Show 637, July 26, 2025: Winnie & Ethel’s Downtown Diner, Las Vegas, with Mallory Gott and Chef Aaron Lee

Posted on July 28, 2025 by Adam Bell

“In March 2021, Chef Aaron Lee and Mal Gott began their story, which has since grown into the proudly presented Winnie & Ethel’s Downtown Diner in Las Vegas. Inspired by classic American roadside eateries and grandmas’ kitchens, they developed an alluring twist to quintessential Americana that put a welcome place for their downtown Las Vegas neighbors.”

“The vision began with a car ride and conversation fueled by Clyde McPhatter’s Come What May and quickly evolved into menu ideas jotted down on junk mail envelopes, creating Pinterest boards full of aspirational interiors, building plans, and an eventual name change to Winnie & Ethel’s Downtown Diner.”

“On December 15, 2021, Mal and Aaron got engaged and entered the Million Dollar Las Vegas Coffee Shop Giveaway, eventually winning the contest with 90 submissions and 6 Finalists. They originally planned to get married at the diner for their soft opening. But Aaron and Mal couldn’t wait, they decided to tie the knot a few months before opening Winnie & Ethel’s; a place where they could celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, and everyday life together.”

“Chef Aaron Lee and CEO Mallory Gott named the restaurant after his grandma Winnie and her great-grandma Ethel whose warm, loving kitchens were always open.”

It’s Breakfast 7-days with the newly added Dinner service on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mallory takes a break from the breakfast service (think Biscuits & Gravy, Corned Beef Benedict and Carrot Cake Pancakes…) at their busy restaurant in the Huntridge Shopping Center in Downtown Las Vegas to join us.

Show 579, May 25, 2024: NORMS 75th Anniversary with Corporate Executive Chef David Cox

Posted on May 26, 2024 by Adam Bell

This September it’s the 75^th Anniversary of NORMS famous for their hotcakes. “In 1949, Los Angeles native Norm Roybark opened one of the first 24/7 restaurants in Southern California. A small diner located near the famed Hollywood corner of Sunset and Vine, NORMS quickly became the neighborhood destination by delivering on its promise of “great food, great service, and great value.” Today there are 23 locations across Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties with more on the way in 2024 including Las Vegas.”

“NORMS helped usher in a new era of casual family dining in Southern California. The friendly service and welcoming environment, along with the fresh, quality meals at affordable prices, attracted a following that has remained incredibly loyal. Today, NORMS fans span across generations, and as it continues to grow in both presence and popularity, NORMS remains the place “Where Life Happens.””

NORMS’ David Cox, Vice President of Food & Beverage and Corporate Executive Chef, is our guest to share all things NORMS.

Show 382, July 18, 2020: Chef & Proprietor Johnny Church, Johnny C’s Diner, Las Vegas Part One

Posted on July 19, 2020 by Adam Bell

Chef Johnny Church is well-known in fine dining circles in Las Vegas. Among the high-profile kitchens on the Las Vegas Strip he’s cooked in are Aureole and RM Seafood. Most recently he was the corporate executive chef for Golden Entertainment.

In April he made the unusual move of going out on his own and taking over a classic 50’s style diner now known as Johnny C’s Diner – “Seven Days Without Makes One Weak.” It’s located in the LMV Resort, a lushly landscaped luxury RV resort.

It’s elevated diner fare (with a real chef in the kitchen) with quality ingredients for Breakfast and Lunch seven days a week. Dinner will arrive later in the year.

Think Fat Elvis French Toast with bacon, banana, peanut butter and strawberries. From specialty sandwiches there is the Hero piled high with turkey, ham, salami, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, mayo, mustard, olive oil, balsamic redux, oregano and served on a hoagie roll.

Chef Johnny Church, spatula securely in hand, serves it up for us.

Show 138, September 12, 2015: Barbara Lynch’s Sportello, Boston

Posted on September 13, 2015 by Adam Bell

Chef Barbara Lynch (No 9 Park), a James Beard Award-winner, is a celebrated chef in Boston. Her Barbara Lynch Gruppo enterprise owns multiple highly-regarded restaurant properties there. One of the newest is Sportello (Italian for “counter service”), a modern interpretation of the classic diner. It’s trattoria –inspired Italian dishes for lunch and dinner.

Sportello’s casual, lively, Italian spirit is captured in the sleek, minimalist design of the cuisine – fresh pastas, creamy polenta, and simple soups – and in the supremely approachable, artisanal wine list created by Wine Director Cat Silirie. (also a James Beard-Award recipient.)

The Strozzapreti is a widely-featured house favorite with braised rabbit, picholine olives and rosemary. The Tagliatelle Bolognese is also popular.

Chef de Cuisine David Cavilla has spent his culinary career as a member of Barbara Lynch Gruppo having cooked at B&G oysters, The Butcher Shop, Stir, and now Sportello. Chef David is “excited about the opportunity to dive into a new setting along with a restaurant with a new identity.”

Chef de Cuisine David Cavilla is our guest.