Show 168, April 23, 2016: Hima Pandya, Tin Star Foods

Hima PandyaOne of the unusual finds at the recent Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim was Tin Star Foods. They produce Cultured Ghee and Cultured Brown Butter in small batchers.

Tin Star Foods Founder, Hima Pandya, is our guest. Of course there is an inspirational story connected with the establishment of the enterprise.

“Tin Star Foods is the home for high quality Non GMO foods. We believe that good food should be accessible and easy to find. By stripping all of the junk and fillers, we are providing you with pure, clean, nutrient dense foods. We have vowed to make this a place where our customers can feel at ease purchasing products needed to sustain a healthy lifestyle.”

“Our Cultured Ghee is perfection in butter form. We slow cook our cultured butter over an open flame, just the way Hima, the owner, learned from her mama. It’s got a rich buttery flavor that allows any dish to come alive with little effort. High in K2, D, E, and Tonalin CLA, it’s a no brainer to add it to your daily meal plan. Its extremely high heat threshold of 485 degrees makes it perfect for the stove top or grilling. Ghee is a dream to bake with and delicious in coffee too.”

“Our Brown Butter, lovingly called a Caramel Kiss of Perfection, is just that. It’s buttery, nutty, caramel in a bottle. We gently allow the milk solids to toast allowing the flavor profile of this gorgeous ghee to develop. Just like our trademark Cultured Ghee, it is lab tested Lactose and Casein free. It’s the perfect pairing for an afternoon scone or in your buttered coffee in the morning. Our customers love to grill and bake with it, as the deep rich flavor is unparalleled.”

“Ghee has been used in kitchens throughout India for thousands of years. More importantly, its heavy usage is due to the laundry list of health benefits (which we’ll get to in “why”). While the cooks in the kitchen were (and are) putting it in every dish possible, the Ayurvedic Doctors relied on its healing properties to treat patients. That’s right, they were building entire treatment centers in India around this special product before we knew what electricity was.”

“Fast forward to current days, it seems that everyone is asking where you can get some. The Paleo community depends on it as one of the top 3 fat sources in their diets right next to Coconut oil and Tallow. If you haven’t heard about ghee yet, you will, we promise. It’s just a matter of time.”

April 23: Pig Pen Delicacy, Angel Stadium Grub, Pie Hole, Four Brix Winery, Tri Star Foods, Domenico’s and Dine LBC

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris & Chef Andrew Gruel
Segment Two: Pig Pen Delicacy, 4th Street Market, Santa Ana
Segment Three: Angel Stadium’s Executive Chef, Robert Biebrich Part One
Segment Four: Angel Stadium’s Executive Chef, Robert Biebrich Part Two
Segment Five: Sean Brennan, CEO & Co-Founder, The Pie Hole, Los Angeles & Pasadena
Segment Six: Four Brix Winery, Ventura, CA
Segment Seven: Hima Pandya, Tin Star Foods
Segment Eight: Domenico’s Italian Restaurant, Long Beach

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosExecutive Chef Andrew Gruel of the rapidly growing Slapfish empire with restaurants in Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, LAX, Irvine at UCI and, most recently, Brea, is back as today’s special Guest Host.

Now an enticing sneak peak of Saturday’s appetizing 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 actually a good thing…

One of the newest additions to Santa Ana’s 4th Street Market is Pig Pen Delicacy. It’s a fresh take on American comfort food using an array of sophisticated and modern interpretations of bacon and pork favorites. Co-owner and Director of Operations Jason Trinh joins us with all the pork-a-licious details.

It’s time for America’s favorite pastime…Ballpark food. It’s our always anticipated annual report on what’s new on the menu at Angel Stadium with Executive Chef Robert Biebrich. It’s the 50th season at Angel Stadium so expect to be wowed.

Since The Pie Hole launched in The Arts District of Downtown L.A. in 2011 it’s been a word-of-mouth and social media sensation. The Pie Hole offers fresh baked sweet pie by the slice, individual savory pies, and their own premium coffee. Co-owner Sean Brennan joins us with his fresh-from-the-oven recipe for sweet success.

The Four Brix Winery in Ventura grew out of three couples’ hobby of making premium wine at home for their appreciative friends. The Winery represents a throwback to the days of blended wines made in California. Winemaker and Partner Gary Stewart uncorks it for us.

One of the more unusual finds at the recent Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim was Tin Star Foods. They produce Cultured Ghee and Cultured Brown Butter in small batchers. Tin Star Foods Founder, Hima Pandya, is our guest.

The annual Dine LBC – Long Beach Restaurant Week is taking place April 23 – May 1, 2016. Each participating restaurant from twelve unique neighborhoods in the city offers a three course menu priced at $20, $30, $40 or $50, either per guest with wine pairing options at fine dining locations OR dinner for two priced at $20, $30, $40 or $50, where diners share an appetizer, each enjoy their own entree, then share a dessert at more casual establishments. One of the participating restaurants in DINE LBC is Domenico’s Italian Restaurant, Long Beach’s oldest restaurant. Proprietor Mike Rhodes joins us.

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

Jason TrinhOne of the newest addition to Santa Ana’s 4th Street Market is Pig Pen Delicacy. It’s a fresh take on American comfort food using an array of sophisticated and modern interpretations of bacon and pork favorites.

The founders of GD Bro Burger (Santa Ana & Signal Hill) were involved in Pig Pen Delicacy’s creation.

Menu highlights include Candied Bacon, Pulled Pork Sandwich and Pork Belly Slider (crispy pork belly, pickled daikon, hoisin sauce and creamy cilantro.)

Co-owner and Director of Operations Jason Trinh joins us with all the pork-a-licious details.

Robert BiebrichIt’s time for America’s favorite pastime…Ballpark food. It’s our always anticipated annual report on what’s new on the menu at Angel Stadium with Executive Chef Robert Biebrich. It’s the 50th season at Angel Stadium so expect to be wowed.

Set to open late this month is The Corner Market. It’s a new dining destination on the Terrace Concourse which will add to Angel Stadium’s healthier options with Jersey Mike’s Cold Subs, Muscle Maker Wraps, Melissa’s Asian Chicken Salad, and a whole lot more.

Also new is Crafty Dawgs in Field Level 127. It’s a build your own dog concept with an appealing variety of both hot and cold toppings available. You can also choose from the creative menu. Think The Sonora Dog with Bacon or the Short Rib Cheese Chili Dog…

Expect more deliciousness on the Angel Stadium menu for the 50th Season.

Muscle Maker Grill and Fresca’s flavorful Mexican fare are now available on the Terrace Level of the Right Field Pavilion area. Muscle Maker Grill is known for its Turkey Chili. It’s made with lean ground turkey, red beans, reduced fat cheddar, salsa and fat-free sour cream served over brown rice.

Fresca’s is known for their Killer B Burrito. It’s a warm 12-inch flour tortilla filled with rice, black beans, sour cream, guacamole. Salsa Fresca with a choice of charbroiled chicken or steak.

New in the Shock Top Brew Pub is Chef Robert’s version of the much-talked-about Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich.

Sean Brennan and the Pie HoleSince The Pie Hole launched in The Arts District of Downtown L.A. in 2011 it’s been a word-of-mouth and social media sensation. The Pie Hole offers fresh baked sweet pie by the slice, individual savory pies, and their own premium coffee. Soon joining the location in Pasadena will be cafes in Old Town Orange and Hollywood.

“The Pie Hole is a family run organization hatched out of the dreams of a mother and son, Becky Grasley and Matthew Heffner who long dreamed of opening a place where they can share their family secret: pie is love. They roped Sean Brennan in to be their business partner and literally tied Matty’s fiancé, Lindsay Hollister, to the cash register and set out to leverage every favor and free hand to build what is now The Pie Hole (thanks friends!)”

“Matty and Becky hold the largest pie recipe book you have ever laid eyes on, and is in a safety deposit box in Switzerland. Matty learned pie-making as a youngster and part of the family tradition but is a tradesman at heart: there is nothing he can’t build from scratch. He is a science fiction nerd, just ask to see his newest ink. Sean is lactose intolerant and likes pie partly because it isn’t a cupcake but mostly because it has an authentic story and is what he calls ‘real food’.”

“Sean has been in the service industry for over a hundred years as a bar tender, wine director, consultant, and general manager, and is passionate about food, fine wine, hip hop, and the Green Bay Packers. We all love to chat, come on in and say hi!”

“The process of opening an LA’s first authentic pie shop was a daunting one, with thousands of hours of building, testing pie, tasting coffee, and bringing together an amazing team to provide the greatest possible pie experience known to man. We are fun, don’t take ourselves too seriously (the pie and coffee is very serious), and love to have a chat with all our customers, who inevitably become regulars.”

Co-owner Sean Brennan joins us with his piping hot, out-of-the-oven recipe for sweet success.

Gary Stewart of Four Brix WineryThe Four Brix Winery in Ventura grew out of three couples’ hobby of making premium wine at home for their appreciative friends. The Winery represents a throwback to the days of blended wines made in California. Winemaker and Partner Gary Stewart uncorks it for us.

“We believe that California offers the best grapes in the world, but not all varietals grow best in every area of the State. So, we source more than a dozen single varietals from different vineyards covering at least five separate appellations to make our California blended wines.”

The name Four Brix pays tribute to the four wine regions we have traveled to and experienced the beauty, culture, and manner in which blended wine fits into everyday life : France, Italy, Spain, and our home, California.”

“Not just another Brix in the Wall.”

Hima PandyaOne of the unusual finds at the recent Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim was Tin Star Foods. They produce Cultured Ghee and Cultured Brown Butter in small batchers.

Tin Star Foods Founder, Hima Pandya, is our guest. Of course there is an inspirational story connected with the establishment of the enterprise.

“Tin Star Foods is the home for high quality Non GMO foods. We believe that good food should be accessible and easy to find.  By stripping all of the junk and fillers, we are providing you with pure, clean, nutrient dense foods. We have vowed to make this a place where our customers can feel at ease purchasing products needed to sustain a healthy lifestyle.”

“Our Cultured Ghee is perfection in butter form. We slow cook our cultured butter over an open flame, just the way Hima, the owner, learned from her mama. It’s got a rich buttery flavor that allows any dish to come alive with little effort. High in K2, D, E, and Tonalin CLA, it’s a no brainer to add it to your daily meal plan. Its extremely high heat threshold of 485 degrees makes it perfect for the stove top or grilling. Ghee is a dream to bake with and delicious in coffee too.”

“Our Brown Butter, lovingly called a Caramel Kiss of Perfection, is just that. It’s buttery, nutty, caramel in a bottle. We gently allow the milk solids to toast allowing the flavor profile of this gorgeous ghee to develop. Just like our trademark Cultured Ghee, it is lab tested Lactose and Casein free. It’s the perfect pairing for an afternoon scone or in your buttered coffee in the morning. Our customers love to grill and bake with it, as the deep rich flavor is unparalleled.”

“Ghee has been used in kitchens throughout India for thousands of years. More importantly, its heavy usage is due to the laundry list of health benefits (which we’ll get to in “why”). While the cooks in the kitchen were (and are) putting it in every dish possible, the Ayurvedic Doctors relied on its healing properties to treat patients. That’s right, they were building entire treatment centers in India around this special product before we knew what electricity was.”

“Fast forward to current days, it seems that everyone is asking where you can get some. The Paleo community depends on it as one of the top 3 fat sources in their diets right next to Coconut oil and Tallow. If you haven’t heard about ghee yet, you will, we promise. It’s just a matter of time.”

Domenico's iIalian RestaurantThe annual Dine LBC – Long Beach Restaurant Week is taking place April 23 – May 1, 2016. Each participating restaurant from twelve unique neighborhoods in the city offers a three course menu priced at $20, $30, $40 or $50, either per guest with wine pairing options at fine dining locations OR dinner for two priced at $20, $30, $40 or $50, where diners share an appetizer, each enjoy their own entree, then share a dessert at more casual establishments.

One of the participating restaurants in DINE LBC is Domenico’s Italian Restaurant, Long Beach’s oldest continuously operating restaurant. Proprietor Mike Rhodes joins us along with Dine LBC’s producer, Terri Henry.

Domenico’s is one of the first restaurants to serve pizza in California. In 1954, Domenico and Beverly Spano opened Domenico’s in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach. With a simple menu consisting primarily of made-from-scratch pizzas and the now famous house salad, Domenico and Beverly introduced their Italian fare to the Long Beach locals.

Before long the ground sausage, ground pepperoni pizzas, and the creamy garlic salad dressing became Belmont Shore traditions. Dom and Beverly soon opened Domenico’s locations in North Long Beach, Lakewood, Hawaiian Gardens, and Santa Ana. In the mid- sixties, the original Domenico’s was purchased by the Kenyon Family.

In 2004 Rochelle Kenyon retired, and the restaurant came under its current ownership.

Proprietor Mike Rhodes continues the traditions that have become synonymous with Domenico’s. The original recipes are still being followed, and its business has grown to new heights. The menu now also includes many delicious pasta dishes including Sausage Tomato Cream, Chicken Basil Cream, Angel Hair Chicken Fresco, and much, much more.

The pizza dough is prepared fresh daily as well as the marinara sauce and salad dressings. Even the signature Tiramisu is created in-house.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris & Chef Andrew Gruel
Segment Two: Pig Pen Delicacy, 4th Street Market, Santa Ana
Segment Three: Angel Stadium’s Executive Chef, Robert Biebrich Part One
Segment Four: Angel Stadium’s Executive Chef, Robert Biebrich Part Two
Segment Five: Sean Brennan, CEO & Co-Founder, The Pie Hole, Los Angeles & Pasadena
Segment Six: Four Brix Winery, Ventura, CA
Segment Seven: Hima Pandya, Tin Star Foods
Segment Eight: Domenico’s Italian Restaurant, Long Beach