Show 192, October 9, 2016: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel, Founder, Slapfish Restaurant Group

We shifted our broadcast time this week to Sunday afternoon, October 9th to accommodate the unusually early kickoff of Fighting Irish Football on Saturday. On October 15th we’ll return to our usual home of 10:00 a.m. to 12 Noon. Thanks for your appreciated patience…See you there.

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosExecutive 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.

John Terlato of Terlato Wines is a distinguished California vintner and well-known wine entrepreneur. He will share with us his recent adventures in Burgundy, France. It’s a great travel destination for any fan of the wine grape!

Anne Marie Panoringan of OC Weekly is well-known to listeners of the “SoCal Restaurant Show.” Anne Marie was intrigued and followed the buzz about a new Downtown Los Angeles restaurant that’s billed as “The West Coast’s Highest Dining Destination” and is situated on the 71st floor of a renovated high-rise. She has now been there twice. Anne Marie will share her first impressions. Is the food worthy of the view? Listen and find out…

Terranea Resort (L.A.’s Oceanfront Resort) is perched just above the ocean on the magnificent Palos Verdes peninsula. Upcoming is their 3-day, 3rd Annual Celebration of Food & Wine. We’ll have a preview with Mar’sel’s Aloys Scheer.

FOODBEAST has joined in partnership with Visit Anaheim to promote food tourism in Anaheim. That also includes visibility for the local craft beer scene. Elie Ayrouth, Co-Founder and Publisher at FOODBEAST is our guest. Cheers…

We know Chef Art Gonzalez from the popular Panxa Cocina in Long Beach. Chef Art has recently revived his fondly-remembered Belmont Shore casual spot, Roe Restaurant & Fish Market. It’s now morphed (after a major remodel) into Roe Seafood Xpress (the casual side) and the just opened, dinner only, Roe Restaurant. We’ve reeled in Chef Art to explain all the details.

Santa Ana’s The Electric City Butcher, Chef Michael Puglisi, is part of MaxLove Project’s Gold Apron Society. MaxLove Project is an Orange County nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of child cancer survivors and their families. They are holding the 2nd annual “Farm-to-Fork Dinner” at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 15th at Tanaka Farms in Irvine. Chef Mike joins us with the farm-fresh details.

Our Co-Host, Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group, is always in the know. He shares a new list of personally researched “Finds” with us. What’s on his mind today is an eye-opening, hearty, family-friendly breakfast in Orange County that goes way beyond the blandness of the heavily advertised chains. Sorry, no coupons here just local character, good food and priced at a value.…

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

Show 192, October 9, 2016: Chef Michael Puglisi, Electric City Butcher, 4th Street Market, Santa Ana

Michael PuglisiSanta Ana’s The Electric City Butcher, Chef Michael Puglisi, is part of MaxLove Project’s Gold Apron Society. MaxLove Project is an Orange County nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of child cancer survivors and their families. They are holding the 2nd annual “Farm-to-Fork Dinner ” at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 15th at Tanaka Farms in Irvine.

Farm to Fork 2016 marks the launch of the Gold Apron Society, an exclusive community of chefs, restauranteurs and real-food advocates dedicated to raising funds for culinary medicine and cancer research.

MaxLove project’s inaugural Farm to Fork Dinner in 2015 raised $35,000 to benefit children’s cancer survivorship research and support programs. The event is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser.

This year, the new Gold Apron Society will raise funds for the creation of the first Culinary Medicine Center in Orange County, where local chefs will educate doctors, nurses and the public on the healing potential of fierce foods.

MaxLove Project and the Gold Apron Society seek to raise $250,000 to launch the “nutrition kitchen,” with plans to build it at Tanaka Farms. The eventual ambitious goal of the Gold Apron Society is to expand nationwide and fund a Culinary Medicine Center in every children’s hospital across the country.

Chef Mike joins us with all the farm-fresh details.

October 9: Terlato Wines, OC Weekly, Terranea Resort, Foodbeast, Roe Seafood, Electric City Butcher

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel, Founder, Slapfish Restaurant Group
Segment Two: John Terlato, Vice Chairman, Terlato Wine Group
Segment Three: Anne Marie Panoringan, Contributor, OC Weekly
Segment Four: Terranea Resort’s 3rd Annual Celebration of Food & Wine
Segment Five: FOODBEAST’s Partnership with Visit Anaheim
Segment Six: Chef Art Gonzalez, Roe Seafood Xpress & Roe Restaurant, Long Beach
Segment Seven: Chef Michael Puglisi, Electric City Butcher, 4th Street Market, Santa Ana
Segment Eight: Co-Host, Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish Restaurant Group

Please join us at the special time of 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. PDT only for this Sunday, October 9th. We’re (finally) back to our usual broadcast time of 10:00 a.m. to 12 Noon on October 15th. Thanks for sticking with us…

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosExecutive 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.

John Terlato of Terlato Wines is a distinguished California vintner and well-known wine entrepreneur. He will share with us his recent adventures in Burgundy, France. It’s a great travel destination for any fan of the wine grape!

Anne Marie Panoringan of OC Weekly is well-known to listeners of the “SoCal Restaurant Show.” Anne Marie was intrigued and followed the buzz about a new Downtown Los Angeles restaurant that’s billed as “The West Coast’s Highest Dining Destination” and is situated on the 71st floor of a renovated high-rise. She has now been there twice. Anne Marie will share her first impressions. Is the food worthy of the view? Listen and find out…

Terranea Resort (L.A.’s Oceanfront Resort) is perched just above the ocean on the magnificent Palos Verdes peninsula. Upcoming is their 3-day, 3rd Annual Celebration of Food & Wine. We’ll have a preview with Mar’sel’s Aloys Scheer.

FOODBEAST has joined in partnership with Visit Anaheim to promote food tourism in Anaheim. That also includes visibility for the local craft beer scene. Elie Ayrouth, Co-Founder and Publisher at FOODBEAST is our guest. Cheers…

We know Chef Art Gonzalez from the popular Panxa Cocina in Long Beach. Chef Art has recently revived his fondly-remembered Belmont Shore casual spot, Roe Restaurant & Fish Market. It’s now morphed (after a major remodel) into Roe Seafood Xpress and the just opened, dinner only, Roe Restaurant. We’ve reeled in Chef Art to explain all the details.

Santa Ana’s The Electric City Butcher, Chef Michael Puglisi, is part of MaxLove Project’s Gold Apron Society. MaxLove Project is an Orange County nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of child cancer survivors and their families. They are holding the 2nd annual “Farm-to-Fork Dinner” at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 15th at Tanaka Farms in Irvine. Chef Mike joins us with the farm-fresh details.

Our Co-Host, Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group, is always in the know. He shares a new list of personally researched “Finds” with us.

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

John TerlatoJohn Terlato of Terlato Wines is a distinguished California vintner and well-known wine entrepreneur. He will share with us his recent adventures in Burgundy, France. It’s a great travel destination for any fan of the wine grape!

“You might imagine that if one were to have the good fortune of purchasing a vineyard in California, it would not typically spark interest in a place more than 5,000 away.”

“Here is why I felt the need to visit Burgundy. Sanford Winery is home to the oldest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines in the Santa Barbara area, dating to 1972. It also possesses a magical and unique confluence of climate and soil conditions – remarkably like those of Burgundy. And once our family owned Sanford, I wanted to more deeply understand Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the two iconic varieties of Bourgogne.” – John Terlato

Anne Marie PanoringanAnne Marie Panoringan of OC Weekly (regular contributor) is well-known to listeners of the “SoCal Restaurant Show.” Anne Marie followed the buzz about a new Downtown Los Angeles restaurant that’s billed as “The West Coast’s Highest Dining Destination” and is situated on the 71st floor of a renovated high-rise. She has now been there twice. Anne Marie will share her first impressions. Is the food worthy of the view? We’ll find out…

The menu offers “contemporary modern America cuisine that references the ethnic makeup and cultural traditions of the sprawling metropolis.” It’s lunch and dinner with Weekend Brunch.

Terrenea Celebration of Food and WineTerranea Resort (L.A.’s Oceanfront Resort) is perched just above the ocean on the magnificent Palos Verdes peninsula. Upcoming the Weekend of October 21st to 23rd, 2016 is their 3-day, 3rd Annual Celebration of Food & Wine. We’ll have a preview with Mar’sel’s Aloys Scheer. He’s also the Resort Beverage Director for Terranea Resort.

“Terranea Resort invites you to join us for the 3rd Annual Celebration of Food & Wine. During the three-day culinary celebration, guests will have the opportunity to experience a variety of food and wine events including intimate wine dinners, a luncheon celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Robert Mondavi Winery, Paris Judgement Dinner of 1976 specialty seminars led by award-winning chefs, winemakers, Master of Wine, Master Sommeliers and LA Sommeliers, a champagne brunch, the Grand Tasting featuring 90 vintners and wineries, guests chefs, and more. For guests looking to get the full experience, weekend packages offer access to exclusive after parties and more.”

Elie AyrouthFOODBEAST has joined in partnership with Visit Anaheim to promote food tourism in Anaheim. Ethnic delights abound in the City. That also includes visibility for the bourgeoning local craft beer scene. Elie Ayrouth, Co-Founder and Publisher at FOODBEAST is our guest. Cheers…

  • Visit Anaheim’s simple mission has been to share and promote the tourist attractions of the city since 1961, and FOODBEAST have joined in their efforts with an awesome video series that places their national spotlight on the local restaurants, food trucks, and breweries that make Anaheim a unique foodie destination.
  • FOODBEAST Approved, a product of FOODBEAST, is a series of one-minute videos highlighting incredibly unique food items around the globe.

Additionally, FOODBEAST is producing a mini-documentary series focusing on the flourishing craft brewery scene in Anaheim, featuring OC favorites Noble Ale WorksBruery TerreuxBottle Logic BrewingAnaheim Brewery, and new kid on the block UnSung Brewery.

Arthur GonzalezWe know Chef Art Gonzalez from the popular Panxa Cocina in Long Beach. Chef Art has recently revived his fondly-remembered Belmont Shore casual spot, Roe Restaurant & Fish Market. It’s now morphed (after a substantial remodel) into Roe Seafood Xpress and the just opened, dinner only, Roe Restaurant. We’ve reeled in Chef Art to explain all the details.

“roe offers inspired, handcrafted, mouthwatering seafood dishes that blend both seasonal and local ingredients with bold flavors and exciting tastes.”

“roe is a lifelong dream-come-true to create a neighborhood restaurant for seafood connoisseurs – a comfy place neat the sea where people who love ocean-friendly seafood and have adventurous appetites are always rewarded with exceptionally fresh fish, inspired artisan cooking, and local flavors.”

Michael PuglisiSanta Ana’s The Electric City Butcher, Chef Michael Puglisi, is part of MaxLove Project’s Gold Apron Society. MaxLove Project is an Orange County nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of child cancer survivors and their families. They are holding the 2nd annual “Farm-to-Fork Dinner ” at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 15th at Tanaka Farms in Irvine.

Farm to Fork 2016 marks the launch of the Gold Apron Society, an exclusive community of chefs, restauranteurs and real-food advocates dedicated to raising funds for culinary medicine and cancer research.

MaxLove project’s inaugural Farm to Fork Dinner in 2015 raised $35,000 to benefit children’s cancer survivorship research and support programs. The event is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser.

This year, the new Gold Apron Society will raise funds for the creation of the first Culinary Medicine Center in Orange County, where local chefs will educate doctors, nurses and the public on the healing potential of fierce foods.

MaxLove Project and the Gold Apron Society seek to raise $250,000 to launch the “nutrition kitchen,” with plans to build it at Tanaka Farms. The eventual ambitious goal of the Gold Apron Society is to expand nationwide and fund a Culinary Medicine Center in every children’s hospital across the country.

Chef Mike joins us with all the farm-fresh details.

Andrew Gruel and his son WilliamOur Co-Host, Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group, is in the know. He shares a new list of personally researched and hand-selected “Finds” with us.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris and Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel, Founder, Slapfish Restaurant Group
Segment Two: John Terlato, Vice Chairman, Terlato Wine Group
Segment Three: Anne Marie Panoringan, Contributor, OC Weekly
Segment Four: Terranea Resort’s 3rd Annual Celebration of Food & Wine
Segment Five: FOODBEAST’s Partnership with Visit Anaheim
Segment Six: Chef Art Gonzalez, Roe Seafood Xpress & Roe Restaurant, Long Beach
Segment Seven: Chef Michael Puglisi, Electric City Butcher, 4th Street Market, Santa Ana
Segment Eight: Co-Host, Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish Restaurant Group

Show 168, April 23, 2016: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris & Chef Andrew Gruel

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosExecutive Chef Andrew Gruel of the rapidly growing Slapfish empire with restaurants in Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, LAX, Irvine at UCI and, most recently, Brea, is back as today’s special Guest Host.

Congrats to Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel on his Nation’s Restaurant News 2016 Menu Masters Award as a Trendsetter. Presented annually by Nation’s Restaurant News, the prestigious awards honor outstanding foodservice research and development. Chef Andrew will receive his MenuMaster Award in a by-invitation-only reception at The Drake Hotel in Chicago on May 21st during the National Restaurant Association’s convention.

Now an enticing sneak peak of Saturday’s appetizing show and not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re doing it right we will always leave you hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s actually a good thing…

One of the newest additions to Santa Ana’s 4th Street Market is Pig Pen Delicacy. It’s a fresh take on American comfort food using an array of sophisticated and modern interpretations of bacon and pork favorites. Co-owner and Director of Operations Jason Trinh joins us with all the pork-a-licious details.

It’s time for America’s favorite pastime…Ballpark food. It’s our always anticipated annual report on what’s new on the menu at Angel Stadium with Executive Chef Robert Biebrich. It’s the 50th season at Angel Stadium so expect to be impressed.

Since The Pie Hole launched in The Arts District of Downtown L.A. in 2011 it’s been a word-of-mouth and social media sensation. The Pie Hole offers fresh baked sweet pie by the slice, individual savory pies, and their own premium coffee. Co-owner Sean Brennan joins us with his fresh-from-the-oven recipe for sweet (and savory) success.

The Four Brix Winery in Ventura grew out of three couples’ hobby of making premium wine at home for their appreciative friends. The Winery represents a throwback to the days of blended wines made in California. Winemaker and Partner Gary Stewart uncorks it for us.

One of the more unusual finds at the recent Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim was Tin Star Foods. They produce Cultured Ghee and Cultured Brown Butter in small batchers. Tin Star Foods Founder, Hima Pandya, is our guest.

The annual Dine LBC – Long Beach Restaurant Week is taking place April 23 – May 1, 2016. Each participating restaurant from twelve unique neighborhoods in the city offers a three course menu priced at $20, $30, $40 or $50, either per guest with wine pairing options at fine dining locations OR dinner for two priced at $20, $30, $40 or $50, where diners share an appetizer, each enjoy their own entree, then share a dessert at more casual establishments. One of the participating restaurants in DINE LBC is Domenico’s Italian Restaurant, Long Beach’s oldest restaurant. Proprietor Mike Rhodes joins us.

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

Show 167, April 9, 2016: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris & Chef Andrew Gruel

Program Note for Saurday, April 16thOur Halos are playing an unusual 11:10 a.m. start on the road with the Minnesota Twins. We’ll be back with another big show on April 23rd at 10:00 a.m. See you then.

Andrew Gruel and his son WilliamExecutive Chef Andrew Gruel of the rapidly growing Slapfish empire with restaurants in Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, LAX, Irvine at UCI and, most recently, Brea, is back as today’s special Guest Host.

Now an enticing sneak peak of Saturday’s mouthwatering show and not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re doing it right we will always leave you hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s actually a good thing…

The annual Dine LBC – Long Beach Restaurant Week is taking place April 23 – May 1, 2016. Each participating restaurant from twelve unique neighborhoods in the city offers a three course menu priced at $20, $30, $40 or $50, either per guest with wine pairing options at fine dining locations OR dinner for two priced at $20, $30, $40 or $50, where diners share an appetizer, each enjoy their own entree, then share a dessert at more casual establishments. Producer Terri Henry and Executive Chef David MacLennan of James Republic (an encoring participating restaurant) are our guests.

The Pacific Food & Beverage Museum is inaugurating The Thoughtful Feast,” a new series of curated dinners that highlight the culinary heritage of Southern California, the Pacific Coast, American West, and beyond. The first dinner on April 11th will focus on a region of the American South that in the early 1700s developed a cosmopolitan cuisine. Host Chef Brian Dunsmoor of Hatchet Hall in Culver City and The Pacific Food & Beverage’s Museum’s Philip Dobard are with us to set the ample table.

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 Best of Show award recipients and lots more. TheDailyMeal.com has dubbed him one of the coolest people in food and drink in America.

Chef Michael Puglisi (ex-Bouchon Beverly Hills) is the Electric City Butcher at the 4th Street Market in Santa Ana. He was greatly influenced by a cousin in Sicily who has a popular, neighborhood butcher shop there. Chef Michael is a custom, whole animal, artisan butcher. We’ll meet him.

Executive Chef Amar Santana (a C-CAP graduate) is the Proprietor of Broadway by Amar Santana in Laguna Beach and the new Vaca in Costa Mesa. Both restaurants have highly innovative beverage programs to compliment the stellar cuisine. Chef Amar was also one of two finalists on Bravo’s Top Chef Season 13 which just concluded with a cliff-hanger of a two-part finale in Las Vegas. Chef Amar is our guest.

The 3rd Annual “The Big Cheese” Grilled Cheese Festival & Competition returns to Provisions Market in Orange on Tuesday, April 19th. Provisions Market and OC Baking Co. will celebrate National Grilled Cheese Month with fellow OC Chefs and a ProAm Challenger in an intense (but light-hearted) grilled cheese competition. Event co-founder, Chef Greg Daniels of Provisions, joins us with the gooey overview courtesy of Tillamook County Creamery Association.

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

Show 167, April 9, 2016: Chef Michael Puglisi, Electric City Butcher, 4th Street Market, Santa Ana

Michael PuglisiChef Michael Puglisi (ex-Bouchon Beverly Hills) is the Electric City Butcher at the 4th Street Market in Santa Ana. He was greatly influenced by a cousin in Sicily who has a popular, neighborhood butcher shop there. Chef Michael is a custom, whole animal, artisan butcher. We’ll meet him.

From Michael Puglisi:
“Electric City Butcher is built upon relationships – our relationship to you, our relationship to sustainable farmers and humanely raised animals, and your relationship to the food that you serve to your friends and family. ECB is modeled after our family’s shop in Sicily, where guests arrive with an idea of what they’d like, have a conversation with the butcher and leave with freshly prepared cuts. We take the time to offer personalized service and the highest quality products, because we believe that it matters what we serve to our family and we believe that you will taste the difference.”

In the neatly ordered shop just about everything is house-made except the prosciutto de Parma which is imported from Italy. In-house they prepare and cure salumi, sausages and create wonderful charcuterie platters. It’s all about the throwback, personal service and butchers who come from a serious culinary background.

April 9: Amar Santana, James Republic, Brian Dunsmoor, Corti Brothers, Electric City Butcher, Big Cheese

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris & Chef Andrew Gruel
Segment Two: Executive Chef David MacLennan, James Republic, Long Beach
Segment Three: Executive Chef Brian Dunsmoor of Hatchet Hall & Philip Dobard, The Pacific Food & Beverage Museum
Segment Four: Darrell Corti, Corti Brothers, Sacramento & Chair of the L.A. International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition Part One
Segment Five: Darrell Corti, Corti Brothers, Sacramento & Chair of the L.A. International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition Part One
Segment Six: Chef Michael Puglisi, Electric City Butcher, 4th Street Market, Santa Ana
Segment Seven: Executive Chef Amar Santana, Broadway by Amar Santana & Vaca
Segment Eight: Chef Greg Daniels, “The Big Cheese” Grilled Cheese Festival & Competition

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosExecutive Chef Andrew Gruel of the rapidly growing Slapfish empire with restaurants in Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, LAX, Irvine at UCI and, most recently, Brea, is back as today’s special Guest Host.

Now an enticing sneak peak of Saturday’s mouthwatering show and not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re doing it right we will always leave you hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s actually a good thing…

The annual Dine LBC – Long Beach Restaurant Week is taking place April 23 – May 1, 2016. Each participating restaurant from twelve unique neighborhoods in the city offers a three course menu priced at $20, $30, $40 or $50, either per guest with wine pairing options at fine dining locations OR dinner for two priced at $20, $30, $40 or $50, where diners share an appetizer, each enjoy their own entree, then share a dessert at more casual establishments. Producer Terri Henry and Executive Chef David MacLennan of James Republic (an encoring participating restaurant) are our guests.

The Pacific Food & Beverage Museum is inaugurating “The Thoughtful Feast,” a new series of curated dinners that highlight the culinary heritage of Southern California, the Pacific Coast, American West, and beyond. The first dinner on April 11th will focus on a region of the American South that in the early 1700s developed a cosmopolitan cuisine. Host Chef Brian Dunsmoor of Hatchet Hall in Culver City and The Pacific Food & Beverage’s Museum’s Philip Dobard are with us to set the ample table.

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 Best of Show award recipients and lots more. TheDailyMeal.com has dubbed him one of the coolest people in food and drink in America.

Chef Michael Puglisi (ex-Bouchon Beverly Hills) is the Electric City Butcher at the 4th Street Market in Santa Ana. He was greatly influenced by a cousin in Sicily who has a popular, neighborhood butcher shop there. Chef Michael is a custom, whole animal, artisan butcher. We’ll meet him.

Executive Chef Amar Santana (a C-CAP graduate) is the Proprietor of Broadway by Amar Santana in Laguna Beach and the new Vaca in Costa Mesa. Both restaurants have highly innovative beverage programs to compliment the stellar cuisine. Chef Amar was also one of two finalists on Bravo’s “Top Chef” Season 13 which just concluded with a cliff-hanger of a two-part finale in Las Vegas. Chef Amar is our guest.

The 3rd Annual “The Big Cheese” Grilled Cheese Festival & Competition returns to Provisions Market in Orange on Tuesday, April 19th. Provisions Market and OC Baking Co. will celebrate National Grilled Cheese Month with fellow OC Chefs and a ProAm Challenger in an intense (but light-hearted) grilled cheese competition. Event co-founder, Chef Greg Daniels of Provisions, joins us with the gooey overview courtesy of Tillamook County Creamery Association.

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

David McLennan of Dine LBCThe annual Dine LBC – Long Beach Restaurant Week is taking place April 23 – May 1, 2016. Each participating restaurant from twelve unique neighborhoods in the city offers a three course menu priced at $20, $30, $40 or $50, either per guest with wine pairing options at fine dining locations OR dinner for two priced at $20, $30, $40 or $50, where diners share an appetizer, each enjoy their own entree, then share a dessert at more casual establishments.

James Republic encores in 2016 as a participating restaurant in DINE LBC. They hosted the launch party this year.

“Our menus are a labor of love – a love of the finest foods. We proudly serve a large array of local artisan products.  Organic is important to us, but more importantly we believe in all natural products without the use of steroids, growth hormones, and animals raised responsibly.  As well as our preference for products and practices that are sustainable, we try to embrace the idea of localism to strengthen our community.   Most of our items are priced under $20 which is incredible considering the high quality of products we serve.  Our passion for the seasons and what it brings to us in food keeps us always searching for great new combinations.  Come join us for a journey in cuisine.”

Producer Terri Henry and Executive Chef David MacLennan of James Republic (an encoring participating restaurant) are our guests with all the tempting specifics.

Brian Dunsmoor of Hatchet HallThe Pacific Food & Beverage Museum is inaugurating The Thoughtful Feast,” a new series of curated dinners that highlight the culinary heritage of Southern California, the Pacific Coast, American West, and beyond. The first dinner on April 11th will focus on a region of the American South that in the early 1700s developed a cosmopolitan cuisine, one that is not generally available in greater Los Angeles.

Host Chef Brian Dunsmoor of Hatchet Hall in Culver City and The Pacific Food & Beverage’s Museum’s Philip Dobard are with us to set the ample table.

Charleston, South Carolina, was the South’s leading port in the Colonial Era, and the city’s wealth and trade links came to be expressed in a cuisine that included French, African, South Asian, and native foods and techniques. Chef Brian Dunsmoor of Hatchet Hall studied in Charleston and brings his personal experience to recreating a meal that would have been enjoyed in Colonial America but has flavors that are surprising and beguiling to a modern palate. Between courses, Chef Brian will explain the dishes and discuss the region’s culinary culture.

Darrell CortiNoted gourmand Darrell Corti of Corti Brothers gourmet grocery and spirit purveyors in Sacramento is the Chairman of the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition. We’ll chat about the Best of Show award recipients and lots more about gourmet specialty food with the revered Mr. Corti. 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.

For “Best of Show – Domestic” there is an award-winner in Delicate, Medium and Robust category oils. Best of Show – Robust is Pacific Sun, Riverview Ranch Tuscan Blend, Yolo County, California.

We’ve tasted this EVOO. It’s a grassy, bright, peppery olive oil.

Suggested Food Pairings: “Delicious with poultry, lamb, beans, soups, or any dish you want to add a little pepperiness to.”

Noted gourmand Darrell Corti of Corti Brothers gourmet grocery and spirit purveyors in Sacramento continues…

From TheDailyMeal.com:
One sign of how cool this Italian-American Sacramento grocer is is the fact that he’ll think the whole idea of being considered cool is just plain silly. Running the family business in the California capital is a full-time job, and he doesn’t have spare moments for a lot of folderol. Of course, Corti is a grocer like Itzhak Perlman plays some fiddle. Corti is simply one of the most deeply knowledgeable food and drink experts in America, able to expound with equal authority on Chinese tea, Spanish vinegar, Central Asian wine, Italian pasta, and about 30,000 other gastronomic topics.

The Corti Brothers online store, where you can buy their Italian specialties even if you don’t live in Sacramento, remains charmingly low-tech and straightforward, giving away very little about the vast treasures and culinary knowledge amassed by this family. At the store itself, you can shop for everything from toilet paper and skim milk to artisanal soy sauce and sherries so rare you can’t even find them in Spain — or just stand in line for one of the California capital’s best deli sandwiches.

Corti, a member of The Daily Meal Council, knows everybody worth knowing in his chosen field, and everybody knows him. They call him “The Professor.” If you’ve never heard of him, well, that sort of makes him even cooler, you know?

Michael PuglisiChef Michael Puglisi (ex-Bouchon Beverly Hills) is the Electric City Butcher at the 4th Street Market in Santa Ana. He was greatly influenced by a cousin in Sicily who has a popular, neighborhood butcher shop there. Chef Michael is a custom, whole animal, artisan butcher. We’ll meet him.

From Michael Puglisi:
“Electric City Butcher is built upon relationships – our relationship to you, our relationship to sustainable farmers and humanely raised animals, and your relationship to the food that you serve to your friends and family.  ECB is modeled after our family’s shop in Sicily, where guests arrive with an idea of what they’d like, have a conversation with the butcher and leave with freshly prepared cuts.  We take the time to offer personalized service and the highest quality products, because we believe that it matters what we serve to our family and we believe that you will taste the difference.”

Amar Santana at the Top Chef FinaleExecutive Chef Amar Santana (a C-CAP graduate) is the Proprietor of Broadway by Amar Santana in Laguna Beach and the new Vaca in Costa Mesa. Both restaurants have highly innovative beverage programs to compliment the stellar cuisine.

Chef Amar was also one of two finalists on Bravo’s Emmy-Award winning Top Chef Season 13 which just concluded with a two-part finale in Las Vegas. Amar battled Chef Jeremy Ford, the Chef de Cuisine of Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Matador Room in Miami.

Chef Amar’s “Top Chef” Official Bio:
Amar Santana serves as the Executive Chef and Partner at Broadway By Amar Santana in Laguna Beach, CA and Vaca in Costa Mesa, CA. Born in the Dominican Republic, he immigrated to the US at the age of 13 and began his culinary career at 16.

He has been mentored by some of the world’s most renowned chefs, including Charlie Palmer, who helped him develop his skills of expressing his passion through food. By combining flavors and culinary traditions from all over the world, Chef Amar provides a truly unforgettable gastronomical experience.

Chef Amar is our very special guest.

The Big Cheese Grilled Cheese CompetitionThe 3rd Annual “The Big Cheese” Grilled Cheese Festival & Competition returns to Provisions Market in Orange on Tuesday, April 19th. Provisions Market and OC Baking Co. will celebrate National Grilled Cheese Month with fellow OC Chefs and a ProAm Challenger in an intense grilled cheese competition. All are in competition for the coveted title of “The Big Cheese.”

OC Baking Company Master Baker Dean Kim will supply locally produced freshly baked bread to the competing chefs, while the farmer-owned dairy cooperative Tillamook will offer a selection of its award-winning cheeses and butter for use at the festival. Participating chefs will present their own spin on the classic grilled cheese sandwich that festival attendees will sample and then vote on.

“Now in our third year, this event has served to unite our local chefs and engage them in a lighthearted competition,” commented Chef Greg Daniels, who oversees the kitchens at Provisions Market and Haven Gastropub.

Tickets for the event must be purchased for $60 in advance (will include limited tasters of select craft beer) through Universe. This event will be limited to 100 guests (tickets will be sold at the door, if capacity permits).

Event co-founder, Chef Greg Daniels of Provisions, joins us with all the gooey specifics.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris & Chef Andrew Gruel
Segment Two: Executive Chef David MacLennan, James Republic, Long Beach
Segment Three: Executive Chef Brian Dunsmoor of Hatchet Hall & Philip Dobard, The Pacific Food & Beverage Museum
Segment Four: Darrell Corti, Corti Brothers, Sacramento & Chair of the L.A. International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition Part One
Segment Five: Darrell Corti, Corti Brothers, Sacramento & Chair of the L.A. International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition Part One
Segment Six: Chef Michael Puglisi, Electric City Butcher, 4th Street Market, Santa Ana
Segment Seven: Executive Chef Amar Santana, Broadway by Amar Santana & Vaca
Segment Eight: Chef Greg Daniels, “The Big Cheese” Grilled Cheese Festival & Competition

Show 165, March 26, 2016: 4th Street Market, Downtown Santa Ana

Ryan ChaseThe ambitious 4th Street Market in Santa Ana just celebrated its first Anniversary. The establishment is a contemporary, destination Market Hall with a lot of differences. It’s always evolving based on patron feedback. It’s also an active culinary testing lab for restaurants concepts that have evolved beyond a food truck but are not quite ready for a full-fledged restaurant.

“Where food creators come to learn and grow & foodies enjoy the fruits of that labor.”

“4th Street Market in Downtown Santa Ana is a progressive culinary hub inspired by the spirit of creative chefs, food artisans, and small business entrepreneurs. Originally the longstanding Santa Ana Swap Meet, 4th Street Market features fifteen thoughtfully curated vendors, 10 incubator kitchens, seating for three hundred guests, and more. 4th Street Market invites guests to relax, drink and dine, meet up with friends and family, and enjoy the multitude of activities in the Downtown Santa Ana’s revitalized East End.”

“Open seven days a week, 4th Street Market greets the morning with third wave coffee, creative juice blends, baked goods and dedicated breakfast cafes, with the remainder of the market opening for lunch, dinner. 4th Street Market offers an eclectic mix of dining options, a European inspired butcher shop, ten rental kitchens (including three gluten free and one confectionary), a craft cocktail, beer garden, a cutting edge graffiti wall by Tyke, Ewok and Aloy, a living wall by LiveWall, and a specialty food shop.”

Also featured in 4th Street Market is Electric City Butcher by Michael Puglisi, a unique, European-inspired butcher shop. Chef Puglisi & Electric City Butcher focus on whole animal butchery, nose to tail usage, and classic charcuterie. Chef Puglisi will be a guest on the show on April 9th.

Soft opening right now is the new Alta Baja Market within the 4th Street Market. “Alta Baja Market will be a store that celebrates Mexico, the American Southwest and California, on your plate, in your cup and with goods to take home.”

4th Street Market is the dream project of proprietor Ryan Chase of S&A Management. We’ll meet him.

Show 105, January 10, 2015: Chef Michael Puglisi, Electric City Butcher Shop

Michael PuglisiMembers of Chef Michael Puglisi’s immediate family in Sicily are well-known Old World artisan butchers. Very soon Chef Puglisi will be using those skills at his own Electric City Butcher Shop which is a major component of Santa Ana’s much –anticipated (and talked about) 4th Street Market food emporium. Puglisi was previously the sous chef of Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Beverly Hills.

On Friday, January 16th Chef Puglisi is hosting an elaborate, multi-course pop-up dinner at Playground 2.0, an intimate 17-seat exhibition culinary theater in Santa Ana steps away from the soon-to-be 4th Street Market. Puglisi is a nose-to-tail chef. One special course will be braised lamb tongues.

For Chef Puglisi’s signature sausages Old World sausage-making traditions are used. Every gourmet sausage produced is twisted and cased by hand. The sausages are currently on the menu at the newly opened Barrel & Ashes in Studio City, Little Sparrow Café in Santa Ana, and 320 Main in Seal Beach, among other quality establishments.

The East End Kitchens at 4th Street Market, perhaps the foremost “incubator” artisan food maker business and kitchen programs in the United States are nearing completion. The 4th Street management team will be offering the first preview tours and meetings with 4th Street Market’s preferred expert food maker mentors from FoodCentricity on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at 1:00 PM and Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 6:30 PM. More info and registration details are at the 4th Street Market’s (Santa Ana) Facebook page.

May 31: Wolfgang Puck, Cathy Thomas, Coffee Bean, Fireside Tavern, Joan’s on Third,

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Cathy Thomas, food journalist, Orange County Register and Los Angeles Register
Segment Three: Jay Isais, Senior Director, Coffee Roasting and Manufacturing, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
Segment Four: Chef Wolfgang Puck
Segment Five: Executive Chef Scott Brandon, Fireside Tavern, Costa Mesa
Segment Six: Chester Hastings, Cheesemonger and Chef, Joan’s on Third, Los Angeles
Segment Seven: Bill Esparza, “The Street Gourmet” & Curator for Tacolandia Part One
Segment Eight: Bill Esparza, “The Street Gourmet” & Curator for Tacolandia Part Two

Chef Jet and Producer Andy preview the show.

Pioneering California Celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck with destination restaurants around the globe really needs no introduction. Among many accomplishments he cooks for the VIP guests at the Oscars every year. His new book, Wolfgang Puck Makes it Healthy : Light, Delicious Recipes and Easy Exercises for a Better Life is a true labor of love.

The Orange County Register’s award-winning food writer, Cathy Thomas, has just returned from a cruise on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. She shares her travel and food adventures in India and Singapore.

What’s the most exotic coffee bean in the world ? Our resident coffee expert from the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has the unexpected answer. It’s unusual…

The 2nd Annual Tacolandia (“Where All Your Taco Dreams Come True”) is coming up June 28th. The Taco in Chief (a.k.a. “The Street Gourmet,”) Bill Esparza, serves it up.

Understanding and selecting specialty cheese can be a bit intimidating. Cheesemonger extraordinaire, Chester Hastings, to the rescue!

Fireside Tavern is an undiscovered gem of a new destination restaurant in the unlikely location of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Costa Mesa just off the 405 Freeway. The secret is Executive Chef Scott Brandon.

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

Special Note:
Michael Puglisi
You’ve heard Chef Michael Puglisi (ex-Bouchon Beverly Hills) of the soon-to-be Electric City Butcher in The (upcoming) 4th Street Market in Santa Ana on the show.

On Monday, June 2nd Chef Puglisi is part of a special Chef’s Dinner at 320 Main – New American Eatery in Seal Beach.

The 6-course menu is from Chef Puglisi, Chef Jaime Carrano of 320 Main, and Chef Eddie Ruiz of Corazon y Miel. Corazon y Miel in Bell was just included in Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants 2014 as presented in the Los Angeles Times.

Chefs Michael and Eddie also work together at the recently opened PICNIK in Old Pasadena. “These three friends are pleased to bring an amazing menu and incredible dining experience for the latest in 320 Main’s Chef’s Dinner series.”

$95 per guest including tax and gratuity.

Reservations & Information: 562.799.6246.

Cathy ThomasCathy Thomas is the long-established food writer and former Food Editor at The Orange County Register. She has won numerous well-deserved awards for her journalism and is a good friend of chefs and restaurateurs.

Cathy Thomas was just on a short leg (12 days) of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth’s World Cruise. She left the ship for four days on land in India traveling to the Taj Mahal. Cathy will enlighten us on luxury cruising, Indian street food, and dining at Ku De Ta, a hot restaurant in Singapore with an incredible view.

Look for Cathy’s piece on Indian Street Food in an upcoming Wednesday Food Section in the Orange County Register.

Jay Isais of the Coffee Bean and Tea LeafJay (“Eye-Zay-Us”) Isais is the Senior Director, Coffee Roasting and Manufacturing, for the Coffee Bean and Teal Leaf.

The rarest coffee beans in the world (from Sumatra) must be the Kopi Luwak beans. They are “harvested” in an unusual way.

Jay explains this highly sought-after coffee oddity…

Wolfgang PuckWhat is now known as California Cuisine never had a better day than when Celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck opened the original Spago on The Sunset Strip in 1982. Its ambitions were modest…

Now the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group has restaurants around the world with a second stronghold in Las Vegas.

Chef Puck was the first Chef to cook a meal at New York’s famed James Beard House. He is also the recipient of multiple James Beard Foundation Awards.

Another high-profile division, Wolfgang Puck Catering, provides the food for the Annual Governors Ball for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Wolfgang is better known internationally than many of the celebrities who he graciously serves !

Another unit, Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, Inc. franchises casual Wolfgang Puck restaurants, licenses consumer products, is involved in book publishing, television and internet programming, and other licensing and merchandising efforts.

Wolfgang Puck’s most recent book, Wolfgang Puck Makes It Healthy – Light, Delicious Recipes and Easy Exercises for a Better Life is a personal project for him.
In the words of Chef Wolfgang Puck :

“I never, ever expected to write this book. If you had suggested to me ten years ago, or even five, that my next book would focus on healthy recipes and fitness, I would’ve said you didn’t know me very well.

I have figured out where I can modify ingredients to make a healthier dish. And today I can eat all my favorite foods without overeating anything.

I feel good because of the combination of eating well and exercising I’ve developed. Now I want to help you achieve the same goal, to feel healthy and happy, with plenty of energy to do the things you love to do.”

Scott Brandon of Fireside TavernFireside Tavern is an undiscovered gem of a new destination restaurant in the unlikely location of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Costa Mesa just off the 405 Freeway. The secret is Executive Chef Scott Brandon.

Chef Scott’s credits include Oysters in Corona del Mar, Crow Bar and Kitchen in Corona del Mar, and LinX in Old Towne Orange.

It’s located just South of South Coast Plaza.

The space is inviting and there is an outside patio with lots of shade.

There is a great Happy Hour menu served daily from 3 to 6:00 p.m. and then again from 10 to midnight. Lots of fun & appealing food selections and libations priced at a good value.

“Fireside is an American gastropub, offering a contemporary menu of upscale tavern fare for lunch and dinner. Fireside features a menu of freshly sourced meat, seafood and cheese, along with a bar menu of small plates. The bar serves an array of American wines, craft draft beer, and signature cocktails.”

Chester HastingsCheesemonger (and Chef) Chester Hastings of Joan’s on Third in Los Angeles literally wrote the book on enjoying cheese. His latest title is The Cheesemonger’s Seasons – Recipes for Enjoying Cheese with Ripe Fruits and Vegetables. His first cheese book was the well-reviewed, The Cheesemonger’s Kitchen.

The Cheesemonger’s Season contains ninety amazing cheese-centric recipes, from appetizers to desserts, all of them simple, and each one showcasing the absolute best of what the season has to offer.

When Chester started at Joan’s over 12 years ago they carried seven varieties of cheese. Today they stock over 100 varieties of domestic and imported cheeses.

Bill EsparzaThe 2nd Annual Tacolandia (“Where All Your Taco Dreams Come True”) is coming up June 28th at El Pueblo De Los Angeles. The hours are 3 to 7:00 p.m.

The Taco in Chief, Bill Esparza (a.k.a. “The Street Gourmet,”) serves it up.

It’s 40 plus taco vendors, the Tequila Tasting Experience, and live Mariachi entertainment.

Bill previews the incredible taco creations of a number of the chefs participating in LA Weekly’s Tacolandia. The best tacos on food trucks, too…

The 2nd Annual Tacolandia (“Where All Your Taco Dreams Come True”) is coming up June 28th at El Pueblo De Los Angeles. The hours are 3 to 7:00 p.m.

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Cathy Thomas, food journalist, Orange County Register and Los Angeles Register
Segment Three: Jay Isais, Senior Director, Coffee Roasting and Manufacturing, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
Segment Four: Chef Wolfgang Puck
Segment Five: Executive Chef Scott Brandon, Fireside Tavern, Costa Mesa
Segment Six: Chester Hastings, Cheesemonger and Chef, Joan’s on Third, Los Angeles
Segment Seven: Bill Esparza, “The Street Gourmet” & Curator for Tacolandia Part One
Segment Eight: Bill Esparza, “The Street Gourmet” & Curator for Tacolandia Part Two