Tag Archives: non-profit

Show 643, September 6, 2025: Founder & Chef Bill Bracken, Bracken’s Kitchen, Garden Grove

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Bill Bracken of Brackens Kitchen

“Get ready to feast for a cause as the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) proudly presents the return of its beloved Tastemakers of Orange County on Wednesday, September 24, from 6 to 9:00 p.m. at the vibrant Julianne & George Argyros Plaza at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. This high-energy culinary celebration spotlights the rich and diverse flavors of Asian and Pacific Islander cuisine, crafted by more than two dozen of Orange County’s top chefs.”

Chef Bill Bracken of Bracken’s Kitchen in Garden Grove is also one of the Tastemakers of Orange County’s celebrity chef participants on September 24th. We’ll meet him.

“Bracken’s Kitchen is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Orange County California. Founded in 2013 their mission is simple: Through food rescue, culinary training and their community feeding program Bracken’s Kitchen is committed to rescuing, re-purposing and restoring both food and lives. The heart of who Bracken’s Kitchen is can be found in a statement first uttered in 1957 by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr; “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?””

“Hungry Games 8.0 (Bracken’s Kitchen’s annual fundraiser) is back for yet another fantastic evening of food and fun for GOOD. It’s hosted at their home kitchen facility in Garden Grove on Thursday, September 11th, 2025 with doors opening at 5:30 pm. Competing popular local chefs will vie for the title of “Hungry Games Champion” while 500 guests act as judges. It’s a casual and fun evening with amazing food and great music intended to help us fund our trio of services: community feeding, food rescue, and culinary training.”

Show 455, December 11, 2021: Chef Bill Bracken, Founder & Culinary Director Bracken’s Kitchen, Garden Grove

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Bill Bracken of Brackens Kitchen

“Bracken’s Kitchen is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Orange County California. Founded in 2013 their mission is simple: Through food rescue, culinary training and their community feeding program Bracken’s Kitchen is committed to rescuing, re-purposing and restoring both food and lives.”

“With the help of Bracken’s Kitchen’s nonprofit charity partners, business and professional supporters, volunteers, donors and employees they are committed to providing over 2 million tasty and nutritious meals in 2021.”

“In its simplest form, Bracken’s Kitchen delivers hot and nutritious meals in a fun, and dignified manner. The program strives to serve the highest quality and most nutritious meals that many of their clients will get all week.”

“Bracken has leveraged his relationships in the business to build a model that can provide a complete, well-balanced dinner spending less than $0.35 for the food to prepare it. A typical meal may be Roasted Pork Loin with Charred Tomatoes and Bell Peppers, Brown Rice Pilaf, Sautéed Seasonal Vegetables, Southwestern Caesar Salad and Fresh Fruit.”

Founder & Culinary Director Chef Bill Bracken takes a break from his busy Garden Grove kitchens and joins us.

Show 445, October 2, 2021: Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group with “Ask the Chef”

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Andy Harris and Andrew Gruel at Cabana 14 at the Cove at Pechanga Resort and Casino

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 details his volunteer efforts in support of Bastards American Canteen (Veteran Owned and Operated) with a location in Downey and soon to open on a grander scale in Temecula. They are sponsors of the non-profit Save The Brave.

Show 400, November 21, 2020: Chef Founder Bill Bracken of Bracken’s Kitchen Part One

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Bill Bracken of Brackens Kitchen“For the second straight year, Chef Founder Bill Bracken of Bracken’s Kitchen is hosting its signature holiday event benefiting the less fortunate and food insecure in Southern California. This year’s edition, “DECK THE HALLS,” will be its first virtual party featuring special guests, community partners, and Bracken’s own chefs cooking up a surprise along with pumpkin carvings as you’ve never seen before. Christmas tree decorating, silent auction items, opportunity drawings, and a gourmet meal delivered to attendees’ doors are also in store for those who join Bracken’s Kitchen virtually in Garden Grove on Thursday, December 3, 2020, at 6 p.m.”

“Attendees will have the opportunity to experience the kitchen, virtually, where they’ve already prepared and made over 1.3 million meals for those suffering from food insecurity in Southern California. This year’s event is even more meaningful and important due to the pandemic that has caused unexpected job loss, and even more people to suffer from food insecurity. Everyone will have the opportunity to help Bracken’s Kitchen meet this unprecedented demand for food caused by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in a fun and festive way.”

“With all the negative things happening all around us we are excited to welcome you “our friends” into our kitchen virtually for an evening of food, fun, and caring for those in need,” says Bill Bracken.

“All are invited to “Deck The Halls” and help Bracken’s Kitchen maintain its dramatically increased meal production at a time when so many people need help. Participants can help to keep recently laid off restaurant workers employed and production at more than 30,000 meals a week. 100% of the proceeds from the event will support the work and programs of Bracken’s Kitchen.”

Tickets are now available online

We’re in the busy Holiday kitchen at Bracken’s Kitchen with Chef Bill Bracken.

Show 400, November 21, 2020: Chef Founder Bill Bracken of Bracken’s Kitchen Part Two

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Bill Bracken of Brackens Kitchen“For the second straight year, Chef Founder Bill Bracken of Bracken’s Kitchen is hosting its signature holiday event benefiting the less fortunate and food insecure in Southern California. This year’s edition, “DECK THE HALLS,” will be its first virtual party featuring special guests, community partners, and Bracken’s own chefs cooking up a surprise along with pumpkin carvings as you’ve never seen before. Christmas tree decorating, silent auction items, opportunity drawings, and a gourmet meal delivered to attendees’ doors are also in store for those who join Bracken’s Kitchen virtually in Garden Grove on Thursday, December 3, 2020, at 6 p.m.”

“All are invited to “Deck The Halls” and help Bracken’s Kitchen maintain its dramatically increased meal production at a time when so many people need help. Participants can help to keep recently laid off restaurant workers employed and production at more than 30,000 meals a week. 100% of the proceeds from the event will support the work and programs of Bracken’s Kitchen.”

“Bracken’s Kitchen is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Orange County California. Founded in 2013 our mission is simple: Through food recovery, culinary training, and our community feeding program we are committed to recovering, re-purposing, and restoring both food and lives. At the core of our mission is a deep commitment to our nonprofit charity partners, business and professional supporters, volunteers, donors, and employees. Our relationship with each and every one of these groups is as important to us as those we feed.”

Tickets are now available online

We’re back in the busy Holiday kitchen at Bracken’s Kitchen for a second helping with Chef Bill Bracken.

Show 399, November 14, 2020: California Restaurant Association Foundation’s The Grateful Table Dine Out! to Benefit Restaurants Care

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Alycia Harshfield of the California Restaaurant Association“This November, the California Restaurant Association Foundation (CRAF), a non-profit that invests in and empowers California’s restaurant workforce, invites all Californians to participate in its inaugural ‘The Grateful Table® Dine Out!’ The ask is simple. Throughout November, Californians are encouraged to “dine out to help out” as much as possible in gratitude to their neighborhood restaurants. Want to do more? A guest can directly support California’s struggling foodservice community at featured restaurants by donating to Restaurants Care®, a nonprofit program which provides restaurant workers facing hardships with relief grants for basic living needs like groceries, utilities, diapers, clothing, gas and rent.”

“This very first The Grateful Table® Dine Out is a statewide campaign that’s complementary to our current way of life and has the potential to make a lasting impact on the industry by giving back to the hardworking people who operate our restaurants – chefs, cooks, bussers, bartenders, servers and dishwashers – in their greatest time of need. Since the pandemic hit in March, Restaurants Care has awarded grants to nearly 1,200 of California’s restaurant workers also benefitting their nearly 1,700 dependents, with 79% of grants awarded to people of color.”

“This November, dining out is our superpower! We have the ability to support our favorite restaurants and chip in to help struggling restaurant workers. Whether it’s takeout, dining in or having your meal delivered, we’re encouraging every Californian to help the restaurant community get back on their feet leading into the holiday season,” said Alycia Harshfield, Executive Director of CRAF. “Your support directly impacts our neighborhood restaurants, the employees and their families, and together, we can bring them some much-needed hope and stability.”

“As an added incentive to dine out, CRAF is hosting exciting social media giveaways throughout November where diners can enter to win a $500 gift card to their favorite restaurant! Every Thursday in November, two winners will be randomly selected to receive a $500 gift card to any restaurant they tag with the hashtag #GratefulTableSweepstakes. It’s as easy as that!”

The CRA Foundation’s Alycia Harshfield and Farmer Boys’ President & Chief Operating Officer Dave Wetzel (a featured restaurant partner of The Grateful Table Dine Out) join us with all the details.

Show 366, March 28, 2020: Bracken’s Kitchen with Founder, Chef Bill Bracken

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Bill Bracken of Brackens KitchenChef Bill Bracken, the Founder of Bracken’s Kitchen, is no stranger to the “SoCal Restaurant Show.” “In response to even more economic and social restrictions due to the coronavirus, Bracken’s Kitchen, a growing non-profit that creatively recovers food and feeds those in need is stepping up its meal production to a goal of at least 25,000 meals a week. That’s nearly four times their average! They cannot do this alone. They are seeking donations to keep moving forward. They’ve changed their meal production at Bracken’s Kitchen to meet the increasing need in our community.”

“My heart and prayers goes out to each and every person whose life is being completely turned upside down by this invisible virus,” said Bill Bracken, Founder of Bracken’s Kitchen.

“But in spite of all of this please remember my friends. THIS TOO WILL PASS and life will go on. Now more than ever we will work to “Delivering Hope, One Tasty Meal At A Time.”

Bracken’s Kitchen is seeking donations to support their Covid-19 Response goals and can be made here.

Chef Bill Bracken is our guest explaining the community need.

Show 346, October 26, 2019: Chefs Pascal Olhats & Jessica Roy, Café Jardin at Sherman Gardens, Corona del Mar Part Two

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Jessica Roy and Pascal Olhats of Cafe Jardin in Corona del MarPascal Olhats is the well-respected Dean of French chefs in Orange County. Earlier in the year he made the decision to focus his efforts on Café Jardin at Sherman Gardens in Corona del Mar. He has a new restaurant chef there, Jessica Roy (ex-Current at Renaissance Newport Beach hotel.) New menu items are being added.

Café Jardin serves Lunch Monday through Friday. Sunday Brunch is available seasonally in the Spring and Summer. Sundays offer the Rose Dinner at the Garden in three or four courses

The Tea Garden Creperie is available on Saturdays & Sundays. Afternoon Tea is on the menu twice a month on the second and last Wednesday of each month.

Parking at the non-profit Sherman Gardens is free and there is a modest $5 donation to gain access to the expansive Gardens.

Chefs Pascal and Jessica Roy join us in-studio.

Show 341, September 21, 2019: Food Finders’ “Chefs to the Rescue” Benefit

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Maralyn diPiazza of Diapiazza'sFood Finders, a Southern California nonprofit focused on food recovery is hosting its 4th annual Chefs to the Rescue fundraiser on Tuesday, October 1st from 6 – 9 p.m. at the Golden Sails Hotel located at 6285 E Pacific Coast Hwy in Long Beach. Food Finders celebrates 30 years of rescuing food this year. This unique, food-centric event challenges prominent local chefs to create “Edible Extras”; tasting samples and small plates made from perfectly edible recovered or repurposed food that might otherwise end up being tossed away.

“We’ve seen some of the most amazing dishes at this event made using everything from potato peels to fish necks to pork belly,” said Patti Larson, executive director of Food Finders. “and while restaurants do a great job utilizing their inventory, we want to inspire people to do the same in their own kitchens and across the food industry in general. We also want to ensure that Food Finders can continue to serve its 400+ nonprofit partners that feed people in need, so this event supports that ongoing effort.”

“Food Finders, founded in 1989, works with local food vendors, grocery stores, restaurants and caterers to distribute donated food to other nonprofit organizations that feed impoverished families, children and elderly. Today there are 13 staff and some 300 volunteers who help rescue millions of pounds of food each year. Food Finders’ mission is to eliminate hunger and food waste while improving nutrition in food insecure communities.”

Food Finders’ Executive Director Patti Larson and participating chef Maralyn diPiazza of diPiazza Restaurant & Lounge join us with the tempting specifics.

Show 262, February 24, 2018: Laurie Porter, Smog City Brewing Co. & President, L.A. County Brewers Guild Continues…

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Laurie PorterLaurie Porter is also The President of the L.A. County Brewers Guild with over 75-member breweries in Los Angeles County.

The mission of the Los Angeles County Brewers Guild is to promote and protect local independently-owned craft breweries and advocate for the strengthening of the craft beer industry. The LABG strives to encourage the growth of world-class beer culture within L.A. county through various educational efforts and aims to stimulate growth through community engagement. Formally founded in 2013, the LABG is a federally recognized 501(c)6 non-profit organization.

LABG also produces the upcoming L.A. Beer Week starting on June 16th.