Show 310, February 9, 2019: Chef Robert Sulatycky, Head Coach, Team USA 2019, Bocuse d’Or

Robert SulatyckyAfter over a year of intensive training, Team USA, comprised of Chef Matthew Kirkley, Commis Mimi Chen and Head Coach Robert Sulatycky, represented their country in Lyon, France on January 29th at the world’s most prestigious culinary competition, the Bocuse d’Or. Team USA was defending the Gold statue from 2017.

Over the course of two days last month, teams of some of the most brilliant culinary minds from 24 countries across the world met in Lyon, France where they competed on the world stage at the esteemed Bocuse d’Or culinary competition.

On Day 1 Team USA presented to a prestigious panel of international judges their version of Suckling Veal Rack with 5 Prime Chops, featuring Roast Rack of Veal with Veal Kidney Farce & Apicius Spice Glaze / Salad Pastorale. The plated presentation was Vegetable Chartreuse with Shellfish, featuring Vegetable, Herbs, Shellfish Chartreuse and Cockle Butter.

Congrats to Team Denmark on First Place and the Gold Statue.

Chef Sulatycky, just back from Lyon, provides the concluding update on this year’s event.

Show 305, January 5, 2019: Chef Robert Sulatycky, Head Coach, Team USA, 2019 Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition

Robert SulatyckyTime to revisit the progress of Team USA competing in the Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition at the end of the month (January 29 & 30) in Lyon, France. Team USA is defending “The Gold” from the 2017 competition. Chef Robert Sulatycky is the Head Coach for Team USA 2019. Team USA 2019’s Head Chef is Matthew Kirkley and his Commis is Mimi Chen.

Chef Robert Sulatycky has a long history with the Bocuse d’Or. Representing Canada in 1999, he placed fourth and was awarded the “Prix Viande,” or best meat prize. He has since mentored both Canadian and American chef candidates and was honored to be a member of the international jury for the 2007 and 2013 editions of the competition. He also served as Assistant Coach for Bocuse d’Or Team USA 2017, who won the first-ever gold medal for the United States.

Based on the draw Team USA will compete on the first day, January 29th.

Chef Robert rejoins us continuing his update on the long road to Lyon.

Show 209, February 4, 2017: Team USA Head Coach Chef Philip Tessier, Hestan Smart Cooking Culinary Director

Team USA wins Hold at the 2017 Bocuse D'orWe’ve been enthusiastically following Team USA’s progress (backed by the ment’or BKB Foundation) in the Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition for the last five years. Late last month Team USA achieved the impossible – Gold in Lyon. Team USA’s Coach Philip Tessier and Team USA Vice President Gavin Kaysen join us to savor this tremendous achievement for the culinary arts in the United States. Both are former competitors in the Bocuse d’Or themselves.

Kudos to Team USA’s Chef Mathew Peters and Commis Harrision Turone

USA’s Team USA Coach, Chef Philip Tessier, joins us now.

Team USA Coach Philip Tessier (who is also the Hestan Smart Cooking Culinary Director) is no stranger to the Bocuse d’Or. In 2015 he represented Team USA and was awarded the Silver Medal.

This was the first time in the (then) 28-year history of Bocuse d’Or that an American chef had been on the Victory Stand. Incredibly, only 9 points (out of a maximum of 2,000) separated Gold and Silver in 2015.

Previously from a field of 24 countries the USA had never placed higher than 6th.

 

Show 138, September 12, 2015: ment’or BKB Foundation’s 2015 Young Chef Competitions

philip-tessierThe ment’or BKB Foundation debuted its 2015 Young Chef Competition Series in Los Angeles on Sept. 27th at Bouchon Beverly Hills. Other upcoming dates will be in Chicago, Houston and New York City. Four chefs between the ages of 22 to 27 compete on a Bocuse d’Or-style challenge, with the winning team in each city being awarded $10,000, which may be used to stage at the restaurant of their choice. The team placing second receives $5,000.

Culinary greats from the distinguished ment’or Culinary Council are on hand in each city to judge the competition, a ticked event with all the proceeds hoping to support the Foundation. In Los Angeles Alan Wong (Alan Wong’s) flew in all the way in from Honolulu to be a judge!

Skylar Stover, the Commis for Team USA at the 2015 Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition in Lyon, was the winner at Bouchon Beverly Hills. The next leg of the competition is Chicago on Sept. 17th.

Culinary Council member Chef Philip Tessier, formerly the Executive Sous Chef of The French Laundry in Yountville is our guest. Chef Philip is also the Team USA Head Coach for the 2017 Bocuse d’Or international culinary competition. Chef Philip was the Silver Statue Winner for Bocuse d’Or Team USA in 2015. This was a prestigious first for the United States.

Show 50, November 30, 2013: Gavin Kaysen, Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Operations for Café Boulud

Gavin kaysenGavin Kaysen is the greatly respected Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Operations for Daniel Boulud’s Café Boulud in New York, Palm Beach and Toronto.

He put previously San Diego on the national culinary map during his much-praised tenure at El Bizcocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. Fortunately for us he finds his way back to SoCal periodically to cook at very special fundraisers.

In his spare time he’s the Head Coach for Bocuse d’Or Team USA 2015. Chef Gavin has completed in this prestigious International Culinary Olympics and explains what the level of competition is all about. It’s a year, plus, of rigorous practice. The competition itself is two very intensive days and 24 countries complete. He’s been associated with the American efforts for the Bocuse d’Or for some nine years.

Chef Gavin accurately describes it as the World Series, Stanley Cup and Super Bowl of professional cooking. It’s every two years in Lyon, France.

Go Team USA in 2015!

November 30, Suzanne Goin, Griffin Hammond, Robert Wemischner, Pascal Olhats, Gavin Kaysen, David LeFevre

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chef & Restaurateur Suzanne Goin of Lucques, A.O.C. and Tavern Part One
Segment Three: Chef & Restaurateur Suzanne Goin of Lucques, A.O.C. and Tavern Part Two
Segment Four: Griffin Hammond, of “Sriracha – a documentary by Griffin Hammond.”
Segment Five: Chef Instructor Robert Wemischner of L.A. Trade-Tech College
Segment Six: Pascal Olhats, owner/chef of Pascal Epicerie, Brasserie Pascal, and Café Jardin
Segment Seven: Gavin Kaysen, Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Operations for Café Boulud
Segment Eight: David LeFevre, Executive Chef & Partner of MB Post and Fishing with Dynamite

We hope you’re all enjoying the extended Thanksgiving Weekend. Remember to give us a listen along the way on Saturday morning…

As we complete our 14th month on the air with the “SoCal Restaurant Show” with Jet Tila we want to again thank our loyal listeners and sponsors for their enthusiasm and support. We wouldn’t be here without you and we never forget that.

Thanks to positive listener feedback Jet has a new segment on Friday morning. Be sure to tune in Friday mornings at 7:50 a.m. for “What’s Cooking with Travis and Chef Jet Tila” on the “Travis Rodgers Show.” Jet talks with Travis about food and cooking from the dude’s perspective. It’s on the lighter side and you won’t hear this AM 830 KLAA exclusive feature elsewhere.

Chef Jet and Producer Andy preview the show.

Suzanne GoinChef & Restaurateur Suzanne Goin is true culinary royalty in Los Angeles. She has just published her second cookbook, the A.O.C. Cookbook. It was a two year process.

Suzanne is the recipient of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef: California (2006) and is a multiple past nominee. She worked for Alice Waters at Chez Panisse earlier in her career. Her final position at Campanile (now closed) in Hollywood (before going out on her own) was as executive chef.

Suzanne partnered with sommelier, Caroline Styne, to open Lucques in West Hollywood in 1998. That was followed by A.O.C. in 2002. Next was Tavern and The Larder in Brentwood. The President has dined at Tavern.

A new Larder is soon to open in January at The Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport.

A.O.C. CookbookSuzanne talks about cooking with seasonal vegetables and how that passion of hers found its way into the A.O.C. Cookbook.

She feels it’s very important to balance flavors which you only learn by tasting.

All the recipes in the cookbook were tested in a home kitchen by an enthusiastic home cook.

Suzanne’s long-time business partner, Caroline Styne, has wonderfully informative wine notes that go with each recipe in the book.

A.O.C. (the restaurant) has recently moved a mile West to the old Orso location on W. Third Street across from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Suzanne shares how the move came about.

Griffin HammondGriffin Hammond is a respected documentary filmmaker. He’s just completed his fascinating film on Sriracha. This documentary has taken him to Southern California on multiple occasions and even to Thailand where Sriracha originated. In Thailand the people are amazed that Sriracha is a popular condiment in the United States.

Griffin financed this unusual documentary via an incredibly successful Kickstarter campaign that was actually oversubscribed.

Robert WemischnerChef Instructor Robert Wemischner is a mainstay in the Baking Department at L.A. Trade Tech in Downtown Los Angeles. He’s also an accomplished pastry chef and author. The Dessert Architect is his most recent title.

Chef Bob shares his holiday dessert ideas for using fresh pomegranates, persimmons, and (the underappreciated) quince.

Pascal OlhatsThe Dean of French Chefs in Orange County is the ever charming Pascal Olhats of the Pascal Epicerie in Newport Beach. This is located next door to the site of his long-running Traditions by Pascal fine dining restaurant which he sold last year. Pascal originally came to Orange County in 1984 to open Hotel Le Meridian in Newport Beach. The property is now the Fairmont Newport Beach. Earlier in his career he worked for Master Chef Paul Bocuse (a French culinary legend) in Lyon.

In Newport Beach Pascal also operates Brasserie Pascal in Fashion Island and Café Jardin.

Pascal talks about a new fundraising effort he’s putting together to benefit the Orange County Food Bank.

How the French celebrate the Christmas meal is also part of the conversation.

Gavin kaysenGavin Kaysen is the greatly respected Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Operations for Daniel Boulud’s Café Boulud in New York, Palm Beach and Toronto.

He put previously San Diego on the national culinary map during his much-praised tenure at El Bizcocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. Fortunately for us he finds his way back to SoCal periodically to cook at fundraisers.

In his spare time he’s the Head Coach for Bocuse d’Or Team USA 2015. Chef Gavin has completed in this prestigious International Culinary Olympics and explains what the level of competition is all about. It’s a year of rigorous practice. Go Team USA in 2015!

Charlie TrotterEarlier in the month the food world lost Chef Charlie Trotter who was the first superstar celebrity chef in Chicago and influenced a network of young chefs. Charlie Trotter’s (the restaurant) on W. Armitage was known to foodies around the world for his innovative tasting menus and brilliant wine cellar.

Our own David LeFevre, the executive chef & partner of both MB Post and Fishing with Dynamite in Manhattan Beach worked for Charlie over a period of ten years in a couple of stints. David joins us to share memories of the real Charlie Trotter. Fortunately his legacy will live on.

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chef & Restaurateur Suzanne Goin of Lucques, A.O.C. and Tavern Part One
Segment Three: Chef & Restaurateur Suzanne Goin of Lucques, A.O.C. and Tavern Part Two
Segment Four: Griffin Hammond, of “Sriracha – a documentary by Griffin Hammond.”
Segment Five: Chef Instructor Robert Wemischner of L.A. Trade-Tech College
Segment Six: Pascal Olhats, owner/chef of Pascal Epicerie, Brasserie Pascal, and Café Jardin
Segment Seven: Gavin Kaysen, Executive Chef and Director of Culinary Operations for Café Boulud
Segment Eight: David LeFevre, Executive Chef & Partner of MB Post and Fishing with Dynamite