Show 422, April 24, 2021: Co-Host Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group with “Ask the Chef”

Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group

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 continually updating us on the real impact of the Covid-19 crisis in the hospitality field and what we, as diners, can do to support the very survival of restaurants which is a genuine concern as the hoped-for recovery ever so slowly moves forward.

Shifting the conversation back to food we also ask Chef Andrew about preparing and cooking the perfect fish and chips. It’s appearing on a lot of restaurant menus now (at all levels) including ones that aren’t really seafood oriented. What fish is best to use? What about the breading? How does malt vinegar fit it?

Remember the juicy and delicious Community Burger (more than a mouthful) is available at all Southern California locations of Slapfish. The worthy burger is free with any donation to 86 Restaurant Struggle.” 100 per cent of that money goes to benefit struggling restaurant workers.

Show 374, May 23, 2020: Journalist Al Mancini, Staff Writer, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Al Mancini of the Las Vegas Review JournalOne of our most reliable sources of accurate restaurant news in fabulous Las Vegas is Al Mancini, who is a staff writer for The Las Vegas Review Journal covering food, restaurants and other aspects of entertainment. Al has been working the Vegas food scene for 19 years. He was one of the creators of the popular, and widely referenced, Eating Las Vegas restaurant guidebook series.

Al joins us with a report on dining in the restaurants that have been allowed to reopen for full-service in Las Vegas. Restaurants located off The Strip have permission to reopen for dine-in with precautions. Establishments located in The Strip hotel casinos (and other hotel casinos) can only reopen if they have outside access to the restaurants that doesn’t necessitate walking through a closed casino floor.

Al shares the welcome news that complimentary self-parking (with a few exceptions for large special events) will return at all the Strip Hotel Casinos when they reopen.

Show 352, December 21, 2019: Journalist Al Mancini, Staff Writer, Las Vegas Review-Journal Part One

Al Mancini of the Las Vegas Review JournalOne of our most reliable sources of restaurant news in fabulous Las Vegas is Al Mancini, who is a staff writer for The Las Vegas Review Journal covering food, restaurants and other aspects of entertainment. Al has been working the Vegas food scene since 2003. He was one of the creators of the popular, and widely referenced, Eating Las Vegas restaurant guide series.

Al joins us with an insider’s report on best of the new restaurant openings in Las Vegas. We’ll cover The Strip as well as Downtown Las Vegas.

Al updates us on the progress of the upcoming (and long in the works) Slanted Door (Charles Phan) at the Forum Shops with Lanny Chin now apparently in place as Chef de Cuisine.

Show 352, December 21, 2019: Journalist Al Mancini, Staff Writer, Las Vegas Review-Journal Part Two

Al Mancini of the Las Vegas Review JournalOne of our most reliable sources of restaurant news in fabulous Las Vegas is Al Mancini, who is a staff writer for The Las Vegas Review Journal covering food, restaurants and other aspects of entertainment. Al has been working the Vegas food scene since 2003. He was one of the creators of the popular, and widely referenced, Eating Las Vegas restaurant guide series.

As we continue our conversation with Al we’ll look ahead for what’s on the culinary horizon in Vegas for new openings of note in early 2020. Al has already previewed Michael Mina’s upcoming International Smoke at the MGM Grand, a collaboration with Chef Ayesha Curry.

Show 337, August 17, 2019: Tara Lazar, Founder, Foundation 10 Creative, Palm Springs Part Two

Tara Lazar of Founders 10 CreativePalm Springs resident Tara Lazar is the Founder of Foundation 10 Creative, a prominent, and growing, hospitality group in Palm Springs. Tara has created a small empire of iconic restaurants in the ever-growing travel destination of Palm Springs

“Initially started as a personal project to entertain and serve friends, F10 Creative has grown into a tight-knit network of some of the best food and beverage offerings in town, and continues to expand.”

“Tara is a Palm Springs native, and after spending time traveling, sampling flavors around the world, she returned home to build Cheeky’s as the first establishment in the F10 line. Tara has been hands-on in every step of the way for each property, from creating the menu and cooking on the line, to designing the atmosphere and touching tables nightly. She now employs almost 200 residents of Palm Springs, and has been an influential voice across staffing, sourcing and serving in the hospitality industry.”

Tara Lazar continues the conversation with us.

Show 334, July 27, 2019: Terri Henry, Founder, DINE LBC – Long Beach Restaurant Week

Terri Henry of Dine LBC and Terri Henry MarketingTerri Henry is the Founder and Organizer of DINE LBC – Long Beach Restaurant Week which debuted in 2014. Participating restaurants offer value-oriented dining menus during the nine days of the event from Saturday, August 3rd through Sunday, August 11th.

“Experience the diverse cuisine that delights the palate and defines the art of dining in Long Beach. Held annually, DINE LBC features value-oriented two or three course menus from dozens of Long Beach’s best restaurants located in twelve unique neighborhoods throughout the City.”

Each participating restaurant offers a three-course menu priced at $15, $25, $35, $45, $55 or $65 per guest with wine pairing options at select fine dining locations OR dinner for two priced at $25, $35, $45, $55 or $65, where diners share an appetizer, each enjoy their own entree, then share a dessert at more casual establishments.”

“The only meal planning you’ll need to worry about during Dine LBC week is which restaurant to try every night of the week.”

There is also a “Dine. Snap. Share” Instagram contest afoot for DINE LBC restaurant guests. One lucky diner will receive a two-nights Staycation at The Westin Long Beach along with dinner at the newly launched Navy Proof Food & Spirits. Contest rules on the Dine LBC Website. Good luck.

 

We’ll meet Terri Henry.

Show 332, July 13, 2019: Delicious Little Tokyo with Chris Komai, Little Tokyo Community Council

Chris Komai of the Little Tokyo Community CouncilGo Little Tokyo’s 4th Annual Delicious Little Tokyo returns to the heart of Downtown Los Angeles for two days on Friday, July 19th and Saturday, July 20th and features over 20 exclusive events including all-new interactive workshops, tastings, and demonstrations curated for first-time foodies and culinary enthusiasts alike.

“Taste, experience, and indulge during Delicious Little Tokyo, Los Angeles’ largest annual Japanese culinary weekend. The foodie festival features two days of delicious food harvested from the streets of Little Tokyo, celebrating the diversity, cultural traditions, and of course, food of the historic neighborhood!”

“Sample, explore, and discover, with friends and family, all Little Tokyo has to offer including tastings by participating Little Tokyo restaurants, hands-on culinary workshops, live cooking demonstrations, sake and beer food pairing classes, and more, exclusively available during Delicious Little Tokyo weekend.”

Little Tokyo Community Council’s 1st Vice Board Chairman, Chris Komai, separates Littlthe chopsticks for us revealing all the tantalizing details.

Show 323, May 11, 2019: Donald Contursi, Founder & President, Lip Smacking Foodie Tours, Las Vegas

Donald Contursi of Lipsmacking Foodie Tours“In Vegas, you may need Lady Luck at the gambling tables, but not at the dining ones. Not when you rely on Lip Smacking Foodie Tours’ award-winning culinary walking tours that ensure a delicious payoff in the best bites this exciting city offers.”

“Our mission at LIPSMACKING foodie tours is to introduce visitors and locals alike to the best signature dishes, unique preparations and exciting tastes in Las Vegas. The mouths behind Lip Smacking Foodie Tours love food, eating, dining and experiencing. This quartet of passions originally inspired us to pursue careers in the food, beverage and hospitality industries. And ultimately, after years in the game, we created Las Vegas’ premier walking tour company exclusively geared toward those craving the ultimate taste of Las Vegas.”

“Book a tour today and you will be privy to a day or night adventure at up to four top restaurants, on the Strip or downtown, hosted by the citys culinary insiders who will entertain you with fascinating stories about Vegas. At each restaurant, you’re a VIP, whisked to the best table to enjoy 3 to 4 signature dishes at each stop. We take the gamble out of finding the most Lip Smacking tastes among the more than 330 restaurants on the Strip.”

President & Founder Donald Contursi is our guide.

Show 291, September 22, 2018: Robert Egger, L.A. Kitchen, Founder & CEO Continues…

Robert EggarL.A. Kitchen, a pioneering non-profit, is again rallying Angelenos to take a stand and participate in a city-wide party (October 5 to 7) to raise awareness and fight food waste, hunger and unemployment. Shared Plates is L.A Kitchen’s anti-gala, a weekend of dinner parties for good that invites thousands of Angelenos to sit around the table in their backyards, restaurants, businesses and schools across Los Angeles.

Now in its third year, the 2017 Shared Plates campaign provided over 100 dinners arranged by participating restaurants and private individuals, engaging 1,000 Angelenos for the cause and contributing over $120,000 to the non-profit for its services to those in need.

“This is our 3rd year of Shared Plates. We love that more and more people from across the region are hosting simple dinners in their homes to support L.A. Kitchen. We love that there’s no age, income or geographic barriers to our event….anybody can be a host, anyone can participate, and everyone can benefit. This is food democracy.”

Robert Egger, L.A. Kitchen Founder & CEO

Show 241, September 16, 2017: Corkage in Restaurants, Kyle Meyer, Wine Exchange

Kyle Meyer of Wine ExchangeThe Corkage Fee charged in restaurants is always a subject of spirited conversation. What is really reasonable that’s equitable to both the guest and restaurant? There is a real cost to the restaurant (and lost revenue) when a guest brings in their own wine. Hospitality comes into play, too. Should a guest even be allowed to bring in a wine already on the restaurant’s wine list regardless of the corkage fee? What’s proper etiquette?

One of our worldly resident wine experts, Kyle Meyer of Wine Exchange, beings his practical thoughts to the weighty subject.