Show 568, March 9, 2024: Chef Andrew Gruel, Co-Host and Proprietor of Calico Fish House, with “Ask the Chef”

Chef Andrew Gruel savoring a New Jersey style Pizza

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) and also the founder and pizzaiola of the fast-casual Big Parm (New Jersey-style pizza) located in the Mess Hall in Tustin provides another timely and informative Ask the Chef segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries.

Surge or Demand pricing is already out there with air fares, hotel rates, and event ticket pricing. It’s now perhaps creeping into the restaurant sphere. Oops…Chef Andrew shares his always informed thoughts about what this might mean at fast food establishments.

Look for Chef Andrew’s new cooking video with Cathy Thomas on Orange Coast Magazine. He prepares One-Pan Seared Salmon with Sweet Potatoes (from Melissa’s), mushrooms, and garbanzo beans.

Check out Chef Andrew’s handy and practical cooking tips on Substack at “American Gravy.” There is an accessible free level as well as a premium option with a modest cost.

Show 559, January 6, 2024: “LOST LA” on PBS SoCal

PBS SoCal and KCET, Southern California’s flagship PBS stations are soon airing the 2024 “return of the locally produced, historical documentary series LOST LA, a co-production with the University of Southern California Libraries, part of their longstanding commitment to building public engagement with regional history collections. Public historian and writer Nathan Masters returns as Host for the sixth season of LOST LA with untold histories behind tiki culture, fast food, Historic Filipinotown, hiking, tuberculosis and cemeteries.”

“The new season of LOST LA is scheduled on PBS SoCal beginning Tuesday, January 2 at 7:30 p.m. PT. After the broadcast, each episode of LOST LA is available to stream on their companion websites and on the free PBS App. Members of PBS SoCal and KCET will get early access to stream all six episodes on PBS Passport starting Jan. 2.”

“The half-hour series LOST LA explores the region’s hidden past through documents, photos and other rare artifacts from California libraries and archives. Since its premiere in January of 2016, the series has continued to challenge the assumption that Los Angeles is a city without a history. Instead, LOST LA offers a history of Southern California that is not often told, or has been forgotten, bringing primary sources of Los Angeles history to the screen and connecting them to the Los Angeles of today.”

The Director of all the new season’s episodes of LOST LA, Matt Bass, is our well-informed guide to all that is LOST LA.

Show 492, September 24, 2022: Chef Andrew Gruel, Co-Host, with “Ask the Chef”

Chef Andrew Gruel savoring a New Jersey style Pizza

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel the Founder of Big Parm (New Jersey-style pizza), Two Birds and the soon to launch, full-service Calico Fish House (in Huntington Beach) provides another timely and informative Ask the Chef segment where Chef Andrew responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries.

The controversial AB 257 is set to take effect on January 1, 2023. It’s known as the fast-food labor law. Chef Andrew explains the background of what it does and it’s potential impact on restaurants. There is definitely more impact to this than meets the eye…

Chef Andrew is currently hosting a fun recipe contest to coincide with the opening of Calico Fish House in Huntington Beach. If your original recipe is the winner that dish permanently goes on Calico’s menu and every time you visit Calico Fish House you can enjoy your creation absolutely free for a full year. That’s a deal. Details on Calico’s Instagram feed.

Show 196, November 5, 2016: Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish Restaurant Group

Andrew and William GruelOur Co-Host, Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group, is in the know. He now shares a new list of personally researched and hand-selected “Finds” with us. Previously suggested were primo breakfast spots that are a bit hidden, fast food breakfast items that are real standouts, child friendly restaurants in the OC that are chef-driven, better burger spots and more…

Seafood consumption in the United States continues to grow. This is an encouraging trend because seafood is healthy and highly beneficial to be a part of your regular diet.

Chef Andrew’s list for today is foods which pair well with seafood.

  • Blood Oranges
  • Lemon Zest
  • Potato Chips
  • Cucumber (fresh)
  • Fish Sauce

Show 193, October 15, 2016: Co-Host, Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish Restaurant Group

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosOur Co-Host, Chef Andrew Gruel, is a devotee of breakfast. Last week Chef Andrew shared his favorite hole-in-the-wall OC neighborhood spots for a hearty breakfast. We got such a good response to this segment that we’ll continue…

Every popular national fast food spot that serves breakfast has a signature a.m. menu item. Chef Andrew will highlight his favorites.

Our first breakfast bite comes courtesy of our regular contributor, Anita Lau, The Mad Hungry Woman Blogger. She has a certain fondness for Del Taco. Her thought for the a.m. is their bacon, egg & cheese taco.

Chef Andrew adds that Del Taco, unusually, is one of the only chain fast food establishments that freshly shreds/grates the cheese used in their menu items at each location. That’s extra labor…

Chef Andrew’s suggestions :

Grab that 2nd cup of strong, black Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and enjoy!

Show 61, February 15, 2013: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris.

Chef Jet and Producer Andy preview the show.

Chef jet Tila and Alton BrownFood Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen” with host Alton Brown is back on Sunday nights for Season 2. Our own Chef Jet Tila is the most frequently appearing solo judge on this tough competition show that requires strategy as well as cooking chops. Look for Jet’s new episodes starting in February.

Thanks to all of our generous listeners who attended Chef Carla Hall’s Culinary Concert to benefit The James Beard Foundation at Zov’s Bistro in Tustin on Feb. 9th. Carla and guest MC Sherry Yard had the group thoroughly entertained with Carla’s demo of her Swamp Thing recipe which is from her new cookbook. It’s a braised pork shoulder in a smoked pork and corn broth.

America’s own master Mexican cooking authority, Rick Bayless of Topolobampo and Frontera Grill, is with us. He’s the menu-maker for the fashionable new Red O restaurant in Fashion Island in Newport Beach. It’s the 30th Anniversary of the legendary Grill on The Alley in Beverly Hills. We’ll celebrate with the founder. Cochon 555, a pork spectacular, returns to Santa Monica this month. We’ll tell you all about it. How about a fast food stand serving quality roast beef sandwiches using the very best ingredients? It’s run by fine dining chefs! Orange County Restaurant Week launches February 23rd. We’ll have a preview with one of the colorful participating executive chefs.

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