January 26: Pop-Ups, Eating Las Vegas, Barbara Fairchild, Bricia Lopez

Podcasts

Segment One: Helena Brown and Helen Springut, “this is not a pop-up.” Part One
Segment Two: Helena Brown and Helen Springut, “this is not a pop-up.” Part Two
Segment Three: Al Mancini, restaurant critic for CityLife (Las Vegas)
Segment Four: Barbara Fairchild, food and travel journalist, educator, former Editor-in-Chief of Bon Appetit Magazine
Segment Five: Bricia Lopez of the Guelaguetza restaurants in Koreatown and Plaza Mexico in Lynwood Part One
Segment Six: Bricia Lopez of the Guelaguetza restaurants in Koreatown and Plaza Mexico in Lynwood Part Two

There is a new twist in pop-ups (restaurants) locally and you’ll hear all about it.

The definitive dining guidebook to the best eating in Las Vegas is Eating Las Vegas 2013.The mastermind behind the ambitious project, Al Mancini, will be with us to explain it all.

What’s it like dining in Washington, D.C. during the recent inaugural festivities? We’ll have a report.

Our tequila and mescal expert is back with us to guide us through a tasting!

This is not a pop upWhat’s new in pop-up restaurants? Helena Brown and Helen Springut joined forces to create “this is not as pop-up.” Thursday through Sunday evenings at Square One in Los Angeles a guest chef presents a 5-course tasting menu under this umbrella for one week.

Currently cooking is Food Network’s Adam Gertler with a deli menu.

Bruce Kalman of The Churchill starts his guest chefing run next week on January 31st.

With dining prices on the rise in Las Vegas you don’t want to make a bad dining choice, and there is no reason to with the vast resources available to savvy visitors.

The best dining guide to the City is Eating Las Vegas: The 50 Essential Restaurants from Huntington Press.

It is written by the three top restaurant critics in Las Vegas who agree on very little and couldn’t be more different! Co-author Al Mancini, who developed the idea, is our guest.

Barbara FairchildBarbara Fairchild, the long-time, former editor-in-chief of Bon Appetit Magazine checks in with a report on dining in the Nation’s Capital during the just-concluded inauguration festivities.

Time to learn the finer points of Tequila and Mezcal appreciation. The delightful Bricia Lopez of the Guelaguetza restaurants in Koreatown and Plaza Mexico in Lynwood is in-studio to be our guide and instructor. Ole.

Podcasts

Segment One: Helena Brown and Helen Springut, “this is not a pop-up.” Part One
Segment Two: Helena Brown and Helen Springut, “this is not a pop-up.” Part Two
Segment Three: Al Mancini, restaurant critic for CityLife (Las Vegas)
Segment Four: Barbara Fairchild, food and travel journalist, educator, former Editor-in-Chief of Bon Appetit Magazine
Segment Five: Bricia Lopez of the Guelaguetza restaurants in Koreatown and Plaza Mexico in Lynwood Part One
Segment Six: Bricia Lopez of the Guelaguetza restaurants in Koreatown and Plaza Mexico in Lynwood Part Two

Show 8: December 1, 2012: Bricia Lopez of the Guelaguetza Restaurants in K-Town and Plaza Mexico in Lynwood

Mezcal originated in Oaxaca where Bricia was born and she has developed a special expertise with Mezcal and Tequila. There is even a Mezcaleria at the K-Town location. All Tequila is a Mezcal. Bricia provided a helpful introduction to both spirits and how they are created and distilled. Both are designed to be enjoyed neat.

December 1: Five Crowns, Guelaguetza, Food Republic

Podcasts

Segment One: Executive Chef Greg Harrison and General Manager Jim Colombo of the iconic Five Crowns & SideDoor in Corona del Mar.
Segment Two: Executive Chef Greg Harrison and General Manager Jim Colombo Part Two
Segment Three: Bricia Lopez of the Guelaguetza Restaurants in K-Town and Plaza Mexico in Lynwood
Segment Four: Jason Kessler – Los Angeles-based food writer for Food Republic and his column for the online version of Bon Appetit Magazine is the “Nitpicker.”
Segment Five: Jason Kessler Part Two
Segment Six: Jason Kessler Part Three

It’s the first Saturday in December and abundant Holiday Cheer will be with us for the month.

Joining Jet in studio will be Chef Greg Harrison, the accomplished new exec at the iconic, 48-year old  Five Crowns in Corona del Mar. The Holidays are always a special time of celebration at Five Crowns and Chef Greg will be telling us about his new touches added to the traditional festivities.

Five Crowns has always been the establishment of choice to celebrate special occasions and still is. Since Chef Greg’s arrival he’s enhanced the menu to retain the signature classics while offering an updated selection of more contemporary dishes.

Lopez Family of Guelaguetza Restaurants and Plaza MexicoWhen you’re talking about the Mexican regional cuisine of Oaxaca no one does it better than the Lopez Family behind the two very popular Guelaguetza restaurants in Los Angeles and in the Plaza Mexico in Lynwood.

Lopez Family scion, Bricia, will be joining us to provide the basic 411 on Tequila and Mezcal (which originated in Oaxaca.)

Who’s that for Holiday cheer?

Jason Kessler, blogger extraordinaire for Food Republic and also the “Nitpicker” for Bon Appetit Magazine’s blog, is with us to report on his just completed adventure at the Margaret River Gourmet Escape in Western Australia. The remote area started as a surf spot and then developed into a world class wine region.

That weekend he rubbed shoulders with some of the most accomplished chefs in the world including Rene Redzepi of Noma in Copenhagen (regarded by many restaurant critics as the Number One restaurant in the world,) and New York-based David Chang of Momofuku fame. Jason also got to chat with Australian star chefs Tetsuya Wakada (Tetsuya’s,) Neil Perry (Rockpool,) and Peter Gilmore (Quay,) all Sydney-based.

Podcasts

Segment One: Executive Chef Greg Harrison and General Manager Jim Colombo of the iconic Five Crowns & SideDoor in Corona del Mar.
Segment Two: Executive Chef Greg Harrison and General Manager Jim Colombo Part Two
Segment Three: Bricia Lopez of the Guelaguetza Restaurants in K-Town and Plaza Mexico in Lynwood
Segment Four: Jason Kessler – Los Angeles-based food writer for Food Republic and his column for the online version of Bon Appetit Magazine is the “Nitpicker.”
Segment Five: Jason Kessler Part Two
Segment Six: Jason Kessler Part Three