Show 64, March 8, 2014: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris

Chef Jet and Producer Andy preview the show.

Let’s talk pure chocolate indulgence. We’ll be previewing the Big Island Chocolate Festival. Then it’s time for a trip to the Ninth Island for a Las Vegas dining update. Brock Radke, our Las Vegas insider, brings us up-to-date. There is a new Neapolitan pizzeria in town that’s generating long lines. The co-founder & executive chef provides the tasty details.

You’ve probably never tasted farm-raised fish like this unless you’ve dined at a Rick Moonen restaurant in Las Vegas or at The Meadowood Restaurant. A purveyor to the best restaurants is now serving home chefs with fresh fish on a very limited basis. There is an incredible craft brewery success story in Maui and you’ll hear all about it. They actually package their premium beer in cans!

Organic fruits and vegetables are top of the mind. Our resident produce expert, Robert Schueller (The Pastor of Produce) from Melissa’s, is back with an informative update.

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

Show 64, March 8, 2014: Robert Schueller, Produce Authority, Melissa’s / World Variety Produce, Inc.

Organic fruits and vegetables are getting a lot of attention these days. With the fresh concern about GMOs in food, certified organic fruits and vegetables are, by definition, free of GMOs.

Robert Schueller of Melissa's World Variety ProduceOur resident produce expert, Robert Schueller of Melissa’s World Variety Produce, is back with us to discuss what’s new in organics. Melissa’s is the largest variety supplier of fresh organic produce in the USA. They have been distributing organic produce for over 16 years.

What’s hot? All varieties of organic Kale are at the top of the sales charts currently.

March 8: Brock Radke, Maui Brewing, Big Island Chocolate Festival, 800 Degress Pizzeria, Passmore Ranch, Robert Schueller

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Brock Radke, Food Editor, Las Vegas Weekly
Segment Three: Garrett Marrero, founder, Maui Brewing Co.
Segment Four: Farsheed Bonakdar, President, Kona Cacao Association
Segment Five: Executive Chef Anthony Carron, co-founder, 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria
Segment Six: Michael Passmore, Fish Farmer, Passmore Ranch Part One
Segment Seven: Michael Passmore, Fish Farmer, Passmore Ranch Part Two
Segment Eight: Robert Schueller, Produce Authority, Melissa’s / World Variety Produce, Inc.

Chef Jet and Producer Andy preview the show.

Let’s talk pure chocolate indulgence. We’ll be previewing the Big Island Chocolate Festival. Then it’s time for a Las Vegas dining update. Brock Radke, our Las Vegas insider, brings us up-to-date. There is a new Neapolitan pizzeria in town that’s generating long lines. The co-founder & executive chef provides the tasty details.

You’ve probably never tasted farm-raised fish like this unless you’ve dined at a Rick Moonen restaurant or at The Meadowood Restaurant. A purveyor to the best restaurants is now serving home chefs with fresh fish on a very limited basis. There is an incredible craft brewery success story in Maui and you’ll hear all about it. They actually package their premium beer in cans! Organic fruits and vegetables are top of the mind. Our resident produce expert, Robert Schueller (The Pastor of Produce) from Melissa’s, is back with an informative update.

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

Brock Radke of Las Vegas WeeklyBrock Radke is our “in the know” guy in Las Vegas. He’s the respected Food editor for Las Vegas Weekly.

Brock brings us up-to-date on the Vegas dining scene. We’ll find out about the soon to open Linq on The Strip, the 411 on Giada De Laurentiis’ first restaurant in Las Vegas, and a collection of enticing new restaurants in Las Vegas’ Chinatown.

Garett Marrero of Maui Brewing CompanyMaui Brewing Co., founded by Garrett Marrero, is a craft brewery based in Maui, HI. As the largest authentic Hawaiian brewery, it currently has one brewery in Lahaina, and one brewpub in Kahana that creates more than 40 different styles on a rotating basis. In 2005 Maui Brewing Co. produced 400 barrels from the single brewpub and expanded into an additional brewery location in 2007, producing a little over 20,000 barrels in 2013.

MBC has remained consistent in the vision, “Handcrafted Ales & Lagers Brewed with Aloha.” The beers have been recognized worldwide for quality and innovation winning more than 100 medals in a short history. MBC was one of the first craft brewers to package their products in recyclable aluminum cans.

MBC is currently in construction to move production to a state-of-the-art brewery in Kihei.

It’s the only Hawaiian brewery with product available in the continental United States where the beer is actually brewed, and packaged, in Hawaii.

BIg Island Chocolate FestivalThe alluring, rich taste of chocolate, in both its sweet and savory forms, is showcased at the 3rd Annual Big Island Chocolate Festival, May 2 to 3 at the Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii. Headlining the event is “Mr. Chocolate,” Jacques Torres, Food Network celebrity and acclaimed pastry chef from New York. Also appearing is Donald Wressell of Guittard and Derek Poirier of Valrhona USA.

“The Big Island Chocolate Festival is a fantasyland of chocolate.” Says Kona Cacao Association President Farsheed Bonakdar (Bone-ak-dar.) “It inspires our chefs, encourages our island farmers to grow cacao and shows our chocolatiers that chocolate can be a viable business.” Farsheed Bonakdar of KCA is our guest.

Anthony Carron of 800 Degrees PizzaChef Anthony Carron is the creative force behind 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria which is growing rapidly with a devoted following. His background is in fine-dining. It started in Westwood in 2011. A “To-Go” branch was added in Westwood. Santa Monica recently opened. Las Vegas, Pasadena, Hollywood, and New York are on the horizon.

It’s thin crust pizza that follows the traditions established in Naples. What’s really different is that once you choose your toppings the pizza is then flash-cooked for about a minute in a wood-burning over at 800 degrees!

“800 Degrees strives to honor the tradition of classic Neapolitan pizza where the integrity of handcrafted ingredients is paramount. We use natural grown California tomatoes, our mozzarella is made for us every day right here in L.A., and our crust is crafted in house from only Italian flour, wild yeast, sea salt and filtered water.”

Michael Passmore of Passmore RanchThe always colorful Michael Passmore is a fish farmer in Northern California.

Passmore Ranch is a premium freshwater, sustainable fish ranch in California. They started modestly by selling live fish at Northern California farmers’ markets, and their quality and service quickly made them a premier purveyor for top restaurants and Michelin-starred chefs throughout the State and country.

They offer the freshest fish, aged, sized and delivered to order, almost as if chefs were pointing and saying, “I’ll take that one.” They continue to build new partnerships with some of the country’s best chefs, including renowned restaurateur Rick Moonen, three-star Michelin chef Christopher Kostow, Napa pioneer Cindy Pawlcyn, and Dallas chef and “Top Chef” Season 10 contestant John Tesar.

Passmore Ranch offers premium freshwater white sturgeon, black bass, striped bass, catfish, silver carp and trout, plus prized caviar. Most are available in any form a chef would like – live, filleted, special cuts and everything in between – coming straight, as the Passmore crew says, “fresh from our ranch to your kitchen.”

Michael Passmore speaks about the launch of Provisions. “Home Chefs, we’re very excited to bring you our fish and produce, fresh from our ranch to your kitchen just like we do with Michelin starred, James Beard awarded, and just plain great chefs in restaurants around the country.”

Rick Moonen of rm seafood in Las VegasMichael is joined by Chef Rick Moonen of rm Seafood and Rx Boiler Room in Las Vegas. Sustainable seafood is his specialty. Chef Moonen was at Passmore Ranch curing a batch of American caviar. He explains the process.

Organic fruits and vegetables are getting a lot of attention these days. With the fresh concern about GMOs in food, certified organic fruits and vegetables are, by definition, free of GMOs.

Robert Schueller of Melissa's World Variety ProduceOur resident produce expert, Robert Schueller of Melissa’s World Variety Produce, is back with us to discuss what’s new in organics. Melissa’s is the largest variety supplier of fresh organic produce in the USA. They have been distributing organic produce for over 16 years.

What’s hot? All varieties of organic Kale are at the top of the sales charts currently.

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Brock Radke, Food Editor, Las Vegas Weekly
Segment Three: Garrett Marrero, founder, Maui Brewing Co.
Segment Four: Farsheed Bonakdar, President, Kona Cacao Association
Segment Five: Executive Chef Anthony Carron, co-founder, 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria
Segment Six: Michael Passmore, Fish Farmer, Passmore Ranch Part One
Segment Seven: Michael Passmore, Fish Farmer, Passmore Ranch Part Two
Segment Eight: Robert Schueller, Produce Authority, Melissa’s / World Variety Produce, Inc.

Show 39, August 24, 2013: Farmer Duane Gillis and Robert Schueller from Melissa’s.

Duane Gillis is a career farmer based in the Mesilla Valley of New Mexico. He is a 4th generation farmer growing Hatch Chiles. This is the only place in the world where these coveted chiles are grown.

Hatch Chiles have a fast growing cycle. They are planted in the Spring and then fully mature in August.

One fresh medium-sized Hatch Chile pod has a much Vitamin C as contained in six oranges!

Robert Schueller of Melissa's World Variety ProduceRobert Schueller is the long-time resident produce expert at Melissa’s. If it’s a fruit or vegetable he’s difficult to stump. He provided all the stats on Hatch Chiles.

Hatch Chiles are unusually grown in the full spectrum of hotness. You go from mild to extra hot!

August 27: Hatch Chile Roast with Melissa’s / World Variety Produce at Bristol Farms Santa Monica

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila & Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Kevin Davis, President and CEO of Bristol Farms
Segment Three: Farmer Duane Gillis and Robert Schueller from Melissa’s.
Segment Four: Chef Michael Cimarusti, Providence and Connie & Ted’s in West Hollywood Part One
Segment Five: Chef Michael Cimarusti, Providence and Connie & Ted’s in West Hollywood Part Two
Segment Six: Executive Chef Roy Hendrickson, Zimzala at The Shorebreak Hotel, Huntington Beach
Segment Seven: Russ Parsons, Food Editor, Los Angeles Times
Segment Eight: Delilah Snell, home canning and preservation authority

Please join us each week at our new starting time of 10:00 a.m.

Today we’re at the brand new Bristol Farms (opened on Wednesday) store in Santa Monica broadcasting live. The address is 3105 Wilshire Blvd. If you’re in the neighborhood come on by. There is lots of parking in back of the store.

Melissa’s is roasting Hatch Chiles exhibition-style next to our broadcast location in front of the store’s entrance. They are also sampling incredible edibles using the most enticing Hatch Chile recipes from the new Melissa’s Hatch Chile Cookbook.

Chef Ida Rodriquez of Melissas World Variety ProduceMelissa’s Corporate Chef, Ida Rodriguez, will be with us to explain the widely expanding appeal of Hatch Chiles from New Mexico. The season is only six weeks. Chef Ida is the co-author of Melissa’s Hatch Chile Cookbook. She will be autographing books during the broadcast. Great for Holiday gifts.

Kevin Davis, the President and CEO of Bristol Farms joins us.

Kevin Davis CEO of Bristol FarmsBristol Farms has 13 stores in California including San Francisco. They are locally owned and based in Carson.

Bristol Farms opened their first store in Rolling Hills in 1982 and it’s quite a success story. Mr. Davis will provide insight on how a boutique food retailer with a point of difference can prosper among the giants of retailing!

Bristol Farms is expanding and opening new stores…

Robert Schueller of Melissa's World Variety ProduceDuane Gillis is a farmer based in the Mesilla Valley of New Mexico. He grows Hatch Chiles. This is the only place in the world where these coveted chiles are grown.

Robert Schueller is the long-time resident produce expert at Melissa’s. If it’s a fruit or vegetable he’s difficult to stump. He’ll be with us to provide all the stats on Hatch Chiles.

Michael Cimarusti of Providence and Connie and TedsCelebrity Chef Michael Cimarusti is the seafood king in Los Angeles. He’s the executive chef and co-owner of Providence in Hollywood, California’s premier fine-dining seafood restaurant. A few months ago he launched the far more casual Connie & Ted’s (a New England-style seafood shack) in West Hollywood. It’s been an instant hit and the crowds just keep on coming.

Chef Cimarusti previews the “Field to Fork” event he is co-hosting on August 31st at Paramount Studios as part of the Los Angeles Times’ Taste.

Chef Michael joins us in Santa Monica to talk about cooking with chiles.

Roy Hendrickson of Zimzalu in Huntington BeachExecutive Chef Roy Hendrickson oversees Zimzala at The Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach.

He makes a cravable Hatch Chile Ice Cream in-house.

Russ Parsons is the long-time Food Editor of the Los Angeles Times. He’s been covering food there for over 20 years. He’s written extensively about chiles. Like this story on New Mexico’s Green Chiles or this article about the amazing success of the Hatch Chile.

Russ will also be previewing his event for The Los Angeles Times’ The Taste next weekend.

Delilah SnellDelilah Snell is a prominent certified home canner and preserving expert. There are creative ways to preserve Hatch Chiles other than roasting and then freezing them.

Delilah was just in Hatch, New Mexico presenting a seminar on preserving Hatch Chiles.

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila & Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Kevin Davis, President and CEO of Bristol Farms
Segment Three: Farmer Duane Gillis and Robert Schueller from Melissa’s.
Segment Four: Chef Michael Cimarusti, Providence and Connie & Ted’s in West Hollywood Part One
Segment Five: Chef Michael Cimarusti, Providence and Connie & Ted’s in West Hollywood Part Two
Segment Six: Executive Chef Roy Hendrickson, Zimzala at The Shorebreak Hotel, Huntington Beach
Segment Seven: Russ Parsons, Food Editor, Los Angeles Times
Segment Eight: Delilah Snell, home canning and preservation authority