.

Chef Jet notes, “I’m so very excited to be partnering with Melting Pot Food Tours! No other team can show the flavors and sights of Thai Town like we can. With Diane & Lisa’s tour expertise and my intimate knowledge of the community, there will be no better tour of this unique locale.”

The inaugural tour is set for Sunday, December 2, 2012, at 10:30am with tours scheduled for Sunday, January 6, 2013, and Sunday, February 3, 2013. Future 2013 dates to be announced in the new year. Tickets are $99 per person and can be purchased online here or by calling the Melting Pot Food Tours office at 424-247-9666. Bookings for private groups of 10 or more for this tour will be available in 2013.

Hungry visitors to Los Angeles interested in learning more about Melting Pot Food Tours may visit us here. Private groups of 10-50 are welcome for tours, and may contact Lisa Scalia at 424.247.9666 for more details.

Melting Pot Food Tours was founded by native Angeleno sisters Lisa and Diane Scalia, who share a passionate desire to put Los Angeles on the map as a world-class epicurean destination. Their pure intention is to acquaint locals and tourists with extraordinary neighborhoods and the foods that make them so special and unique. Inspired by the rise in culinary and heritage tourism, and America’s new invitation to visit its Land of Dreams, Lisa and Diane Scalia are joyfully committed to showcasing the rich culinary diversity that is Los Angeles.

October 27: Recipe Rehab, Las Vegas delights, Melting Pot Food Tours

Podcasts

Segment One: JoAnn Cianciulli, Food TV Producer Extraordinaire
Segment Two: JoAnn Cianciulli and Eric Greenspan
Segment Three: Brock Radke of Las Vegas Weekly
Segment Four: Melting Pot Food Tours Part One
Segment Five: Melting Pot Food Tours Part Two
Segment Six: DivBar in Newport Beach

Halloween may be just around the corner but it’s all treats this week on the show.
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind-the-scenes on your favorite food TV show ? One of the best in the business, JoAnn Cianciulli, will be with us. She’s currently Co-Executive Producer of ABC’s “Recipe Rehab” and her long list of impressive food TV credits includes Fox’s “Master Chef,” Food Network’s “Next Iron Chef,” and Bravo’s “Top Chef.” She is also a best-selling cookbook author with two new tomes in the works!

Brock Radke, Food & Web Editor of Las Vegas Weekly, will be along with his insiders’ Las Vegas dining update. He’ll talk about what Chef Gordon Ramsay is up to on The Strip and spotlight all the new happenings in the revived Downtown.

Lisa and Diane Scalia of Melting Pot Food ToursFood tourism is a new trend in travel and one of the most popular and respected food tour enterprises is located right here in Los Angeles. The dynamic Scalia Sisters (Lisa & Diane) are the force behind behind Melting Pot Food Tours. It all started with their popular Original Farmers Market Tour (Third & Fairfax) in 2008. Their “East L.A. Latin Flavors” walking tour (via the Gold Line) really gives you the sights and flavorful tastes of that relatively unknown community. On Saturday’s show they will announce their newest food tour and it’s a grabber!

Talking about incredible flavors Jet will speak about his recent dining adventure at a dive BBQ joint in an unexpected Orange County location.

Podcasts

Segment One: JoAnn Cianciulli, Food TV Producer Extraordinaire
Segment Two: JoAnn Cianciulli and Eric Greenspan
Segment Three: Brock Radke of Las Vegas Weekly
Segment Four: Melting Pot Food Tours Part One
Segment Five: Melting Pot Food Tours Part Two
Segment Six: DivBar in Newport Beach