Tag Archives: General Manager

Show 402, December 5, 2020: Matthew DeMarte, General Manager, Connie & Ted’s, West Hollywood

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Matthew de Marte wearing a mask at Connie and Ted'sConnie and Ted’s in West Hollywood is inspired by the real Connie & Ted (the grandparents of Chef Michael Cimarusti,) their love for family, and the good times they spent together fishing off the shores of New England. At Connie and Ted’s you’ll find simply prepared fish and shellfish, inspired by the classic clam shacks, oyster bars, and fish houses, that dot the New England Seaboard and the West Coast.

General Manager Matthew DeMarte has been there since the beginning eight years ago. We reel him in to explain how Connie & Ted’s is still hospitably serving their guests (Wednesday through Sunday) with seafood specialties available for takeaway. Gift cards for Connie & Ted’s are a great item for the seafood lovers on your Holiday list.

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Show 337, August 17, 2019: Robert Hunt, General Manager, Alcazar Palm Springs

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Robert Hunt of Alcazar Palm Springs“Alcazar Palm Springs (established in 2011 and a member of Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels) is a serene and peaceful oasis right in the center of the cultural epicenter known as the uptown design district!”

“This lush and relaxing 34- room boutique hotel is warm, modern & sleek, featuring Imported Italian linens, flat screen TV’s, fireplaces, poolside and private patios, salt water purified pool, cooling misters, Jacuzzi and a beautiful garden courtyard to lounge with your favorite book and glass of wine.”

Mature, well-maintained landscaping with an abundance of shade trees, plants and flowers is an attraction of the property with wings built around the interior courtyard and pool. Some rooms have comfortable patios with mature Meyer lemon trees providing shade. A busy, full-time gardener tends to the botanicals.

The hands-on, welcoming and hospitable General Manager is Robert Hunt. We’ll meet him.

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Show 335, August 3, 2019: Steve Nydell, General Manager, Navy Proof Food & Spirits, Long Beach

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Steve Nydell of Navy Proof Food and SpiritsDINE LBC – Long Beach Restaurant Week is now in progress and runs through Sunday, August 11th. It’s a prime time to dine in a possible new restaurant discovery in Long Beach. On the menu with us is Steve Nydell the General Manager and Beverage Director of the newly launched Navy Proof Food & Spirits, one of the participating restaurants in DINE LBC.

The cuisine at Navy Proof Food and Spirits emphasizes technique and texture to highlight the versatility of seasonal ingredients and locally-sourced seafood and meat. A notable element that earmarks the concept is its highly-developed beverage program led by Steve Nydell, Navy Proof Food and Spirits General Manager. An approachable cocktail bar with a highly creative team of bespoke bartenders, the restaurant offers guests a rich experience with classic cocktails refreshed and re-imagined. In addition to lunch and dinner service, breakfast service is offered daily, in addition to a robust happy hour.

Boasting a world-class, bartender driven cocktail program, biodynamic wines and local brews, Navy Proof Food & Spirits guests enjoy the vast offerings of rare and distinctive spirits plus tableside cocktail service, including the Bargaining Table created with 12 – year rum, averna amaro, coffee liquor, sour cherry bitters. Groups of 2 – 6 can also enjoy the large format Cult of Sailors, made of white rum, grapefruit juice, limejuice, aperol, orgeat (almond syrup) & aromatic bitters.

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Show 327, June 8, 2019: Jonathan Wantz, General Manager, Golden Road Pub OC

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Jon Wantz of Golden Road BrewingWhat’s new on Chef Henry’s varied menu at Golden Road Pub OC? What’s on tap for the Freeway Series at Angel Stadium on Monday & Tuesday nights?

We’ll also get a preview of the OC Pub’s “Almost 4th of July” festivities.

The eagerly anticipated Weekend Brunch from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. launched this weekend. Think Churro Waffle and Street Corn Toast…

The person with all of these answers, and more, is Jonathan Wantz, General Manager of Golden Road Pub OC.

 

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Show 323, May 11, 2019: Brian Kurata, General Manager, Lagasse’s Stadium, Las Vegas

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Brian Kurata at Lagasse's StadiumFor the 4rd time in the show’s history we’re happily broadcasting from Lagasse’s Stadium at The Palazzo. It’s a sport’s fan’s and foodies’ paradise. Lagasse’s Stadium is the ultimate sports bar: a restaurant with stadium-seating featuring elevated game-time classics and gourmet options from Emeril Lagasse. Executing Chef Emeril’s culinary vision in the kitchen on a daily basis is long-time Chef de Cuisine, Scott Pajak.

Watch the most exciting games and biggest sporting events at Lagasse’s Stadium, the ultimate ages 21 and over sports bar and sports book in Las Vegas.

“Named “Best Sports Bar in Las Vegas” by Las Vegas Golf & Leisure, Lagasse’s Stadium combines Emeril Lagasse’s signature cuisine and kicked-up game day eats with more than 100 HD TVs including a 9 foot x 16 foot main TV, luxury boxes, plush stadium-style seating, billiard tables, and an outdoor patio just steps from the Strip.”

“Guests can listen to any game showing via the free hearTV app on their smartphone. Now, you’ll never have to choose between great food and the big game.”

Named “Best Sports Lounge” by Vegas Seven, “Best Sports Bar” by Las Vegas Review-Journal and one of the “Top Sports Bars in Las Vegas” by Yahoo! Sports and one of the “10 Best Sports Bars Across the USA” by USA Today.

Brian Kurata, the able General Manager since 2013, is our insightful Coach.

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Show 318, April 6, 2019: Mark Kamarauskas. General Manager, Golden Road Brewing Part One

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Mark KamarauskasMark Kamarauskas is the seasoned and vastly experienced General Manager of Golden Road Brewing. He joined Golden Road just under two years ago after 15 years with Chicago’s giant craft beer success story, Goose Island. For most of his tenure there Mark was the Director of Operations. He worked with Goose Island’s founder, John Hall, and also orchestrated the transition after their purchase in 2011 by Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Mark joins us to discuss the challenges of growing the Golden Road Brewing enterprise while maintaining the product quality and preserving the hard-to-duplicate, entrepreneurial corporate culture.

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Show 312, February 23, 2019: Barry Prescott, General Manager, The Landsby

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Andy Harris and Barry Prescott at the LandsbyOur Solvang broadcast host is The Landsby, the newest and possibly the most innovative hotel in the Santa Ynez Valley. This stunning 50-room boutique hotel offers warm hospitality and refined, stylish accommodations. It’s also the home of the Mad & Vin restaurant serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and Happy Hour (a locals’ favorite) seven days a week.

The Landsby features a clean contemporary design, with a hint of traditional Scandinavian aesthetic. The completely remodeled, bright and open guestrooms are finished with blonde woods, brushed brass accents, and elegant but comfortable hand-crafted furnishings complete with updated bathrooms, 47-inch flat-screen HDTVs, minibars, and stunning artwork commissioned from regional artists.

Hospitality veteran Barry Prescott, The Landsby’s General Manager, shows us around. Maintaining excellence in food and beverage is also part of his extensive background.

Either Barry or the Manager on Duty personally checks each guest room before the arriving guest departs the front desk.

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Show 297, November 10, 2018: Winemaker Anthony King, General Manager, The Carlton Winemakers Studio, Willamette Valley

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Anthony KingLocated in the heart of the Willamette Valley in the charming wine-village of Carlton, the Carlton Winemakers Studio is a cooperative winery where numerous winemakers (currently 15) craft premium Oregon wines in one shared space. It has a storied history as a home and launchpad for some of the most groundbreaking wines in the Pacific Northwest.

It was the vision of its founding partners, Eric Hamacher (Hamacher Wines,) Luisa Ponzi (Ponzi Vineyards,) and Ned & Kristen Lumpkin (Lazy River Vineyard) to provide a location for high-quality winemaking in an efficient, economical and highly collaborative environment.

Guests can visit their state-of-the-art tasting room where you can taste (and buy) a representative sampling of the Carlton Winemakers Studio wines and learn about the unique and charming stories behind each label.

GM Anthony King came to the Carlton Winemakers Studio in 2015, after eight years as winemaker at Lemelson Vineyards, with the express intent to continue to learn his craft. “The Studio offers a rare opportunity to continue to challenge your own assumptions, see fruit from across the Valley and beyond, and work alongside some of the best winemakers in the world.” he explains.

“Ratio is not intended for growth. It is small and will continue to remain so. It is a conduit for King’s ongoing attempt to understand and hone his ability to express the place and make wines that are both individual and worthy of praise within the context of wines from anywhere in the world.”

Winemaker Anthony King (Ratio:Wines) is also the General Manager for Carlton. He pulls the cork for us.

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Show 292, September 29, 2018: Philippe the Original’s 110th Anniversary Celebration

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Richard Binder2018 marks a major milestone for both Philippe the Original in Downtown Los Angeles and its famous French Dip Sandwich. The classic French Dip will celebrate its centennial and the restaurant will celebrate 110 years in business. There’s an epic Monday, October 1st celebration planned, including $1.10 French Dips, live entertainment, the USC Trojan Marching Band and a whole lot more.

Today, Philippe’s boasts over 75 employees, serves about 20,000 sandwiches per week, more when the Dodgers are in town, and prepares about 100 gallons of its famous Hot Mustard (no horseradish used) every week. Unusually, the company has some employees who have been with the restaurant for over 30 years.

The Binder / Martin family has strived to keep the restaurant as original as possible throughout the years; sawdust floors, décor, payphone booths and some of the cheapest coffee in town at 45 cents a cup. It wasn’t until 2014 that the restaurant took down the cash only sign and began accepting credit cards. The Pastrami French Dip Sandwich is the most recent menu addition.

General Manager and proud 3rd generation Family proprietor, Richard Binder is at our service with what’s on the menu.

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Show 283, July 28, 2018: DINE LBC Long Beach Restaurant Week, King’s Fish House, Pine Ave.

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John MontorioEat your heart out Long Beach! DINE LBC – Long Beach Restaurant Week returns August 4 to 12, 2018. Experience cuisine that delights the palate and defines the art of dining in Long Beach. Held annually, Dine LBC features value-oriented two or three course menus from dozens of Long Beach’s best restaurants in twelve unique neighborhoods throughout the city.

The original location of King’s Fish House(1988) on Pine Avenue is one of the participating restaurants with a special 3-course dinner menu with choices for each course for Appetizers, Entrees and Desserts. It’s priced at a value-oriented $45 per guest (plus tax and tip.)

“A long time ago, we embarked on a road trip in search of the ultimate seafood experience. We traveled down the highways and byways, pulled up a seat, put on bibs, and soaked up the seafood experience: The no-name dishes with unforgettable flavor, the fresh-caught oysters and clams piled high, the hand-lettered specials on ancient chalkboards, and the savory simmer of every combination of spices imaginable….”

“The pleasure of preparing and sharing seafood was simple and genuine, and it brought out the best in everyone. Often we felt as if we’d been welcomed into somebody’s home. That’s what King’s Fish House is all about- and we’ve tried to bring all of these ideas together into one single, spectacular place, filled with camaraderie and celebration, and the things we love best!”

We’ll meet General Manager John Montorio.

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