Show 403, December 12, 2020: Anne Marie Panoringan, Voice of OC’s Food Columnist Part Two

Anne Marie Panoringan of Voice of OC at KLAA Studios holding a bottle of Hand Sanitizer from Blinking Owl DistilleryAnne Marie Panoringan is Voice of OC’s well-informed food columnist. She reports industry news, current events and trends. Panoringan’s prior efforts includes writing about food for 8 years at the OC Weekly in which she interviewed more than 330 chefs, restauranteurs and industry professionals for her weekly “On the Line” column. Anne Marie’s work has been recognized by the Orange County Press Club.

Anne Marie continues with us to talk about the severe impact of the recent dining restrictions placed on Orange County restaurants by the State which is a teaser of her next Voice of OC column out on December 14th. She will also preview some eagerly anticipated restaurant openings for the new year. We’ll find out about the pending arrivals of FKN Bread in San Juan Capistrano and Mah Jong’s by Chef Mike (Doctulero) at South Coast Plaza.

Anne Marie also shares some morning pastry treats from Panderia Bakehouse with Orange County locations in Irvine and Fountain Valley. She recommends their Malasadas but brought in their rich Portuguese Egg Tarts to taste.

Anne Marie’s columns can be found on the Voice of OC’s Website. Click on the “Arts & Culture” tab on the top of the Home Page.

Show 304, December 29, 2018: James Mullins, Proprietor, Fill Bakehouse & Creamery, Costa Mesa

Fill Bakeshop and CreameryHow sweet it is with an authentic “Taste of Hawaii” now located next door to Toast Kitchen + Bakery in Costa Mesa. Fill, a bakehouse and creamery serving made-to-order malasadas and small-batch ice cream, launched in late July. With Fill, founder & Hawaii-native James Mullis, serves up a sweet side of the Islands with true “aloha spirit.”

“Malasadas were popularized in Hawaii during the 19th century when Portuguese immigrants arrived in Hawaii to support the islands’ growing sugar cane business. Today, these delicate, sugar-dusted confections are an island icon; and to Mullis, they’re reminiscent of the welcoming, diverse culture of Hawaii.” Making the dough for a malasada is actually an intensive, two-day process.

“After years of research, Mullis put together a duo of illustrious chefs to bring his vision to life: Lincoln Carson (ex-Michael Mina Restaurant Group) and John Park. Today, Mullis proudly presents Fill, his ode to Hawaii and the embracing culture that shaped his childhood.”

“The islands are melting pot of culture, pulling culinary influence from the Philippines, Japan, and Portugal,” comments Mullis, who grew up in the small town of Kaneohe, Hawaii. “We represent the best of Hawaii’s embracing culinary culture at Fill with made-to-order malasadas, artisan fillings, and house-made, small-batch ice cream.”

Organic and GMO-free, Fill’s malasadas are a delicate-yet-doughy Portuguese pastry with a crisp, sugar-dusted exterior (choose from cane, cinnamon, or coconut sugar) which can be served with a variety of fillings including haupia (coconut custard), strawberry jam, Mandarin orange pastry cream, or malted chocolate.

In addition to Fill’s fresh-baked malasadas is a selection of small-batch ice creams with unique flavors that evoke a taste of the islands including a vegan Brown Butter Roasted Pineapple, Royal Kona Coffee, Roasted Black Sesame, and POG (passion fruit, orange, guava). The ice creams are made right there in-house in a dedicated, state-of-the-art health department certified frozen dessert production space.

Closed on Monday.

James joins us from Hawaii where he is celebrating the Holidays.