Tag Archives: Downey

Show 522, April 22, 2023: 10th Annual SoCalGas Foodservice Equipment Expo and Restaurants Care Resilience Fund Grants

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Gina Christian of SoCal Gas

SoCalGas is hosting the 10th Annual SoCalGas Foodservice Equipment Expo (2 days) on Tuesday, April 25thand Wednesday, April 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the SoCalGas Energy Resource Center in Downey. “With no-cost registration, the 10th annual Foodservice Equipment Expo provides an opportunity to Reconnect, Rebuild, and Innovate at one of the industry’s largest West Coast showcases of natural gas and energy-efficient commercial foodservice equipment. Leading industry manufacturers will display and demonstrate their brands as attendees visit booths and live-action cooking stations, sample artisan foods cooked on a variety of natural gas equipment, network, and learn about available rebates.” SoCalGas Co.’s Gina Christian (Foodservice Technical Specialist) and William Morris (Senior Foodservice Program Advisor) are our guests providing all the details.

“Grant applications for the California Restaurant Foundation‘s (CRF) Restaurants Care Resilience Fund are open now to May 7, making $5,000 grants available to 177 restaurants in SoCalGas’ service area, with a total of 360 grants available statewide for qualifying independent restaurants. The grants will go towards technology adoption, equipment upgrades, employee onboarding and retention, or unforeseen hardships. This latest round of grants follows SoCalGas’ $1 million donation earlier this year to the foundation’s Restaurants Care Resilience Fund to support independently owned restaurants. Together, this brings this year’s fund total to $2.1 million, making it the largest Restaurants Care® Resilience Fund to date since the program started in 2021.”

SoCalGas is also a generous angel to C-CAP, The Careers through Culinary Arts Program. On Friday, April 21st was the 29th Annual C-CAP L.A. Scholarship Breakfast at Jonathan Club DTLA where over $485,000 in Scholarships was awarded to deserving, graduating High School students.

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Show 514, February 25, 2023: Preview of The Gas Co’s 10th Annual Foodservice Equipment Expo

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Gina Christian of SoCal Gas

SoCalGas is hosting the 10th Annual SoCalGas Foodservice Equipment Expo (2 days) on Tuesday, April 25th and Wednesday, April 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the SoCalGas Energy Resource Center in Downey.

“With no-cost registration, the 10th annual Foodservice Equipment Expo provides an opportunity to Reconnect, Rebuild, and Innovate at one of the industry’s largest West Coast showcases of natural gas and energy-efficient commercial foodservice equipment. Leading industry manufacturers will display and demonstrate their brands as attendees visit booths and live-action cooking stations, sample artisan foods cooked on a variety of natural gas equipment, network, and learn about available rebates.”

SoCalGas Co.’s Gina Christian (Foodservice Technical Specialist) and Carmen Oliver (Customer Programs Advisor) are our guides.

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Show 514, February 25, 2023: Preview of The Gas Co’s 10th Annual Foodservice Equipment Expo & On-Bill Financing

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Carmen Oliver of the Gas Company

SoCalGas is hosting the 10th Annual SoCalGas Foodservice Equipment Expo (2 days) on Tuesday, April 25th and Wednesday, April 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the SoCalGas Energy Resource Center in Downey.

“With no-cost registration, the 10th annual Foodservice Equipment Expo provides an opportunity to Reconnect, Rebuild, and Innovate at one of the industry’s largest West Coast showcases of natural gas and energy-efficient commercial foodservice equipment. Leading industry manufacturers will display and demonstrate their brands as attendees visit booths and live-action cooking stations, sample artisan foods cooked on a variety of natural gas equipment, network, and learn about available rebates.”

SoCalGas Co.’s Gina Christian (Foodservice Technical Specialist) and Carmen Oliver (Customer Programs Advisor) continue as our helpful guides.

Carmen will also talk about SoCalGas Co’s ongoing “try before you buy” program for restaurant equipment centered at SoCalGas’ Foodservice Equipment Center. Foodservice professionals have the opportunity to try more than 125 pieces of commercial equipment from 60 different manufacturers. There are also attractive rebates available.

Also joining us is SoCalGas’ Joe Frausto, the On-Bill Financing Program Manager, to explain the SoCal Gas program offering interest free financing for the purchase and installation of equipment covered by SoCalGas’ energy efficiency programs.

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Show 485, July 30, 2022: The Gas Co’s Energy Resource Center in Downey Reopens

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Carmen Oliver of the Gas Company

The Gas Co’s Energy Resource Center in Downey had reopened. Chef and restaurateurs are welcome to view and try a myriad of state-of-the-art and energy efficient restaurant kitchen equipment on display there. Rebates are available for qualified energy efficient natural gas equipment. There are also a host of informative, in-person seminars on the schedule.

The Gas Co’s Gina Christian and Carmen Oliver are our guests providing all the details.

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Show 450, November 6, 2021: Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group with “Ask the Chef”

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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.

Veteran’s Day is Thursday, November 11th. Chef Andrew is a big supporter of the non-profit Save The Brave assisting Veterans in need. Bastards American Canteen with locations in Downey and Temecula (newly opened) is Veteran owned & operated, and also raises funds for Save The Brave. Two seasonally changing items on the Temecula menu are exclusive Slapfish creations from Chef Andrew (Surf N Turf Burger & Traditional Lobster Roll) with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Save the Brave. Chef Andrew will provide an inspirational overview.

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Show 447, October 16, 2021: SoCal Gas’ Energy Resource Center with Gina Christian and Carmen Oliver

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Gina Christian of SoCal Gas

The Gas Co is again providing a number of genuinely useful services to Chefs and Restaurateurs as the recovery continues. The Energy Resource Center in Downey offers small group demonstrations, equipment testing and tours. The Gas Co features their “Try Before You Buy” program out of the Energy Resource Center. Their Commercial Service Techs provide maintenance tips and repair services to restaurant operators (typically at no charge.) The Gas Co. offers outreach to restaurant and foodservice operators to receive rebates on qualified gas equipment purchases.

Representing SoCal Gas with an informative overview of all of this is Gina Christian, Foodservice Technical Specialist and Vendor Outreach, and Carmen Oliver, Customer Programs Advisor II.

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Show 445, October 2, 2021: Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group with “Ask the Chef”

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Andy Harris and Andrew Gruel at Cabana 14 at the Cove at Pechanga Resort and Casino

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 details his volunteer efforts in support of Bastards American Canteen (Veteran Owned and Operated) with a location in Downey and soon to open on a grander scale in Temecula. They are sponsors of the non-profit Save The Brave.

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Show 442, September 11, 2021: Betty Porto, Vice President of Community Relations, Porto’s Bakery & Café

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Betty Porto in front of the Porto's Bakery Bread Rack

All Porto’s Bakery and Café locations have reopened for dine-in at 50 per cent capacity. The locations are Burbank, Buena Park, Downey, Glendale and West Covina.

Be watching for the pending Northridge opening. In the meantime Porto’s has a bakery stand at the Northridge Farmers Market at Northridge Fashion Center every Wednesday night.

Porto’s Bake at Home ships their best-selling pastries nationwide. They are unbaked, frozen and come direct to you so you can bake them fresh in your own oven. “It’s like having a Porto’s Bakery in your home.” Popular items available include Cheese Rolls, Guava Cheese Strudel, Chicken Empanadas and Potato Balls.

2nd generation baker & Family member, Betty Porto (Porto’s Vice President of Community Relations,) is our guest with rolling pin in hand.

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Show 392, September 26, 2020: SoCal Gas Co’s services to Restaurants & Foodservice Operators

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Gina Christian of SoCal GasAs restaurants are slowly reopening as allowed in the various Counties of Southern California, SoCal Gas has a host of valuable services available to restaurants and foodservice operators. This assistance includes the Food Service Equipment Center located within the Energy Resource Center in Downey. Also available are Energy Savings Programs and a variety of helpful Reopening Services.

“The Food Service Equipment Center, located at the Energy Resource Center in Downey, is a state-of-the-art kitchen and a great resource for any commercial foodservice customer. SoCalGas’ FSEC is the largest test kitchen for natural gas fired equipment in the country. You can attend webinars, learn about energy-efficient equipment and which equipment qualifies for a rebate.”

For restaurants and food service operators who would like to schedule a no cost, on-site inspection of your kitchen equipment with a SoCalGas Commercial Services Tech/CST call, 1-800-427-2000.

Our knowledgeable guides are SoCalGas’ Carmen Oliver (Title Customer Programs) and Gina Christian (Food Service Technical Specialist & Customer Programs.)

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Show 371, May 2, 2020: Betty Porto, Vice President of Community and Guest Relations, Porto’s Bakery & Café

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Betty Porto in front of the Porto's Bakery Bread RackPorto’s Bakery & Café started modestly in the greater L.A. area in the 1960s and has grown steadily since then becoming a popular, local and revered institution. Founder Rosa Porto’s life took an unexpected turn back at the beginning when she and her family made the difficult decision to leave their beloved Cuba and emigrate to the United States. Out of a job, Rosa relied on her love of baking and began selling cakes out of her house for her neighbors and friends to support her family. Porto’s has gradually grown into five high-volume locations in Glendale, Burbank, Downey, Buena Park, and the newly opened West Covina.

Porto’s is now open for contactless ordering, payment and curbside pick-up. This can be done online or by phone. Also available is the convenient Porto’s Bake-At-Home.

Betty Porto, Vice President of Community and Guest Relations for Porto’s, is our guest.

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