Show 246, November 4, 2017: Executive Chef Michael Rossi, The Ranch Restaurant

Michael Rossi of the Ranch Restaurant and SaloonThe much-honored Ranch Restaurant in Anaheim was the recipient this year of The Golden Foodie Award for the Best Entrée in Orange County. (That is their 9th Golden Foodie Award.) The item is Executive Chef Michael Rossi’s signature Cowboy Ribeye. That’s a 58oz. bone-in rib chop with Grafton Farms white cheddar scalloped potatoes and Sauce Bordelaise. Oh yea…

The Ranch Restaurant & Saloon (launched in January of 2012) is an upscale fine dining and country music establishment located on the ground floor of Extron Electronics corporate headquarters in Anaheim. Chef Rossi has led the kitchen brigade there since a year and one-half before the actual opening.

It also offers a luxurious private dining and events center on the sixth floor of the same building. A personal vision and dream of Extron President and Owner Andrew Edwards, THE RANCH comprises a rustic yet elegantly styled restaurant based on regional American cuisine and fine wines.

THE RANCH delivers a notable combination of a quality culinary experience with a seasonally driven menu emphasizing the best local ingredients. Many of the fresh fruits and vegetables used on the menu (and at the bar) are grown on The Ranch’s own farm in Orange.

The Thanksgiving Dinner Menu for $85 is a standout. It’s four-courses. The Main course is a choice of Mary’s Organic Free-Range Turkey, Loch Etive Steelhead Trout, Wyoming Raised Buffalo Prime Rib or Pheasant Pot Pie. Advance Reservations are a must.

We get Chef Michael out of the busy kitchen to chat in-studio about the extraordinary project that is The Ranch Restaurant.

 

Show 36, July 20, 2013: Michael Rossi, Executive Chef of The Ranch Restaurant and Saloon

Michael Rossi of the Ranch Restaurant and SaloonThe story of The Ranch is one of the most incredible restaurant opening stories in recent OC restaurant history. This elegant, handsomely-appointed, fine-dining restaurant is oddly located on the ground floor of the Extron Electronics office building a bit off the beaten path on E. Ball Road in Anaheim. The building is the newly-constructed corporate headquarters for Andrew Edwards, who is the sole backer of multi-million dollar The Ranch Restaurant and Saloon.

Master Sommelier Michael Jordan (ex-Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian) recruited Chef Michael to the project. Jordan, as Vice-President of Beverage, orchestrates the beverage program and front-of-the-house operations for Mr. Edwards. He’s one of the OC’s most gracious, and experienced, hosts. Chef Rossi oversees the entire culinary program.

Much of the seasonal produce used at The Ranch comes from Edward’s 2-acre farm in Orange County. You just can’t get fruit and vegetables any fresher.

Chef Michael stands by every item on his thoughtfully developed menu but if he had to choose one entrée for this evening it would be the Colorado Grass-Fed Lamp Chops.

The Ranch has already been nominated for two Golden Foodies this year. Chef Michael is up for the Golden Chef Award. His brother, David, is contending for the Golden Pastry Chef Award.