Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Nick Echaore, Executive Chef, Heritage Barbecue, San Juan Capistrano
Segment Three: “A Chef’s Voyage” with Director Rémi Anfosso
Segment Four: Mayfield Restaurant and Market, San Juan Capistrano Part One
Segment Five: Mayfield Restaurant and Market, San Juan Capistrano Part Two
Segment Six: Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group with “Ask the Chef” Part One
Segment Seven: Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group with “Ask the Chef” Part Two

Barbecue afficionados are overjoyed with the launch in August of the eagerly anticipated Heritage Barbecue from proprietors Daniel and Brenda Castillo in San Juan Capistrano. They have developed a fanatical following for their Central Texas-style barbecue (that’s cooked low and slow) previously served in Orange County at popular pop-ups at area craft breweries. Daniel has trained extensively with prominent Texas pitmasters at their respective establishments. Initially the all outdoor establishment is open Wednesday through Sunday and has the capacity to serve several hundred guests per day (with proper social distancing) until the ‘cue runs out. Pitmaster Danny’s accomplished Executive Chef is Nick Echaore. We’ll pull him away from the intensive pre-opening prep for an update.

Newly released on Virtual Cinema is “A Chef’s Voyage.” The film follows Emmy (Mind of a Chef) and James Beard award-winning Chef David Kinch and his team from their 3 Star Michelin restaurant, Manresa, in Los Gatos, California for a one of a kind “four hands” collaboration in France with three legendary chefs at their iconic restaurants in Paris, Provence, and Marseille. The ambitious trip was a celebration of Manresa’s 15 Anniversary. The feature documentary was Directed (and Produced) by Remi Anfosso. He joins us from France.

Mayfield Restaurant & Market is an ambitious, modern California restaurant and market located in Downtown San Juan Capistrano in an extensively refurbished historic building. It’s on two levels and includes a comfortable covered patio. The menu has a Mediterranean and Levant flair and there is also an extensive cocktail list along with an ample selection of craft beers and natural wines. Proprietor George Barker and Executive Chef Jayro Martinez join us.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where Chef Andrew responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries. Chef Andrew is regularly updating us on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis in the hospitality field and what we, as diners, can do to support the very survival of restaurants. Dine-in is slowly, with multiple hiccups, starting to come back but with a lot of new rules that greatly restrict guest counts. Alternately Take-Out / Delivery when you can surely helps… Ghost Kitchens in their various forms are seemingly on the fast growth track. It also includes chain restaurants with extra kitchen space that are preparing unaffiliated, branded food items To-Go and for delivery. Where is this all going? We’ll, of course, “Ask the Chef.”

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness (with proper Social Distancing) on this week’s not-to-miss show!

Barbecue afficionados are overjoyed with the launch in August of Daniel and Brenda Castillo’s Heritage Barbecue in San Juan Capistrano. They have developed a fanatical following for their Central Texas-style barbecue (that’s cooked low and slow) served in Orange County at popular pop-ups at area craft breweries. Daniel has trained extensively with prominent Texas pitmasters at their respective establishments. Initially the all outdoor establishment is open Wednesday through Sunday and has the capacity to serve several hundred guests per day until the ‘cue runs out.

Pitmaster Danny’s accomplished Executive Chef is Nick Echaore. We’ll pull him away from the intensive pre-opening prep for an update.

Chef Nick has experience across all segments of front and back of house. He comes to Heritage Barbecue from a corporate career at Whole Foods (where he met Pitmaster Danny.) He also spent time at Marche Bacchus in Las Vegas.

Nick is responsible for working with Danny and Lennon (the in-house butcher) to set the menu, sourcing ingredients, recipe development for sides, coordinating schedules with the kitchen team and lots more.

He even works the busy order window (just in back) where you’ll see him expertly cutting and packaging the barbecue orders.

Heritage is well-known for their brisket, tri-tip, chicken, ribs and sausages. All the proteins are cooked using California White Oak in twin, 1,000 gallon offset smokers crafted by Harper Barbecue in Costa Mesa.

Newly released on Virtual Cinema is “A Chef’s Voyage.” The film follows Emmy (Mind of a Chef) and James Beard award-winning Chef David Kinch and his team from their 3 Star Michelin restaurant, Manresa, in Los Gatos, California for a one of a kind “four hands” collaboration in France with three legendary chefs at their iconic restaurants in Paris, Provence, and Marseille. The ambitious trip was a celebration of Manresa’s 15 Anniversary. The feature documentary was Directed (and Produced) by Rémi Anfosso. He joins us from France.

“Rémi Anfosso is a bi-lingual French director working in France and Los Angeles. A Chef’s Voyage (2020) is his feature film directorial debut. Other recent credits include directing/producing Love at First Heist (short/2016) with Attic Light Films, 1st assistant directing with producer Richard Linklater on I Dream Too Much (2015), starring Danielle Brooks and Diane Ladd, and producing with showrunner Nneka Onuorah on the Viceland documentary Queer & Fier(ce) (2019).”

“I believe that gastronomy, like any art, captures the real data on what it’s like to exist. In A Chef’s Voyage, it happens like a family affair: a quiet artist lives by a duty to exist and preserve his legacy within his “reassembled” family that is, his kitchen team. This is a tale of the land, the city and the sea, in which infinite labor meets loving creativity, thereby giving us faithful accounts on being alive.” – Rémi Anfosso

Mayfield Restaurant & Market is an ambitious, modern California restaurant and market located in Downtown San Juan Capistrano in an extensively refurbished historic building. It’s on two levels and includes a comfortable covered patio. The menu has a Mediterranean and Levant flair and there is also an extensive cocktail list along with an ample selection of craft beers and natural wines. All of the ingredients are organic.

Friday through Saturday (and Sunday afternoon) is their Supper Club menu. It’s served family-style. The menu categories (with choices in each area) include Rip and Dip, Small Plates, Large Plates and Desserts. Already attracting a following is the Za’atar Fried Chicken with hot honey, house ranch and house pickles. (Wednesday and Thursday evenings it’s an a la carte menu with dishes designed to be shared.)

The daytime, a la carte menu (served Wednesday through Sunday,) offers menu categories of Dips, Breakfast Bits and Lunch Dishes.

The Mayfield Market is stocked with premium food products Chef Jayro makes in-house and items Mayfield uses and loves. They carry anything to do with eating and drinking well, including pantry items, natural wines, homeware, cookbooks and more.

Proprietor George Barker and Executive Chef Jayro Martinez join us with all the tempting details.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where Chef Andrew responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries. Chef Andrew is regularly updating us on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis in the hospitality field and what we, as diners, can do to support the very survival of restaurants. Dine-in is slowly, with multiple hiccups, starting to come back but with a lot of new rules that restrict guest counts. Alternately Take-Out / Delivery when you can surely helps…

Ghost Kitchens in their various forms are seemingly on the fast growth track. It also includes national chain restaurants with extra kitchen space that are preparing unaffiliated, branded food items To-Go and for delivery. Where is this all going? Is it a fad or here for the long-run? We’ll, of course, “Ask the Chef.”

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Nick Echaore, Executive Chef, Heritage Barbecue, San Juan Capistrano
Segment Three: “A Chef’s Voyage” with Director Rémi Anfosso
Segment Four: Mayfield Restaurant and Market, San Juan Capistrano Part One
Segment Five: Mayfield Restaurant and Market, San Juan Capistrano Part Two
Segment Six: Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group with “Ask the Chef” Part One
Segment Seven: Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group with “Ask the Chef” Part Two