Tag Archives: Moulin Bistro

Show 458, January 15, 2022: Chef / Proprietor Jeoffrey Offer, Butcher’s House Brasserie, SoCo Collection, Costa Mesa Part One

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Jeoffrey Offer of Butcher's House Brasserie

“Butcher’s House, a modern brasserie centered around the antique craft of butchery, debuted last month at Costa Mesa’s South Coast Collection. Helmed by Chef-Owner Jeoffrey Offer, Butcher’s House offers a menu centered around dry-aged meats and rustic brasserie-style dishes representative of his hometown Toulouse in the south of France. For Offer, Butcher’s House is more than an homage to his culinary roots; it is the fulfillment of his lifelong American dream.”

“Offer’s culinary inspiration began at home, shadowing his mother in the kitchen as she prepared Sunday dinners and family-style meals. His father, a local butcher, taught him the precision and attention to detail involved in preparing different cuts of meat. While his storied culinary career spans over a decade across three continents, his most recent role was executive chef of Moulin for nearly six years. In 2014, he joined award-winning restaurateur Laurent Vrignaud in the opening of Moulin’s flagship location in Newport Beach to the expansion of the brand’s fifth location. As a classically trained French chef, Offer brings more than 12 years of experience in cooking, kitchen logistics, and operations management to the opening of his first restaurant, Butcher’s House.”

“In 2013, I came to America with nothing but a backpack and a dream,” comments chef-owner Jeoffrey Offer. “Butcher’s House allows me to take ownership of my American dream and share my passion for cooking with the people who will continue to make that dream a reality. It is and has been a true labor of love.”

“Butcher’s House features a menu highlighting wood-fired cuts of meat, dry-aged and butchered in-house. During dinner, guests can enjoy premium steaks like a 30-day Dry-Aged Bone-in Ribeye, Filet Mignon, and New York. A selection of house specialties like Toulouse Sausage, Country-Style Pork Paté, and Duck Confit pay homage to Offer’s upbringing in the south of France. His expertise in pastry arts is displayed through rustic-yet-refined desserts, including a Chocolate Mousse and Crème Brûlée.”

“During lunch, Butcher’s House serves sandwiches, salads, and dry-aged beef burgers available a la carte or as combos with the option of including a drink and dessert. The beverage program focuses on a curated selection of French wines, artisan beers on draft, and a menu of classic French-inspired fermented cocktails crafted with soju-based spirits.”

Closed on Monday and Brunch only on Sunday.

Chef Jeoffrey Offer is our guest with an antique clever at the ready.

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Show 458, January 15, 2022: Chef / Proprietor Jeoffrey Offer, Butcher’s House Brasserie, SoCo Collection, Costa Mesa Part Two

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Jeoffrey Offer of Butcher's House Brasserie

“Butcher’s House, a modern brasserie centered around the antique craft of butchery, debuted last month at Costa Mesa’s South Coast Collection. Helmed by Chef-Owner Jeoffrey Offer, Butcher’s House offers a menu centered around dry-aged meats and rustic brasserie-style dishes representative of his hometown Toulouse in the south of France. For Offer, Butcher’s House is more than an homage to his culinary roots; it is the fulfillment of his lifelong American dream.”

“Offer’s culinary inspiration began at home, shadowing his mother in the kitchen as she prepared Sunday dinners and family-style meals. His father, a local butcher, taught him the precision and attention to detail involved in preparing different cuts of meat. While his storied culinary career spans over a decade across three continents, his most recent role was executive chef of Moulin for nearly six years. In 2014, he joined award-winning restaurateur Laurent Vrignaud in the opening of Moulin’s flagship location in Newport Beach to the expansion of the brand’s fifth location. As a classically trained French chef, Offer brings more than 12 years of experience in cooking, kitchen logistics, and operations management to the opening of his first restaurant, Butcher’s House.”

“In 2013, I came to America with nothing but a backpack and a dream,” comments chef-owner Jeoffrey Offer. “Butcher’s House allows me to take ownership of my American dream and share my passion for cooking with the people who will continue to make that dream a reality. It is and has been a true labor of love.”

“Butcher’s House features a menu highlighting wood-fired cuts of meat, dry-aged and butchered in-house. During dinner, guests can enjoy premium steaks like a 30-day Dry-Aged Bone-in Ribeye, Filet Mignon, and New York. A selection of house specialties like Toulouse Sausage, Country-Style Pork Paté, and Duck Confit pay homage to Offer’s upbringing in the south of France. His expertise in pastry arts is displayed through rustic-yet-refined desserts, including a Chocolate Mousse and Crème Brûlée.”

“During lunch, Butcher’s House serves sandwiches, salads, and dry-aged beef burgers available a la carte or as combos with the option of including a drink and dessert. The beverage program focuses on a curated selection of French wines, artisan beers on draft, and a menu of classic French-inspired fermented cocktails crafted with soju-based spirits.”

Closed on Monday. Brunch only on Sunday.

Chef Jeoffrey continues with us with a plate of Toulouse Sausage in hand.

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October 3: Timothy Hollingsworth, OozeFest, Quady Winery, Piero Selvaggio, Tiffany Derry, Moulin Bistro, Shachi Mehra

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Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chef Tim Hollingsworth of Otium at The Broad museum continues…
Segment Three: 100eats.com and Foodbeast’s Ooze Fest
Segment Four: Quady North (Winery) and Herb Quady
Segment Five: Piero Selvaggio, Valentino and Columbus Day Dinner Feast
Segment Six: “Top Chef’s” Chef Tiffany Derry and Celebrity Cruises “Top Chef at Sea.”
Segment Seven: Moulin Bistro and Proprietor Laurent Vrignaud
Segment Eight: ADYA – Fresh Indian Flavors and Executive Chef Shachi Mehra

Please join us on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. for a special broadcast time of the “SoCal Restaurant Show.” We follow Angel Baseball (versus the Texas Rangers) as they continue to battle for the 2nd Wild Card Berth and the possible Division Title. Go Halos!

We’re back to our regular broadcast time of 10:00 a.m. to 12 Noon on October 10th.

Congrats to all the winners (and nominees) of The Golden Foodie Awards held Sunday, Sept. 28th at The Fairmont Newport Beach. We’ll be talking to some of the winners today and in the coming weeks.

It’s a B-I-G show this afternoon so we want to get right to our first guest, Executive Chef Timothy Hollingsworth, a James Beard Award recipient. Chef Tim was previously the chef de cuisine of Thomas Keller’s fabled French Laundry in Yountville. Since relocating to Southern California he has opened Barrel & Ashes in Studio City. On the immediate horizon is the debut of the eagerly anticipated Otium restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles prominently located across the plaza from The Broad.

Chef Tim is one of the high profile local chefs of distinction cooking at The Taste Los Angeles Dining Event, “A Night of Culinary Stars,” benefiting the James Beard Foundation on Friday evening, November 6th at The Ebell of Los Angeles.

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

Timothy HollingsworthJames Beard Award-winner Chef Tim Hollingsworth of the soon to debut Otium in Downtown Los Angeles located across the plaza from The Broad continues…

Chef Tim is one of the high profile local chefs of distinction cooking at The Taste Los Angeles Dining Event, “A Night of Culinary Stars,” benefiting the James Beard Foundation on Friday evening, November 6th at The Ebell of Los Angeles.

The Taste America L.A. evening (“Local Flavor from Coast-to-Coast”) will begin with a reception filled with cocktails and hors d’oeuvre from local chefs and restaurateurs, including Ray Garcia (Broken Spanish), James Beard Award winner Timothy Hollingsworth (Barrel & Ashes and Otium), Michael Hung (ex-Faith & Flower), Jessica Koslow (Sqirl), Zach Pollack (Alimento), and host chef Louis Pechan (The Ebell of Los Angeles).

Guests will then be seated for an extraordinary dinner prepared by James Beard Award–winning chef and Taste America All-Star Hugh Acheson (Empire State South; Atlanta, GA), in collaboration with two Local Star chefs, James Beard Award nominees Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook (Jon & Vinny’s, Animal, and Son of a Gun; Los Angeles), who will come together to create an unforgettable one-night-only menu. Tickets are available on jbftasteamerica.org.

On Saturday, November 7, free in-store consumer events will take place at Sur La Table® located at the Original Farmers Market, 6333 W 3rd St. #10, Los Angeles, CA 90036. Activities of the day will include a cooking demo by All-Star Hugh Acheson, book signings, tastings from local producers and artisans, as well as product demos and tastings from Taste America’s national sponsors. Reservations for the free cooking demos will begin two weeks prior to the event (October 24th.) at jbftasteamerica.org. Visit Los Angeles’s event page for the full schedule and more details.

Foodbeast OozefestWe’re celebrating American Cheese Month with the World’s Tallest Cheese Stack (hopefully) as part of the inaugural Ooze Fest on October 10th. Bobby Navarro’s 100eats Team has partnered with Foodbeast to create a stream of unique and creative events with (promised) never seen before activations and food items unique to Ooze Fest.

The debut of 20 original cheese dishes from energized area restaurants will be on the tasting menu including creations from SOCIAL Costa Mesa (Best New Restaurant at The Golden Foodies,) Little Sparrow, Blackmarket Bakery and Grits Fullerton.

“Ooze Fest. Where the cheese drools as much as the people who are anxiously waiting to eat. The national food publication, Foodbeast, is bringing record breaking, heart burn amounts of cheese at Ooze Fest, a cheese festival located in Santa Ana.”

Foodbeast.com is working toward the goal of making internet food a reality to their legion of fans, and the local community. Nguyen Tran of Starry Kitchen and the new Button Mash in LA is coming to OC to host. Tran will rally the crowd and share about the cheese love.

Standard and VIP tickets include all-you-can-eat-and-drink food and beer. Cheers! Nosh on one of a kind, never before seen fare, brought to you by local restaurants that love cheese just as much as you do. VIP tickets include early admittance to the event, along with a t-shirt and a commemorative glass.

The standard ticket is 50 dollars and VIP is 75 dollars. The event is broken up into two sessions, first session is from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and second session is from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. (VIP’s enjoy 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. respectively). Early birds in the first session get the glory of seeing the world’s tallest grilled cheese stack first ever attempt.  The second session will feature the Famous Eaters Grilled Cheese Eating Competition and the award for best cheese item of the festival.

Andrew QuadyAndrew Quady of Quady Winery in Madera is well-known for premium dessert wines and Vermouth. Not as well known to Southern Californians is that Andrew’s son, Herb, has a growing, and respected, winery of his own in Southern Oregon.

Quady North is the name of Herb’s Applegate Valley wine venture. While the senior Quady is a producer renowned for sweet and aperitif wines, Quady North is known for big, bold Bordeaux and Rhone varietals.

After working as assistant winemaker at the California Central Coast Bonny Doon Vineyard, Quady came to Oregon to found his own brand, convinced that the truly-compelling wines were made from grapes grown in cooler areas. In 2005 the family selected 100 acres of south-facing hillside in the Applegate Valley and planted their first 15 acres of Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Viognier.

Today there are eight vineyards, with two in the Rogue Valley, and the list of varietals has expanded to include Grenache, Marsanne, Rousanne, and Merlot.

Quady North is committed to producing small lot, minimally-handled wines sourced primarily from the estate. The focus remains premium Viognier, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, what Herb Quady calls his “love triangle.”

Piero Salvaggio of Valentino Santa MonicaIn tribute to the Columbus Day holiday, Piero Selvaggio, the long-time proprietor of Santa Monica’s Valentino, hosts celebrated Chef Peppe Barone of Fattoria delle Torri in Modica, Piero’s humble birthplace in Sicily. Barone brings his protégé and brightest new star, Chef Antonio Colombo of Locanda Gulfi, to prepare the desserts for this exceptional dinner – Una Cena Siciliana a Quattro Mani.

Barone is credited for cultivating Sicilian cuisine and has earned worldwide recognition for his regional Italian cooking in Modica, now considered the gastronomical crown of Sicily. As Sicily’s ambassador of great food for over thirty years, Chef Barone has groomed multiple talents in his kitchen, including the acclaimed chefs Ciccio Sultano of  Il Duomo and Pino Cuttaia of La Madia (both with two star Michelin restaurants), Accursio Craparo, Carmelo Chiaramonte and emerging gifted chef, Peppe Causarano.

Today, Barone oversees the kitchen at Ristorante Cenobio and runs Scuola Nosco, his cooking school – located in an old convent transformed into the hotel Antico Convento Ibla in Ragusa. Barone and Colombo, along with the Valentino kitchen team, will revisit a number of historical and classic Sicilian dishes and style them with a singular interpretation.

Highlights of the ‘grazing-style’ dinner will include Chef Barone’s signature Pasta with a Touch of Sicily – Sea Urchin, Baby Spinach, Ricotta and Candied Lemon; Rabbit Agrodolce; Cioccolate-Wrapped Hare and Chef Peppe’s Almond-Stuffed Suckling Pig.

Chef Colombo takes over the kitchen for the sweet part of the dinner with a pre-dessert of his striking desserts – Bread, Pear, Chocolate or “Il Sole” – Cream Tartlets with Saffron, Lemon, Strawberries and Capers. Concluding the dinner is a decadent indulgence of Sicilian desserts with tastings of Antonio Colombo’s impressive Egg of Colombo Dessert; Cannolo Millefoglio-Style with Citrus Sorbet; Bonajuto Bitter Chocolate Sticks and other Sicilian Surprises.

The wine program for the dinner has, naturally, been designed by Piero Selvaggio. Selvaggio will offer selected Sicilian wines, including a white, three reds and a “Passito” – a sweet wine cultivated from grapes slowly dried on straw to concentrate the juices – for the desserts. All selections will be offered at $30 a bottle, a reduction of 50% off the wine list pricing. All other Sicilian wines on the Valentino wine list will be offered at $30 bottle for the evening.

Since 1972 Piero Selvaggio and VALENTINO have made a significant contribution to the Los Angeles restaurant scene, introducing authentic Italian products, wine and regional cuisine to the public and nurturing many of our most influential chefs and restaurateurs. Selvaggio was recently profiled by PBS in their documentary The Italian Americans.

With its intimate dining rooms, unsurpassed wine cellar, and the consummate graciousness of owner Piero Selvaggio, VALENTINO remains the favored destination for some of the best dining in Los Angeles. 

Tiffany DerryCelebrity Cruises and Bravo Media have extended the popular “Top Chef at Sea” program through 2016, and will offer “Top Chef” fans and food lovers the opportunity to vacation with a new lineup of cheftestants on the exclusive “Top Chef Signature Sailing” in 2015. Setting sail November 14 onboard Celebrity Reflection, the one-of-a-kind Eastern Caribbean cruise vacation will give guests an up-close-and-personal culinary experience with six former “Top Chef” competitors, including our guest Chef Tiffany Derry of TD Concepts in Dallas from Bravo’s “Top Chef D.C.” and “Top Chef All-Stars.”

New during this year’s Top Chef Signature Sailing, vacationers can choose from an array of local destination experiences hosted by a featured cheftestant, making these excursions a unique way to explore the Caribbean.

The signature sailing also will feature new duel-style cooking demonstrations onboard where cheftestants will battle each other while answering fans’ questions, with the winning dish chosen by the audience. Also onboard and back by popular demand, passionate foodies can enjoy exclusive and intimate experiences with the chefs by booking private cooking classes and private dinners to hone their skills and get advice on preparing sumptuous dishes at home.

In addition to the Top Chef Signature Sailing with alums, Celebrity will continue to offer interactive Quickfire Challenges and “Top Chef”-inspired menu evenings on its modern luxury vacations onboard nine ships, for all sailings departing through June 2016. Quickfire Challenges will put guests in the spotlight to get a taste of the pressure the cheftestants experience on the show. Plus, guests can indulge in a selection of the dishes the judges raved about on the series at “Top Chef Night” in the main restaurant.

Celebrity originally partnered with “Top Chef” in November 2014 to launch the exclusive Top Chef at Sea experience. The extension of Top Chef at Sea allows for guests to continually sail with Celebrity on a modern luxury vacation with endless culinary possibilities. For more details about Top Chef at Sea, visit celebritycruises.com/topchef

Bravo’s Emmy® and James Beard Award-winning “Top Chef” will return for season 13 this fall.

Laurent VrignaudMoulin Bistro in Newport Beach, celebrating their first anniversary, is an incredible success story. It’s a busy French bistro, epicerie, boulangerie and patisserie under one roof. (“Always Fresh, Always French.”) All the appointments and fixtures are French. The ambitious proprietor (unbelievably) had no previous restaurant experience.

It’s already the darling of Orange County Food writers. Moulin was one of three nominees for “Best New Restaurant” at The 2015 Golden Foodie Awards.

The French Rotisserie Chicken is a standout.

Proprietor Laurent Vrignaud wanted to close at 7:00 p.m. but his French guests had another opinion. By popular demand he opened on Tuesday evenings for Dinner at Moulin. It’s a weekly changing appetizer, main dish, and dessert for $25.00. It now sells out at capacity way in advance. Laurent then added Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It’s Entrecote Frites night with unlimited fries. It’s also $25.00.

The Orange County Register’s long-time food writer Cathy Thomas recently did a feature on Moulin’s Le Croque Madame. The video (demonstrating the recipe with Laurent and French-born Chef Jeoffrey Offer) is available for viewing on You Tube.

Proprietor Laurent Vrignaud joins us.

Shachi MehraExecutive Chef Shachi Mehra is the co-proprietor of ADYA – Fresh Indian Flavors in the Packing House in Anaheim. At the recent Golden Foodie Awards ADYA was one of three distinguished nominees for Best Indian Cuisine. We’ll find out from Chef Shachi herself what restaurant was awarded the coveted honor.

“At ADYA, we showcase the flavorful street food of India. Our inspiration comes from the multitude of bright flavors and textures representing the diversity of India itself. Working with our local farmers, growers and purveyors, we strive to use local, organic, biodynamic ingredients whenever possible. Combining these with modern creative and classic Indian styles of cooking, we present food that balances the bounty of California with the bold flavors and spices of India. The carefully curated wine list and rotating craft beer list complement our vibrant flavors and casual style. Our team’s passion for hospitality comes through with each bite, every sip and with every smiling interaction.”

Shachi grew up surrounded by good food and learned early the importance of eating seasonally during her annual summer trips to her native India. Her mother was an exceptional cook, and as a young girl, Shachi spent many a moment sitting on the counter, as the ‘official taste tester’ of the house. Growing up in New Jersey, Shachi had her share of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as well as traditional Indian foods; this crossing of two cultures from her youth carries in to her work now and allows her the ability to see things from different perspectives and bridge the gap between perception and reality of Indian food.

As a chef, Mehra believes in creating innovative and thoughtful menus that tastefully balance a variety of flavors and makes cuisines appealing to a range of tastes. She is also an ardent supporter of local farmers and sustainable practices.

Look for her interactive “Learn To Create” monthly cooking classes at ADYA. It’s the home cooks’ guide to quick, easy Indian dishes.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chef Tim Hollingsworth of Otium at The Broad museum continues…
Segment Three: 100eats.com and Foodbeast’s Ooze Fest
Segment Four: Quady North (Winery) and Herb Quady
Segment Five: Piero Selvaggio, Valentino and Columbus Day Dinner Feast
Segment Six: “Top Chef’s” Chef Tiffany Derry and Celebrity Cruises “Top Chef at Sea.”
Segment Seven: Moulin Bistro and Proprietor Laurent Vrignaud
Segment Eight: ADYA – Fresh Indian Flavors and Executive Chef Shachi Mehra

September 19: Andrew Gruel, John Terlato, The Habit, Ventura County Farm Day, Moulin Bistro, Eric Klein, Sipsmith Independent Spirits

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

Next an appetizing preview of Saturday’s high-energy and appropriately fully-loaded 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…

The proudly Family-owned Terlato Wine Group is a holding company for several independent businesses specializing in the marketing and production of exceptional wines. They are probably best known for pioneering the popularity of Pinot Grigio in the United States. Representing the 2nd generation of Family ownership is John Terlato, our guest.

The Habit Burger Grill (which started in Santa Barbara in 1969) has partnered with No Kid Hungry for the month of September to raise funds to wipe out childhood hunger in the United States. A minimum of $200,000 will be contributed. The Habit’s CEO, Russ Bendel, joins us with all the details.

Discover California agriculture first hand and learn about fun farm-specific facts and specialties at SEEAG’s (Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture) third annual Ventura County Farm Day on Saturday, September 26, 2015. This free event welcomes visitors to enjoy both guided and self-guided tours from over 20 working farms in Ventura County. SEEAG’s Founder & Executive Director Mary Maranville is our guest.

Moulin Bistro in Newport Beach, celebrating their first anniversary, is an incredible success story. It’s a busy French bistro, epicerie, boulangerie and patisserie under one roof. (“Always Fresh Always French.”) The ambitious proprietor (unbelievably) had no previous restaurant experience. Proprietor Laurent Vrignaud joins us.

Executive Chef Eric Klein of Spago Las Vegas is no stranger to the “SoCal Restaurant Show.” In the last two weeks he has cooked a private dinner for The President, been the celebrity guest chef aboard Holland America Line’s ms Maasdam, and cooked at one of the most prestigious charity funds-raisers in Las Vegas. We’ll catch-up with the busy Chef Eric.

Our friends at The Museum of the American Cocktail (MOTAC) are at it again. Their next Los Angeles Program is “Gin! A Botanical Mystery Tour” on Tuesday evening, September 22nd at 6:30 p.m. at the newly renovated Clifton’s Cafeteria in Downtown Los Angeles. Jared Brown, Master Distiller at Sipsmith Independent Spirits in London is our guest.

Mussels seem to be the forgotten and underappreciated mollusk in the United States. They are incredibly popular in Europe. The meat is a bit tougher than an oyster or clam but it’s still delicious with a mildly sweet flavor. Our resident seafood authority, Chef Andrew Gruel, will spread the joy of mussels. They are really good eating. There is life beyond oysters !

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

John TerlatoThe proudly Family-owned Terlato Wine Group, based in a Chicago suburb, is a holding company for several independent businesses specializing in the marketing and production of exceptional wines. They are probably best known for pioneering the popularity of Pinot Grigio in the United States.

The Terlatos started out in the wine business as retailers in 1955. Over the years, they have been involved in every facet of the business as wine distributors and importers, as well as winery owners and vineyard developers. No other company in the industry has successfully operated throughout all channels. This vertical integration and diversity of experience shaped the Terlato family’s unique perspective and approach to luxury wine marketing, sales and production.

Chairman Anthony Terlato’s philosophy that “Quality Endures” has guided the growth of the Terlato family’s businesses and provided opportunities to lead, rather than follow, industry trends.

Representing the 2nd generation of Family ownership is Vice Chairman John Terlato, our guest.

Russ BendelThe Habit Burger Grill (which started in Santa Barbara in 1969) has partnered with No Kid Hungry for the month of September to raise funds to wipe out childhood hunger in the United States. A minimum of $200,000 will be contributed.

Doing its part to help end the problem of childhood hunger in America, The Habit Restaurants, Inc.  has launched a partnership with No Kid Hungry in which guests are encouraged to donate at the register and, in return, receive a certificate to enjoy a complimentary Charburger with cheese on their next visit through October 14, 2015.

The campaign, which runs nationwide at participating Habit Burger Grill locations now through September 30, 2015, addresses the serious issue of childhood hunger in the United States where 1 in 5 children cannot count on their next meal.  During the campaign guests at The Habit who donate $2 to No Kid Hungry, a national campaign from the nonprofit Share Our Strength, will receive a certificate for a free Charburger with cheese good on a future visit .

The Habit/No Kid Hungry partnership will raise funds from 120 Habit restaurants nationwide and donations will directly support No Kid Hungry’s mission to wipe out childhood hunger in the U.S. by connecting kids in need with nutritious food and teaching families how to cook healthy, affordable meals.

The Habit’s CEO, Russ Bendel, joins us with all the details.

Ventura County Farm DayDiscover California agriculture first hand and learn about fun, farm-specific facts and specialties at SEEAG’s (Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture) third annual Ventura County Farm Day on Saturday, September 26, 2015. This free event welcomes visitors to enjoy both guided and self-guided tours, hands-on activities and educational demonstrations from over 20 working farms in Ventura County, followed by a ticketed outdoor BBQ at Limoneria Ranch.

A perfect family event, Ventura County Farm Day is free to attend at participating Ventura County farms in Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai, Oxnard, Santa Paula, Saticoy and Somis.

This year, Ventura County Farm Day will also feature the new Farm Day Mercantile Hub at Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center. The Mercantile Hub will host a collection of local artisanal vendors displaying their goods and demonstrating the beautiful products that can be created from the raw bounty grown by our farmers. The market will include meat curers, bread makers, goat milk soaps, honey, jam, pickles, chocolate and more.

After tour hours have concluded, attendees are invited to enjoy a rustic outdoor BBQ from 4-9 p.m. at Limoneira Ranch in Santa Paula. The BBQ will feature live music by Grammy Award-winning artist Todd Hannigan, a kiss-the-farmer photo booth, tractor rides, gourmet salads prepared by farm-to-table Chef Jason Collis, craft beers from Poseidon Brewing Company, small-batch wines from Four Brix Winery and barbeque fired up by the Young Farmers & Ranchers of Ventura County.

SEEAG’s Founder & Executive Director Mary Maranville is our guest.

Laurent VrignaudMoulin Bistro in Newport Beach, celebrating their first anniversary, is an incredible success story. It’s a busy French bistro, epicerie, boulangerie and patisserie under one roof. (“Always Fresh, Always French.”) All the appointments and fixtures are French. The ambitious proprietor (unbelievably) had no previous restaurant experience.

It’s already the darling of Orange County Food writers. Moulin is one of three nominees for “Best New Restaurant” at The Golden Foodie Awards on Sept. 27th at The Fairmont Newport Beach.

The French Rotisserie Chicken is a standout.

Laurent wanted to close at 7:00 p.m. but his French guests had another opinion. By popular demand he opened on Tuesday evenings for Dinner at Moulin. It’s a weekly changing appetizer, main dish, and dessert for $25.00. It now sells out at capacity way in advance. Laurent then added Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It’s Entrecote Frites night with unlimited fries. It’s also $25.00.

The Orange County Register’s long-time food writer Cathy Thomas recently did a feature on Moulin’s Le Croque Madame. The video (demonstrating the recipe with Laurent and French-born Chef Jeoffrey Offer) is available for viewing on YouTube.

Proprietor Laurent Vrignaud joins us.

Eric KleinExecutive Chef Eric Klein of Spago Las Vegas is no stranger to the “SoCal Restaurant Show.” In the last two weeks he has cooked a private dinner for The President, been the celebrity guest chef aboard Holland America Line’s ms Maasdam, and cooked with Wolfgang Puck as the host chef at one of the most prestigious charity funds-raisers in Las Vegas.

Earlier in the week Chef Eric was the host chef for Chef Wolfgang Puck’s 3rd annual “Sip & Savor” benefit at Spago Las Vegas. It benefits Keep Memory Alive.

It’s a mix-and-mingle, wine-and-dine event which gave the guests the opportunity to indulge in an interactive culinary affair sampling the signature cuisine of each of Puck’s six Las Vegas restaurants, paired with a number of Chef Puck’s favorite wines.

We’ll catch-up with Chef Eric.

Our friends at The Museum of the American Cocktail (MOTAC) are at it again. Their next interactive Los Angeles Program is “Gin! A Botanical Mystery Tour” on Tuesday evening, September 22nd at 6:30 p.m. at the newly (and expensively) renovated Clifton’s Cafeteria in Downtown Los Angeles.

Master Distiller Jared Brown, (a MOTAC co-founder) will lead participants on a historical and global tour of gins, including London Dry, New World and Old Tom.

The evening also celebrates the eagerly anticipated reopening of Clifton’s Cafeteria, a Los Angeles culinary icon, now extensively renovated and the future home of MOTAC’s next Los Angeles gallery. Admission includes gourmet appetizers courtesy of Clifton’s kitchen.

Jared Brown, Master Distiller at Sipsmith Independent Spirits in London is our guest.

Andrew GruelMussels seem to be the forgotten and underappreciated mollusk in the United States. They are incredibly popular in Europe. The meat is a bit tougher than an oyster or clam but it’s still delicious with a mildly sweet flavor.

Mussels are an ancient food of early man going back over 20,000 years.

The “SoCal Restaurant Show” was recently on Prince Edward Island in Canada. We enjoyed mussels there cooked in white wine, craft beer, and with tomatoes. The broth is equally delicious, too.

Our resident seafood authority, Chef Andrew Gruel, will spread the joy of mussels. They are really good eating. There is life beyond raw oysters!