Show 487, August 13, 2022: Team USA 2023 with Ment’or BKB’s Young Yun and Chef Gavin Kaysen Part One

Gavin Kaysen of the Soigne Hosptality Group

When we last spoke with culinary Team USA 2023 supported by the Ment’or BKB Foundation they were on their way to Santiago, Chile to compete in the America’s Selection for the Bocuse d’Or. Teams from 8 North and South American countries battled for the right of being one of the 5 Teams selected to advance to the bi-annual Bocuse d’Or international culinary competition in Lyon, France in January. Team USA 2023 with Head Chef Jeffrey Hayashi and Commis Franco Fugel performed exceedingly well and were awarded First Place, and are now in rigorous training on the road to Lyon. Chef Gavin Kaysen, President of Ment’or BKB Foundation (and a Tasting Jury Judge in Santiago) and Ment’or Executive Director Young Yun are our guests to revisit Santiago and discuss the road ahead to Lyon for Team USA 2023.

“Head Chef Jeffery Hayashi and Commis Franco Fugel followed the Bocuse d’Or format, which gave them 5 hours and 35 minutes in which to prepare and showcase their platter interpretation of Salmon and a plated theme with quinoa. They presented their creations in front of an esteemed chef jury, including Chef Davy Tissot, Bocuse d’Or 2021 Winner and Jury President as well as Kitchen Jury Judge and Team USA’s own Bocuse d’Or 2017 Winner, Chef Matthew Peters and Tasting Jury Judge, former Team USA Bocuse d’Or 2007 competitor, Chef Gavin Kaysen.”

“Chef Kaysen, who also serves as President of Ment’or, says, “Qualifying for the Bocuse d’Or finals in January was the ultimate goal, and while we would always want to place first, we have achieved our goal. We have our eyes set on the prize in Lyon. Achieving that will take more dedication and commitment, which we are ready to give. The team is excited for the opportunity to compete on the world’s largest stage. It is an honor to be back after the past few years of distress.””

Show 487, August 13, 2022: Team USA 2023 with Ment’or BKB’s Young Yun and Chef Gavin Kaysen Part Two

Young Yun

When we last spoke with culinary Team USA 2023 supported by the Ment’or BKB Foundation they were on their way to Santiago, Chile to compete in the America’s Selection for the Bocuse d’Or. Teams from 8 North and South American countries battled for the right of being one of the 5 Teams selected to advance to the bi-annual Bocuse d’Or international culinary competition in Lyon, France in January. Team USA 2023 with Head Chef Jeffrey Hayashi and Commis Franco Fugel performed exceedingly well and were awarded First Place, and are now in rigorous training on the road to Lyon. Chef Gavin Kaysen, President of Ment’or BKB Foundation (and a Tasting Jury Judge in Santiago) and Ment’or Executive Director Young Yun continue as our guests to revisit Santiago and discuss the road ahead to Lyon for Team USA.

“Head Chef Jeffery Hayashi and Commis Franco Fugel followed the Bocuse d’Or format, which gave them 5 hours and 35 minutes in which to prepare and showcase their platter interpretation of Salmon and a plated theme with quinoa. They presented their creations in front of an esteemed chef jury, including Chef Davy Tissot, Bocuse d’Or 2021 Winner and Jury President as well as Kitchen Jury Judge and Team USA’s own Bocuse d’Or 2017 Winner, Chef Matthew Peters and Tasting Jury Judge, former Team USA Bocuse d’Or 2007 competitor, Chef Gavin Kaysen.”

“Chef Kaysen, who also serves as President of Ment’or, says, “Qualifying for the Bocuse d’Or finals in January was the ultimate goal, and while we would always want to place first, we have achieved our goal. We have our eyes set on the prize in Lyon. Achieving that will take more dedication and commitment, which we are ready to give. The team is excited for the opportunity to compete on the world’s largest stage. It is an honor to be back after the past few years of distress.””

“Bocuse d’Or is one of the most demanding global cooking competitions, and every two years, 60 countries select one of their best chefs to represent their nation. The 24 countries that will continue onward to the finals will cook in front of thousands of cheering fans hoping to bring home the gold. Team USA made history in 2017 with a historic Gold Medal win from Chef Mathew Peters. In 2015, Chef Philip Tessier placed on the podium for the first time at Bocuse d’Or, winning the silver medal.”

Show 211, February 18, 2017: Chef Mathew Peters, Gold Medalist, Team USA, 2017 Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition

We’ve been enthusiastically following Team USA’s progress (backed by the ment’or BKB Foundation) in the bi-annual Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition for the last five years. Late last month Team USA achieved the impossible – Gold in Lyon.

Mathew Peters“On January 25, 2017, Team USA 2017 was the first American team to win Gold at the Bocuse d’Or! This is an extraordinary accomplishment and words cannot adequately express how proud we are of Chef Mathew Peters, Commis Harrison Turone and Head Coach Philip Tessier. This historic win would not have been possible without our designer, Martin Kastner, and his team from Crucial Detail. We would also like to extend our congratulations to all of the teams who competed this year – it was an incredible display of culinary excellence.” – Young Yun, Executive Director, ment’or BKB Foundation

Team USA’s Bocuse d’Or world champion, Chef Mathew Peters (ex-per se), joins us to savor this tremendous achievement for the culinary arts in the United States.

Next for Chef Matt is securing a site for his own dream restaurant. It’s very preliminary but it could possibly be Northern California or Austin, Texas. We’ll keep you posted.

Show 211, February 18, 2017: Young Yun, Executive Director, ment’or BKB Foundation

We’ve been enthusiastically following Team USA’s progress (backed by the ment’or BKB Foundation) in the bi-annual Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition for the last five years. Late last month Team USA achieved the impossible – Gold in Lyon.

Young Yun“We knew the world was watching ever since Chef Philip Tessier made the podium for the first time in 2015, and expectations were very high for Team USA this year. Nine years ago, our Founding Chefs Boulud, Keller and Bocuse, made a promise to Monsieur Paul Bocuse that we would win Gold and we are so proud of this team for realizing his dream. They carried quite a weight on their shoulders and carried it with exemplary grace, strength, and leadership.” – Young Yun

Team USA’s primary backer and inspiration, ment’or BKB Foundation (represented by Executive Director Young Yun), joins us to savor this tremendous achievement for the culinary arts in the United States and also discuss the other programs ment’or sponsors and organizes to encourage young culinary talent and the Team USA competitors of the future.

Congratulations Team USA 2017!

Go Team USA 2019 !

Show 209, February 4, 2017: Show Preview with Andy Harris, Co-Host & Executive Producer & Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group

Golden Mike AwardNow an enticing preview of this Saturday’s overflowing show with Co-Hosts Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s actually a pretty good thing…

First our heartiest congratulations to our colleague, Jeane Blunt, the Assistant Production Manager here at AM 830 KLAA. She Produced The Golden Mike Award winning-segment (at the 67th Annual Golden Mike Awards Presentation) for Best Community Affairs Show (How CPR saves lives) with veteran on-air personality Tammy Trujillo.

An award-winning, handcrafted toffee, B. toffee’s “crunchy perfection of sweetness” offers, perhaps, the ultimate chocolate indulgence. (Think Valentine’s Day…) Combining only the finest, freshest, and most natural ingredients, Newport Beach local Betsy Thagard spent years of passionate experimenting to create the perfect toffee. Betsy is our guest.

John Kunkel’s (50 Eggs, Inc.) lauded Yardbird Southern Table & Bar first roosted at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas in January of 2015. The original is in Miami. A new 50 Eggs, Inc. concept will soon open next door to Yardbird (in the former db Brasserie space) at The Venetian. John is here with all the details.

One of the early stars of Food Network, Chef Sara Moulton, is back with us. Her new book is Sara Moulton’s Home Cooking 101 – How to Make Everything Taste Better.

We gladly support our active duty service-people. We got a call from an Active-Duty Marine. He requested a primer on cooking duck. Chef Andrew Gruel to the rescue. We aim to please…

We’ve been enthusiastically following Team USA’s progress (backed by the ment’or BKB Foundation) in the bi-annual Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition for the last five years. Late last month Team USA achieved the impossible – Gold in Lyon. Team USA’s Coach Philip Tessier and Team USA Vice President Gavin Kaysen join us to savor this tremendous achievement for the culinary arts in the United States. Both are former competitors in the Bocuse d’Or themselves.

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

Show 209, February 4, 2017: Team USA Head Coach Chef Philip Tessier, Hestan Smart Cooking Culinary Director

Team USA wins Hold at the 2017 Bocuse D'orWe’ve been enthusiastically following Team USA’s progress (backed by the ment’or BKB Foundation) in the Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition for the last five years. Late last month Team USA achieved the impossible – Gold in Lyon. Team USA’s Coach Philip Tessier and Team USA Vice President Gavin Kaysen join us to savor this tremendous achievement for the culinary arts in the United States. Both are former competitors in the Bocuse d’Or themselves.

Kudos to Team USA’s Chef Mathew Peters and Commis Harrision Turone

USA’s Team USA Coach, Chef Philip Tessier, joins us now.

Team USA Coach Philip Tessier (who is also the Hestan Smart Cooking Culinary Director) is no stranger to the Bocuse d’Or. In 2015 he represented Team USA and was awarded the Silver Medal.

This was the first time in the (then) 28-year history of Bocuse d’Or that an American chef had been on the Victory Stand. Incredibly, only 9 points (out of a maximum of 2,000) separated Gold and Silver in 2015.

Previously from a field of 24 countries the USA had never placed higher than 6th.

 

Show 209, February 4, 2017: Team USA Vice President Chef Gavin Kaysen, Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis

Gavin kaysenWe’ve been enthusiastically following Team USA’s progress (backed by the ment’or BKB Foundation) in the Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition for the last five years. Late last month Team USA achieved the impossible – Gold in Lyon. Team USA’s Coach Philip Tessier and Team USA Vice President Gavin Kaysen join us to savor this tremendous achievement for the culinary arts in the United States. Both are former competitors in the Bocuse d’Or themselves.

Kudos to Team USA’s Chef Mathew Peters and Commis Harrision Turone

USA’s Team USA Vice President, Gavin Kaysen, joins us now. He is the James Beard Award-winning Executive Chef/Proprietor of Spoon & Stable in Minneapolis. On the way is the new Bellecour, on downtown Wayzata’s (Minnesota) Lake Street. It’s a French bistro which is a tribute to his French chef mentors over the years including Daniel Boulud.

Chef Gavin competed previously in the Bocuse d’Or in 2007 when he was the Executive Chef of El Bizcocho (now closed) in San Diego. This was way before the support network for Team USA from ment’or BKB Foundation was in place. He was pretty much on his own

Kaysen knows Chef Paul Bocuse, and shares some wonderful stories. You’ll learn the inspiring reason of why the America flag flies at Chef Bocuse’s landmark restaurant in Lyon.

 

February 4: Gold Medalists Team USA from Bocuse d’Or, B. Toffee, Yardbird Southern Table, Sara Moulton

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Andy Harris, Co-Host & Executive Producer & Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group
Segment Two: Betsy Thagard, Founder, B. toffee, Newport Beach
Segment Three: John Kunkel, 50 Eggs, Inc & Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, The Venetian, Las Vegas
Segment Four: Chef Sara Moulton, Public Television’s “Sara’s Weeknight Meals”
Segment Five: Chef Andrew Gruel, Founder & Chief Seafood Officer, Slapfish Restaurant Group
Segment Six: Team USA Head Coach Chef Philip Tessier, Hestan Smart Cooking Culinary Director
Segment Seven: Team USA Vice President Chef Gavin Kaysen, Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis

Now an enticing preview of this Saturday’s overflowing show with Co-Hosts Andy Harris and Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case that’s actually a pretty good thing…

An award-winning, handcrafted toffee, B. toffee’s “crunchy perfection of sweetness” offers, perhaps, the ultimate chocolate indulgence. (Think Valentine’s Day…) Combining only the finest, freshest, and most natural ingredients, Newport Beach local Betsy Thagard spent years of passionate experimenting to create the perfect toffee. Betsy is our guest.

New for 2017 is Mesa’s (Costa Mesa) Chef’s Tables which will occur every Tuesday evening. Each month will host a unique musical inspiration and theme. Instead of only having one shot at experiencing Chef Niki Starr’s specialty menu, guests will have multiple opportunities to attend, and at a lower price. Chef Niki joins us with a preview of the February menu.

John Kunkel’s (50 Eggs, Inc.) lauded Yardbird Southern Table & Bar landed at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas in January of 2015. The original is in Miami. A new 50 Eggs, Inc. concept will soon open next door to Yardbird (in the former db Brasserie space) at The Venetian. John is here with all the details.

One of the early stars of Food Network, Chef Sara Mouton, is back with us. Her new book is Sara Moutlton’s Home Cooking 101 – How to Make Everything Taste Better.

We support our active duty service-people. We got a call from an Active-Duty Marine. He requested a primer on cooking duck. Chef Andrew Gruel to the rescue. We aim to please…

We’ve been enthusiastically following Team USA’s progress (backed by the ment’or BKB Foundation) in the bi-annual Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition for the last five years. Late last month Team USA achieved the impossible – Gold in Lyon. Team USA’s Coach Philip Tessier and Team USA Vice President Gavin Kaysen join us to savor this tremendous achievement for the culinary arts in the United States. Both are former competitors in the Bocuse d’Or themselves.

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

Betsy ThagardAn award-winning, handcrafted toffee, B. toffee’s “crunchy perfection of sweetness” offers the ultimate indulgence. (Think Valentine’s Day…) Combining only the finest, freshest, and most natural ingredients, Newport Beach local Betsy Thagard spent years of passionate experimenting to create the perfect toffee. At first she only shared it with friends as an anxiously anticipated Holiday Gift. Now it’s thoughtfully available to us all.

Today, B. toffee is growing nationwide with premiere placement at the country’s most noted gourmet markets and specialty stores. B. toffee is recognized as a superior quality product with its sophisticated, sleek packaging being described as a “crunchy perfection of sweetness” and has also taken a bite out of the corporate, and party favor market.

Most recently B. toffee received top GOLD honors for “Top Toffee” and “Best Packaging” by the Taste Awards in San Francisco, CA. Also awarded the “Official Toffee” at The Golden Foodie Awards-the highest Culinary Foodie Awards in Orange County, CA.

Demand has increased to the point where B. toffee has recently relocated to a much larger production and packaging facility. The product is still attentively made and packaged by hand in small batches.

“Sharing my B. toffee product with the world has been a dream come true, and I am so proud and honored by the partnerships developed over the past year,” said Thagard.  “The move to the new facility will allow B. toffee to continue to grow, and, in turn, dedicate more resources to a project close to my heart, the B. Giving Initiative, which, in conjunction with local charities, allows for B. toffee to impact the community in a positive way.”

Betsy is our guest.

John KunkelJohn Kunkel’s (50 Eggs, Inc.) lauded Yardbird Southern Table & Bar landed at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas in January of 2015. The original is in Miami. The motto is “Southern from Scratch,” a modern take on Southern fare.

Founded by John Kunkel, 50 Eggs, Inc. is a multi-faceted, full-service culinary and hospitality firm focused on developing cutting-edge brands with unparalleled dining experiences. Named Restaurant Hospitality Magazine’s “Coolest Multi-Concept Companies in the Land”, 50 Eggs, Inc. owns and operates the James Beard-nominated and award winning Yardbird Southern Table & Bar in Miami and Las Vegas, Swine Southern Table & Bar in Miami, and Spring Chicken in South Beach, Coral Gables, Fort Lauderdale, and the Miami International Airport.

50 Eggs, Inc. will open its first international location in 2017, Yardbird Southern Table & Bar at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands. The brand’s first Latin concept, CHICA, will open at the Venetian Las Vegas in 2017 (in the former db Brasserie space). The menu is from acclaimed chef, Lorena Garcia.

John is here with all the details.

Sara MoultonChef Sara Moulton was one of the first breakout stars of the then embryonic Food Network and is currently the host of Public Television’s “Sara’s Weeknight Meals.” She is also the author of the Associated Press column “Kitchen Wise.”

Her newest cookbook is the ambitious, Sara Moulton’s Home Cooking 101: How to Make Everything Taste Better.

Not just a collection of wonderful recipes, HOME COOKING 101 is a teaching manual aimed at the home cook. The recipes will indeed make it easier to put dinner on the table on a weeknight, but, as Sara notes in her introduction, “more important is that each recipe specifically demonstrates a tip or method that can make you a better and more confident cook while also teaching you to make your dishes taste better.”

Accordingly, the book’s first chapter is a compact and handy rulebook entitled “The Ten Basics of Good Home Cooking.” It advises the home cook as follows:

  • Shake hands with your stove
  • Buy a good knife
  • Get organized
  • Follow the recipe exactly the first time you make it
  • Dispense with mise en place
  • Reach for the salt
  • Balance flavors
  • Build umami
  • Use all your senses
  • Don’t waste food

As for the recipes, there are 150 of them—all new and accompanied by photographs that illustrate, step-by-step, the book’s key techniques. The book also boasts guest recipes from a stellar cast of some of Sara’s favorite chefs and cookbook authors, including Rick Bayless, Amanda Cohen, Hiroko Shimbo, Jacques Torres, Marc Vetri, and Grace Young.

In sum, Sara writes, “The goal of this book is two-fold: to sharpen your sense of taste and to provide you with a raft of time-tested techniques that I hope will become second nature to you.”

We’re back in the kitchen with Chef Sara.

Andrew Gruel at the AM830 KLAA StudiosWe gladly support our active duty service-people. We got a call from an Active-Duty Marine. He requested a primer on cooking duck.

Chef Andrew Gruel to the rescue. He’s about to open Two Birds

We aim to please…

Team USA wins Hold at the 2017 Bocuse D'orWe’ve been enthusiastically following Team USA’s progress (backed by the ment’or BKB Foundation) in the Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition for the last five years. Late last month Team USA achieved the impossible – Gold in Lyon. Team USA’s Coach Philip Tessier and Team USA Vice President Gavin Kaysen join us to savor this tremendous achievement for the culinary arts in the United States. Both are former competitors in the Bocuse d’Or themselves.

Kudos to Team USA’s Chef Mathew Peters and Commis Harrision Turone

USA’s Team USA Coach, Chef Philip Tessier, joins us in the 1st Segment.

USA’s Team USA Vice President, Gavin Kaysen, joins us in thre 2nd Segment. He is the James Beard Award-winning Executive Chef/Proprietor of Spoon & Stable in Minneapolis.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Andy Harris, Co-Host & Executive Producer & Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish Restaurant Group
Segment Two: Betsy Thagard, Founder, B. toffee, Newport Beach
Segment Three: John Kunkel, 50 Eggs, Inc & Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, The Venetian, Las Vegas
Segment Four: Chef Sara Moulton, Public Television’s “Sara’s Weeknight Meals”
Segment Five: Chef Andrew Gruel, Founder & Chief Seafood Officer, Slapfish Restaurant Group
Segment Six: Team USA Head Coach Chef Philip Tessier, Hestan Smart Cooking Culinary Director
Segment Seven: Team USA Vice President Chef Gavin Kaysen, Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis

Show 197, November 12, 2016: Chef Vincenzo Loseto, The Nomad, Ment’or BKB Foundation’s 2016 Young Chef Competition Winner

Vincenso Loseto of Team USA at the BOcuse D'orThe Ment’or BKB Foundation (founded by Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller and Jerome Bocuse) supports Team USA at the Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition and mentors up-and-coming culinary talent in the USA. Earlier this year Chef Vincenzo Loseto of The Nomad in New York won the prestigious honors as the 2016 Young Chef. He’s been on quite a ride since then. We’ll meet him.

Vincenzo’s winning presentation was Veal Tenderloin with Oyster Mushroom and Herb Mousseline. The judges included Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller, Jerome Bocuse and Team USA 2015 alum, Chef Philip Tessier.

Since then Chef Vincenzo has staged at Noma in Copenhagen, one of the World’s most acclaimed restaurants. He was also just with Team USA in Lyon in advance of the 2017 Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition. Currently he’s assisting Team USA 2017 (Chef Mathew Peters and Commis Harrison Turone) in the intense training for the upcoming competition in the USA replica kitchen suite of the Bocuse d’Or in Yountville.

Chef Vincenzo will also preview the Bocuse d’Or 2017 Team USA VIP Experience. There is the extraordinary opportunity for discriminating food tourists to accompany Team USA to the Bocuse d’Or in Lyon with VIP status at every stop. Talk about the ultimate gift for a very special foodie…

Show 164, March 19, 2016: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris

Angels’ Baseball is upon us. Be listening to the show for your chance to win a four-pack of ducats for Sunday, April 3rd at Angel Stadium when our Halos take on the Chicago Cubs! For all Home Games remember to purchase your tickets at the convenient Angel Stadium ticket office or online at Angels.com.

Now an enticing peek at Saturday’s provocatively decadent 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…

Applications are now available for the 3rd Annual ment’or BKB Foundation Young Chef Competition and the new Commis Competition. Mentor’s programs celebrate the young culinary talent that exists in the US and provides unique opportunities for them to be recognized on a national level. Ment’or BKB’s Executive Director, Young Yun, and Chef Philip Tessier, Silver Medalist for Team USA at the 2015 Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition and Coach for Team USA 2017 have all the details.

How do you keep a fine-dining establishment with an incredible Marina-view fresh after 25 years? We’ll chat with Brian Cousins, the seasoned General Manager of Café Del Rey, about how he has accomplished this impressive feat at a well-known, destination restaurant in Marina del Rey.

In November 2009, Chef Thomas Keller returned to Southern California after almost 20 years to bring his renowned Bouchon Bistro cuisine to the City of Beverly Hills. Chef Keller’s accomplished culinary team also has a sense of humor. Chef Keller’s casual restaurant in Yountville, Ad Hoc, is known for their fried chicken. By demand Monday nights at Bouchon Beverly Hills are now Ad Hoc Fried Chicken nights. Chef de Cuisine David Hands and Executive Sous Chef Katie Hagan-Whelchel (ex-Ad Hoc) join us to take us behind-the-scenes.

The incredible 13th Season of Bravo’s “Top Chef” has just concluded in dramatic fashion in Las Vegas. The final showdown for the title of “Top Chef” was between Orange County’s Chef Amar Santana (Vaca and Broadway by Amar Santana) and Chef Jeremy Ford of Miami. Local food journalist, Anne Marie Panoringan (OC Weekly) has been penning an entertaining and informative weekly recap of the series all season. Anne Marie is with us with observations and commentary of Season 13th.

The story of Justin’s began when Justin Gold, a lover of the active lifestyle, moved to Boulder, Colorado in his 20’s. In order to fuel his long bike rides, Justin embarked on a mission to create new varieties of nut butter that not only packed the protein, but also tasted great. He began crafting the very first batches of his now-famous, culinary nut butters in his home kitchen. The newest addition to the Justin’s line of products is a cookbook, Justin My Kitchen – simple, delicious recipes in a nutshell. The effervescent author of the book, Julianna Abdallah, is our guest. She is also the Earned Media Manager for Justin’s.

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