Show 190, September 24, 2016: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group

Please note… Next Saturday, October 1st we’re preempted in our usual morning slot for Fighting Irish Football. No worries as we’ll still have a live show for you at the special afternoon time of 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on October 1st only. Thanks & please help spread the word…

Andrew Gruel and his son WilliamExecutive Chef Andrew Gruel of the rapidly growing Slapfish empire with restaurants in Huntington Beach, Brea, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, LAX, Irvine at UCI and, most recently, The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for Rams and USC Football, is back as today’s Guest Host. San Clemente is launching next. In May in Chicago during the National Restaurant Association’s annual conclave he received Nation’s Restaurant News’ Trendsetter MenuMaster Award for Slapfish.

Our food-loving colleagues in Richmond, British Columbia are at it again. Richmond is known for having some of the best and most authentic regional Chinese food outside of China. For all of us in SoCal it’s a whole lot closer. Just launched is “Travel the Dumpling Trail.” Colin Wong, Director of Communications for Tourism Richmond, joins us with all the crave-worthy details.

Noted gourmand Darrell Corti of Corti Brothers gourmet grocery and spirit purveyors in Sacramento is the Chairman of the globally respected L.A. International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition. We’ll chat about the Southern Hemisphere tasting and lots more, and how the public can sample some of the winning oils during the closing Weekend of the L.A. County Fair. TheDailyMeal.com has dubbed him one of the coolest people in food and drink in America.

L.A. Kitchen is a high-profile, local non-profit whose thoughtful mission is that food and people should never go to waste. On Saturday evening, October 22nd they are launching their first ever fundraiser: Shared Plates. It’s “a night of 100 dinner parties” across Los Angeles. Robert Egger, Founder & CEO of L.A. Kitchen is our guest with a preview.

At 25, Chef Marcel Vigneron competed on the memorable Season 2 of Bravo’s “Top Chef” and, impressively, was the Runner-Up. He now has two side-by-side restaurants on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, Wolf (Seasonal LA Cuisine) and the plant-based, Beefsteak. We’ll meet him.

Austin-born burger joint Hopdoddy Burger Bar, known for its thoughtfully crafted selection of high quality burgers, craft beer and handspun shakes, has recently opened their second Orange County location at The Market Place in Tustin. Hopdoddy’s Brand Manager, Erin Fohn>, joins us with all the hot & juicy specifics.

Foodbeast presents the 2nd Annual OozeFest in Downtown Santa Ana on the Weekend of October 15th and 16th. It’s the very cheesiest of course, with awesome cheese creations and premium beer! There is a VIP all-you-can-eat option this year. Producer Bobby Navarro of 100eats.com has the gooey details for us.

Co-host Chef Andrew Gruel> of Slapfish Restaurant Group has two young children and also enjoys dining out at all levels of establishments. What to do? Chef Andrew shares his top picks for chef-driven restaurants that are also kid-friendly. Mangia…

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

Show 190, September 24, 2016: Owner/Chef Marcel Vigneron, Wolf & Beefsteak

Marcel VigneronAt 25, Chef Marcel Vigneron competed on the memorable Season 2 of Bravo’s “Top Chef” and, impressively, was the Runner-Up. He now has two side-by-side restaurants on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, Wolf (Seasonal LA Cuisine) and the plant-based, Beefsteak. We’ll meet him.

“At WOLF, we are influenced by fresh local ingredients and the farmers that grow them. We pay tribute to the food by preparing it with care, using every edible part from flower to root and nose to tail. Our inspiration stems from the variety of cultures that make up our city, from Thai Town to Taco Trucks. Our goal is to combine these traditional flavors into something uniquely Los Angeles. Come in and experience food and service that are precise, but never pretentious. Join Marcel and his team to take your place in the Wolfpack.”

“At Beefsteak, we strive to bring the best produce and local ingredients to our guests in a casual environment that serves fresh and seasonal California cuisine. We aim to source everything from socially conscious purveyors that will in turn be used in dishes that are not only healthy, but also intended to be super tasty, and ecologically responsible. We value the intimate connection between our food, our farms, our planet and our health and aim to be sustainable in all of our practices. We support our community through partnerships with local vendors and producers.”

September 24: Tourism Richmond, Corti Brothers, LA Kitchen, Marcel Vigneron, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, OozeFest

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group
Segment Two: “The Dumpling Trail” with Colin Wong, Director of Communications, Tourism Richmond
Segment Three: Darrell Corti, Chair, L.A. International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition
Segment Four: Robert Egger, Founder & CEO, L.A. Kitchen
Segment Five: Owner/Chef Marcel Vigneron, Wolf & Beefsteak
Segment Six: Erin Fohn, Brand Manager, Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Segment Seven: Foodbeast Presents: The 2nd Annual OozeFest
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish Restaurant Group

Please note… Next Saturday, October 1st we’re preempted in our usual morning slot for Fighting Irish Football. No worries as we’ll still have a live show for you at the special afternoon time of 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on October 1st only. Thanks & please help spread the word…

Andrew Gruel and his son WilliamExecutive Chef Andrew Gruel of the rapidly growing Slapfish empire with restaurants in Huntington Beach, Brea, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, LAX, Irvine at UCI and, most recently, The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for Rams and USC Football, is back as today’s Guest Host. San Clemente is launching next. In May in Chicago during the National Restaurant Association’s annual conclave he received Nation’s Restaurant News’ Trendsetter MenuMaster Award for Slapfish.

Our food-loving colleagues in Richmond, British Columbia are at it again. Richmond is known for having some of the best and most authentic regional Chinese food outside of China. For for all of us in SoCal it’s a whole lot closer. Just launched is “Travel the Dumpling Trail.” Colin Wong, Director of Communications for Tourism Richmond, joins us with all the crave-worthy details.

Noted gourmand Darrell Corti of Corti Brothers gourmet grocery and spirit purveyors in Sacramento is the Chairman of the globally respected L.A. International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition. We’ll chat about the Southern Hemisphere tasting and lots more, and how the public can sample some of the winning oils during the closing Weekend of the L.A. County Fair. TheDailyMeal.com has dubbed him one of the coolest people in food and drink in America.

L.A. Kitchen is a high-profile, local non-profit whose thoughtful mission is that food and people should never go to waste. On Saturday evening, October 22nd they are launching their first ever fundraiser : Shared Plates. It’s “a night of 100 dinner parties” across Los Angeles. Robert Egger, Founder & CEO of L.A. Kitchen is our guest with a preview.

At 25, Chef Marcel Vigneron competed on the memorable Season 2 of Bravo’s “Top Chef” and, impressively, was the Runner-Up. He now has two side-by-side restaurants on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, Wolf (Seasonal LA Cuisine) and the plant-based, Beefsteak. We’ll meet him.

Austin-born burger joint Hopdoddy Burger Bar, known for its thoughtfully crafted selection of high quality burgers, craft beer and handspun shakes, has recently opened their second Orange County location at The Market Place in Tustin. Hopdoddy’s Brand Manager, Erin Fohn, joins us with all the hot & juicy specifics.

Foodbeast presents the 2nd Annual OozeFest in Downtown Santa Ana on the Weekend of October 15th and 16th. It’s the very cheesiest of course, with awesome cheese creations and premium beer! There is a VIP all-you-can-eat option this year. Producer Bobby Navarro of 100eats.com has the gooey details for us.

Co-host Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group has two young children and also enjoys dining out at all levels of establishments. What to do? Chef Andrew shares his top picks for chef-driven restaurants that are also kid-friendly. Mangia…

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

Colin WongOur food-loving colleagues in Richmond, British Columbia are at it again. Richmond has some of the best regional Chinese food outside of China and for all of us in SoCal it’s a whole lot closer. Just launched is “Travel the Dumpling Trail.”

“Did you know there are over 20 different types of Asian dumplings? Dumplings come in all shapes and forms, from water-boiled, to deep-fried, steamed and even dessert dumplings. In Richmond, B.C. there is no shortage of dumplings to choose from and Tourism Richmond is inviting visitors to sample some of the delicious options that the city has to offer through a new tour, the Dumpling Trail.”

“With over 800 restaurants in Richmond, dining choices can be overwhelming,” said Tracy Lakeman, CEO of Tourism Richmond. “We’ve carefully selected 15 eateries with some of the best dumplings, from upscale restaurants to hidden gems and food court stalls. These restaurants make up the Dumpling Trail, a walkable, self-guided tour that showcases Richmond as a culinary destination. Each location on the Trail offers unique varieties of dumplings and Tourism Richmond has identified some of the city’s best.”

Here’s a preview of Tourism Richmond’s top picks for dumplings:

  • Su Hang Restaurant: Xiao long bao (soup dumplings) & water-boiled dumplings
  • Shiang Garden: Har Gow (shrimp dumplings)
  • Shibuyatei Sushi & Larmen: Japanese scallop gyoza
  • Golden Sichuan Restaurant: Spicy Chinese dumplings

Colin Wong, Director of Communications for Tourism Richmond, joins us with all the crave-worthy details.

Darrell CortiNoted gourmand Darrell Corti of Corti Brothers gourmet grocery and spirit purveyors in Sacramento is the Chairman of the globally respected L.A. International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition. We’ll chat about the Southern Hemisphere tasting and lots more and how the public can sample some of the winning oils during the final Weekend of the L.A. County Fair. TheDailyMeal.com has dubbed him one of the coolest people in food and drink in America.

Now in its 17th year, the Los Angeles International Olive Oil Competition is the top ranking EVOO competition in the United States and fifth worldwide. The goal is to bring together the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in awarding medals to the best oils from around the globe.

Robert EggarL.A. Kitchen is a growing-in-profile, local non-profit whose thoughtful mission is that food and people should never go to waste. On Saturday evening, October 22nd they are launching their first ever fundraiser : Shared Plates. It’s “a night of 100 dinner parties” across Los Angeles.

“On behalf of the L.A. Kitchen, I’m thrilled to invite you to SHARED PLATES, an extraordinary night of 100 dinner parties hosted in homes all across our great city on Saturday, October 22nd. By sharing plates, stories, and a few surprises, these dinners will bring Angelenos from every walk of life together to reveal the power of food”

“Thanks to the generosity of our hosts, 100 per cent of your ticket revenue goes to support the L.A. Kitchen’s vital work to ensure that neither food nor people will ever go to waste.” – From Robert Egger, Founder & CEO, L.A. Kitchen

Robert Egger, Founder & CEO of L.A. Kitchen is our guest with a tantalizing preview.

Marcel VigneronAt 25, Chef Marcel Vigneron competed on the memorable Season 2 of Bravo’s “Top Chef” and, impressively, was the Runner-Up. He now has two side-by-side restaurants on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, Wolf (Seasonal LA Cuisine) and the plant-based, Beefsteak. We’ll meet him.

“At WOLF, we are influenced by fresh local ingredients and the farmers that grow them. We pay tribute to the food by preparing it with care, using every edible part from flower to root and nose to tail. Our inspiration stems from the variety of cultures that make up our city, from Thai Town to Taco Trucks. Our goal is to combine these traditional flavors into something uniquely Los Angeles.  Come in and experience food and service that are precise, but never pretentious.  Join Marcel and his team to take your place in the Wolfpack.”

“At Beefsteak, we strive to bring the best produce and local ingredients to our guests in a casual environment that serves fresh and seasonal California cuisine. We aim to source everything from socially conscious purveyors that will in turn be used in dishes that are not only healthy, but also intended to be super tasty, and ecologically responsible. We value the intimate connection between our food, our farms, our planet and our health and aim to be sustainable in all of our practices.  We support our community through partnerships with local vendors and producers.”

Erin FohmAustin-born burger joint Hopdoddy Burger Bar, known for its thoughtfully crafted selection of high quality burgers, craft beer and handspun shakes, has recently opened their second Orange County location at The Market Place in Tustin.

Hopdoddy delivers fresh, all-natural angus burgers alongside Kennebec hand cut fries, farm fresh salads and handcrafted milkshakes. Their buns are baked in-house from scratch every day. Craft local beer is a passion for Hopdoddy, as well as their full bar including house-made liqueurs and fresh-squeezed juices. Founded in 2010, Hopdoddy now has locations in Texas, Arizona, Colorado and California.

Hopdoddy’s Brand Manager, Erin Fohn, joins us with all the hot & juicy specifics.

Foodbeast OozefestFoodbeast presents the 2nd Annual OozeFest in Downtown Santa Ana on the Weekend of October 15th and 16th. It’s the very cheesiest of course with awesome cheese creations and premium beer! There is a VIP all-you-can-eat option this year.

OozeFest is an amazing festival with tons of chef-driven, awesome cheese creations and premium beer.

Marketplace tickets ($5.00) include entry to the Marketplace section which has vendors you can buy food and drinks from. VIP tickets ($40.00) include all-you-can-enjoy food and beer from great establishments including Five Crowns and Slapfish.

Producer Bobby Navarro of 100eats.com has all the gooey details for us.

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosCo-host Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group has two young children and also enjoys dining out at all levels of establishments. What to do? Chef Andrew shares his top picks for chef-driven restaurants that are also kid-friendly. Manga…

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group
Segment Two: “The Dumpling Trail” with Colin Wong, Director of Communications, Tourism Richmond
Segment Three: Darrell Corti, Chair, L.A. International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition
Segment Four: Robert Egger, Founder & CEO, L.A. Kitchen
Segment Five: Owner/Chef Marcel Vigneron, Wolf & Beefsteak
Segment Six: Erin Fohn, Brand Manager, Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Segment Seven: Foodbeast Presents: The 2nd Annual OozeFest
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish Restaurant Group

Life is Beautiful Festival

life-is-beautifulBig news for everyone in the Vegas Tila Army! I’m part of the Culinary Advisory Board for the upcoming Life is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas from Saturday, October 27th to Sunday the 27th. You’ve probably seen the full page ads in LA Weekly emphasizing the incredible music lineup featuring bands like Vegas’ own the Killers along with Kings of Leon. But there’s also an amazing lineup of celebrity chefs as well! Not just me but pretty much everyone associated with the restaurant scene in America. As for as I’m concerned, the food is the main event and the music? That’s kind of dessert. Here’s the press release about the festival and I hope to see my Army in Vegas right before Halloween for this blowout of a party!

Life is Beautiful Festival Announces Culinary Experiences & New Chefs

Two-Day Festival of World Class Music, Food, Art & Learning in Downtown Las Vegas includes “Grills & Guitars” by Blue Ribbon Restaurants, “The Culinary Village”, and “The Alchemy Garden”

New Chef Additions include Nancy Silverton; Headlining Chefs include: Bruce & Eric Bromberg, Jonathan Waxman, Hubert Keller, Aaron Sanchez, Cat Cora, Rick Moonen, Scott Conant, Tom Colicchio, Michael Symon.

Friday, October 25th – Sunday, October 27th, 2013

Las Vegas, NV (July 16, 2013) – Life is Beautiful (L.I.B.) Festival announces the lineup of culinary programming and experiences for the inaugural festival taking place Saturday, October 26th and Sunday, October 27th, 2013, with a kickoff event the evening of Friday, October 25th . With more than 60 chefs and restaurants, 24 wineries and 24 breweries participating in the culinary part of the festival alone, L.I.B. presents its attendees with a full-scale food festival experience and expects to draw tens of thousands of people to Downtown Las Vegas. The culinary programming includes experiences that are included in the price of a general-admission festival ticket, such as The Culinary Village, The Alchemy Garden & Chefs on Stage, as well as unique ticketed events that do not require a festival ticket like the Grills & Guitars kick-off party hosted by Blue Ribbon Restaurants and the Take a Stand charity soiree; an eight-course dinner hosted by Elizabeth Blau & Hubert Keller benefitting Three Square Food Bank and Communities in Schools.

The creative direction of the food festival portion of Life is Beautiful Festival was shaped by a culinary advisory board of 12 top chefs chaired by Bruce Bromberg of Blue Ribbon Restaurants. The food festival will be anchored by The Culinary Village a Moroccan-style bazaar featuring stations manned by more than 60 well-known chefs. Within The Village, guests can enjoy an entertaining and informative series of chef demonstrations (Chefs on Stage), culinary affairs, intimate meals and a beer, wine and spirits garden (The Alchemy Garden). All experiences within the food and wine program will allow attendees the opportunity to engage with these talented chefs up-close and gain insight into their creative process in the kitchen and beyond.

“The food experiences of Life is Beautiful Festival were carefully designed to be interactive, innovative and unexpected,” says Jolene Mannina, Head of Culinary Arts for the festival. “Working with the vision of our Culinary Advisory Board of 12 world-renowned Chefs, we’ve created an approach that we feel will set us apart from other food festivals, giving both our patrons and chefs a chance to enjoy something new, fresh and, of course, delicious.”

The current chef lineup features: Bruce Bromberg and Eric Bromberg, Scott Conant, Jonathan Waxman, Hubert Keller, Cat Cora, Michael Mina, Chris Cosentino, Rick Moonen, Kim Canteenwalla, Jet Tila, Donald Link, Tom Colicchio, Michael Symon, Aaron Sanchez, David Burke, Charlie Palmer, Mary Sue Milliken, Susan Feniger, Paul Bartolotta, David Myers, Todd English, Kerry Simon, Carla Pellegrino, André Rochat, Sven Mede, Marcel Vigneron, Mike Minor, Megan Romano, Elias Cairo, Josh Graves, Jason Tuley, Rebecca Wilcomb, Ben Hammond, Grant MacPherson, Michael Kornick, Natalie Young, Dan Coughlin, Sean Kinoshita, Massimiliano Campanari, Carlos Buscaglia, Vinod Ahuja, Manuel Hinojosa.

New Chefs / Mixologists Added to the lineup: Nancy Silverton, Akira Back, Richard Camarota, Frank Goriceta, Carlos Guia, Joseph Leibowitz, Hiew Gun Khong, Nina Manchev, Tony Abou-Ganim, Drew Levinson, Andrew Pollard, Eric Swanson, Kent Bearden, Thomas Burke, Michael Shetler, Kevin Vanegas, Jack Kramer and Mike Tadich.

Tickets for the Life is Beautiful Festival Culinary Programs go on sale July 19, 2013 at

www.lifeisbeautifulfestival.com

Link to Culinary Experiences video: http://youtu.be/-SBlmQ6lTx4

Life Is Beautiful Festival – Culinary Experiences Premier Sponsor: Whole Foods Market

– The Culinary Village: Located in the heart of the festival and home to the world’s best chefs and restaurants, The Culinary Village is where the aromas of earth’s four corners collide. Over 50 restaurants will partake in this bazaar of epicurean delight that takes festival food options to a whole new level.

Restaurants: Blue Ribbon Restaurant, Honey Salt, Fleur, Strip Steak, Wolfgang Puck, Nobu Hard Rock, DMK Burger Bar, Due Forni, Yellowtail, Kumi, D.O.C.G., Herbsaint, LAVO, TAO, Bratalian Neapolitan Cantina, EAT, Chocolate & Spice, Origin India, Barbuto, rm Seafood, Kuma Snow Cream, Curbside Cafe, LBS Burger, Smokin Bros BBQ, Sin City Hot Dogs, Forte European Tapas & Bistro and more.

Price: General Admission or VIP festival ticket required, a la carte selection Date: Saturday and Sunday, October 26th & 27th Time: Saturday, 1:00pm – 12:00am Midnight; Sunday, 12:00pm – 11:00pm

– The Alchemy Gardens Presented by Wirtz Beverage: Craft brewers, wine makers and distillers will pour a-la-carte libations at this garden, overflowing with liquid creativity. Enthusiasts can also choose to purchase additional tickets to meet and mingle with master brewers, wine makers and distillers over flight tastings.

Price: General Admission or VIP festival ticket required a la carte Beer, Wine, Spirits and Sake; must be 21 or over. Date: Saturday and Sunday, October 26th & 27th Time: Saturday, 1:00pm – 12:00am Midnight; Sunday, 12:00pm – 11:00pm

– Flights Tastings (In The Alchemy Gardens): For a better understanding of the passion and history poured into each glass, additional tickets may be purchased for tastings with master brewers, wine makers and distillers.

Price: $40 for 9 tastings, General Admission or VIP festival ticket required Date: Saturday and Sunday, October 26th & 27th Time: Saturday, 1:00pm – 12:00am Midnight; Sunday, 12:00pm – 11:00pm

– Chefs on Stage Presented by Sub-Zero Wolf & Whole Foods Market: Over two days, 20 of the most highly regarded chefs in the industry give attendees a chance to get up close and personal as they showcase their skills live on a Sub-Zero Wolf stage located in a climate-controlled tent. These demonstrations will tantalize taste buds and teach viewers how to create the same experience at home.

Chefs: Bruce and Eric Bromberg, Scott Conant, Jet Tila, Jonathan Waxman, Cat Cora, Chris Cosentino, Rick Moonen, Aaron Sanchez, Hubert Keller, Kerry Simon, Mary Sue Milliken, Susan Feniger, Mike Minor, Donald Link, Grant MacPherson, Carla Pellegrino, Jason Tuley, David Myers, Elias Caro, Josh Graves,Todd English

Location: The Culinary Village Price: Free Event with Festival General Admission or VIP ticket Date: Saturday and Sunday, October 26th & 27th Time: Saturday, 1:45pm – 9:00pm; Sunday, 12:45pm – 8:00pm

– Take A Stand: Elizabeth Blau and Hubert Keller will host the Life is Beautiful grand opening soiree to benefit Three Square Food Bank and Communities in Schools. Showcasing the mystery and wonderment of Old Vegas at its finest, this charity dinner will feature eight award-winning chefs serving eight courses

in various styles throughout the night paired with priceless wines and crafted cocktails by Wirtz Beverage mixologists and sommeliers.

Chefs: Hubert Keller, Michael Mina, Todd English, Akira Back, Paul Bartolotta, Grant MacPherson, Charlie Palmer, Megan Romano Location: Secret Downtown Location to be revealed upon purchase confirmation Price: $5,000

(1) VIP two-day festival ticket included

(1) Grills & Guitars ticket included Seats: 40 (must be 21 or over)

Date: Friday, October 25th Time: 7pm – 10pm

– Grills & Guitars: Start the festival weekend with 15 well-known chefs, gourmet comfort food and live music. A twist on the traditional backyard barbecue, the festival kick-off party will pair beer, wine and cocktails with flamed-kissed fare that will satisfy all the senses.

Chefs: Bruce & Eric Bromberg, Jonathan Waxman, Cat Cora, Tom Colicchio, Michael Symon, Nancy Silverton, Jet Tila, Scott Conant, Kim Canteenwalla, Aaron Sanchez, Mary Sue Milliken, Susan Feniger, Rick Moonen & David Myers Price: $175, VIP $225 *Does not require purchase of a festival ticket. Must be 21 or over.

Date: Friday, October 25th Time: 8pm VIP, 9pm – Midnight

– Culinary Crawl: This three-hour dining tour is designed to introduce palates to a variety of tastes. Guests will be escorted to three different venues, each with a different chef host who has customized a unique experience that pairs their creative dishes with specially selected drinks provided by Wirtz Beverage Group.

Saturday Chefs & Locations:

“Pig & Whiskey” hosted by Kim Canteenwalla and Sven Mede at The Flame Steakhouse “From Korea to Japan”, hosted by Akira Back at Park on Fremont “Amaro & Amare”, hosted by Richard Camarota & Megan Romano at EAT

Price:

$130 – Single pass to the Culinary Crawl, GA or VIP festival ticket required for purchase

$290 – Includes a two (2) day General Admission festival ticket Date: Saturday, October 26th

Time: 5pm – 8pm Sunday

Chefs & Locations:

 “Rare & Rosso” Jonathan Waxman & Nancy Silverton at EAT  “Tongue & Cheek” Rick Moonen at Le Thai  “Bones & Brews” Iron chef Cat Cora & Jason Tuley at Park on Fremont

Price: Date: Sunday, October 27th

$130 – Single pass to the Culinary Crawl, GA or VIP festival ticket required for purchase $290 – Includes a two (2) day General Admission festival ticket

Time: 5pm – 8pm ***Chef and event details subject to change.

Regular Two-Day General Admission & VIP Tickets for the 2013 Life is Beautiful Festival are available for purchase at www.lifeisbeautifulfestival.com

General Admission Tickets:

 Regular Two-Day GA: $159.50 VIP Tickets:

 TWO-DAY VIP Ticket: $349.50

o VIP tickets include: Exclusive VIP lounge with shade, lounge seating, activities and more; Viewing Areas at Main Stages; VIP restroom facilities; Access to special VIP food concessions; Access to special VIP beer, wine and spirits concessions; Commemorative Poster and more!

Life is Beautiful Sponsors

Sponsors of the inaugural Life is Beautiful Festival include Wirtz Beverage Group, Heineken, Zappos, Cirque du Soleil, Las Vegas Review Journal, Red Bull, Esquire, Whole Foods Market, Caesars Entertainment, and many more. *Sponsors listed are current as of release date.

L.I.B. is being developed by Aurelian Marketing Group in partnership with Another Planet Entertainment, MAKTUB Marketing and Downtown Project. Visit www.lifeisbeautifulfestival.com and sign up to receive information updates via email. Connect with the Life is Beautiful team socially at Facebook.com/LIBFestival and Twitter.com/LifeIsBeautiful.

 

Show 11, December 29, 2012: Chef Marcel Vigneron – Food Network’s “Next Iron Chef: Redemption”

Chef Marcel is best remembered for his season on Bravo’s Emmy Award-winning “Top Chef.” He is now Los Angeles based. Marcel revealed that an LA restaurant project is in the works for him in 2013. Stay tuned…

Marcel was part of the just completed season of “Food Network’s “Next Iron Chef: Redemption.” Only two chefs competing out of the entire group had no prior experience in battle on “Iron Chef America.” Marcel was one. The other newbie, Chef Tim Love, was surprisingly eliminated at the conclusion of the first episode.

Marcel’s toughest moment on the show was the final showdown he had with his good friend, Spike Mendelsohn, on the November 25th show to determine who would go home that day. Marcel “survived to cook another day” and actually finished an impressive 4th in the overall competition.

December 29: Russ Parsons, Neal Fraser, Marcel Vigneron, Jason Collis, Jason Kessler

Podcasts

Segment One: Russ Parsons, Food Editor of the Los Angeles Times Part One
Segment Two: Russ Parsons, Food Editor of the Los Angeles Times Part Two
Segment Three: Chef Neal Fraser of FritziDog at The Original Farmers Market
Segment Four: Chef Marcel Vigneron – Food Network’s “Next Iron Chef: Redemption”
Segment Five: Chef Jason Collis of Plated Events by Jason in Ventura
Segment Six: Jason Kessler (food writer) for Food Republic and Bon Appetit Magazine

It’s our last show of the year so we’re looking forward and also taking a peak back. It’s time to think of travel, too.

Russ Parsons (“The California Cook”) is the long-time food editor of The Los Angeles Times. He’s also an award-winning author. Russ joins us to talk about modern restaurant reviewing and food trends. The Times has now published two e-books and the recipes in each were fully tested in The Times Test Kitchen.

Neal Fraser of Grace Restaurant and FritzidogChef Neal Fraser is well known on the Los Angeles culinary scene. Grace Restaurant had a healthy run on Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles and, eventually, will be reborn at the Vibiana Events Center in Downtown Los Angeles. His more casual bld is very popular located near The Farmers Market.

Neal is one of the newest food tenants at The Original Farmers Market at Third & Fairfax with his gourmet hot dog emporium, FritziDog.

Chef Marcel Vigneron of the just concluded season of Food Network’s “Next Iron Chef : Redemption” and Bravo’s “Top Chef” fame joins us to talk about the incredible season of “Next Iron Chef.” We’ll also ask him about his preparation of a fabulous coconut ice cream made with lots of rich coconut meat and a dash of liquid nitrogen!

Representing the Culinary Stage at the upcoming Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show at the Long Beach Convention Center (January 12th & 13th) is Chef Jason Collis of Limoneria Ranch. He’ll be performing cooking demos on both days.

You’ve asked for him and now he’s back…Food writer for Food Republic and Bon Appetit Magazine, Jason Kessler, joins us to say goodbye to 2013 with his thoughtful end-of-year musings..

Podcasts

Segment One: Russ Parsons, Food Editor of the Los Angeles Times Part One
Segment Two: Russ Parsons, Food Editor of the Los Angeles Times Part Two
Segment Three: Chef Neal Fraser of FritziDog at The Original Farmers Market
Segment Four: Chef Marcel Vigneron – Food Network’s “Next Iron Chef: Redemption”
Segment Five: Chef Jason Collis of Plated Events by Jason in Ventura
Segment Six: Jason Kessler (food writer) for Food Republic and Bon Appetit Magazine

Show 6: November 17, 2012: Marcel Vigneron of “Top Chef” & “Next Iron Chef: Redemption” & Mixologist Devon Espinosa of Hollywood’s Pour Vous

Marcel (a CIA graduate) was the executive sous chef at Jose Andres’ acclaimed Bazaar on Restaurant Row in Los Angeles when he was cast on “Top Chef.” He was the cheftestant that you loved to hate.

Marcel remains in Los Angeles and runs the very busy catering enterprise, Modern Global Tasting.

His colleague, Mixologist Devon Espinoza, is also a CIA graduate. Devon is a C-CAP alum. Prior to Pour Vous Devon debuted the cocktail program for Chef Michael Voltaggio’s ink.

Marcel and Devon teamed up for “Getting Out Just Desserts” to create an incredible a la minute fresh coconut ice cream using liquid nitrogen as the freezing mechanism. What a show-stopper and perfect for Hollywood!

November 17: Getting Our Just Desserts

Podcasts

Segment One: Claude Brown– President of the Art Institute of California – Los Angeles
Segment Two: Susan Robbins, President of Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP)
Segment Three: Chef Caroline Mi Li Artiss of “Chef Race : U.K. vs. U.S.”

Segment Four: Executive Pastry Chef Sherry Yard
Segment Five: Marcel Vigneron of “Top Chef” & “Next Iron Chef :Redemption” & Mixologist Devon Espinosa of Hollywood’s Pour Vous
Segment Six: Chef Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes West and Cakemix. Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes”

It’s our sweetest show of the year as we broadcast live from the incredible “Getting Out Just Desserts” Benefit at The Art Institute of California – Los Angeles’ Santa Monica campus.

The Art Institute of California has generously opened up their campus to host this dazzling array of celebrity pastry chefs. Jet will chat with Claude Brown, the President of this campus about their culinary arts program.

Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) is the beneficiary of this event. This dessert tasting raises badly needed funds for their scholarship fund benefiting underserved Los Angeles area senior high school students who have demonstrated the talent and motivation necessary for a culinary career. C-CAP’s New York-based President, Susan Robbins, will explain the history of C-CAP and their important mission.

Caroline Mi Li ArtissHave you been following the new BBC America original series, “Chef Race : U.K. vs. U.S.”? The level of competition and intrigue is intense. The series stated right here in Santa Monica. London’s Caroline Mi Li Artiss, a chef competitor on the series, will be with us to talk about “Chef Race” and her new affection for the USA! Caroline is a big celebrity on You Tube in the UK.

Sherry YardTalk about star power. Next up is Sherry Yard and Donald Wressell. Sherry is Wolfgang Puck’s executive pastry chef and she does the incredible desserts for the Oscars every year. She is also the author of two best-selling cookbooks on desserts and pastries. Donald Wressel is one of the foremost chocolatiers in the U.S. He’s executive chef for Guittard Chocolate based in Northern California and teaches pastry chefs in the fine art of chocolate dessert making.

Marcel VigneronHe was the cheftestant you just loved to hate on “Top Chef: Las Vegas” but it turns out Marcel Vigneron is not really a heavy. He joins us to talk about “Next Iron Chef: Redemption” and update us on what he’s doing in Los Angeles with Modern Global Tasting, his catering company. Marcel is joined by his colleague, Devon Espinosa, who is a master mixologist at Pour Vous in Hollywood and was previously with Chef Michael Voltaggio at ink.

Duff GoldmanFood Network’s “Ace of Cakes,” Duff Goldman, brings down the curtain on the show. Duff will talk about his Charm City Cakes West operation here as well as his cake decorating classes.

Eat Sweet and Do Good !

Podcasts

Segment One: Claude Brown– President of the Art Institute of California – Los Angeles
Segment Two: Susan Robbins, President of Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP)
Segment Three: Chef Caroline Mi Li Artiss of “Chef Race : U.K. vs. U.S.”

Segment Four: Executive Pastry Chef Sherry Yard
Segment Five: Marcel Vigneron of “Top Chef” & “Next Iron Chef :Redemption” & Mixologist Devon Espinosa of Hollywood’s Pour Vous
Segment Six: Chef Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes West and Cakemix. Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes”