Show 229, June 24, 2017: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris

Now an enthusiastic preview of Saturday’s fully-loaded show. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s probably a pretty good thing…

In conjunction with its 6-year anniversary, Portola Coffee Roasters has redesigned its flagship location inside The OC Mix at South Coast Collection in Costa Mesa. The new design, intended to improve the customer experience, takes advantage of the latest in brewing technologies to achieve a higher level of service, product quality, and consistency not possible before. Joining us with all the artfully brewed details are proprietors Jeff & Christa Duggan.

The Street Gourmet, Senor Bill Esparza, is back with us with his first cookbook. Richly photographed and authentically local, L.A. Mexicano showcases L.A.’s sophisticated and diverse Mexican-food culture, from Oaxacan tlayudas to Nayarit ceviches, Alta California gastronomy to Boyle Heights burritos. Part cookbook, part food journalism, and part love song to Los Angeles, it’s a definitive (and hugely practical) resource for home cooks, Mexican food lovers, and hungry Angelenos and visitors.

What’s it like to experience a memorable $310 per guest meal at California’s celebrated The French Laundry in Yountville ? There is also a magnificent new $10 million kitchen where your repast is prepared. OC Weekly’s “On the Line” columnist, Anne Marie Panoringan, was just there and provides the salivating commentary.

Three words — cellar, craft, cook — capture the essence of the year-old  Russ Bendel-conceived restaurant Ironwood in Laguna Hills, which uped the ante on the underserved south Orange County dining scene with worldwide wine selections, craft beers, creative cocktails and wine country cuisine made daily with the freshest and finest seasonal ingredients by Bendel’s partner, chef Jared Cook (Vine.) Russ joins us with the tasty specifics.

Chef Steve Samson is well-known to lovers of regional Italian cuisine in Southern California. His newest project (with his wife, Dina) is the ambitious Rossoblu in the emerging City Market South development in the Fashion District of Downtown Los Angeles. The menu is influenced by Chef Steve’s summers in Bologna and Emilia- Romagna while he was growing up. We pull Chef Steve away from his custom-built, wood-fired grill in the open kitchen for a full briefing.

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s show!

Show 229, June 24, 2017: Jeff & Christa Duggan, Portola Coffee Roasters

Jeff and Christa DugganIn conjunction with its 6-year anniversary, Portola Coffee Roasters has redesigned its flagship location inside The OC Mix at South Coast Collection in Costa Mesa. The new design, intended to improve the customer experience, takes advantage of the latest in brewing technologies to achieve a higher level of service, product quality, and consistency not possible before.

“The original idea behind the oval shaped bar was to create a visual theater for our customers curious about the brewing science we employ – it is both interesting and educational to be able to see firsthand how things are done at Portola,” explained Jeff Duggan, who, with his wife Christa, opened the flagship Portola Coffee Roasters location in Costa Mesa in 2011 to bring a 100% single-cup craft brew coffeehouse to Orange County.

“With the new design, this goal is better achieved. It will be much different than the ‘order here, pick up over there’ model. We will service customers in line so once they order, their drinks will be made while they watch, and they pay at the end when their drink has been served.”

Joining us with all the artfully brewed details are proprietors Jeff & Christa Duggan.

Show 229, June 24, 2017: Jeff & Christa Duggan, Portola Coffee Roasters Continues…

What began as the selfish pursuit for delicious coffee turned into a decade-long fanatic passion for home-roasting coffee for Jeff Duggan, who first opened Portola Handcrafted Coffee Roasters in Irvine in 2009. Using a very small batch roaster, Jeff worked feverishly to keep the pantries and hoppers full in many homes and food establishments throughout Orange County, but roasting meticulously sourced coffee beans and serving them ultra-fresh was not enough. He found that far too many great beans were destroyed at the hands of poor equipment, flawed technique, and coffee service dispensers.

With a focus on quality ingredients, brewing science and freshness – all still relatively uncommon in the industry – Jeff and his wife, Christa, created Portola Coffee Roasters in 2011. The goal was to create a quality-centric coffeehouse that re-focused on the most important ingredient – coffee.

Within a year of bringing a never-before-seen concept and style of coffee to Orange County, Portola Coffee Roasters began creating a distinct brand that revolves around producing an artisanal culinary product, Craft Coffee.

Jeff and Christa Duggan now own and operate six locations within Orange County. Their focus remains on empowering the community with quality, traceable, fresh-roasted and fresh-brewed coffee, presented in an artful context – one cup at a time.

Portola Coffee Roasters locations:

June 24: Portola Coffee Roasters, Bill Esparza, Anne Marie Panoringan, Ironwood, Steve Samson

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Jeff & Christa Duggan, Portola Coffee Roasters Part One
Segment Three: Jeff & Christa Duggan, Portola Coffee Roasters Part Two
Segment Four: The Street Gourmet’s Bill Esparza
Segment Five: Anne Marie Panoringan, OC Weekly’s “On the Line” Columnist
Segment Six: Restaurateur Russ Bendel, Ironwood, Laguna Hills
Segment Seven: Executive Chef / Proprietor Steve Samson, Rossoblu, City Market South Part One
Segment Eight: Executive Chef / Proprietor Steve Samson, Rossoblu, City Market South Part Two

Our Angel ticket giveaway is on. Be listening to the first half-hour of the show and you’ll know the answer to the question that goes out at 11:30 a.m. If you’re then the first caller to 1-714-2-830-830 with the correct answer you’ll win a Family 4 pack of tickets to see our Halos play the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, July 2nd at 12:37 p.m. Good luck…

Now an enthusiastic preview of this Saturday’s fully-loaded show. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s probably a pretty good thing…

In conjunction with its 6-year anniversary, Portola Coffee Roasters has redesigned its flagship location inside The OC Mix at South Coast Collection in Costa Mesa. The new design, intended to improve the customer experience, takes advantage of the latest in brewing technologies to achieve a higher level of service, product quality, and consistency not possible before. Joining us with all the artfully brewed details are proprietors Jeff & Christa Duggan.

The Street Gourmet, Senor Bill Esparza, is back with us with his first cookbook. Richly photographed and authentically localL.A. Mexicano showcases L.A.’s sophisticated and diverse Mexican-food culture, from Oaxacan tlayudas to Nayarit ceviches, Alta California gastronomy to Boyle Heights burritos. Part cookbook, part food journalism, and part love song to Los Angeles, it’s a definitive resource for home cooks, Mexican food lovers, and hungry Angelenos and visitors.

What’s it like to experience a memorable $310 per guest meal at California’s celebrated The French Laundry in Yountville? There is also a magnificent new $10 million kitchen where your repast is prepared. OC Weekly’s “On the Line” columnist, Anne Marie Panoringan, was just there and provides the salivating commentary.

Three words — cellar, craft, cook — capture the essence of the year-old  Russ Bendel-conceived restaurant Ironwood in Laguna Hills, which uped the ante on the south Orange County dining scene with worldwide wine selections, craft beers, creative cocktails and wine country cuisine made daily with the freshest and finest seasonal ingredients by Bendel’s partner, chef Jared Cook (Vine.) Russ joins us with the specifics.

Chef Steve Samson is well-known to lovers of regional Italian cuisine in Southern California. His newest project (with his wife, Dina) is the ambitious Rossoblu in the emerging City Market South development in the Fashion District of Downtown Los Angeles. The menu is influenced by Chef Steve’s summers in Bologna and Emilia- Romagna while he was growing up. We’ll pull Chef Steve away from his wood-fired grill in the open kitchen for a full briefing.

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s show!

Jeff and Christa DugganIn conjunction with its 6-year anniversary, Portola Coffee Roasters has redesigned its flagship location inside The OC Mix at South Coast Collection in Costa Mesa. The new design, intended to improve the customer experience, takes advantage of the latest in brewing technologies to achieve a higher level of service, product quality, and consistency not possible before.

“The original idea behind the oval shaped bar was to create a visual theater for our customers curious about the brewing science we employ – it is both interesting and educational to be able to see firsthand how things are done at Portola,” explained Jeff Duggan, who, with his wife Christa, opened the flagship Portola Coffee Roasters location in Costa Mesa in 2011 to bring a 100% single-cup craft brew coffeehouse to Orange County.

“With the new design, this goal is better achieved.  It will be much different than the ‘order here, pick up over there’ model. We will service customers in line so once they order, their drinks will be made while they watch, and they pay at the end when their drink has been served.”

Joining us with all the artfully brewed details are proprietors Jeff & Christa Duggan.

What began as the selfish pursuit for delicious coffee turned into a decade-long fanatic passion for home-roasting coffee for Jeff Duggan, who first opened Portola Handcrafted Coffee Roasters in Irvine in 2009. Using a very small batch roaster, Jeff worked feverishly to keep the pantries and hoppers full in many homes and food establishments throughout Orange County, but roasting meticulously sourced coffee beans and serving them ultra-fresh was not enough. He found that far too many great beans were destroyed at the hands of poor equipment, flawed technique, and coffee service dispensers.

With a focus on quality ingredients, brewing science and freshness – all still relatively uncommon in the industry – Jeff and his wife, Christa, created Portola Coffee Roasters in 2011. The goal was to create a quality-centric coffeehouse that re-focused on the most important ingredient – coffee.

Within a year of bringing a never-before-seen concept and style of coffee to Orange County, Portola Coffee Roasters began creating a distinct brand that revolves around producing an artisanal culinary product, Craft Coffee.

Jeff and Christa Duggan now own and operate six locations within Orange County. Their focus remains on empowering the community with quality, traceable, fresh-roasted and fresh-brewed coffee, presented in an artful context – one cup at a time.

Portola Coffee Roasters locations:

Bill EsparzaThe Street Gourmet, Senor Bill Esparza, is back with us with his first cookbook. Richly photographed and authentically localL.A. Mexicano showcases L.A.’s sophisticated and diverse Mexican-food culture, from Oaxacan tlayudas to Nayarit ceviches, Alta California gastronomy to Boyle Heights burritos.

It’s got it all: recipes, insightful and inspirational profiles of chefs, bakers, restaurateurs, and vendors, and neighborhood guides that point readers to the best markets, taco trucks, restaurants, bars, and more. Part cookbook, part food journalism, and part love song to Los Angeles, it’s a definitive resource for home cooks, Mexican food lovers, and hungry Angelenos and visitors.

With a foreword by Taco USA‘s Gustavo ArellanoL.A. Mexicano shines a long-overdue light on the people behind one of the world’s most complex and delicious cuisines, in one of the world’s most exciting food cities.

Bill Esparza is winner of a James Beard award (with Lesley Bargar Suter) for his coverage of the LA taco scene in Los Angeles Magazine. Considered one of the country’s leading experts on Mexican food, the LA native curates the annual Tacolandia festival in Los Angeles and writes about Mexican food for Los Angeles Magazine and other notable publications.

Anne Marie PanoringanWhat’s it like to experience a very special $310 per guest meal (and it’s a tough pre-paid reservation to even secure) at California’s celebrated The French Laundry in Yountville in the Napa Valley? Chef’s daily nine-course tasting menu and nine-course vegetable tasting menu highlight French technique and the finest quality ingredients available.

There is also a magnificent new $10 million state-of-the-art kitchen where your repast is artfully prepared.

OC Weekly’s “On the Line” columnist, Anne Marie Panoringan was just there and provides the salivating commentary. It’s not her first meal at The French Laundry either…

Russ BendelThree words — cellar, craft, cook — capture the essence of the year-old Russ Bendel-conceived restaurant Ironwood in Laguna Hills , which uped the ante on the south Orange County dining scene with worldwide wine selections, craft beers, creative cocktails and wine country cuisine made daily with the freshest and finest seasonal ingredients by Bendel’s partner, chef Jared Cook (Vine.)

Ironwood’s offerings showcase seasonal ingredients of the highest quality that are prepared daily from scratch. Guests have the choice of selecting from more than 25 global wine selections by the glass, from a cozy indoor bar and dining area or from an outdoor patio featuring spectacular views of Saddleback Mountain. Ironwood is open for dinner only.

Bendel, a longtime fixture on the Orange County dining scene who honed his craft at such fine establishments as Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Newport Beach, assumed ownership of Vine Restaurant & Bar, a Napa Valley-influenced restaurant in San Clemente in 2013. Jared Cook also heads up culinary at the critically-acclaimed, popular eatery. Another Fleming’s veteran and certified sommelier, Kevin Franke, serves as operating partner.

The name of the restaurant was inspired by the evergreen desert tree, the Ironwood, known for its hardiness and used for handles of culinary tools. Two Ironwood trees grace the entrance to the restaurant.

Proprietor Russ Bendel is our guest.

Steve Samson of SottoChef Steve Samson is well-known to lovers of regional Italian cuisine in Southern California.

He first came into local prominence as the Executive Chef at Piero Selvaggio’s classic Valentino in Santa Monica. From there he was the opening chef at Pizzeria Ortica in South Coast Plaza. Next was branching out with his own establishment, Sotto, located near Century City. The distinctive wood-burning pizza oven there was imported from Italy and assembled inside the restaurant by skilled Italian artisans.

His newest project with his wife, Dina, is the ambitious Rossoblu in the emerging City Market South development in the Fashion District of Downtown Los Angeles. The menu is influenced by Chef Steve’s summers in Bologna and Emilia- Romagna while he was growing up.

We’ll pull Chef Steve away from his wood-fired grill in the open kitchen for a full briefing.

Rossoblu celebrates Chef / Proprietor Steve Samson’s two home cities, Los Angeles and Bologna, Italy. The menu features house-made salumi, soulful pastas, market produce, and wood grilled fish and meats.

Located in downtown’s City Market South, the site of Los Angeles’s original produce market, Rossoblu’s vaulted dining room and open kitchen create a festive dining environment. The restaurant’s private outdoor piazza allows al fresco diners to feel far removed from the nearby city bustle. An intimate basement wine cellar can be reserved for private parties.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Jeff & Christa Duggan, Portola Coffee Roasters Part One
Segment Three: Jeff & Christa Duggan, Portola Coffee Roasters Part Two
Segment Four: The Street Gourmet’s Bill Esparza
Segment Five: Anne Marie Panoringan, OC Weekly’s “On the Line” Columnist
Segment Six: Restaurateur Russ Bendel, Ironwood, Laguna Hills
Segment Seven: Executive Chef / Proprietor Steve Samson, Rossoblu, City Market South Part One
Segment Eight: Executive Chef / Proprietor Steve Samson, Rossoblu, City Market South Part Two

Show 22, March 23, 2013: Jeff & Christa Duggan of Portola Coffee Lab, Theorem by Portola Coffee Lab, and Seventh Tea Bar in the OC Mart Mix in Costa Mesa

Jeff and Christa Duggan of Portola Coffee Lab in Costa MesaJeff and Christa are coffee obsessed but they are fun, too.

The goal of Portola since opening in the OC Mart Mix in 2011 is to create a 100 percent single-cup brew coffeehouse designed and constructed as a nod to craft, quality, and freshness. They brew every cup a single portion at a time using three meticulously researched and perfected brewing methods.

They blazed the trail for other artisan food businesses to open at The OC Mart Mix and the long lines of repeat customers illustrates the story of their success.

Show 22, March 23, 2013: Jeff & Christa Duggan of Portola Coffee Lab, Theorem by Portola Coffee Lab, and Seventh Tea Bar in the OC Mart Mix in Costa Mesa (Continued…)

Jeff and Christa Duggan of Portola Coffee Lab in Costa MesaAs Jeff was talking he ground the freshly-roasted beans and then began the brewing process for the ideal cup using a simple glass, pour-over brewer. He weighted the beans and water and put the ground beans in the top glass funnel (lined with filter paper.) The water was heated to the right temperature and then gently poured into the brewer over the beans. The fresh coffee then slowly dripped into the glass holding vessel. The aroma in the studio was incredible!

Last year Theorem by Portola Coffee Lab was added around the corner from Portola. You might call it their performance space. It’s a 6-seat bar presenting a Barista-crafted menu of one-of-a-kind Craft Coffee creations focused on delivering a rich, personal experience. At times Theorem is by appointment only for private tastings and is also open to the public without reservations at other times when the sliding glass doors are open. Call first…

March 23: Ricardo Zarate, Cocoy Ventura, Anita Lau, Brock Radke, Portola Coffee Lab

Podcasts

Segment One: Food GPS’ Joshua Lurie
Segment Two: Chef Cocoy Ventura
Segment Three: Anita Lau, Mad Hungry Woman Blogger
Segment Four: Brock Radke, Food & Web Editor of Las Vegas Weekly
Segment Five: Jeff & Christa Duggan of Portola Coffee Lab, Theorem by Portola Coffee Lab, and Seventh Tea Bar in the OC Mart Mix in Costa Mesa Part One
Segment Six: Jeff & Christa Duggan of Portola Coffee Lab, Theorem by Portola Coffee Lab, and Seventh Tea Bar in the OC Mart Mix in Costa Mesa Part Two

Hungry? This week we’ll start with a dine-around of New York, Houston, and a bit of L.A. From there it’s the 411 on Filipino food presented by a distinguished Filipino Chef.

Next it’s a look at an appealing San Diego restaurant discovered by our always reliable correspondent covering San Diego. From there it’s a look at the Top 20 restaurants in Las Vegas both on and off The Strip ranked by an objective local insider. Lastly it’s all things coffee with a pair of real experts.

Jet has been in New York and Houston since he was last on the air so he’ll share some of his dining adventures.

Ricardo Zarate of Mo-Chica and PiccaChef Ricardo Zarate (Mo-Chica & Picca) is about to open his eagerly anticipated Paiche in Marina del Rey. To celebrate Chef Zarate is joining forces with FOOD GPS to present two evenings of special dinners collaborating with fellow Food & Wine magazine “Best New Chefs”. Joshua Lurie of Food GPS will be along to preview the dinners on March 26th and 27th.

Chef Cocoy VenturaHiding in plain sight is the fact that there is a large Filipino community in Los Angeles. There is even a chain of well-stocked and nicely-appointed Filipino supermarkets based in Los Angeles County.

Chef Cocoy Ventura is with us to talk about the basic components of Filipino food. Fish, vegetables, and fruit are just some of the tasty building blocks.

Anita Lau, the widely followed Mad Hungry Woman blogger, is back with us sharing another dining discovery. She tell us about an appealing find in San Diego that she happily goes back to time and again.

Brock Radke of Las Vegas WeeklyBrock Radke is the respected, no-nonsense Food and Web Editor for Las Vegas Weekly. The March 14th cover story for The Weekly was “The 20 Most Important Restaurants in Las Vegas: Brock Radke ranks the landmarks and upstarts defining how we eat right now” positioned in order of appeal to him. It features both on and off The Strip locations. Let the games begin…

Jeff and Christa Duggan of Portola Coffee Lab in Costa MesaIf you really love a superior cup of coffee then don’t miss this segment! Coffee fanatics Jeff and Christa Duggan of Portola Coffee Lab at the OC Mart Mix in Costa Mesa are constantly on the hunt for brewing the ultimate cup of coffee…They call it Craft Coffee. (Don’t worry – they are passionate but harmless…)

“Since opening Portola Coffee Lab, we have focused on empowering the community with quality, traceable, fresh-roasted coffee, presented in an artful context – one cup at a time,” explains proprietor Jeff Duggan.

Last year the energetic Duggans added Theorem by Portola Coffee Lab adjacent to their original coffee haven. It’s a 6-seat bar presenting a Barista-crafted menu of one-of-a-kind Craft Coffee creations focused on delivering a rich, personal experience.

Podcasts

Segment One: Food GPS’ Joshua Lurie
Segment Two: Chef Cocoy Ventura
Segment Three: Anita Lau, Mad Hungry Woman Blogger
Segment Four: Brock Radke, Food & Web Editor of Las Vegas Weekly
Segment Five: Jeff & Christa Duggan of Portola Coffee Lab, Theorem by Portola Coffee Lab, and Seventh Tea Bar in the OC Mart Mix in Costa Mesa Part One
Segment Six: Jeff & Christa Duggan of Portola Coffee Lab, Theorem by Portola Coffee Lab, and Seventh Tea Bar in the OC Mart Mix in Costa Mesa Part Two