Podcasts
Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Native9 Wines with Brand Ambassador Wes Hagen Part One
Segment Three: Native9 Wines with Brand Ambassador Wes Hagen Part Two
Segment Four: Vegas Unstripped Chef Festival with Producer Eric Gladstone
Segment Five: Firkenstein Craft Beer Festival, Anaheim, with Producer Greg Nagel
Segment Six: IL Fiorello Olive Oil Company, Fairfield, CA Part One
Segment Seven: IL Fiorello Olive Oil Company, Fairfield, CA Part Two
Segment Eight: Co-Host and Chef Andrew Gruel with “Ask the Chef”
Andy Harris, Executive Producer and Co-host previews the show.
“Nine generations after the Ontiveros Family’s arrival in California, on the same land that their family once called home, James Ontiveros is proud to grow and make wines with Winemaker Paul Wilkins that are as complex as the story of how they came to be. Ranchos de Ontiveros is a culmination of wines (Native9 and Rancho Vinedo) expressing the unique climate, soil, and capability of the Santa Maria Valley. It’s not always pretty, and it’s seldom romantic. But it is, first and foremost, real.” Wes Hagen, Estate Host and Brand Ambassador, joins us to uncork all that is Ranchos De Ontiveros Estate Vineyards.
“The Feast of Friends(Las Vegas) has announced the return of Vegas Unstripped, a unique food festival celebrating local Las Vegas chefs. This year, the event is planned to take place from 7-10 p.m on Saturday October 14 at a location to be announced in the 18b Arts District. Thirty of the city’s most acclaimed and creative chefs will be brought together to present one-night-only original dishes, accompanied by cocktails from many of the city’s best bars, live local entertainers, art activations and more. Tickets for the event are now available via Vegas’ Unstripped’s website for $150 plus fees.” Attendees must be 21 and over. Participating chefs represent the cutting edge of independent talent in Las Vegas, and are challenged to create unique dishes for the night reflecting their culinary passions. All necessary expenses of the independent chef/restaurateur are covered by event revenue to the extent possible, with net proceeds going to underserved local charities. To date, Vegas Unstripped has donated nearly $20,000. Founder and Producer Eric Gladstone of The Feast of Friends joins us with all the tantalizing details.
What would have been the 7th annual Firkfest in Anaheim in 2020 is finally back in 2023 as Firkenstein Craft Beer Festival. Note that it’s no longer cask only. The only prerequisite is breweries are required to bring something special made just for the event. Firkenstein Craft Beer Festival is happening on Saturday, October 7th, 2023 from 4-8 p.m. in Downtown Anaheim surrounding the city’s decorated Halloween tree on West Center Street Promenade, including 30 plus of California’s best breweries, including Monkish, Green Cheek, Highland Park, Moonlight, Everywhere, and others. Founder and Organizer Greg Nagel of OC Beer Blog is our guest to tap the keg of the upcoming Firkenstein Craft Beer Festival.
“IL Fiorello Olive Oil Company is a family-owned company dedicated to growing and milling the finest quality artisan olive oil. Owners Ann and Mark Sievers produce oil from their own certified organic groves. Their properties are located in Green Valley and Suisun Valley between Fairfield and Napa Valley, a still-rural area where creek-side soils allow good drainage for the trees. An Olive Oil Tasting is offered daily at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Reservations are required, 14 ppl maximum. $25 per person. Enjoy a comparative tasting of IL Fiorello’s Extra Virgin Olive Oils, Co-Milled Oils, and Balsamic Vinegar Reductions. Led by their experienced staff, you will learn how to appreciate olive oils & enjoy a chef-crafted food pairing to expand your palate. Reserve ahead for Charcuterie & Cheeseboards or Soup of the Month.” Founder and Culinary Educator Ann Sievers joins us.
Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) and also the founder and pizzaiola of Big Parm (New Jersey-style pizza) located in the Mess Hall in Tustin provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries. Chef Andrew explained last week the travails of restaurateurs in Downtown San Francisco. We pick up the discussion this week with the question of if the restaurant business in California has really fully recovered from the Pandemic. What are the present concerns of chefs and restaurateurs? We’ll “Ask the Chef”?
All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s not-to-miss show!
“Nine generations after the Ontiveros Family’s arrival in California, on the same land that their family once called home, James Ontiveros is proud to grow and make wines with Winemaker Paul Wilkins that are complex as the story of how they came to be.”
“Ranchos de Ontiveros is a culmination of wines (Native9 and Rancho Vinedo) expressing the unique climate, soil, and capability of the Santa Maria Valley. It’s not always pretty, and it’s seldom romantic. But it is, first and foremost, real.”
“Native9 wines are sourced from all 8 clones of Pinot Noir at Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard, planted by James in 1997. The grapes are hand-harvested with whole cluster fermentation. Nothing is left out. The Native9 selections are unique, stand-out wines, produced with the land, conditions, and resources James Ontiveros has available to him.”
“Rancho Vinedo wines are sourced from the Wente Clone Chardonnay and Martini Clone Pinot Noir from Rancho Vinedo Vineyard, a parcel of the original Rancho Tepusquet Land Grant. The Dona Maria Chardonnay is fresh, vibrant, and mineral driven. She’s lean and impressive. Own-rooted and old vine, this vineyard was planted in 1973 and farmed by the same family until 2012. The first vintage was 2014.”
Wes Hagen, Estate Host and Brand Ambassador joins us to uncork all that is Ranchos De Ontiveros Estate Vineyards.
“The Feast of Friends (Las Vegas) has announced the return of Vegas Unstripped, a unique food festival celebrating local Las Vegas chefs. This year, the event is planned to take place from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday October 14 at a location to be announced in the 18b Arts District. Thirty of the city’s most acclaimed and creative chefs will be brought together to present one-night-only original dishes, accompanied by cocktails from many of the city’s best bars, live local entertainers, art activations and more. Tickets for the event are now available via Vegas’ Unstripped’s website for $150 plus fees.” Attendees must be 21 and over.
“Each year, the message of Vegas Unstripped evolves a little bit, but really remains the same,” says Event Producer Eric Gladstone of The Feast of Friends: “To show Las Vegas locals the strength of our city-wide culinary scene, and to show visitors and the world that Vegas food means more than an outpost for celebrity chefs. We can’t say that Las Vegas is a great culinary city if we don’t build up our own heroes.”
“Created in 2018 as a reaction to the Strip-focused Vegas Uncork’d event (now defunct), Vegas Unstripped initially only invited chefs working off-Strip. This year, Unstripped is welcoming chefs regardless of where they cook, and offering open submissions. In past years (2018, 2019, 2021), the line up was curated by Gladstone and an informal panel of consulting chefs.”
Participating chefs represent the cutting edge of independent talent in Las Vegas, and are challenged to create unique dishes for the night reflecting their culinary passions. All necessary expenses of the independent chef / restaurateur are covered by event revenue to the extent possible, with net proceeds going to underserved local charities. To date, Vegas Unstripped has donated nearly $20,000.
Founder and Producer Eric Gladstone of The Feast of Friends joins us with all the tantalizing details.
“What would have been the 7th annual Firkfest in Anaheim in 2020 is finally back in 2023 as Firkenstein Craft Beer Festival. Note that it’s no longer cask only. The only prerequisite is breweries are required to bring something special made just for the event.”
“Firkenstein Craft Beer Festival is happening on Saturday, October 7th, 2023 from 4-8 p.m. in Downtown Anaheim surrounding the city’s decorated Halloween tree on West Center Street Promenade, including 30 plus of California’s best breweries, including Monkish, Green Cheek, Highland Park, Moonlight, Everywhere, and others”
“It’s not only a fall beer festival where you can get dressed up, but your beer can too,” notes founder and organizer Greg Nagel @OCBeerBlog. “Two of my favorite things are Halloween and Oktoberfest, both of which happen near each other, so why not have a Halloweenish Oktoberfest?” he continued. Most beers are specially made just for the event, meaning you can only get a taste for them at the festival.
“Around thirty of SoCal’s best brewers are invited, and the event is heavily attended by the beer industry, brewers, and beer lovers alike. The festival is never oversold, capping guests at around 600, which sells out every year it’s been around.” “The venue is slightly larger than previous years, so we may add a little bit,” notes Nagel.
“The festival supports the Anaheim Fall Festival and Parade, which is in its 100th year this October. The Firkenstein Craft Beer Festival will feature local chefs, music, and have a costume contest.”
Founder and Organizer Greg Nagel of OC Beer Blog is our guest to tap the keg of the upcoming Firkenstein Craft Beer Festival.
“IL Fiorello Olive Oil Company is a family-owned company dedicated to growing and milling the finest quality artisan olive oil. Owners Ann and Mark Sievers produce oil from their own certified organic groves. Their properties are located in Green Valley and Suisun Valley between Fairfield and Napa Valley, a still-rural area where creek-side soils allow good drainage for the trees.”
“An interactive Olive Oil Tasting is offered daily at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Reservations are required, 14 ppl maximum. $25 per person. Enjoy a comparative tasting of IL Fiorello’s Extra Virgin Olive Oils, Co-Milled Oils, and Balsamic Vinegar Reductions. Led by their experienced staff, you will learn how to appreciate olive oils and enjoy a chef-crafted food pairing to expand your palate. Reserve ahead for Charcuterie & Cheeseboards or Soup of the Month.”
“A Farm Menu prepared by their on-site chef is available daily from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Reservations strongly advised.”
“A Tour & Olive Oil Tasting experience generally commences at 10:00 a.m. and are available daily. Reservations are required. The time limit is 2 hours ($50/person)”
“During the tour of the IL Fiorello organic property, the guide discusses the history of olive oil, the significance of the term extra virgin, and the production of their international award-winning olive oils. Guests visit the olive grove to look at the different olive varieties and how IL Fiorello cares for their trees. The tour continues with a visit to their state-of-the -art Pieralisi Gold olive mill, capable of milling 5 tons of olives an hour. The Tour concludes with a guided tasting of IL Fiorello’s olive oils and balsamic vinegar reductions.”
Founder and distinguished Culinary Educator Ann Sievers joins us.
Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) and also the founder and pizzaiola of the fast-casual Big Parm (New Jersey-style pizza) located in the Mess Hall in Tustin provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries.
Chef Andrew explained last week the travails of restaurateurs in Downtown San Francisco. We pick up the discussion this week with the question of if the restaurant business in California has really fully recovered from the Pandemic. What are the present urgent concerns of chefs and restaurateurs? We’ll “Ask the Chef”?
Podcasts
Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Native9 Wines with Brand Ambassador Wes Hagen Part One
Segment Three: Native9 Wines with Brand Ambassador Wes Hagen Part Two
Segment Four: Vegas Unstripped Chef Festival with Producer Eric Gladstone
Segment Five: Firkenstein Craft Beer Festival, Anaheim, with Producer Greg Nagel
Segment Six: IL Fiorello Olive Oil Company, Fairfield, CA Part One
Segment Seven: IL Fiorello Olive Oil Company, Fairfield, CA Part Two
Segment Eight: Co-Host and Chef Andrew Gruel with “Ask the Chef”
