Show 189, September 17, 2016: Gretchen Beaumarchais, Regional Executive Chef – West, Legends Hospitality

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Adam Bell

Chef Gretchen Beaumarchais is the Regional Executive Chef West for Legends Hospitality. This includes supervising the food at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum for USC Football and L.A. Rams Football. With the return of The Rams food expectations are especially high.

A new item already attracting attention is the Giant Pretzel weighing in at almost a pound. It’s baked by Homeboy Industries.

Their better burger is the new Bacon Bacon Bacon Burger with a special bacon beef patty blend topped with pepper pork belly, housemade sweet bacon jam, and garlic aioli. See our Instagram feed for the food porn image.

The ever popular fan favorite is the Brisket Sandwich. Between the brioche bun halves is a pile of beef brisket, BBQ sauce and coleslaw.

Taken to a new level for the 2016 season is Suite and Club Dining. In Club Sections there are rotating chef menus with signature dishes highlighting the visiting teams’ hometown favorites.

Local food scene standouts on the expanded menu are Randy’s Donuts, Seoul Sausage Co., Neal Fraser’s Fritzi Dog and our own Chef Andrew’s Slapfish.

Chef Gretchen joins us for the delicious 411 on what’s new on the menu for the 2016 season.

Show 159, Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel, Founder, Slapfish Restaurant Group

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Adam Bell

Executive 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.

Guys, don’t forget Valentine’s Day. Sunday brunch is always a great possible option for the celebration and can be a bit less crazed. Remember Valentine’s Day is a tough occasion for restaurants. It’s a lot of tables for two and tension can be in the air along with romance.

On to a tempting preview of Saturday’s delectable and always healthy 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 absolutely a good thing…

Chef Neal Fraser is well-known to Angelenos for BLD, Fritzi Dog at the Original Farmers Market and Redbird at Vibiana Events Center in Downtown Los Angeles. Chef Neal and the Vibiana Events Center were even part of the recent Beefsteak episode of Season 13 of Bravo’s “Top Chef.” Fritzi is now Downtown, too, sharing space in The Arts District with the Arts District Brewing Co. It’s lunch and dinner for elevated pub-grub.

Hundreds of premium wine varieties, sweet and savory chocolate confections, gourmet food samples from acclaimed Pechanga Resort & Casino restaurants, live music, a silent auction and helping out a good cause are all on the agenda for February 26 and 27 at Pechanga Resort & Casino. Tickets for the 8^th annual Chocolate Decadence and Pechanga Wine Festival are on sale now. Proceeds from both events benefit Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley. Pechanga Resort & Casino’s Executive Chef, Duane Owen, joins us with all the sweet and savory details.

The proudly Family-owned Terlato Wine Group is a holding company for several independent businesses specializing in the marketing and production of exceptional wines. They are probably best known for pioneering the popularity of Pinot Grigio in the United States. Representing the 2^nd generation of Family ownership is John Terlato, our guest. John will soon be in Southern California for the Santa Barbara Wine Auction.

Bill Bracken is a well-known executive chef who traded in luxury hotels (The Peninsula Beverly Hills and Island Hotel, Newport Beach) for Betsy, a well-worn food truck with a lot of miles. He’s now feeding people in need in Orange County. Chef Bill shares his new mission with us.

Our resident wine authority, Kyle Meyer of The Wine Exchange in Santa Ana, is curating The Wine Village (along with partner Tristen Beamon) for LA Weekly’s “The Essentials” food and wine extravaganza on February 20^th at The California Mart Center. Kyle uncorks his wine pairings. Also a few practical tips on storing wine once the bottle is uncorked.

Finally, we’ll get some practical thoughts about surviving Valentine’s Day dining out from our Co-host, Chef Andrew Gruel. He’s been there…

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

Show 159, February 13, 2016: Executive Chef / Proprietor Neal Fraser, Fritzi at Arts District Brewing Co.

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Adam Bell

Fritzi is now Downtown, too, sharing space in The Arts District with the Arts District Brewing Co. It’s lunch and dinner for elevated pub-grub. It’s early in the going but the wood- fired rotisserie chicken and the potato waffle are already signature menu items. Nothing on the menu is over $19.

“The industrial chic restaurant serves lunch and dinner, and handcrafted cocktails from its full bar, which is stocked with bubbles, wines, brews from the Arts District Brewing Co., and Ketel One pours. With an occupancy of 60 diners, Fritzi is a seamless addition to L.A.’s historic arts district with its modern wood and metal elements and intimate atmosphere.”

“Fritzi’s menu features handcrafted epic dishes and small plates such as Charred Brussels Sprout, Forbidden Rice & Quinoa Salad, Spit Roasted Cauliflower, Crispy Shrimp Balls, Fritzi Burger, Wood Fried Rotisserie Half Chicken, Steak Frites, Santa Barbara White Fish, and more, with Fries, Tots, and Potato Waffle to accompany.”

Chef Neal Fraser joins us with the 411 on Fritzi.

Show 105, January 10, 2015: Amy Knoll Fraser, Redbird at Vibiana

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Adam Bell

Chef Neal Fraser (bld and Fritzi Dog at the Original Farmers Market) and his wife and business partner, Amy Knoll Fraser, have had their eye on Downtown Los Angeles since before they closed Grace in the Fairfax District in 2010. Their first move was to become one of the official caterers for Vibiana, the home of L.A.’s former historic Catholic Cathedral (Cathedral of Saint Vibiana) dating back to 1876 and now a busy special events and performing arts space.

Eventually they moved their catering kitchen to the site and became the official solo caterers for the facility. Redbird (a partnership with restaurateur Bill Chait) is their new, eagerly anticipated “New American” fine-dining space located on one floor of the former Rectory building (built in the early 1940’s.) The space has been artfully restored and renovated keeping as many of the distinctive historical elements intact as possible.

The main dining room is actually a cleverly designed atrium space that has been weatherized for all-season indoor dining. The appealing long bar is actually two-sided. One side faces the dining area and the other side (with a marble bar) fronts the entrance reception area and lounge. It’s dinner only for the moment with lunch and brunch to follow soon.

A standout entrée is the Aged Le Belle Farms Duck Breast with Hopping John.

The restaurant entrance (and valet) is located on the Second St. side of the building. It’s the only door/entrance on the South side of the street in the block.

The event space itself is in the former cathedral.

Amy Knoll Fraser is our guest.

Show 11, December 29, 2012: Chef Neal Fraser of FritziDog at The Original Farmers Market

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Adam Bell

Neal Fraser of Grace Restaurant and Fritzidog Chef Neal has serious credentials as a fine dining chef who, more recently, has gone casual. Grace (located where John Sedler’s Playa is now) had a healthy run and was well-reviewed. While he was the executive chef at Grace he was one of the few Los Angeles chefs to win a battle on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America.”

Chef Neal’s most recent effort is a gourmet hot dog emporium, FritziDog, located at Los Angeles’ Original Farmers Market at Third & Fairfax. It was a couple of years in the concept and design phase. The guest builds their own dog with a choice of five dogs and four bun choices.

All of the franks are made locally. The source animals are raised humanely, vegetarian fed, and antibiotic free. There are no added nitrates in the hot dogs.

A daytime only version of FritziDog in Downtown will launch in 2013 on the patio of the historic Vibiana Events Center.