Show 163, March 12, 2016: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel, Founder, Slapfish Restaurant Group

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosExecutive Chef Andrew Gruel of the rapidly growing Slapfish empire with restaurants in Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, LAX, Irvine at UCI and, now, Brea, is back as today’s special Guest Host.

Next an ear-catching peek at Saturday’s thoughtfully decadent show and not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re doing it right we will always leave you hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s actually a good thing…

COCHON555 Los Angeles is set for Sunday, March 13th at The Viceroy in Santa Monica. It’s 5 Chefs, 5 Winemakers, and 5 Pigs. Experience this must-see, over-the-top, annual pork-centric culinary competition as part of the L.A. stop of the extensive national tour. It’s five high-profile, local chefs cooking over 36 dishes prepared from whole, locally-raised heritage breed pigs.

Dry Creek Vineyard was the first winery established in the Dry Creek Valley area of California after Prohibition. It was founder David Stare’s vision to plant Sauvignon Blanc grapes that firmly cemented the winery’s legacy as one of California’s most important wineries. It’s still proudly Family-owned. Winemaker Tim Bell is our guest

On Sunday, March 13, 2016 (two seatings: 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.) lauded L.A. chef Josiah Citrin of the two-Michelin Star restaurant, Mélisse, presents a seasonally-inspired seven-course prix-fixe dining event ($195) honoring the world-renowned ment’or BKB Foundation. Each course will feature contemporary Parisian fare designed by six internationally recognized guest chefs, including Chef Shaun Hergatt (Juni), Chef Justin Cogley (Aubergine), Chef Trey Foshee (George’s at the Cove), Chef William Bradley (Addison), and Chef Justin Wangler (Kendall-Jackson) with the assistance of Chef Matthew Peters and Harrison Turone of the 2017 Bocuse d’Or Team USA. Chef Josiah and ment’or BKB’s Executive Director, Young Yun, join us with the eye-popping details.

It’s 2016, which means it’s time to put on the wooden barrel pants, held up by suspenders. Firkfest 2016 is being planned for March 19, 2016, in Anaheim at Farmers Park, which is in-between the Packing House and Umami Burger. From Event Producer Greg Nagel @OCBeerBlog: While standing in a 200 person line for a cask of Noble Ale Works Naughty Sauce at a beer festival this past summer, it dawned on me. Orange County needs a proper cask ale festival. Greg will tap the keg for us and provide a full pour on Firkfest 3.0 supporting the OCBrewersGuild.

If you’ve been to Hawaii then you probably have your favorite locals’ spot for authentic, fresh poke. Poke, done properly, is fresh, delicious and affordable. It’s become a popular alternative to sushi and a bit easier on the wallet. Sweetfin Poke debuted in Santa Monica last April. It’s in 1,000 square-feet and is already very, very busy. Founders Seth Cohen and Brett Nestadt join us with their unlikely fish tale.

Cathy Thomas is the award-winning, long-time Food Editor and food columnist for the Orange County Register. On Friday afternoon, March 18th you’ll have a chance to meet her from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at The Chefs’ Toys warehouse store in Fountain Valley located right off the 405 Freeway. Cathy will be selling & signing all her must-have Melissa’s resource and reference books. All are invited and this is a free event.

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

 

March 12: Cochon 555, Dry Creek Vineyards, ment’or BKB, Firkfest 2016, Sweetfin Poke, Cathy Thomas

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel, Founder, Slapfish Restaurant Group
Segment Two: Brady Lowe, Founder, Cochon555 Tour
Segment Three: Winemaker Tim Bell, Dry Creek Vineyard, Healdsburg Part One
Segment Four: Winemaker Tim Bell, Dry Creek Vineyard, Healdsburg Part Two
Segment Five: Chef Josiah Citrin, Melisse, and Young Yun, Executive Director, ment’or BKB Foundation
Segment Six: Greg Nagel, Producer, FirkFest, OC Cask Beer Festival
Segment Seven: Sweetfin Poke, Santa Monica
Segment Eight: Cathy Thomas, Award-Winning Food Journalist & Author

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosExecutive Chef Andrew Gruel of the rapidly growing Slapfish empire with restaurants in Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, LAX, Irvine at UCI and, now, Brea, is back as today’s special Guest Host.

Next an ear-catching peek at Saturday’s thoughtfully decadent show and not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re doing it right we will always leave you hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s actually a good thing…

COCHON555 Los Angeles is set for Sunday, March 13th at The Viceroy in Santa Monica. It’s 5 Chefs, 5 Winemakers, and 5 Pigs. Experience this must-see, over-the-top, annual pork-centric culinary competition as part of the L.A. stop of the extensive national tour. It’s five high-profile, local chefs cooking over 36 dishes prepared from whole, locally-raised heritage breed pigs.

Dry Creek Vineyard was the first winery established in the Dry Creek Valley area of California after Prohibition. It was founder David Stare’s vision to plant Sauvignon Blanc grapes that firmly cemented the winery’s legacy as one of California’s most important wineries. It’s still proudly Family-owned. Winemaker Tim Bell is our guest.

On Sunday, March 13, 2016 (two seatings: 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.) lauded L.A. chef Josiah Citrin of the two-Michelin Star restaurant, Mélisse, presents a seasonally-inspired seven-course prix-fixe dining event ($195) honoring the world-renowned ment’or BKB Foundation. Each course will feature contemporary Parisian fare designed by six internationally recognized guest chefs, including Chef Shaun Hergatt (Juni), Chef Justin Cogley (Aubergine), Chef Trey Foshee (George’s at the Cove), Chef William Bradley (Addison), and Chef Justin Wangler (Kendall-Jackson) with the assistance of Chef Matthew Peters and Harrison Turone of the 2017 Bocus d’Or Team USA. Chef Josiah and ment’or BKB’s Executive Director, Young Yun, join us with the eye-popping details.

It’s 2016, which means it’s time to put on the wooden barrel pants, held up by suspenders. Firkfest 2016 is being planned for March 19, 2016, in Anaheim at Farmers Park, which is in-between the Packinghouse and Umami Burger. From Event Producer Greg Nagel @OCBeerBlog: While standing in a 200 person line for a cask of Noble Ale Works Naughty Sauce at a beer festival this past summer, it dawned on me. Orange County needs a proper cask ale festival. Greg will tap the keg for us and provide a full pour on Firkfest 3.0 supporting the OCBrewersGuild.

If you’ve been to Hawaii then you probably have your favorite locals’ spot for authentic, fresh poke. Poke, done properly, is fresh, delicious and affordable. It’s become a popular alternative to sushi and a bit easier on the wallet. Sweetfin Poke debuted in Santa Monica last April. It’s in 1,000 square-feet and is already very, very busy. Founders Seth Cohen and Brett Nestadt join us with their unlikely fish tale.

Cathy Thomas is the award-winning, long-time Food Editor and food columnist for the Orange County Register. On Friday afternoon, March 18th you’ll have a chance to meet her from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at The Chefs’ Toys warehouse store in Fountain Valley located right off the 405 Freeway. Cathy will be selling & signing all her must-have Melissa’s resource and reference books. All are invited and this is a free event.

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

Brady Lowe of Cochon 555COCHON555 Los Angeles is set for Sunday, March 13th at The Viceroy in Santa Monica. It’s 5 Chefs, 5 Winemakers, and 5 Pigs. Experience this must-see, annual pork-centric culinary competition as part of the L.A. stop of the extensive national tour. It’s five high-profile chefs cooking over 36 dishes prepared from whole, locally-raised heritage breed pigs.

This year’s competing chefs include Carlos Salgado of Taco Maria, Bruce Kalman of Union, Jason Neroni of Rose Cafe, Brooke Williamson of The Tripel and returning champion Walter Manzke of Republique.

The five chefs will prepare a maximum of six dishes from one whole hog and their utilization will help them win votes from a crowd of hungry gourmands and celebrated judges. In addition to the 36 dishes prepared from locally-raised pigs, guests will feast on educational experiences featuring boutique wines and culinary cocktails paired with delicious bites.

The winner of the regional event will be announced as the “Prince of Porc” and go on to compete for the national title of “King or Queen of Porc” at Grand Cochon, the tour finale, held at the Viceroy in Snowmass / Aspen on June 18th.

Cochon’s founder, Brady Lowe, joins us with all the porkalicious details.

Tim Bell of Dry Creek Vineyard“The history of Dry Creek Vineyard is a long and colorful one. Founded in 1972 by David S. Stare, Dry Creek Vineyard paved the way for a renaissance of winemaking and viticulture in the Dry Creek Valley. Before his arrival, the Dry Creek Valley was little more than a few family farms and prune orchards. It was Dave’s vision to start a Loire Valley inspired winery, which triggered a viticultural reawakening in northern Sonoma County.

Without a doubt, David Stare is a pioneer. Heading west in the late 1960s, he personified the character and work ethic of early Gold Rush pioneers. Inspired by his trips to the Loire Valley, he headed west to California to start his own family winery.

Upon his arrival, Dave began taking winemaking classes at UC Davis as a graduate student. On the weekends, he spent time looking at vineyard land from Monterey to Mendocino. It was during one of those weekend trips that fate drew Dave to the Dry Creek Valley. When he saw an old prune orchard across the street from the Dry Creek General Store, Dave realized that he had found his dream location.

He purchased the orchard and began planting vines. Captivated by his memories of Loire-style wines, Sauvignon Blanc seemed destined to figure prominently in the Dry Creek Vineyard portfolio. However, several famed vineyard specialists advised him against planting Sauvignon Blanc. Always looking to push the envelope, Dave planted the varietal anyway and the rest is history.

Today, our second-generation family owned winery continues to evolve and grow to meet the demands of a global wine marketplace. The primary mission of our winery is to produce distinctive wines that overdeliver on quality. For more than 40 years, this pursuit of winemaking excellence has led to many international awards and accolades. With a loyal following of wine club members and customers, the future of Dry Creek Vineyard has never been brighter.”

Winemaker Tim Bell is our guest.

Dry Creek Vineyard was the first winery established in the Dry Creek Valley area of California after Prohibition. It was founder David Stare’s vision to plant Sauvignon Blanc grapes that firmly cemented the winery’s legacy as one of California’s most important wineries. It’s still proudly Family-owned.

“Our wines show that Sonoma County and Dry Creek Valley can compete with any wine growing region in the world. Since 1972, our winemaking style has been to produce classic varietals that define their varietal category. From our signature offerings to our single vineyard and limited release wines, each bottling personifies our family’s passion to produce elegant, balanced and food-friendly wines. The wine from Dry Creek Vineyard reflects our desire for excellence.”

“Our Signature wines represent our passion for producing balanced wines that are true to the terroir in which they are grown. Each of our signature wines offers wonderful intensity of fruit, supple texture and a rich mouthfeel which make them easy to enjoy and extremely food friendly. At Dry Creek Vineyard we product a wide array of wines, many under $20, making them affordable for almost any special occasion or celebration.”

Young YunOn Sunday, March 13, 2016 (two seatings: 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.) lauded L.A. chef Josiah Citrin of the two-Michelin Star restaurant, Mélisse, presents a seasonally-inspired seven-course prix-fixe dining event ($195) honoring the world-renowned ment’or BKB Foundation. Each course will feature contemporary Parisian fare designed by six internationally recognized guest chefs, including Chef Shaun Hergatt (Juni), Chef Justin Cogley (Aubergine), Chef Trey Foshee (George’s at the Cove), Chef William Bradley (Addison), and Chef Justin Wangler (Kendall-Jackson) with the assistance of Chef Matthew Peters and Harrison Turone of the 2017 Bocuse d’Or Team USA.

Reservations can be made via OpenTable or by calling 310.395.0881.

Chef Josiah and ment’or BKB’s Executive Director, Young Yun, join us with the eye-popping details.

Greg NagelIt’s 2016, which means it’s time to put on the wooden barrel pants, held up by suspenders. Firkfest 2016 is being planned for March 19, 2016, in Anaheim at Farmers Park, which is in-between the Packing House and Umami Burger.

From Event Producer Greg Nagel @OCBeerBlog:

“While standing in a 200 person line for a cask of Noble Ale Works Naughty Sauce at a beer festival this past summer, it dawned on me. Orange County needs a proper cask ale festival.”

“Expect fifty-ish casks from true craft beer makers. Brewers love the fest, the press loves the fest, and I’ve heard nothing but praise from guests. So buy your tickets early and tell a friend!”

“Why a cask ale festival? A cask is simply a vessel filled with liquid meant to be served within a day or so once tapped. Brewers fill the cask with beer for conditioning and then can treat it like a blank canvas; adding fresh hops, blending beers, adding tea/coffee or other creative ingredients.  It’s a one-time shot to try something new and fun.”

Greg will tap one of the 50 plus casks for us and provide a full pour on all the thirst-quenching ingredients of Firkfest 3.0 supporting the OCBrewersGuild.

Sweetfin PokeIf you’ve been to Hawaii then you probably have your favorite locals’ spot for authentic, fresh poke. It’s an Islands’ specialty. Poke, done properly, is fresh, delicious and affordable.

It’s become a popular alternative to sushi and a bit easier on the wallet. Sweetfin Poke debuted in Santa Monica last April. It’s in a modest 1,000 square-feet and already is very, very busy.

How it works:

Choose a Signature Bowl or Build Your Own Bowl (BYOB) with our selection of fresh ingredients

BUILD YOUR OWN BOWL (BYOB)

At Sweetfin Poké the choice is yours to make our signature bowls your own. Choose from a selection of bases, fish and vegetarian toppings and a wide variety of add-ons for an endless combination of tastes and flavor profiles. Whether you’re Pescatarian, Paleo or prefer your bowls vegan or gluten free there’s a combination that will be just right for your palate.

1. Base It

Our three bases cover all the bases for the foundation of your bowl. Our green BAMBOO RICE is a short-grain rice that has been milled with bamboo juice – not only is it as flavorful and textural as sushi rice – but it is loaded with essential B vitamins. Our KELP NOODLE – CUCUMBER SLAW is extremely low-carb, gluten free and delicious while our CITRUS – KALE salad combines the nutrient superpower of Kale with an orange vinaigrette for a dash of Vitamin C.

2. Top It

We started with Yellowfin TUNA, also known as Ahi, and continued on with SALMON, SNAPPER and ALBACORE. Our fish is sourced from all over the world – and will vary with seasonality. Our fish is caught responsibly and sustainably to ensure maximum quality with a minimum environmental impact.

3. Finish It

Choose from a selection of our chef created sauces: the CLASSIC for a traditional finish, CREAMY TOGARASHI for a little bit of sweet heat, YUZU KOSHO for a citrus spice, ponzu lime for something a little sweet and SRIRACHA PONZU for our twist on your favorite sauce.

Our wide variety of ADD-ONS can add a crunch, a bite, or even some sweetness to your signature bowl. Fresh produce – like avocado, seaweed and jalapeño – is complemented by wasabi-toasted coconut flakes, carrots and pickled shiitake mushrooms. They’re so addicting we wouldn’t blame you for wanting a whole bowl.

Founders Seth Cohen and Brett Nestadt join us with their unlikely fish tale.

Cathy ThomasCathy Thomas is the award-winning, long-time Food Editor and food columnist for the Orange County Register. She also publishes a genuinely useful weekly newsletter on food, Cathy Thomas Cooks! On Friday afternoon, March 18th you’ll have a chance to meet her from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at The Chefs’ Toys warehouse store in Fountain Valley located right off the 405 Freeway. All are invited and this is a free event.

Cathy will be selling & signing all her must-have Melissa’s resource and reference books. Great gifts for that special foodie in your life. At 3 and 4:00 p.m. Cathy will be making “Produce Love” presentations along with demonstrating a few of her favorite Chefs’ Toys kitchen gadgets.

Chef Bill Bracken of Bracken’s Kitchen will also be in the house along with the Melissa’s chefs cooking up nibbles from the recipes in the books.

RSVP for Friday’s event at Chefs’ Toys here –>

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel, Founder, Slapfish Restaurant Group
Segment Two: Brady Lowe, Founder, Cochon555 Tour
Segment Three: Winemaker Tim Bell, Dry Creek Vineyard, Healdsburg Part One
Segment Four: Winemaker Tim Bell, Dry Creek Vineyard, Healdsburg Part Two
Segment Five: Chef Josiah Citrin, Melisse, and Young Yun, Executive Director, ment’or BKB Foundation
Segment Six: Greg Nagel, Producer, FirkFest, OC Cask Beer Festival
Segment Seven: Sweetfin Poke, Santa Monica
Segment Eight: Cathy Thomas, Award-Winning Food Journalist & Author