Show 567, March 2, 2024: Strong Water, Anaheim with Proprietors Ying Chang & Robert Adamson Part One

Robert Adamson and Ying Chang of Jace Hospitality

“Tiki bar fans, rejoice — and grab a seat at Strong Water Anaheim. It’s a creatively reimagined classic of the genre, with its curio-shop-in-a-shipwreck atmosphere, its supercharged bar-food menu, its encyclopedic list of classic and creative tropical libations (zero proof options included), and its pirates’ treasure chest of rare artisanal rums worth drinking straight.”

Strong Water’s latest national recognition is as a semi-finalist for a nomination for the prestigious James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program. Strong Water is the only Orange County semi-finalist in any category for a James Beard Award in 2024!

The food menu is an important calling card for Strong Water, too. Their Galley Master (Executive Chef) is Steve Kling, previously the highly regarded culinary force in the kitchen at Five Crowns in Corona del Mar. The menu changes regularly. Contemplate an Appetizer of Japanese Egg Salad Crostini with Shiso Oil and Chives, and a layered Loco Moco Burger with an 8oz. Wagu Patty, Spam, Fried Egg, Tempura Battered Onion Ring, Mixed Greens, Bone Marrow Gravy and Polynesian Spread served on a Brioche Hawaiian Bun!

“Welcome Aboard Strong Water Anaheim tucked away in Downtown Anaheim. When you enter Strong Water Anaheim, you will find yourself walking into the wreckage of the Clementine lost at sea in 1884.” First-time guests are given a tour of all the various ship-themed areas (including the lore associated with each) before being seated in their reserved spot.

It’s not a large space and Strong Water is very popular with both their loyal regulars and first-time guests. It’s a two-hour experience and the time flies. Advance reservations via Resy are truly a must.

Proprietors Ying Chang (Fleet Commander) and Robert Adamson join us in-studio.

Show 567, March 2, 2024: Strong Water, Anaheim with Proprietors Ying Chang & Robert Adamson Part Two

Robert Adamson and Ying Chang of Jace Hospitality

“Tiki bar fans, rejoice — and grab a seat at Strong Water Anaheim. It’s a creatively reimagined classic of the genre, with its curio-shop-in-a-shipwreck atmosphere, its supercharged bar-food menu, its encyclopedic list of classic and creative tropical libations (zero proof options included), and its pirates’ treasure chest of rare artisanal rums worth drinking straight.”

Strong Water’s latest national recognition is as a semi-finalist for a nomination for the prestigious James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar Program. Strong Water is the only Orange County semi-finalist in any category for a James Beard Award in 2024!

The food menu is an important calling card for Strong Water, too. Their Galley Master (Executive Chef) is Steve Kling, previously the highly regarded culinary force in the kitchen at Five Crowns in Corona del Mar. The enticing menu changes regularly. Contemplate an Appetizer of Japanese Egg Salad Crostini with Shiso Oil and Chives, and a layered Loco Moco Burger with an 8oz. Wagu Patty, Spam, Fried Egg, Tempura Battered Onion Ring, Mixed Greens, Bone Marrow Gravy and Polynesian Spread served on a Brioche Hawaiian Bun!

“Welcome Aboard Strong Water Anaheim tucked away in Downtown Anaheim. When you enter Strong Water Anaheim, you will find yourself walking into the wreckage of the Clementine lost at sea in 1884.” Guests are greeted “with a warm ahoy and an invitation to escape to paradise and forget your worries.”

It’s not a large space and Strong Water is very popular with both their loyal regulars and first-time guests. It’s a two-hour experience and the time flies. Advance reservations via Resy are truly a must.

Proprietors Ying Chang (Fleet Commander) and Robert Adamson continue with us in-studio.

Show 385, August 8, 2020: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris

Late last month Corona del Mar’s historic Five Crowns and SideDoor (part of the Lawry’s family of fine-dining restaurants) reopened the spacious backyard of the expansive property for open-air dining in the charming setting reminiscent of an English country garden. Set with thoughtfully spaced tables and accented by fire pits, the backyard of the beloved, dining establishment offers the same gracious hospitality for which the restaurants are known. Guests sip on specialty cocktails under the twinkling lights and experience signature dishes from both Five Crowns and SideDoor offered on a single menu available for backyard dining and to-go. Tracy Nelsen Five Crowns’ and SideDoor’s Restaurant Manager, Cheesemonger, Sommelier and Cicerone joins us with a tempting overview of what’s now on the menu.

Angelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana is a fine-casual Italian restaurant located in Irvine in the Los Olivos Marketplace. At Angelina’s, guests dine on authentic Italian food made with only the finest ingredients imported from Italy and fresh produce from local farms. From one-of-a-kind artwork to hand-picked fixtures, the modern, upscale interior redefines the concept of a pizzeria.

Their specialty is authentic Neapolitan-style pizza (pizza Napoletana). Each pizza is made using traditional techniques and cooked in their twin, high-end Ferrara wood-burning pizza ovens, making Angelina’s one of the few restaurants in the United States to hold a VPN Certification (Vera Pizza Napoletana). Angelina’s Managing Partner, Filippo Fusco, is our guest, pizza peel at the ready.

3rd generation restaurateur Ron Salisbury has been running successful, high-volume restaurants for sixty-six years, a period of time in which most people are born and retire. He grew up working after school as a dish sorter, busser, and steam table expediter in his parents’ Los Angeles restaurant, El Cholo. Salisbury is not one for utilizing voluminous operating manuals but over the years has acquired a bushel of practical morsels of wisdom for operating a successful restaurant. Starting with “Our Seven Pillars” Ron has collected all these short vignettes of incredibly useful advice into the very easy-to-read volume, What They Don’t Teach You at the C.I.A. (That’s the Culinary Institute of America by-the-way.) It’s truly an essential and valuable read for all aspiring restaurateurs. Ron Salisbury is with us to generously share a sampling of the practical wisdom from What They Don’t Teach You at the C.I.A.

Winemakers and life partners Mireia Tena and Tara Gomez are the creative forces at Camins 2 Deams in Lompoc, their dream boutique winery. The grapes are sourced exclusively from select vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills, a unique appellation in Santa Barbara County. Their philosophy is to make hand-crafted, terroir-driven wines that are fermented with natural yeast and use minimal intervention in the winery. Camins 2 Dreams believes wine is made in the vineyard and desires to showcase the typicity of each site where the grapes originate.

Current releases include Gruner Veltliner, Rose of Syrah, and three vineyard specific Syrahs. Grenache and Graciano are in their future. Winemakers Tara and Mireia join us to pull the cork on all that is Camins 2 Dreams.

DTLA Pizza is a new Takeout and Delivery concept from Chef Michael Hung of Faith & Flower. The goal for Chef Michael’s new DTLA Pizza concept is to serve meat lovers and vegans alike, quality and comfort food driven dishes prepared with house-made sourdough crusts, toppings such as Impossible beef, locally grown produce, along with Burgers that are made with American Kobe beef and burst with flavor.” “As the world is today, I find myself craving comfort foods. The menu for DTLA Pizza reflects my time growing up in New Jersey eating at such institutions such as Star Tavern in Orange, NJ.  These dishes and flavors remind me of home and the joyful times I spent with my friends and family as a kid.” Chef Michael Hung joins us to artfully toss & stretch the from-scratch pizza dough. 

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 is regularly updating us on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis in the hospitality field and what we, as diners, can do to support the very survival of restaurants. Dine-in is slowly, with multiple hiccups, starting to come back but with a lot of new rules that restrict guest counts. Alternately take-out/delivery when you can surely helps… National Oyster Day was August 5th. We started the conversation last week about fully appreciating oysters. Chef Andrew is our resident authority on these bivalve mollusks enjoyed since ancient times. We’ll resume with tips about cooking with oysters. Oyster stew anyone ?

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness (with proper Social Distancing) on this week’s not-to-miss show!

Show 385, August 8, 2020: Restaurant Manager Tracy Nelsen, Five Crowns and SideDoor, Corona del Mar

Tracy Nelsen of Five CrownsLate last month Corona del Mar’s historic Five Crowns and SideDoor (part of the Lawry’s family of fine-dining restaurants) reopened the spacious backyard for open-air dining in the charming setting reminiscent of an English country garden.

Set with thoughtfully spaced tables and accented by fire pits, the backyard of the beloved, dining establishment offers the same gracious hospitality for which the restaurants are known. Guests sip on specialty cocktails under the twinkling lights and experience signature dishes from both Five Crowns and SideDoor offered on a single menu available for backyard dining and to-go.

In addition to Five Crowns specialties including Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail and Skillet Jidori Chicken with pearl couscous, charred corn and salsa verde, four cuts of the classic Lawry’s Prime Ribs of Beef are available. SideDoor featured items available range from the always changing Artisanal Cheese Plate to Prime Rib Chili.

Tracy Nelsen Five Crowns’ and SideDoor’s Restaurant Manager certified Cheesemonger, Sommelier and Cicerone joins us with the specifics of what’s on the menu.

August 8: Five Crowns & SideDoor, Angelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana, Ron Salisbury, Camins 2 Dreams, DTLA Pizza

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Restaurant Manager Tracy Nelsen, Five Crowns and SideDoor, Corona del Mar
Segment Three: Filippo Fusco, Managing Partner, Angelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana, Irvine
Segment Four: Restaurateur Ron Salisbury (El Cholo) – What They Don’t Teach You at the C.I.A. Part One
Segment Five: Restaurateur Ron Salisbury (El Cholo) – What They Don’t Teach You at the C.I.A. Part Two
Segment Six: Winemakers Tara Gomez and Mireia Taribo, Camins 2 Dreams Winery, Lompoc
Segment Seven: Chef Michael Hung, DTLA Pizza, Los Angeles
Segment Eight: Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group with “Ask the Chef”

Late last month Corona del Mar’s historic Five Crowns and SideDoor (part of the Lawry’s family of fine-dining restaurants) reopened the spacious backyard of the property for open-air dining in the charming setting reminiscent of an English country garden. Set with thoughtfully spaced tables and accented by fire pits, the backyard of the beloved, dining establishment offers the same gracious hospitality for which the restaurants are known. Guests sip on specialty cocktails under the twinkling lights and experience signature dishes from both Five Crowns and SideDoor offered on a single menu available for backyard dining and to-go. Tracy Nelsen Five Crowns’ and SideDoor’s Restaurant Manager, Cheesemonger, Sommelier and Cicerone joins us with a tempting overview of what’s now on the menu.

Angelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana is a fine-casual Italian restaurant located in Irvine in the Los Olivos Marketplace. At Angelina’s, guests dine on authentic Italian food made with only the finest ingredients imported from Italy and fresh produce from local farms. From one-of-a-kind artwork to hand-picked fixtures, the modern, upscale interior redefines the concept of a pizzeria.

Their specialty is authentic Neapolitan-style pizza (pizza Napoletana). Each pizza is made using traditional techniques and cooked in their twin Ferrara wood-burning pizza ovens, making Angelina’s one of the few restaurants in the United States to hold a VPN Certification (Vera Pizza Napoletana). Angelina’s Managing Partner, Filippo Fusco, is our guest, pizza peel at the ready.

Restaurateur Ron Salisbury has been running successful, high-volume restaurants for sixty-six years, a period of time in which most people are born and retire. He grew up working after school as a dish sorter, busser, and steam table expediter in his parents’ Los Angeles restaurant, El Cholo. Salisbury is not one for utilizing voluminous operating manuals but over the years has acquired a bushel of practical morsels of wisdom for operating a successful restaurant. Starting with “Our Seven Pillars” Ron has collected all these short vignettes of incredibly useful advice into the very easy-to-read volume, What They Don’t Teach You at the C.I.A. (That’s the Culinary Institute of America.) It’s truly an essential read for all aspiring restaurateurs. Ron Salisbury is with us to generously share a sampling of the practical wisdom from What They Don’t Teach You at the C.I.A.

Winemakers and life partners Mireia Taribo Tena and Tara Gomez are the creative forces at Camins 2 Deams in Lompoc, their dream boutique winery. The grapes are sourced exclusively from select vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills, a unique appellation in Santa Barbara County. Their philosophy is to make hand-crafted, terroir-driven wines that are fermented with natural yeast and use minimal intervention in the winery. Camins 2 Dreams believes wine is made in the vineyard and desires to showcase the typicity of each site where the grapes originate.

Current releases include Gruner Veltliner, Rose of Syrah, and three vineyard specific Syrahs. Winemakers Mireia and Tara join us to pull the cork on all that is Camins 2 Dreams.

“DTLA Pizza is a new Takeout and Delivery concept from Chef Michael Hung of Faith & Flower. The goal for Chef Michael’s new DTLA Pizza concept is to serve meat lovers and vegans alike, quality and comfort food driven dishes prepared with house-made sourdough crusts, toppings such as Impossible beef, locally grown produce, along with Burgers that are made with American Kobe beef and burst with flavor.” “As the world is today, I find myself craving comfort foods. The menu for DTLA Pizza reflects my time growing up in New Jersey eating at such institutions such as Star Tavern in Orange, NJ. These dishes and flavors remind me of home and the joyful times I spent with my friends and family as a kid.” Chef Michael Hung joins us to artfully toss & stretch the pizza dough.

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 is regularly updating us on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis in the hospitality field and what we, as diners, can do to support the very survival of restaurants. Dine-in is slowly, with multiple hiccups, starting to come back but with a lot of new rules that restrict guest counts. Alternately Take-Out / Delivery when you can surely helps… National Oyster Day was August 5th. We started the conversation last week about fully appreciating oysters. Chef Andrew is our resident authority on these bivalve mollusks enjoyed since ancient times. We’ll resume with tips about cooking with oysters. Oyster stew anyone?

Tracy Nelsen of Five CrownsLate last month Corona del Mar’s historic Five Crowns and SideDoor (part of the Lawry’s family of fine-dining restaurants) reopened the spacious backyard for open-air dining in the charming setting reminiscent of an English country garden.

Set with thoughtfully spaced tables and accented by fire pits, the backyard of the beloved, dining establishment offers the same gracious hospitality for which the restaurants are known. Guests sip on specialty cocktails under the twinkling lights and experience signature dishes from both Five Crowns and SideDoor offered on a single menu available for backyard dining and to-go.

In addition to Five Crowns specialties including Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail and Colorado Lamb Chops four cuts of the classic Lawry’s Prime Ribs of Beef are available. SideDoor featured items available range from the Artisanal Cheese Plate to Prime Rib Chili.

Tracy Nelsen Five Crowns’ and SideDoor’s Restaurant Manager certified Cheesemonger, Sommelier and Cicerone joins us with the specifics of what’s on the menu.

Filippo Fusco of Angelina's Pizzeria NapoletanaAngelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana is a fine-casual Italian restaurant located in Irvine in the Los Olivos Marketplace. At Angelina’s, guests dine on authentic Italian food made with only the finest ingredients imported from Italy and fresh produce from local farms. From one-of-a-kind artwork to hand-picked fixtures, the modern, upscale interior redefines the concept of a pizzeria.

Angelina’s Pizzeria specializes in authentic Neapolitan-style pizza (pizza Napoletana). Each pizza is made using traditional techniques and cooked in their twin Ferrara wood-burning pizza ovens, making Angelina’s one of the few restaurants in the United States to hold a VPN Certification (Vera Pizza Napoletana). Overseen by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana in Napoli, the VPN certifies that Angelina’s adheres to the strict requirements that make their pizzas “true Neopolitan Pizza.”

Angelina’s Managing Partner, Filippo Fusco, is our guest, pizza peel at the ready.

Ron Salisbury of El CholoRestaurateur Ron Salisbury has been running successful, high-volume restaurants for sixty-six years, a period of time in which most people are born and retire. He grew up working after school as a dish sorter, busser, and steam table expediter in his parents’ Los Angeles restaurant, El Cholo.

In the decades since Ron has launched restaurants throughout Southern California. In addition to the El Cholo’s newer ventures are The Cannery and Louie’s By the Bay, both located in Newport Beach.

Salisbury is not one for voluminous operating manuals but over the years he acquired a bushel of practical morsels of wisdom for operating a successful restaurant. Starting with “Our Seven Pillars” Ron has collected all these short vignettes of incredibly useful advice into the very easy-to-read volume, What They Don’t Teach You at the C.I.A. (That’s the Culinary Institute of America.) It’s truly an essential read for all aspiring restaurateurs.

Ron Salisbury is the recipient of the Elizabeth Burns Lifetime Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Chapter of the California Restaurant Association. He has lectured at The Collins College of Hospitality Management at California State Polytechnic University Pomona.

Ron Salisbury is with us to generously share a sampling of the practical wisdom from What They Don’t Teach You at the C.I.A.

Tara Gomez and Mireia Taribo Tena of Camins 2 Dreams in Lompoc CaliforniaWinemakers and life partners Mireia Taribo Tena and Tara Gomez are the creative forces at Camins 2 Deams in Lompoc, their dream winery. The grapes are sourced exclusively from select vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills, a unique appellation in Santa Barbara County.

Their philosophy is to make hand-crafted, terroir-driven wines that are fermented with natural yeast and use minimal intervention in the winery. Camins 2 Dreams believes wine is made in the vineyard and desires to showcase the typicity of each site where the grapes originate.

“We are lucky both to live and make our wines in the Santa Rita Hills where foggy mornings and cool nights combine with marine soils to make the perfect ingredients for outstanding wines. “

Current releases include Gruner Veltliner, Rose of Syrah, and three vineyard specific Syrahs.

Tara Gomez, a Native American, is also the Winemaker for Kita Wines, a small premium winery in the Santa Ynez Valley owned by the Chumash Tribe (Chumash Casino Resort.)

Mireia and Tara join us to pull the cork on Camins 2 Dreams.

Michael Hung of Faith and FlowerDTLA Pizza is a new Takeout and Delivery concept from Chef Michael Hung of Faith & Flower. The goal for Chef Michael’s new DTLA Pizza establishment is to serve meat lovers and vegans alike, quality and comfort food driven dishes prepared with house-made sourdough crusts, toppings such as Impossible beef, locally grown produce, along with Burgers that are made with American Kobe beef and burst with flavor.”

“Los Angeles meets the Oranges, as in the same area of northern New Jersey as the Sopranos, at DTLA Pizza. This area is also Chef Michael Hung’s inspiration as he drew from his New Jersey roots to create DTLA Pizza’s menu of true pizzeria classics. “As the world is today, I find myself craving comfort foods. The menu for DTLA Pizza reflects my time growing up in New Jersey eating at such institutions such as Star Tavern in Orange, NJ.  These dishes and flavors remind me of home and the joyful times I spent with my friends and family as a kid.””

“DTLA Pizza features two different styles of Pizza – expertly crafted Neapolitan-Style Pies from the wood oven and Sicilian-Style Pan Pizzas with thick focaccia crusts. In addition to the classic 4-Cheese PizzaDTLA Pizza offers two other Signature Pizzas: The Street Meat Magic Pizza loaded with pepperoni, mortadella, Italian sausage, and prosciutto, and It’s Literally Possible Pizza which is a fully plant-based pizza prepared with Impossible sausage, marinated peppers and onions, and vegan mozzarella. In addition to the Signature Pizzas, guests can also Build Your Own Pizza with a selection of over a dozen toppings, and all of the Pizzas at DTLA Pizza can be made either Neapolitan Style or Sicilian Style.”

DTLA Pizza is open for TakeoutDelivery, and Curbside Pickup (only) every Wednesday through Sunday from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. To order, please call 213.465.9400 and guests can Curbside pickup at 709 West 9th Street in South Park district of downtown Los Angeles by calling DTLA Pizza upon arrival, or choose Delivery through CaviarDoorDashGrubhubTock, or UberEats.

Chef Michael joins us to artfully toss and stretch the dough.

Chef Andrew Gruel savoring a New Jersey style Pizza“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 is regularly updating us on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis in the hospitality field and what we, as diners, can do to support the very survival of restaurants. Dine-in is slowly, with multiple hiccups, starting to come back but with a lot of new rules that restrict guest counts. Alternately Take-Out / Delivery when you can surely helps…

National Oyster Day was August 5th. We started the conversation last week about appreciating oysters in the raw state. Chef Andrew is our resident authority on these bivalve mollusks enjoyed since ancient times. We’ll resume with tips about cooking with oysters. Oyster stew anyone?

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Restaurant Manager Tracy Nelsen, Five Crowns and SideDoor, Corona del Mar
Segment Three: Filippo Fusco, Managing Partner, Angelina’s Pizzeria Napoletana, Irvine
Segment Four: Restaurateur Ron Salisbury (El Cholo) – What They Don’t Teach You at the C.I.A. Part One
Segment Five: Restaurateur Ron Salisbury (El Cholo) – What They Don’t Teach You at the C.I.A. Part Two
Segment Six: Winemakers Tara Gomez and Mireia Taribo, Camins 2 Dreams Winery, Lompoc
Segment Seven: Chef Michael Hung, DTLA Pizza, Los Angeles
Segment Eight: Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group with “Ask the Chef”

Show 355, January 11, 2020: Show Preview with Co-Host & Executive Producer Andy Harris

Now an enticing preview of this Saturday’s scrumptious show. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will hopefully leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s probably a pretty good thing… As always, we greatly appreciate you being a part of our loyal listening audience. Truly couldn’t do it without you.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group joins us from the road with another informative “Ask the Chef” segment. Where is the restaurant business headed in the new decade? Is fine dining in transition ? We’ll “Ask the Chef.”

Dine LBC Long Beach Restaurant Week is presenting a special, one day screening of Wasted!: The Story of Food Waste at The Art Theatre in Long Beach on Saturday, January 18th at 11:00 a.m. Wasted!: The Story of Food Waste is a documentary executive-produced by the late Anthony Bourdain and aims to change the way people buy, cook, recycle, and eat food. Through the eyes of chef-heroes like Bourdain, Dan Barber, Massimo Bottura, and Danny Bowien, audiences will see how the world’s most influential chefs make the most of every kind of food, transforming what most people consider scraps into incredible dishes that create a more secure food system. Dine LBC’s Terri Henry is our guide. 

The iconic Five Crowns in Corona del Mar was established in 1965 and is a member of the Lawry’s family of fine-dining restaurants, which includes Lawry’s The Prime Rib with domestic locations in Beverly Hills, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas and the historic Tam O’Shanter in Los Angeles. Lawry’s Carvery, with locations in South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, and at L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles, represents the company’s unique quick-service concept. SideDoor, Corona del Mar’s first and only English gastropub, is housed within Five Crowns. We gently pull Executive Chef Alejandra Padilla out of her busy kitchen for a chat.

Alchemy Restaurant and Bar, located in an historic former residence in Ashland, Oregon, is as popular with the locals as well as visitors for a memorable dining experience with inventive cocktails and an artfully selected wine list. Proprietor Drew Gibbs is also a Certified Sommelier. It’s housed on the ground floor of The Winchester Inn. Drew gently pulls the cork on Alchemy Restaurant and Bar for us.

Located in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the heart of historic downtown, the Santa Fe School of Cooking is an internationally acclaimed, recreational culinary school and Online Market specializing in foods of the American Southwest for 30 years. They offer Hands-On Cooking ClassesDemonstration Classes, an intensive 3-day cooking program they call Southwest Culinary Boot Camp and extremely popular Restaurant Walking Tours led by Santa Fe School of Cooking’s chefs. Nicole Ammerman, the Director of the Santa Fe School of Cooking & Market, represents the 2nd generation of family ownership and is our guest.

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s not-to-miss show!

Show 355, January 11, 2020: Executive Chef Alejandra Padilla, Five Crowns & SideDoor Part One

Alejandra Padilla of Five Crowns and SidedoorThe iconic Five Crowns in Corona del Mar was established in 1965 and is a member of the Lawry’s family of fine-dining restaurants, which includes Lawry’s The Prime Rib with domestic locations in Beverly Hills, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas and the historic Tam O’Shanter in Los Angeles. Lawry’s Carvery, with locations in South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, and at L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles, represents the company’s unique quick-service concept.

SideDoor gastropub, recipient of Orange Coast Magazine’s “2010 Restaurant of the Year” Award and Corona del Mar’s first and only English gastropub, is also housed within the historic Five Crowns building; its primary entrance is on Poppy Street. They will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary in March.

We gently pull Executive Chef Alejandra Padilla away from her busy kitchen for a chat.

Show 355, January 11, 2020: Executive Chef Alejandra Padilla, Five Crowns & SideDoor Part Two

Alejandra Padilla of Five Crowns and SidedoorThe iconic Five Crowns in Corona del Mar was established in 1965 and is a member of the Lawry’s family of fine-dining restaurants, which includes Lawry’s The Prime Rib with domestic locations in Beverly Hills, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas and the historic Tam O’Shanter in Los Angeles.

SideDoor gastropub, recipient of Orange Coast Magazine’s “2010 Restaurant of the Year” Award and Corona del Mar’s first and only English gastropub, is also housed within the historic Five Crowns building; its primary entrance is on Poppy Street. They will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary in March.

Five Crowns has a new seasonal Winter menu courtesy of Executive Chef Alejandra Padilla. Guests will experience the vibrant flavors of the season’s most inspiring ingredients to complement Five Crowns’ cherished classic dishes.

“SideDoor is soon presenting the next eagerly anticipated Ultimate Cheese & Charcuterie Party, culminating from another successful creamery takeover series, on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 from 6 to 9 p.m. with a special Cheese Education Class from 5:30-6 p.m. led by SideDoor’s own certified cheesemonger, sommelier and cicerone, Tracy Nelsen.”

“Known for its award-winning cheese and charcuterie offerings, SideDoor started the monthly series to highlight unique creameries, dedicating one evening a month to small batch cheesemakers and specialty cheeses. Twice a year the series reaches its pinnacle with the ultimate celebration of fromage. The indulgent evening will showcase the previous five months of creameries in the series including Haystack Creamery from Colorado (August), Boutique creameries from Sonoma County (September), Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese from Kentucky (October), River’s Edge Chevrè from Oregon (November), and Cowgirl Creamery from California (December).”

January 11: Dine LBC, Five Crowns, Alchemy Restaurant and Bar, Santa Fe School of Cooking

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host & Executive Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group with “Ask the Chef”
Segment Three: Screening of Emmy-winning documentary, “Wasted!: The Story of Food Waste” in Long Beach organized by DINE LBC Long Beach Restaurant Week
Segment Four: Executive Chef Alejandra Padilla, Five Crowns & SideDoor Part One
Segment Five: Executive Chef Alejandra Padilla, Five Crowns & SideDoor Part Two
Segment Six: Alchemy Restaurant & Bar, Ashland, Oregon
Segment Seven: Santa Fe School of Cooking, Santa Fe, New Mexico Part One
Segment Eight: Santa Fe School of Cooking, Santa Fe, New Mexico Part Two

Now an enticing preview of this Saturday’s scrumptious show. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will hopefully leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s probably a pretty good thing… As always, we greatly appreciate you being a part of our loyal listening audience. Truly couldn’t do it without you.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group joins us from the road with another informative “Ask the Chef” segment. Where is the restaurant business headed in the new decade? Is fine dining in transition ? We’ll “Ask the Chef.”

Dine LBC Long Beach Restaurant Week is presenting a special, one day screening of Wasted!: The Story of Food Waste at The Art Theatre in Long Beach on Saturday, January 18th at 11:00 a.m. Wasted!: The Story of Food Waste is documentary executive-produced by the late Anthony Bourdain and aims to change the way people buy, cook, recycle, and eat food. Through the eyes of chef-heroes like Bourdain, Dan Barber, Massimo Bottura, and Danny Bowien, audiences will see how the world’s most influential chefs make the most of every kind of food, transforming what most people consider scraps into incredible dishes that create a more secure food system. Dine LBC’s Terri Henry is our guide.

The iconic Five Crowns in Corona del Mar was established in 1965 and is a member of the Lawry’s family of fine-dining restaurants, which includes Lawry’s The Prime Rib with domestic locations in Beverly Hills, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas and the historic Tam O’Shanter in Los Angeles. Lawry’s Carvery, with locations in South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, and at L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles, represents the company’s unique quick-service concept. SideDoor, Corona del Mar’s first and only English gastropub, is housed within Five Crowns. We gently pull Executive Chef Alejandra Padilla out of her busy kitchen for a chat.

Alchemy Restaurant and Bar, located in an historic former residence in Ashland, Oregon, is as popular with the locals as well as visitors for a memorable dining experience with inventive cocktails and an artfully selected wine list. Proprietor Drew Gibbs is also a Certified Sommelier. It’s housed on the ground floor of The Winchester Inn. Drew gently pulls the cork on Alchemy Restaurant and Bar for us.

Located in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the heart of historic downtown, the Santa Fe School of Cooking is an internationally acclaimed, recreational culinary school and Online Market specializing in foods of the American Southwest for 30 years. They offer Hands-On Cooking ClassesDemonstration Classes, an intensive 3-day cooking program they call Southwest Culinary Boot Camp and extremely popular Restaurant Walking Tours led by Santa Fe School of Cooking’s chefs. Nicole Ammerman, the Director of the Santa Fe School of Cooking & Market, represents the 2nd generation of family ownership and is our guest.

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s not-to-miss show!

Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group at the AM830 KLAA StudiosOur own Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group joins us from the road with another informative “Ask the Chef” segment. Where is the restaurant business headed in the new decade? Is fine dining in transition ? We’ll “Ask the Chef.”

 

Terri Henry of Dine LBC and Terri Henry MarketingDine LBC is proud to present a one day screening of Wasted!: The Story of Food Waste at The Art Theatre on Saturday, January 18th at 11am. Wasted!: The Story of Food Waste is an Emmy-winning documentary executive-produced by the late Anthony Bourdain and aims to change the way people buy, cook, recycle, and eat food. Through the eyes of chef-heroes like Bourdain, Dan Barber, Massimo Bottura, and Danny Bowien, audiences will see how the world’s most influential chefs make the most of every kind of food, transforming what most people consider scraps into incredible dishes that create a more secure food system.

WASTED! exposes the criminality of food waste and how it’s directly contributing to climate change and shows us how each of us can make small changes – all of them delicious – to solve one of the greatest problems of the 21st Century. The film is a must see for chefs, restaurant owners, home cooks and anyone interested in protecting the environment.

Dine LBC’s Terri Henry is our informed guide.

Alejandra Padilla of Five Crowns and SidedoorThe iconic Five Crowns in Corona del Mar was established in 1965 and is a member of the Lawry’s family of fine-dining restaurants, which includes Lawry’s The Prime Rib with domestic locations in Beverly Hills, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas and the historic Tam O’Shanter in Los Angeles. Lawry’s Carvery, with locations in South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, and at L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles, represents the company’s unique quick-service concept.

SideDoor gastropub, recipient of Orange Coast Magazine’s “2010 Restaurant of the Year” Award and Corona del Mar’s first and only English gastropub, is also housed within the historic Five Crowns building; its primary entrance is on Poppy Street. They will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary in March.

Five Crowns has a new seasonal menu courtesy of Executive Chef Alejandra Padilla. Guests will experience the vibrant flavors of the season’s most inspiring ingredients to complement Five Crown’s cherished classic dishes. Think Lamb Shank with scallion potato pancake, horseradish puree and caramelized onion jus.

“SideDoor is soon presenting the next eagerly anticipated Ultimate Cheese & Charcuterie Party, culminating from another successful creamery takeover series, on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 from 6 to 9 p.m. with a special Cheese Education Class from 5:30-6 p.m. led by SideDoor’s own certified cheesemonger, sommelier and cicerone, Tracy Nelsen.”

“Known for its award-winning cheese and charcuterie offerings, SideDoor started the monthly series to highlight unique creameries, dedicating one evening a month to small batch cheesemakers and specialty cheeses. Twice a year the series reaches its pinnacle with the ultimate celebration of fromage. The indulgent evening will showcase the previous five months of creameries in the series including Haystack Creamery from Colorado (August), Boutique creameries from Sonoma County (September), Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese from Kentucky (October), River’s Edge Chevrè from Oregon (November), and Cowgirl Creamery from California (December).”

We gently pull Executive Chef Alejandra Padilla away from her busy kitchen for a chat.

Drew Gibbs of the Alchemy Restaurant and BarAlchemy Restaurant and Bar, located in an historic former residence in Ashland, Oregon, is as popular with the locals as well as visitors for a memorable dining experience with inventive cocktails and an artfully selected wine list. Proprietor Drew Gibbs is also a Certified Sommelier. It’s housed on the ground floor of The Winchester Inn.

“Alchemy Restaurant and Bar…Cuisine Transformed.” “Come explore the world of Alchemy…Tinctures, Elixirs and Transmutations. We focus on craft cocktails, boutique wines, and innovative cuisine to transform your experience into something truly memorable. Serving dinner, bistro fare and Sunday brunch in a setting that melds classic and contemporary in one breath.”

“The Winchester Inn is an award-winning hotel that has been a landmark in Ashland, Oregon for over 35 years. A family run establishment since it was founded in 1983, the inn and restaurant have provided luxury and comfort with a touch of familiarity and home to thousands of guests.”

“The 21-room inn offers guests supreme levels of quality, luxury and service: rooms, suites, cottages, tiered English gardens, award winning dining at Alchemy Restaurant and Bar, and convenient access to shopping, art galleries, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in downtown Ashland.”

“The inn has received numerous accolades, including Conde Nast “Best in the US”, placing it in the ‘Top 75’ list. The New York Times has described the Winchester Inn as “Ashland’s premier historic inn.””

Drew artfully pulls the cork on Alchemy Restaurant and Bar for us.

Nicole Curtis AmmermanLocated in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the heart of historic downtown, the Santa Fe School of Cooking is an internationally acclaimed, recreational culinary school and Online Market specializing in foods of the American Southwest for 30 years. They offer Hands-On Cooking ClassesDemonstration Classes, and an intensive 3-day cooking program they call Southwest Culinary Boot Camp, and extremely popular Restaurant Walking Tours, led by Santa Fe School of Cooking’s chefs.

“Raised on a ranch near the banks of the Snake River in Idaho, the Founder of the Santa Fe School of Cooking, Susan Curtis, truly has good food in her blood. Fishing, hunting and foraging added to the bounty of a communal table laden with fresh garden produce and home-cured meats. She raised her Santa Fe family in the same way, instinctively aware that a convivial sharing of work and pleasure makes life taste that much sweeter.”

“In 1989, Susan’s desire for a new chapter in life and her love for the traditional foods of Santa Fe anticipated the cultural shift towards a local sustainable lifestyle. Her foresight, focus and passion have made the Santa Fe School of Cooking a home-grown success story. Still actively involved at the School, Susan has co-authored numerous cookbooks on the foods of New Mexico and remains deeply committed to her family, her community, and to the original philosophy of the School, to celebrate and share the distinctive techniques and flavors of regional Santa Fe cuisine.”

“A Santa Fe native, the School’s Director of Operations, Nicole Curtis Ammerman, has immersed herself fully in the goals laid out by her mother, Susan Curtis. Nicole’s love of family and friends drew her back home to Santa Fe in 1993, and combined with business and marketing skills she honed at the University of Arizona, her dedication to New Mexico culinary traditions has enriched the scope and abilities of Santa Fe’s original cooking school.”

“Nicole added longer Culinary Boot Camp experiences to the School’s signature roster of traditional Santa Fe cooking classes and created our popular Restaurant Walking Tours, which not only benefit the School’s guests but also provide exposure for local Santa Fe restaurants. She has wholeheartedly embraced the School’s mission to support the Santa Fe food community, sourcing some of the School’s produce from employee gardens.”

Nicole Ammerman, the Director of the Santa Fe School of Cooking & Market, represents the 2nd generation of family ownership and is our guest.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host & Executive Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group with “Ask the Chef”
Segment Three: Screening of Emmy-winning documentary, “Wasted!: The Story of Food Waste” in Long Beach organized by DINE LBC Long Beach Restaurant Week
Segment Four: Executive Chef Alejandra Padilla, Five Crowns & SideDoor Part One
Segment Five: Executive Chef Alejandra Padilla, Five Crowns & SideDoor Part Two
Segment Six: Alchemy Restaurant & Bar, Ashland, Oregon
Segment Seven: Santa Fe School of Cooking, Santa Fe, New Mexico Part One
Segment Eight: Santa Fe School of Cooking, Santa Fe, New Mexico Part Two

Show 301, December 8, 2018: Ryan Wilson, Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc. Part One

Ryan Wilson

Ryan Wilson, an accomplished chef, is part of the fourth generation of proud Frank / Van de Kamp family ownership of Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc. Most recently he served a s Vice President and Corporate Executive Chef but recently transitioned to an expanded position with Lawry’s Restaurants.

Ten years ago when he started with Lawry’s his first project was developing (with his colleagues) the uber successful SideDoor in Corona del Mar adjacent to Five Crowns.

We’ll talk to Ryan about the 80th Anniversary of Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Beverly Hills this year as well as his new, expanded responsibilities.