The latest fad diet that is getting a lot of attention is the Paleo Diet (also known as the caveman diet.)
Food journalist Jason Kessler of Food Republic and Bon Appetit was actually on the diet for 40 days and shared his experience with us. Jason’s observation is that because the diet is so restrictive you can drop some weight rather quickly. The severely limiting factor is that it gets monotonous rather fast.
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Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Barbara Fairchild, food journalist, cookbook author, educator, and consultant
Segment Three: Chef Merrin-Mae, winning cheftestant, Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen”
Segment Four: Jason Kessler, food journalist
Segment Five: Anita Lau of the Mad Hungry Woman blog”
Segment Six: Chef Instructor Elizabeth Whitt
Segment Seven: Josiah Citrin, Chef/Proprietor of Melisse
Segment Eight: Matt Bencivenga, executive chef and partner of the Wolfgang Puck Catering Company
Thanks to all of our loyal & enthusiastic listeners who were part of the audience for Jet’s Saturday afternoon cooking demo with Ben McKee of The Imagine Dragons at the Life Is Beautiful food and music festival in Downtown Las Vegas. It was standing room only for the demo in the Chefs On Stage East tent.
Jet and Andy preview the show. We have everything from a snapshot on where to dine now in New York to what it takes to prepare and serve gourmet food to the demanding VIPs at the Breeder’s Cup at Santa Anita. Also we’ll get the behind-the-scenes with a winning chef from Food Network’s new hit series “Cutthroat Kitchen” hosted by Alton Brown. Jet is one of the regular judges for the first season.
Barbara Fairchild is a respected food journalist, cookbook author, consultant, and educator. She is best known to us as the long-time former editor of Bon Appetit Magazine when they were based in Los Angeles.
This summer she taught a course in the Arthur L. Canter Journalism Institute at the prestigious New York University. Barbara tells us all about that as well as provides us with some great Manhattan dining suggestions ranging from a deli find to fine dining Italian and a comfortable celebrity chef restaurant that’s really worth going to.
Chef Merrin-Mae is a cheftestant on the first season of Food Network’s high pressure “Cutthroat Kitchen” hosted by Alton Brown. Her episode is entitled “Kiss My Grits” and was first aired on October 6th.
The level of competition was particularly intense and the sabotages were devilish. Chef Merrin-Mae made us proud in SoCal (she is a local) and she won the episode. One of the other cheftestants was a “Chopped” winner and was eliminated after the first round!
She currently works at Alma with executive chef Ari Taymor. When she did the show she was part of the culinary team at Sotto.
The latest fad diet that is getting a lot of attention is the Paleo Diet (also known as the caveman diet.)
Food journalist Jason Kessler of Food Republic and Bon Appetit was actually on the diet for 40 days and shares his experience with us. Jason’s observation is that because the diet is so restrictive you can drop some weight rather quickly. The severely limiting factor is that it gets monotonous rather fast.
San Diego, we haven’t forgotten you.
Anita Lau of the Mad Hungry Woman blog is with us with a San Diego dining discovery. Anita was a nominee for a Golden Foodie award in Journalism this year.
Anita’s find is Ristorante Kaz. This is an intriguing Japanese Italian fusion cuisine spot. Anita’s favorite bite was an angel hair pasta dish with creamy sea urchin with spinach and salmon roe.
Feeling ambitious in the kitchen…? Time to get a running start on holiday cooking and entertaining. Our superstar chef instructor, Elizabeth Whitt, of www.ChefElizabeth.com is with us again to get those holiday preparations pointed in the right direction with relative ease.
Pumpkin is in this year. Chef Elizabeth has both a savory and sweet recipe to add to your holiday collection. First up is an incredible Pumpkin Risotto with a fresh baking pumpkin or butternut squash. For dessert there is a not too sweet Pumpkin Cheesecake. Yum….!
When Chef Jet has his own culinary questions he turns Le Cordon Bleu, Paris-trained to Chef Elizabeth. She has a series of popular holiday classes coming up that always sell out early. On November 7th she has “Make-Ahead Holiday Side Dishes” from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and “Holiday Pies and Desserts” the same day from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Then on December 5th its her most popular class, “Appetizers and Hors D’oeuvres,” from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
All classes are at the Cypress Community Center in Cypress.
Fifteen years ago when fine-dining restaurants located outside of the protective umbrella of luxury hotels were at a low ebb in Los Angeles Chef Josiah Citrin sold his stake in a very popular Santa Monica dinner house and went out on his own to open a ultra-luxe, destination, freestanding, fine-dining, contemporary French restaurant with California accents. That was the start of Melisse. All these years later it still impresses.
Josiah is a new member of the Bocuse d’Or USA Foundation’s prestigious Culinary Council. On November 10th Josiah and five other culinary superstars will join forces to cook an extraordinary six course repast at Melisse in Santa Monica to raise funds for The Foundation. Two different levels of wine-pairings are available for a supplement.
The esteemed group of chefs includes Gavin Kaysen, the Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Operations for Daniel Boulud’s Café Boulud in New York, Palm Beach, and Toronto. He has previously represented the USA in the Bocuse d’Or culinary competition. For reservations please call 310.395.0881.
The Bocuse d’Or USA Foundation, established in 2008, is a non-profit organization led by a Board of Directors of renowned chefs Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller and Jerome Bocuse (Paul’s son.) The Foundation is devoted to recruiting, training, and financially supporting the promising young American chefs who compete on behalf of the United States in the prestigious Bocuse d’Or competition, held in Lyon, France every two years. Think of it as the Olympics of the culinary world…
The 2013 Breeder’s Cup, horse racing’s premier international event, returns to storied Santa Anita Park on November 1st and 2nd.
Wolfgang Puck Catering (they cater the annual Governors Ball for The Oscars) has been selected to serve it’s fine-dining, seasonal cuisine to some 5,000 demanding VIP attendees. Wolfgang Puck Catering’s cuisine will be served in the Trackside Marquee, Frontrunner, Sierra Vista, Trophy Lounge and the Chandelier Room.
Founding Executive Chef and Partner (of Wolfgang Puck Catering) Matt Bencivenga joins us to talk about the challenges of maintaining Spago quality at large events. It takes a lot of skill, planning, and an army of chefs.
Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Barbara Fairchild, food journalist, cookbook author, educator, and consultant
Segment Three: Chef Merrin-Mae, winning cheftestant, Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen”
Segment Four: Jason Kessler, food journalist
Segment Five: Anita Lau of the Mad Hungry Woman blog”
Segment Six: Chef Instructor Elizabeth Whitt
Segment Seven: Josiah Citrin, Chef/Proprietor of Melisse
Segment Eight: Matt Bencivenga, executive chef and partner of the Wolfgang Puck Catering Company
Segment One: Andrew Zimmern of Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods America”
Segment Two: Leah DiBernardo, Executive Chef & Co-Owner of E.A.T. (Extraordinary Artisan Table) in Temecula and head (as a volunteer) of the Slow Food Temecula Valley convivium
Segment Three: Ti Adelaide Martin, New Orleans restaurateur, co-owner of Commander’s Palace, Café Adelaide and the Swizzle Stick Bar, and SoBou
Segment Four: Tony DiSalvo, Executive Chef of Whist and the Viceroy Santa Monica
Segment Five: Jason Kessler, food writer, Food Republic and Bon Appetit Part One
Segment Six: Jason Kessler, food writer, Food Republic and Bon Appetit Part Part Two
Travel Channel’s biggest star and celebrity chef is with us live to kick off the show.
From there it’s genuine farm-to-table dining supplied by artisan purveyors in Temecula.
Super Bowl mania is residing in New Orleans this weekend and we’ll be chatting with a veteran New Orleans restaurateur (actually NOLA restaurant royalty) who will give us the real insider’s view of the goings-on in the City.
Then it’s on to the Noodle Bowl Festival in Santa Monica.
There is an ultra-premium dining experience available to a few select diners each evening at The Bazaar by Jose Andres and we’ll hear all about it.
Finally some intell on new restaurants (and a few veteran ones) making waves on the Los Angeles dining scene.
Andrew Zimmern (2 time James Beard Award-winner) has taken Travel Channel, and the country, by storm with his engaging and highly entertaining food travels. Andrew is with us live (from New Orleans) to talk about the new season of “Bizarre Foods America” (debuting February 11th) which begins in Washington, D.C.
Temecula is a large, fast-growing bedroom community adjacent to a rural agricultural area in Riverside County. It’s well known for wine grapes but a number of dedicated family farmers grow fruits (lots of citrus) and vegetables there for restaurants.
Restaurateur & Chef Leah DiBernardo of E.A.T. (Extraordinary Artisan Table) is the head of Slow Food Temecula Valley and an articulate champion of the local artisan food movement. Leah joins us to talk about the inspiring mission of Slow Food Temecula Valley and the year anniversary of her gourmet take-out shop, E.A.T. which also caters.
It’s Super Bowl madness in New Orleans. Also Mardi Gras time there leading up to Fat Tuesday.
If there is restaurant royalty in New Orleans it’s embodied by the legendary Brennan Family.
Ti Adelaide Martin (a 2nd generation member of the Brennan Restaurant Family) joins us to talk about the food aspects of Super Bowl. Ti co-owns Commander’s Palace, Café Adelaide and the Swizzle Stick Bar, and the newest, SoBou in the French Quarter.
Tony DiSalvo is executive chef at Whist at The Viceroy Santa Monica.
Chef Tony is hosting the Noodle Bowl Festival at The Viceroy on Sunday, February 10th from 4 to 7 p.m. to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Chef DiSalvo is serving kimchi sujebi, a traditional Korean noodle soup made with from-scratch dough.
Last Monday Chef DiSalvo was part of a group of celebrity chefs presenting a 6-course meal at the Abigaile in Hermosa Beach.
Food writer Jason Kessler (Food Republic and Bon Appetit Magazine) is back with us to profile some new dining adventures in Los Angeles.
First is a chronicle of dining at Saam at The Bazaar by Jose Andres. This is a very expensive, 22-couse tasting menu experience that is served in an exclusive private club setting.
From there Jason takes us on a verbal dine-around of some new (or revamped) area hot spots worthy of your attention.
Segment One: Andrew Zimmern of Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods America”
Segment Two: Leah DiBernardo, Executive Chef & Co-Owner of E.A.T. (Extraordinary Artisan Table) in Temecula and head (as a volunteer) of the Slow Food Temecula Valley convivium
Segment Three: Ti Adelaide Martin, New Orleans restaurateur, co-owner of Commander’s Palace, Café Adelaide and the Swizzle Stick Bar, and SoBou
Segment Four: Tony DiSalvo, Executive Chef of Whist and the Viceroy Santa Monica
Segment Five: Jason Kessler, food writer, Food Republic and Bon Appetit Part One
Segment Six: Jason Kessler, food writer, Food Republic and Bon Appetit Part Part Two
Jason is no stranger to the show…
On December 27th Food Republic published Jason’s provocative piece, “2012 in Review : The Year In Chefs, Restaurants And Looking Ahead.”
Jason shares everything from his “Worst dining trend” to “What are you looking forward to in 2013.”
It’s a worthy read…
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Segment One: Russ Parsons, Food Editor of the Los Angeles Times Part One
Segment Two: Russ Parsons, Food Editor of the Los Angeles Times Part Two
Segment Three: Chef Neal Fraser of FritziDog at The Original Farmers Market
Segment Four: Chef Marcel Vigneron – Food Network’s “Next Iron Chef: Redemption”
Segment Five: Chef Jason Collis of Plated Events by Jason in Ventura
Segment Six: Jason Kessler (food writer) for Food Republic and Bon Appetit Magazine
It’s our last show of the year so we’re looking forward and also taking a peak back. It’s time to think of travel, too.
Russ Parsons (“The California Cook”) is the long-time food editor of The Los Angeles Times. He’s also an award-winning author. Russ joins us to talk about modern restaurant reviewing and food trends. The Times has now published two e-books and the recipes in each were fully tested in The Times Test Kitchen.
Chef Neal Fraser is well known on the Los Angeles culinary scene. Grace Restaurant had a healthy run on Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles and, eventually, will be reborn at the Vibiana Events Center in Downtown Los Angeles. His more casual bld is very popular located near The Farmers Market.
Neal is one of the newest food tenants at The Original Farmers Market at Third & Fairfax with his gourmet hot dog emporium, FritziDog.
Chef Marcel Vigneron of the just concluded season of Food Network’s “Next Iron Chef : Redemption” and Bravo’s “Top Chef” fame joins us to talk about the incredible season of “Next Iron Chef.” We’ll also ask him about his preparation of a fabulous coconut ice cream made with lots of rich coconut meat and a dash of liquid nitrogen!
Representing the Culinary Stage at the upcoming Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show at the Long Beach Convention Center (January 12th & 13th) is Chef Jason Collis of Limoneria Ranch. He’ll be performing cooking demos on both days.
You’ve asked for him and now he’s back…Food writer for Food Republic and Bon Appetit Magazine, Jason Kessler, joins us to say goodbye to 2013 with his thoughtful end-of-year musings..
Segment One: Russ Parsons, Food Editor of the Los Angeles Times Part One
Segment Two: Russ Parsons, Food Editor of the Los Angeles Times Part Two
Segment Three: Chef Neal Fraser of FritziDog at The Original Farmers Market
Segment Four: Chef Marcel Vigneron – Food Network’s “Next Iron Chef: Redemption”
Segment Five: Chef Jason Collis of Plated Events by Jason in Ventura
Segment Six: Jason Kessler (food writer) for Food Republic and Bon Appetit Magazine
Jason spent his Thanksgiving at the inaugural Margaret River Gourmet Escape in Western Australia. Some of the biggest names in international celebrity chefdom were there including Rene Redzepi of Noma in Copenhagen consistently rated as the number one restaurant in the World and David Chang of the New York-based Momofuku restaurant empire who now has a restaurant in Sydney.
The VIP Opening Night Party was held on the sand at Smith Beach with a backdrop of rolling waves.
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The formal dinner at the Margaret River Gourmet Escape was to honor Heston Blumenthal. The meal was prepared by Sydney’s most distinguished chefs including Tetsuya Wakada (Tetsuya’s,) Neil Perry (Rockpool,) and Peter Gilmore (Quay.)
Jason couldn’t resist asking the renown celebrity chefs how they would cook kangaroo. “Redzepoi suggested he’d rub a braising cut of roo with Vegemite and braise it in Foster’s beer.”
Jason also has some thoughts on what exactly Australian cuisine is after interviewing the Aussie celebrity chefs.
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We unfortunately weren’t able to connect with Pamela Sheldon Johns who is a Italian culinary expert and cookbook author who now lives in Tuscany on an agricultural estate with olive trees, a cooking school, and a bed and breakfast. She is on a brief SoCal book tour for Cucina Povera, Tuscan Peasant Food. She will be a Zov’s Bistro in Tustin on Saturday, Dec. 8th @ 11:30 a.m. teaching a full menu from the book using her own estate olive oil. All the details are on Zov’s website.
Jason Kessler then continued his conversation with Jet and revealed a discovery. Jason is from Chicago and he’s finally uncovered a deep dish pizza spot that’s comparable to the best in Chicago!
In the Fairfax district he’s become a fan of Hollywood Pies @ 6616 and ½ W. Pico Blvd. Phone – (323) 337-3212. This underground spot has been at various locations and recently moved here. It’s take-out or delivery right now with seating planned for the future. If you’re out of their delivery area you need to call ahead and order. At the scheduled pick-up time you call from the curb and the pizza comes out to you.
Open nightly but closed on Monday.
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Segment One: Executive Chef Greg Harrison and General Manager Jim Colombo of the iconic Five Crowns & SideDoor in Corona del Mar.
Segment Two: Executive Chef Greg Harrison and General Manager Jim Colombo Part Two
Segment Three: Bricia Lopez of the Guelaguetza Restaurants in K-Town and Plaza Mexico in Lynwood
Segment Four: Jason Kessler – Los Angeles-based food writer for Food Republic and his column for the online version of Bon Appetit Magazine is the “Nitpicker.”
Segment Five: Jason Kessler Part Two
Segment Six: Jason Kessler Part Three
It’s the first Saturday in December and abundant Holiday Cheer will be with us for the month.
Joining Jet in studio will be Chef Greg Harrison, the accomplished new exec at the iconic, 48-year old Five Crowns in Corona del Mar. The Holidays are always a special time of celebration at Five Crowns and Chef Greg will be telling us about his new touches added to the traditional festivities.
Five Crowns has always been the establishment of choice to celebrate special occasions and still is. Since Chef Greg’s arrival he’s enhanced the menu to retain the signature classics while offering an updated selection of more contemporary dishes.
When you’re talking about the Mexican regional cuisine of Oaxaca no one does it better than the Lopez Family behind the two very popular Guelaguetza restaurants in Los Angeles and in the Plaza Mexico in Lynwood.
Lopez Family scion, Bricia, will be joining us to provide the basic 411 on Tequila and Mezcal (which originated in Oaxaca.)
Who’s that for Holiday cheer?
Jason Kessler, blogger extraordinaire for Food Republic and also the “Nitpicker” for Bon Appetit Magazine’s blog, is with us to report on his just completed adventure at the Margaret River Gourmet Escape in Western Australia. The remote area started as a surf spot and then developed into a world class wine region.
That weekend he rubbed shoulders with some of the most accomplished chefs in the world including Rene Redzepi of Noma in Copenhagen (regarded by many restaurant critics as the Number One restaurant in the world,) and New York-based David Chang of Momofuku fame. Jason also got to chat with Australian star chefs Tetsuya Wakada (Tetsuya’s,) Neil Perry (Rockpool,) and Peter Gilmore (Quay,) all Sydney-based.
Segment One: Executive Chef Greg Harrison and General Manager Jim Colombo of the iconic Five Crowns & SideDoor in Corona del Mar.
Segment Two: Executive Chef Greg Harrison and General Manager Jim Colombo Part Two
Segment Three: Bricia Lopez of the Guelaguetza Restaurants in K-Town and Plaza Mexico in Lynwood
Segment Four: Jason Kessler – Los Angeles-based food writer for Food Republic and his column for the online version of Bon Appetit Magazine is the “Nitpicker.”
Segment Five: Jason Kessler Part Two
Segment Six: Jason Kessler Part Three
Robert Schueller of Melissa’s World Variety Produce explains what organic really means when it comes to fruits and vegetables. He also highlights what new organics are fresh in the marketplace. Jet is particularly fond of the new crop of Honeycrisp Apples.
Jason Kessler is the Los Angeles correspondent for the Food Republic Blog co-founded by Marcus Samuelsson. He’s a Chicago native. Jason is a fan of the 1st Portillo’s Hot Dog location in the West which was opened in Buena Park in early 2006. He describes it as the In-N-Out of Chicago and it’s still Family-owned with no franchising. Jason gets there as often as he can for their specialty, Italian Beef as originated in Chicago. He likes it fully loaded and the sandwich dipped in gravy. It’s a mess but an ethereal nosh. They are also known for the Portillo’s Chocolate Cake for dessert which was adapted from founder Dick Portillo’s daughter-in-laws’s home recipe !
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