Show 138, September 12, 2015: Show Preview with Guest Host William Lewis & Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris

Sir William Lewis of the Winery Restaurant and Wine Bar in TustinThe always elegant William Lewis, Managing Partner and Sommelier of The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar in Tustin and Newport Beach is today’s special Guest Host.

Next a mouthwatering preview of Saturday’s high octane show and not, with apologies, for dieters. With any luck we will always leave you hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s probably a good thing…

We move aside for Notre Dame football a little early at 11:30 a.m.

The Bluenose is a classic hotel property located in scenic Bar Harbor, Maine at the gateway to Acadia National Park. The adjacent Looking Glass Restaurant offers superb local fare with an incredible view of the bay. Property General Manager & Co-Owner Jim Ash and Executive Chef Matt McPherson are our guests.

Ment’or BKB Foundations’ 2015 Young Chef Competitions series debuted at Bouchon Beverly Hills on August 27th. Chef Philip Tessier (formerly the Executive Sous Chef of The French Laundry and Head Coach for the Bocuse d’Or Team USA for 2017) joins us to talk about the competition.

The Long Beach run of the CANstruction Competition benefiting Food Finders is back on Sept. 17th. Five talented teams of architects and designers build incredible structures made out of 2,000 plus cans of food. After the judging all of the food is donated to Food Finders, a Long Beach–based Food Bank. Representing Environ Architects (one of the competing teams) partnered with California Resources Corporation is Vice President Willetta McCulloh. She is our guest to discuss CANstruction.

The Joy of Sake Festival comes to Las Vegas for the first time on Saturday, September 19th from 7 to 10:00 p.m. at Caesars Palace. It celebrates the world’s finest sakes. Organizer Chris Pearce gives us all the 411.

Chef Barbara Lynch, a James Beard Award-winner, is a celebrated chef in Boston. Her Barbara Lynch Gruppo enterprise owns multiple highly-regarded restaurant properties there. One of the newest is Sportello (Italian for “counter service”), a modern interpretation of the classic diner. It’s trattoria –inspired Italian dishes for lunch and dinner. Chef de Cuisine David Cavilla is our guest.

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

September 12: William Lewis, Looking Glass, Philip Tessier, CANstruction Competition, Joy of Sake, Sportello

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Guest Host William Lewis & Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Bar Harbor, Maine’s The Bluenose Hotel and The Looking Glass Restaurant
Segment Three: ment’or BKB Foundation’s 2015 Young Chef Competitions
Segment Four: CANstruction Long Beach 2015
Segment Five: The Joy of Sake Festival – Las Vegas
Segment Six: Barbara Lynch’s Sportello, Boston

Sir William Lewis of the Winery Restaurant and Wine Bar in TustinThe always elegant William Lewis, Managing Partner and Sommelier of The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar in Tustin and Newport Beach is today’s special Guest Host.

Next a mouthwatering preview of Saturday’s high octane show and not, with apologies, for dieters. With any luck we will always leave you hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s probably a good thing…

We move aside for Notre Dame football a bit early at 11:30 a.m.

The Bluenose is a classic hotel property located in scenic Bar Harbor, Maine at the gateway to Acadia National Park. The adjacent Looking Glass Restaurant offers superb local fare with an incredible view of the bay. General Manager & Co-Owner Jim Ash and Executive Chef Matt McPherson are our guests.

Mentor BKB Foundations’ 2015 Young Chef Competitions series debuted at Bouchon Beverly Hills on August 27th. Chef Philip Tessier (formerly the Executive Sous Chef of The French Laundry and Head Coach for the Bocuse d’Or Team USA for 2017) joins us to talk about the competition.

The Long Beach run of the CANstruction Competition benefiting Food Finders is back on Sept. 17th. Five talented teams of architects and designers build incredible structures made out of 2,000 plus cans of food. After the judging all of the food is donated to Food Finders, a Long Beach–based Food Bank. Representing Environ Architects (one of the competing teams partnered with California Resources Corporation) is Vice President Willetta McCulloh. She is our guest to discuss CANstruction.

The Joy of Sake Festival comes to Las Vegas for the first time on Saturday, September 19th from 7 to 10:00 p.m. at Caesars Palace. It celebrates the world’s finest sakes. Organizer Chris Pearce gives us all the 411.

Chef Barbara Lynch, a James Beard Award-winner, is a celebrated chef in Boston. Her Barbara Lynch Gruppo enterprise owns multiple highly-regarded restaurant properties there. One of the newest is Sportello (Italian for “counter service”), a modern interpretation of the classic diner. It’s trattoria –inspired Italian dishes for lunch and dinner. Chef de Cuisine David Cavilla is our guest.

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

Looking Glass RestaurantThe Bluenose is a classic hotel property with a spa on a hilltop located in scenic Bar Harbor, Maine at the gateway to Acadia National Park. The adjacent Looking Glass Restaurant offers superb local fare for breakfast and dinner with an incredible view of Frenchman Bay. Its inviting patio deck is even pet-friendly.

Newly arrived Executive Chef Matt McPherson and property GM Jim Ash are following a vision to fill diners’ plates with locally caught seafood, Maine cheeses, meats raised in the area and in sustainable ways and fresh, local vegetables. Much of the produce comes from an on-site garden located just below the restaurant.

“I think the local movement is one of the most important things with food right now, where people are so disconnected with where they’re getting everything from,” Chef McPherson said. “People are used to the whole mass-quantity perfection, and that’s not really what food is. I think if we can get into the localized cooking and what food is supposed to be and kind of push that slowly, that’s the wave of the future.”

General Manager & Co-Owner Jim Ash and Executive Chef Matt McPherson are our guests.

philip-tessierThe ment’or BKB Foundation debuted its 2015 Young Chef Competition Series in Los Angeles on Sept. 27th at Bouchon Beverly Hills. Other upcoming dates will be in Chicago, Houston and New York City. Four chefs between the ages of 22 to 27 compete on a Bocuse d’Or-style challenge, with the winning team in each city being awarded $10,000, which may be used to stage at the restaurant of their choice. The team placing second receives $5,000.

Culinary greats from the mentor Culinary Council are on hand in each city to judge the competition, a ticked event with all the proceeds helping to support the Foundation.

Culinary Council member Chef Philip Tessier, formerly the Executive Sous Chef of The French Laundry in Yountville is our guest. Chef Philip is also the Team USA Head Coach for the 2017 Bocuse d’Or international culinary competition. Chef Philip was the Silver Statue Winner for Bocuse d’Or Team USA in 2015. This was a prestigious first for the United States.

Canstruction Long BeachThe Long Beach run of the CANstruction Competition benefiting Food Finders is back on Sept. 17th. This annual event now takes place in over 130 cities and was initiated by the Society for Design Administration (SAD) in 1992.

Five talented teams of architects and designers build incredible structures made out of 2,000 plus cans of food. After the judging all of the food is donated to Food Finders, a Long Beach–based Food Bank.

Awards are given for Best Use of Labels, Best Meal, Structural Ingenuity, Jurors’ Favorite, People’s Choice and Honorable Mentions.

This Year’s Theme: “Breakfast CAN Make a Difference!”

Representing Environ Architects (one of the competing teams) partnered with California Resources Corporation is Vice President Willetta McCulloh. She is our guest to discuss CANstruction.

“The concept behind Environ Architecture’s design lies in the nostalgic, whimsical nature that comes from our growing up with classic books reminiscent of our childhood. It draws inspiration from the children’s classic, Green Eggs & Ham. Changing our perception of breakfast to make it fun can propel us to be open minded for better meal choices.”

Chris PearceThe Joy of Sake Festival comes to Las Vegas for the first time on Saturday, September 19th from 7 to 10:00 p.m. at Caesars Palace. It celebrates the world’s finest sakes.

The Joy of Sake is the public tasting that follows the U.S. National Sake Appraisal, which is held in Honolulu every July. Brewers from every region in Japan enter their best junmai, ginjo and daiginjo labels, which are blind-tasted by judges from Japan and the U.S. The most exceptional win gold and silver awards. Festival-goers sample these outstanding entries, including over 200 labels which are not even available in the U.S.

For sake fans, there is no better scenario : over four hundred premium labels in peak condition, along with sake-themed appetizers from top restaurants in each city.

Organizer Chris Pearce gives us all the 411.

David CavillaChef Barbara Lynch (No 9 Park), a James Beard Award-winner, is a celebrated chef in Boston. Her Barbara Lynch Gruppo enterprise owns multiple highly-regarded restaurant properties there. One of the newest is Sportello (Italian for “counter service”), a modern interpretation of the classic diner. It’s trattoria –inspired Italian dishes for lunch and dinner.

Sportello’s casual, lively, Italian spirit is captured in the sleek, minimalist design of the cuisine – fresh pastas, creamy polenta, and simple soups – and in the supremely approachable, artisanal wine list created by Wine Director Cat Silirie.

Chef de Cuisine David Cavilla has spent his culinary career as a member of Barbara Lynch Gruppo having cooked at B&G oysters, The Butcher Shop, Stir, and now Sportello. Chef David is “excited about the opportunity to dive into a new setting along with a restaurant with a new identity.”

Chef de Cuisine David Cavilla is our guest.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Guest Host William Lewis & Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Bar Harbor, Maine’s The Bluenose Hotel and The Looking Glass Restaurant
Segment Three: ment’or BKB Foundation’s 2015 Young Chef Competitions
Segment Four: CANstruction Long Beach 2015
Segment Five: The Joy of Sake Festival – Las Vegas
Segment Six: Barbara Lynch’s Sportello, Boston

January 25: South Coast Collection, Carla Hall, Roger Havot, Sanford D’Amoto, Chefs to the Max

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Anais Tangie, Marketing Coordinator, SoCo and The Mix
Segment Three: Chef Carla Hall, ABC’s “The Chew,” “Bravo’s “Top Chef ,” and Carla Hall Petit Cookies
Segment Four: Roger Hayot, Executive Chef, J. Nichols Kitchen Part One
Segment Five: Roger Hayot, Executive Chef, J. Nichols Kitchen Part Two
Segment Six: Sanford D’Amato, founder and former Executive Chef of the award-winning Sanford restaurant, Milwaukee, WI
Segment Seven: Al Mancini, Las Vegas-based food journalist and co-author of Eating Las Vegas guidebook for 2011, 2012, and 2013
Segment Eight: Chef Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris of “SoCal Restaurant Show”

Chef Jet and Producer Andy preview the show.

Chef jet Tila and Alton BrownFood Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen” with host Alton Brown is back on Sunday nights for Season 2. Our own Chef Jet Tila is the most frequently appearing solo judge on this tough competition show that requires strategy as well as cooking chops. Look for Jet’s new episodes starting in February.

On Friday morning, January 31st catch Chef Jet on NBC’s “Today Show” in the 9:00 a.m. hour PST. He’s sharing his recipe for Peking Duck Sliders for Chinese New Year and The Big Game!

ABC’s “The Chew’s,” Carla Hall, is back with us talking about the very special Culinary Concert she is doing at Zov’s Bistro in Tustin on Sunday, February 9th to benefit the scholarship fund of The James Beard Foundation. “Hootie Hoo”…You’ll meet Sandy D’Amato, a kid from Milwaukee, who grew up to become one of the most outstanding chefs in America. Chef Roger Hayot joins us. You may not know his name but you really should. In the 90s Chef Roger had one of the most acclaimed restaurants in L.A. Now he’s quietly making waves again at a hidden gem of a neighborhood place in Marina del Rey.

All of that and lots more incredible deliciousness on the “SoCal Restaurant Show.”

The first Saturday of last October we were live at South Coast Collection (SoCo) and The Mix in Costa Mesa for the first Patchwork Show: Edible Edition.

Anais TangieWe showcased the growing collection of outstanding boutique food businesses and restaurants there. The SoCo and Mix’s Marketing Coordinator, Anais Tangie, joins us to talk about the new additions and what’s soon on the way. Think handcrafted artisanal chocolates and also a one-of-kind cocktail education and tools-of-the-trade store owned by a master bartender…

Carla HallFood fans know Chef Carla Hall as the “Hootie Hoo” lady and fan favorite from multiple seasons of Bravo’s “Top Chef.” She is now the co-host of ABC’s daytime lifestyle series, “The Chew.” Last month “The Chew” celebrated their 500th episode and the show continues to gain in popularity. Carla also is the author of Cooking with Love: Comfort Food That Hugs You, newly available in paperback.

Carla is being honored by Zov Karamardian of Zov’s Bistro in Tustin at her Culinary Concert to benefit the James Beard Foundation on Sunday, February 9th.

That Sunday Carla and Zov will conduct a highly entertaining, interactive cooking class for the guests followed by a lavish lunch. Carla will be available to sign copies of her book and interact with the guests. It all starts at Noon.

Pastry Chef to the Stars and a multiple James Beard Award-winner, Sherry Yard, is the celebrity MC.

For more info and to make reservations please call 714.838.8855 ext. 21

Carla is represented in Saveur’s 100 which is the current January/February issue. Item 13 on the list is Carla’s suggestion of Lemon Olive Oil.

Roger Hayot of J. Nichols KitchenIn 1987 the Authentic Café opened on Beverly Blvd. near CBS’s Television City in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles. It was the inspiration of Chef Roger Hayot who was mentored by his prior employer, David Overton, the creator of The Cheesecake Factory. It was initially a small place and from Day 1 they had lines of patient guests out the door…Eventually they expanded into the space next-door to accommodate the strong demand.

Roger’s always intriguing menu was inspired by the cuisines of the American Southwest, Latin America, Asia, and the Mediterranean. He used authentic global ingredients which was unusual at the time. Thai fish sauce was one of his regular ingredients. The exotic appeal of his cooking was always balanced by its hominess.

He had the honor of cooking at The James Beard Foundation in New York.

There is a new chapter to Chef Roger Hayot’s inspirational cooking story in Los Angeles so we continue.

Mezze Plate at J. Nichols KitchenIn 2012 Roger moved into the Executive Chef position at J Nichols Kitchen in Marina del Rey. This originally opened as Nichols Family Restaurant in 1974 as a friendly, neighborhood coffee shop with reasonable prices and big portions. When the founders’ son and daughter took over the operation they faced a dilemma. The retail center they were in was about to undergo a major renovation (and upscaling) and their clientele was aging and the younger crowd wasn’t patronizing them. The Nichols made the tough decision to remodel and reposition themselves as a destination neighborhood restaurant with more serious food and no snootiness. That’s a major transition…

The first 6 months of the new concept was a bit rocky. The seniors didn’t like the new menu or pricing and the Millennials thought it was still a coffee shop. A lot of guest confusion…Chef Roger joined the team in progress with the mission of improving the food and consistency. Over the last 18 months that has happened and the successful transition accomplished! A great turnaround story…

Virtually everything is now made from scratch from the pizza dough (3-day process) to the fruit preserves served at breakfast. Chef Roger takes the time to make his own biscuits (very popular) as well as flavorful premium sausages. He has his own smoker. All the desserts are house-prepared. The novel Greek Yogurt Cheesecake is perhaps Chef Roger’s tribute to The Cheesecake Factory. It’s light, has a graham cracker crust, crushed pistachios, and a honey drizzle. Yum…

Sanford D'AmotoGood Stock: Life on Low Simmer was written by Sanford “Sandy” D’Amato, one of America’s most respected chefs and restaurateurs. It is a special memoir of a life in cooking that weaves more than 80 recipes and both personal and food photos in a beautiful and engaging way.

Chef D’Amato tells his life story in brief episodes that are keyed to more than 80 of this James Beard Award-winning chef’s favorite recipes.

Sanford, the restaurant D’Amato opened in his native Milwaukee in 1989 (in the space that once housed his grandfather’s grocery store,) has long been one of the highest rated restaurants in America.

D’Amato and his wife, Angie, currently split their time between Milwaukee and their mini-farm in Hatfield, MA, where they are preparing to open a cooking school (also called Good Stock.)

If you really want to understand what it takes to be a successful, career executive chef this is the book for you. It’s also highly entertaining and a fascinating read. Chef Sandy’s encounters with the legendary Julia Child over the years are priceless.

Max JacobsonMax Jacobson is a serious food journalist who relocated to Las Vegas from Southern California in 1999 to cover the burgeoning dining scene there. Southern Californians remember his coverage of the Orange County dining scene for The Los Angeles Times. He is currently Vegas Seven’s restaurant critic. His colleagues have great respect for him.

Two days before Christmas 2013, Jacobson was struck by a hit-and-run driver while he was in a crosswalk. He sustained severe brain trauma from the accident. He remains hospitalized in serious condition and his prognosis is uncertain.

Chefs to the Max benefit for Max Jacobson at RX Boiler RoomIn true hospitality industry fashion a group of prominent, celebrity chefs have joined together to launch the Chefs to the Max fundraising series to assist with Max Jacobson’s horrendous medical expenses.

The first dinner was January 19th at Chef Rick Moonen’s Rx Boiler Room at Mandalay Place on the Las Vegas Strip. The evening raised an impressive $275,799.

Fellow Las Vegas-based food journalist, Al Mancini, joins us to talk about the Chefs to the Max benefits and working with Max. Al and Max collaborated (with a third Las Vegas-based restaurant writer) on the three editions of the very popular Las Vegas dining guidebook series, Eating Las Vegas.

Republique Restaurant in Los AngelesLet’s talk food…Chef Jet and Producer Andy share some of their recent dining adventures.

Jet has experienced the much talked-about Republique with Walter Manzke and Chef Margarita Manzke behind the stoves at the former Campanile space. Andy has dined at Downtown’s Orsa & Winston, the new fine-dining spot from Josef Centeno (Bar Ama & Baco Mercat.)

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Anais Tangie, Marketing Coordinator, SoCo and The Mix
Segment Three: Chef Carla Hall, ABC’s “The Chew,” “Bravo’s “Top Chef ,” and Carla Hall Petit Cookies
Segment Four: Roger Hayot, Executive Chef, J. Nichols Kitchen Part One
Segment Five: Roger Hayot, Executive Chef, J. Nichols Kitchen Part Two
Segment Six: Sanford D’Amato, founder and former Executive Chef of the award-winning Sanford restaurant, Milwaukee, WI
Segment Seven: Al Mancini, Las Vegas-based food journalist and co-author of Eating Las Vegas guidebook for 2011, 2012, and 2013
Segment Eight: Chef Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris of “SoCal Restaurant Show”