Show 384, August 1, 2020: Executive Chef Craig Hopson, Sea Level Restaurant & Lounge, Shade Hotel Redondo Beach

Craig Hopson of SeaLevel Restaurant and LoungeAt Sea Level Restaurant & Lounge at the Shade Hotel Redondo Beach Executive Chef Craig Hopson offers premium California coastal cuisine that’s perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a weekend brunch. Start with a hand-crafted cocktail and fresh oysters from the raw bar, then move onto one of Chef Craig’s coastal inspired main dishes (Roasted Salmon Fillet with squash, radish, cucumber, quinoa and miso dressing) with a glass of wine or one of the on-tap craft beers from their extensive selection.

“Through it all, you’ll enjoy spectacular views from Palos Verdes to Malibu on plush outdoor seating, all complete with fire pits and heaters in a comfortable, inviting, and modern space that blends a beach feel with a luxury approach to indoor and outdoor dining. Enjoy Chef Craig Hopson’s gourmet culinary talent and experience all that California’s uniquely modern cuisine has to offer: visit for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.”

Newly launched is Chef Craig’s Friday and Saturday night Rooftop Izakaya with Sushi, Sashimi and Izakaya specialties along with a menu of Hand-Crafted Cocktails. Think Japanese Curry with a beef short rib, onion, carrots and served over rice with pickles or the Sea Level Roll with crab, avocado, aioli, masago and tempura crunchies

We reel in Executive Chef Craig Hopson for a chat.

Show 308, January 26, 2019: Chef Geraldine Gilliland, The Lula Cocina Cookbook & Lula Cocina Mexicana, Santa Monica

Geraldine Gilliland at Melissa's ProduceGeraldine Gilliland is a well-known and long-time restaurateur in Santa Monica. Her popular establishment on Main Street is the long-running Lula Cocina Mexicana launched in 1991. It’s a living tribute to her (Mexico City-based) Mexican cooking teacher, Lula Bertran. Geraldine is also a long-time resident of Malibu and dedicated to animal rescue with Chiquita’s Friends.

There is a new printing of Geraldine’s The Lula Cocina Cookbook – My favorite Recipes, from Mexico to Malibu. All of the proceeds from book sales generously benefit Chiquita’s Friends.

“Learn not only her best recipes, but how to put your own spin on them to create your own signature dishes…all while helping a great cause.

“Chiquita’s Friends,” is a 501 © 3 I founded that is dedicated to helping abused, neglected and abandoned dogs in and around Southern California. We have rescued and successfully placed over 1,000 dogs in loving homes with the help of this network of allies in the fight against animal negligence and abuse.”

Geraldine spoke to us from the LXV Wine Tasting Room in Paso Robles where she is on a research trip. She recommends their wines.

Show 306, January 12, 2019: Kerry Clasby, the Intuitive Forager, Malibu

Kerry ClasbyA chef’s secret weapon in sourcing exotic produce items is Kerry Clasby known as the Intuitive Forager. Kerry is beloved in the Los Angeles and Las Vegas hospitality communities. She has her own farm in Malibu as well as procuring from farmers markets all over California.

“Aggregator, educator, public speaker, published writer, and acclaimed forager, Kerry Clasby is the founder of Intuitive Forager, a professional foraging, farmers market, and retail company. Kerry is one of the original pioneers of culinary foraging and for over 2 decades has been sourcing top quality-rarefied produce for celebrity chefs with world-renowned restaurants in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. Her awarding winning Farmers Markets are an extension of Kerry’s commitment to bring the same farm-to-table produce to ‘community.’”

“Always an active proponent of great food along with sustainability and a healthy lifestyle, Kerry continues to forage on with lots of projects in the works – including new and exciting things at the Intuitive Foragers Farmers Markets (Downtown 3rd Farmers Market on Friday) in Las Vegas, and The Farm at Malibu – which now includes a Farmstand!”

We’ll find out what is sprouting with Kerry as she bounces back from the devastation of the Woolsey Fire. The good news is that her Malibu Farm Stand has just reopened.

Show 299, November 24, 2018: Chef & Restaurateur Geraldine Gilliland, Lula Cocina Mexicana, Finn McCool’s Irish Pub, Chiquita’s Friends Animal Rescue

Geraldine GillilandGeraldine Gilliland is a well-known and long-time restaurateur and philanthropist in Santa Monica. Her proprieties on Main Street are Lula Cocina Mexicana and Finn McCool’s Irish Pub. She has a long tradition of generously giving back to the community.

Gerri is also a long-time resident of Malibu and dedicated to animal rescue with Chiquita’s Friends. All of the proceeds from the Lula Cocina Cookbook benefit Chiquita’s Friends.

The tragic Woolsey fire necessitated her hurried evacuation from her new Cornell Sanctuary in Agoura on Thursday night, November 8th with 26 of her rescue dogs. Just imagine the task of getting all these senior and challenged animals with special needs gently coaxed into travel kennels and loading them onto a van and truck in the dark for transport.

As of the broadcast Geraldine still had not been able to get back home to either her Malibu ranch or the Cornell Sanctuary. It’s been over 2 weeks now…Sadly the recently restored caretaker’s cottage at the Sanctuary was completely destroyed including all the caretaker’s belongings.

With any luck she hopes to return to her Malibu ranch and Cornell Sanctuary in the next few days.

Gerri will bring us up-to-date on two very difficult weeks and how we can help. Gerri and her dedicated volunteers even cooked fresh food for her canine charges on Thanksgiving. A contribution of any amount to Chiquita’s Friends at this challenging time would be greatly appreciated.

Show 298, November 17, 2018: Chef & Restaurateur Geraldine Gilliland, Lula Cocina Mexicana, Finn McCool’s Irish Pub, Chiquita’s Friends Animal Rescue

Geraldine GillilandGeraldine Gilliland is a well-known and long-time restaurateur and philanthropist in Santa Monica. Her proprieties on Main Street are Lula Cocina Mexicana and Finn McCool’s Irish Pub. She has a long tradition of generously giving back to the community.

She is also a long-time resident of Malibu and dedicated to animal rescue with Chiquita’s Friends. All of the proceeds from the Lula Cocina Cookbook benefit Chiquita’s Friends.

The tragic Woolsey fire necessitated her hurried evacuation from her new Cornell Sanctuary in Agoura on Thursday night, November 8th with 26 of her rescue dogs. Just imagine the task of getting all these senior and challenged animals with special needs gently coaxed into travel kennels and loading them onto a van and truck in the dark for transport.

As of the broadcast Geraldine still had not been able to get back home to either her Malibu ranch or the Cornell Sanctuary. Sadly the recently restored caretaker’s cottage at the Sanctuary was completely destroyed including all the caretaker’s belongings.

Gerri will bring us up-to-date on a very difficult week and how we can help. A contribution of any amount to Chiquita’s Friends at this challenging time would be greatly appreciated.

 

Show 154, January 9, 2016: Elliott Dolin, Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards

Elliot DolinInspired by a Chardonnay vineyard Elliott and Lynn Dolin planted behind their ocean-view Malibu home in 2006, Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards has quickly emerged as one of the leading producers in the new Malibu Coast AVA which Elliott was instrumental in getting approved.

Following the release of just five vintages of Chardonnay ($39), the winery has plans to expand its Malibu production to include several more wines from the region. In fall 2014 Dolin Estate broadened its scope further with the release of a new line of Central Coast Pinot Noir wines from such highly regarded vineyards as Talley Rincon, Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills. In 2015, Dolin Estate will introduce additional single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines from the Central Coast.

Following their first vintage of Dolin Estate Chardonnay, Elliott and Lynn Dolin looked to the Central Coast to find a winemaker whose experience exceeded what was available in Southern California. They set up a meeting with Kirby Anderson at their Malibu Coast Vineyard, and right away they knew they had found a winemaker who shared their appreciation for wines made in a seamless, silky and voluptuous style. In 2010 Kirby began making Dolin Estate’s Chardonnay, and in 2012 he helped expand the portfolio to include Central Coat Rose of Pinot Noir and Pinot Noir.

Lynn Dolin (Elliott’s wife) is also active in the venture. She has a keen eye for style and designed the label for the Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards Rose of Pinot Noir. It even won a design award at the greatly respected San Francisco International Wine Competition.

Elliott Dolin joins us to share his unusual wine story.

Special thanks to Shawn Burgert at Wandering Wino for providing the wonderful photographs of Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards.

Show 39, September 7, 2013: Biff Naylor, proprietor of Du-par’s Restaurants & Bakeries

Biff Naylor of Dupar'sIn 2004 Naylor came out of a brief retirement to purchase and revive the surviving Du-par’s Restaurants & Bakeries. The first location at The Original Farmers Market (opened in 1938) remains after a massive renovation and needed refurbishment. They are particularly well-known for incredible pancakes and house-baked fruit pies.

The Naylor Family represents three generations of career hospitality folks. Daughter, Jennifer, was the executive chef for many years at Wolfgang Puck’s Granita in Malibu. One of Jennifer’s key chefs is now the corporate executive chef for Du-Par’s. Most everything is made from scratch using premium ingredients.

If you sit at the counter at a Du-par’s you’ll see servers squeezing the fresh orange juice to order.

There is even a very busy Du-par’s in Downtown Las Vegas in the landmark Golden Gate Casino & Hotel. It’s actually the highest grossing restaurant per square foot (2,500 sq. ft.) in Las Vegas!

They are famous for their ever popular “to-go” chilled shrimp cocktail which is actually a clever loss-leader designed to attract guests to the casino. The true food cost of the shrimp in the all-shrimp cocktail (no fillers) actually exceeds the retail cost!

September 7: Sake, Soy Sauce, Sriracha, Du-Par’s, Hawaiian Eats, Ray’s & Stark,118 Degrees

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Randy Clemens, food journalist
Segment Three: Vernon Cardenas, Executive Chef of State Social House on the Sunset Strip
Segment Four: Biff Naylor, proprietor of Du-par’s Restaurants & Bakeries
Segment Five: Chef Jet’s “Cooking with Soy Sauce” Tutorial
Segment Six: Kedric Francis, Executive Editor of Coast Magazine
Segment Seven: Martin Riese, General Manager of Ray’s & Stark Bar at LACMA
Segment Eight: Jenny Ross, Executive Chef & Proprietress, 118 Degrees Community Cafes

Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris preview the show.

Also an intriguing dash of restaurant and food chat.

Thai 2013 Food FestivalMark Sunday afternoon, September 29th on your calendar. Our very own Jet Tila is hosting the Thai 2013 Food Festival at Paramount Pictures Studios in the heart of Hollywood. It starts at 3:00 p.m.

Celebrity chefs and outstanding local Thai chefs will be there presenting their signature dishes for the guests to sample and enjoy. Entertainment will include music, Thai dancers, and fruit carving.

Randy ClemensRandy Clemens, noted food journalist and author of the best-selling Sriracha Cookbook and The Veggie-Lover’s Sriracha Cookbook, both from Ten Speed Press.

Randy was just in Thailand in Sri Racha in the Chonburi Province researching the unusual origins of Sriracha and shares this rich history with us.

Vernon Cardenas of State Social HouseExecutive Chef Vernon Cardenas oversees the kitchen at the just-opened State Social House on the fabled Sunset Strip. He has extensive experience cooking locally including his tenure as opening chef at Katana, also on the Sunset Strip.

Chef Vernon is an expert on all things Sake. He presents a overview course in Sake Appreciation 411.

Biff Naylor of Dupar'sBiff Naylor is a veteran restaurateur on the SoCal restaurant scene. He previously owned Tiny Naylor’s and Biff’s.

In 2004 Naylor came out of a brief retirement to purchase and revive the surviving Du-par’s Restaurants & Bakeries. The first location at The Original Farmers Market (opened in 1938) remains after a massive renovation and needed refurbishment. They are particularly well-known for incredible pancakes and house-baked fruit pies.

The Naylor Family represents three generations of career hospitality folks. Daughter, Jennifer, was the executive chef for many years at Wolfgang Puck’s Granita in Malibu. One of Jennifer’s key chefs is now the corporate executive chef for Du-Par’s. Most everything is made from scratch using premium ingredients.

If you sit at the counter at a Du-par’s you’ll see servers squeezing the fresh orange juice to order.

There is even a very busy Du-par’s in Downtown Las Vegas in the Golden Gate Casino & Hotel. They are famous for their ever popular “to-go” chilled shrimp cocktail which is actually a clever loss-leader designed to attract guests to the casino.

Soy SaucesJet Tila provides a useful tutorial on the types of soy sauce and their uses. There are differences in flavor and texture between Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Thai soy sauces.

Light soy sauce, for example, does not have reduced salt. It’s actually saltier than the darker version.

Kedric Francis of Coast Magazine and the Orange County Register MagazineKedric Francis the Executive Editor of both Coast Magazine and The Orange County Register Magazine is back with us with his regular travel segment.

Kedric is talking about a September craft beer cruise to Hawaii (Ensenada to Hawaii) as well as other upcoming craft beer cruises.

He also previews a new luxury Montage Hotel in Maui arriving in 2014.

From there it’s some standout travel options in Southern California.

Martin Riese of Rays and Stark BarMartin Riese, the General Manager of Ray’s & Stark Bar at The Los Angeles County Museum of Art on the Miracle Mile, joins us.

Martin is Los Angeles only certified Water Sommelier. During his time managing fine-dining restaurants in Germany (before returning to Los Angeles) he researched and wrote the definitive guidebook to mineral waters around the world.

At Ray’s he has just launched their first Water Menu with some twenty selections from around the world. It’s a great alternative for guests who want a festive beverage to pair with their meal but perhaps need to stay away from alcohol.

Jenny RossJenny Ross is the executive chef and proprietress of the 118 Degrees Community Cafes in Costa Mesa, Anaheim, and Laguna Niguel. The original location at The Camp in Costa Mesa recently celebrated its 7-Year Anniversary.

Chef Jenny characterizes her food as fresh, organic living cuisine.

The line of Jenny Ross Living Foods can be found pre-packaged in the grocery section of select Whole Foods Markets.

Her soon to be published 3rd cookbook is Healing with Raw Living Food.

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Randy Clemens, food journalist
Segment Three: Vernon Cardenas, Executive Chef of State Social House on the Sunset Strip
Segment Four: Biff Naylor, proprietor of Du-par’s Restaurants & Bakeries
Segment Five: Chef Jet’s “Cooking with Soy Sauce” Tutorial
Segment Six: Kedric Francis, Executive Editor of Coast Magazine
Segment Seven: Martin Riese, General Manager of Ray’s & Stark Bar at LACMA
Segment Eight: Jenny Ross, Executive Chef & Proprietress, 118 Degrees Community Cafes

Show 27, May 4, 2013: Lorin Adolph, private chef based in Chicago

Private Chef Lorin AdolphChef Lorin has a very unusual scope of work for an experienced chef. For 22 years he has been the personal chef for a very wealthy businessman who lives in Chicago. You’d know the name…The gentleman also has estates in Malibu and Europe.

Chef Lorin travels with the family and prepares dinner for them wherever in the world they happen to be. It requires absolute discretion and a lot of culinary talent!

Of course Chef Lorin enjoys shopping at the Farmers Markets and is well-known in both Chicago and Santa Monica. It’s his inspiration in planning menus. Lorin had just been to the opening morning of Chicago’s Green City Market’s outdoor season. The report was the winter potatoes and onions were looking good.

Not every meal is foie gras and caviar. A family favorite is a fresh seafood salad, stir-fried rice, and freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies.

Chef Lorin shared some of his favorite dining out spots in Chicago as he’s out often to see what the big time chefs are doing. He’s a fan of Chef Paul Kahan’s Blackbird and The Publican. He also recommends Lula and Nightwood and the restaurants of Chef Bill Kim.