Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chef Bill Bracken, Culinary Director and Founder, Bracken’s Kitchen, Garden Grove Part One
Segment Three: Chef Bill Bracken, Culinary Director and Founder, Bracken’s Kitchen, Garden Grove Part Two
Segment Four: Restaurateur Molly Tou, Two60 Kitchen + Bar, Fairfield, CA Part One
Segment Five: Restaurateur Molly Tou, Two60 Kitchen + Bar, Fairfield, CA Part Two
Segment Six: Tastemakers of Orange County Benefiting OCAPICA With Baker Tarit Tanjasiri and Chef Kristen Nguyen
Segment Seven: The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar’s Benefits for Maui Strong (Newport Beach)
Segment Eight: Co-Host and Chef Andrew Gruel with “Ask the Chef”

Andy Harris, Executive Producer and Co-host previews the show.

“Hungry Games 6.0 benefiting the worthy activities of Bracken’s Kitchen in Garden Grove is back better and bigger than ever before. The Hungry Games event benefits the less fortunate and food insecure in Southern California! Please join Chef Bill Bracken and Bracken’s Kitchen at their very own busy kitchen on Thursday, September 14th 2023 at 5:30 p.m. for a wonderful evening together! It will be full of great food, fun, and of course, friendly competition. The defending champion, Chef Michael Rossi (The Beach Club, Santa Monica,) will be there. This year’s ambitious fundraising goal is a cool $500,000. Come hungry for some yummy hors d’oeuvres, incredibly delicious meals, and beverages that you will love as the chefs battle for first place! Guests help vote for their favorites throughout the night. The Pinch Me! band returns to play some incredible live music!” Culinary Director of Bracken’s Kitchen, Bill Bracken, joins us with whisk in hand.

“Helmed by long-time Fairfield Restaurateur Molly Tou (ex-Sticky Rice) and Chef Joey Jaraba, Two60 Kitchen + Bar is a great new addition to Fairfield’s dining scene. It opened in 2020 at 260 Pittman Road. Over the last 23 years, Chef Jaraba has developed a career out of fusing his own background from the Philippines with his dishes. Two60 blends modern American cuisine with global influences to create a menu deeply rooted in sourcing ingredients from local farms. Besides traditional American fare such as hamburgers, steak and salads they feature items with Asian and Italian influences such as Shanghai Lumpia, Ahi Poke Towers and Pastas.” Restaurateur Molly Tou is our guest.

“The Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) brings back its Tastemakers of Orange County fundraising event on Wednesday, September 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. More than two dozen local chefs will celebrate the Asian and Pacific Islander community, culture, and heritage by giving guests the opportunity to indulge in one-of-a-kind Asian and Pacific Island-inspired dishes. Proceeds from tickets sold for this event benefit OCAPICA’s numerous programs and services in mental health and health, youth development, housing assistance, policy education and combating anti-Asian racism throughout Orange County.” Baker Tarit Tanjasiri of Crema Café and Chef Kristen Nguyen of Garlic & Chives join us with all the tasty details.

“The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar presents MAUI STRONG, a fundraiser on Sunday, September 17 at its waterfront location in Newport Beach to benefit the Maui Strong Fund. Guests will have the opportunity to attend a “Maui Strong Tasting Event” from 2 to 5 p.m. and “Taste of Hawaii Dinner” from 5 to 8:30 p.m., both supporting relief efforts through the Maui Strong Fund, organized by the Hawai’i Community Foundation and committed to distributing 100% of funds donated to local aid groups who are responding to community needs.”

The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar’s Managing Partner, JC Clow, is our guest providing all the details.

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 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. Has the restaurant business really fully recovered from the Pandemic? What are the present concerns of chefs and restaurateurs? Some restaurants are really struggling in urban San Francisco. We’ll “Ask the Chef”?

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

“Hungry Games 6.0 benefiting the worthy activities of Bracken’s Kitchen in Garden Grove is back better and bigger than ever before. The Hungry Games event benefits the less fortunate and food insecure in Southern California! Please join Chef Bill Bracken and Bracken’s Kitchen at their very own busy kitchen on Thursday, September 14th 2023 at 5:30 p.m. for a wonderful evening together! It will be full of great food, fun, and of course, friendly competition.” The defending champion, Chef Michael Rossi (The Beach Club, Santa Monica,) will be there. This year’s ambitious fundraising goal is a cool $500,000.

“Come hungry for some yummy hors d’oeuvres, incredibly delicious meals, and beverages that you will love as the chefs battle for first place! Guests help vote for their favorites throughout the night. The Pinch Me! band returns to play some incredible live music!”

“As Bracken’s Kitchen celebrates their tenth anniversary of serving healthy and delicious meals to those in need, the Bracken’s Kitchen Team is humbled by and grateful for what they have been able to accomplish. Bracken’s Kitchen is still striving to meet the needs of their community – after pandemic high numbers of 1.7 million meals in 2020 and 2021, they served 1.5 million meals last year, 2022. For 2023, Bracken’s Kitchen is on pace to serve 2 million meals in and around Orange County. In addition to their community feeding program, they are in the middle of their third culinary training class helping those in need with a hand up out of poverty.”

Culinary Director of Bracken’s Kitchen, Bill Bracken, joins us with whisk in hand.

“Helmed by long-time Fairfield Restaurateur Molly Tou (ex-Sticky Rice) and Chef Joey Jaraba, Two60 Kitchen + Bar is a great new addition to Fairfield’s growing dining scene, opened in 2020 at 260 Pittman Road.”

“Over the last 23 years, Chef Jaraba has developed a career out of fusing his own background from the Philippines with his dishes. Two60 blends modern American cuisine with global influences to create a menu deeply rooted in sourcing ingredients from local farms. Besides traditional American fare such as hamburgers, steak and salads they feature items with Asian and Italian influences such as Shanghai Lumpia, Ahi Poke Towers and Pastas.”

“The restaurant is family friendly, including a children’s menu with grilled cheese sandwich, chicken strips and fries, simple pastas and grilled chicken and vegetables. There are two separate dining areas one in the main room and a bar/ seating area off to the back for people who enjoy a bustling bar atmosphere.” There is also patio seating.

“The completely renovated space in Cordelia is the perfect place to grab an innovative bite and a nice cocktail with house-made syrups. You’ll notice the cocktails are named after some streets in Green Valley and Cordelia. They are also serving local favorites including Tolenas Vineyards, Wooden Valley, Caymus Vineyards and Heretic Brewing.”

Proprietress Molly Tou is our guest.

“The Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) brings back its Tastemakers of Orange County fundraising event on Wednesday, September 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. More than two dozen local chefs will celebrate the Asian and Pacific Islander community, culture, and heritage by giving guests the opportunity to indulge in one-of-a-kind Asian and Pacific Island-inspired dishes. Proceeds from tickets sold for this event benefit OCAPICA’s numerous programs and services in mental health and health, youth development, housing assistance, policy education and combating anti-Asian racism throughout Orange County.”

“In addition to the food tastings, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy beverages by Brewery X and Bondle Wines. The celebration at Argyros Plaza will also include entertainment, a silent auction and opportunity drawing for guests to enjoy. Tickets are available to the public for $250 for VIP, which allows early entry at 6 p.m.; and $195 for General Admission from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. More information and tickets can be found here.”

Baker Tarit Tanjasiri of Crema Café and Chef Kristen Nguyen of Garlic & Chives join us with all the tasty details.

“The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar presents MAUI STRONG, a fundraiser on Sunday, September 17 at its waterfront location in Newport Beach to benefit the Maui Strong Fund. Guests will have the opportunity to attend a “Maui Strong Tasting Event” from 2 to 5 p.m. and “Taste of Hawaii Dinner” from 5 to 8:30 p.m., both supporting relief efforts through the Maui Strong Fund, organized by the Hawai’i Community Foundation and committed to distributing 100% of funds donated to local aid groups who are responding to community needs.”

“We have hosted many fundraising events, but this one is near and dear to our hearts, as many of us at The Winery have a deep connection to Maui,” commented JC Clow, Founding Partner at The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar, who revealed that the restaurants have raised approximately $599,300 to date for various charities. “The goal of the event is to make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by the fires in Maui by raising significant funds for the Maui Strong Fund.”

“Tickets for both MAUI STRONG events are limited and a portion of each ticket is tax-deductible. Tickets for the “Maui Strong Tasting Event” from 2-5 p.m. are $150 per guest and may be purchased in advance online. The “Taste of Hawaii Dinner” from 5-8:30 p.m. is $175 per guest and reservations may be made by calling 949-999-6622 or online.”

The Winery Restaurant and Wine Bar’s Managing Partner, JC Clow, is our guest providing all the details.

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.

Has the restaurant business really recovered from the Pandemic? What are the present concerns of chefs and restaurateurs? Some restaurants are really struggling in urban San Francisco. We’ll “Ask the Chef”?

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chef Bill Bracken, Culinary Director and Founder, Bracken’s Kitchen, Garden Grove Part One
Segment Three: Chef Bill Bracken, Culinary Director and Founder, Bracken’s Kitchen, Garden Grove Part Two
Segment Four: Restaurateur Molly Tou, Two60 Kitchen + Bar, Fairfield, CA Part One
Segment Five: Restaurateur Molly Tou, Two60 Kitchen + Bar, Fairfield, CA Part Two
Segment Six: Tastemakers of Orange County Benefiting OCAPICA With Baker Tarit Tanjasiri and Chef Kristen Nguyen
Segment Seven: The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar’s Benefits for Maui Strong (Newport Beach)
Segment Eight: Co-Host and Chef Andrew Gruel with “Ask the Chef”