Show 497, October 29, 2022: Nika Shoemaker-Machado, Georgia’s Restaurant, Long Beach Exchange & Anaheim Packing House Part One

Nika Shoemaker-Machado of Georgias Restaurants

Georgia’s Restaurant returned “Nana” Gretchen Shoemaker’s mouthwatering Gumbo to their menu at Georgia’s Restaurant at the Long Beach Exchange and the Anaheim Packing District just in time to celebrate National Gumbo Day back on October 12th, 2022 and for the remainder of 2022!

“Nana Gretchen Shoemaker’s “soul-delicious” signature Gumbo has been a guest favorite since it was first introduced and guests can again savor Nana’s Secret Southern-style Roux featuring Chicken, Andouille Sausage, Shrimp, Crab, and Okra, served over Rice at both locations. To complement this super satisfying meal, guests can also add Soulful Sides such as Collard Greens, Baked Beans, Mac & Cheese, or Nana Gretchen’s famous Cornbread served with house-made honey butter, while enjoying her fresh Peach Cobbler for the perfect finish.”

“Nana Gretchen Shoemaker (Nika’s Mom,) the heart of Georgia’s, would tell you Soul Food is the food you get when you cook with your whole heart and soul.”

“Georgia’s dishes are the comfort foods she learned to make with her grandma, the very ones she raised her daughters on, served in her successful catering service and has shared with family and friends throughout the years.” Other specialties include herb-seasoned Fried Chicken, Gretchen’s Jambalaya, Fried Catfish and Sweet Potato Pie.

“When you taste Georgia’s food, you taste the love and devotion that makes Georgia’s Soul Delicious!!”

2nd generation proprietress Nika Shoemaker-Machado (“Nana” Gretchen’s daughter) takes a break from the cornbread muffin pans to join us.

A new Georgia’s is in the works for Eastvale in northwestern Riverside County. This newer city incorporated in 2010 was former dairy farms.

Show 497, October 29, 2022: Nika Shoemaker-Machado, Georgia’s Restaurant, Long Beach Exchange & Anaheim Packing House Part Two

Nika Shoemaker-Machado of Georgias Restaurants

Georgia’s Restaurant returned “Nana” Gretchen Shoemaker’s mouthwatering Gumbo to their menu at Georgia’s Restaurant at the Long Beach Exchange and the Anaheim Packing District just in time to celebrate National Gumbo Day back on October 12th, 2022 and for the remainder of 2022!

“Nana Gretchen Shoemaker’s “soul-delicious” signature Gumbo has been a guest favorite since it was first introduced and guests can again savor Nana’s Secret Southern-style Roux featuring Chicken, Andouille Sausage, Shrimp, Crab, and Okra, served over Rice at both locations. To complement this super satisfying meal, guests can also add Soulful Sides such as Collard Greens, Baked Beans, Mac & Cheese, or Nana Gretchen’s famous Cornbread served with house-made honey butter, while enjoying her fresh Peach Cobbler for the perfect finish.”

“Nana Gretchen Shoemaker (Nika’s Mom,) the heart of Georgia’s, would tell you Soul Food is the food you get when you cook with your whole heart and soul.”

“Georgia’s dishes are the comfort foods she learned to make with her grandma, the very ones she raised her daughters on, served in her successful catering service and has shared with family and friends throughout the years.” Other specialties include herb-seasoned Fried Chicken, Gretchen’s Jambalaya and Fried Catfish.

“When you taste Georgia’s food, you taste the love and devotion that makes Georgia’s Soul Delicious!!”

2nd generation proprietress Nika Shoemaker-Machado (“Nana” Gretchen’s daughter) takes another break from tending the cornbread muffin pans to continue with us.

A new Georgia’s is in the works for Eastvale in northwestern Riverside County. This newer city incorporated in 2010 was former dairy farms.

Show 123, May 23, 2015: Brewmaster Victor Novak, Golden Road Brewing

Victor Novak of Taps Fish House and Brewery in BreaMemorial Day Weekend is a perfect time to savor a distinctive local craft beer. We’re tapping the keg to preview the 7th Annual Pechanga Microbrew Festival and Chili Cookoff on Saturday, June 6th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Temecula inside the Pechanga Grand Ballroom. The charitable beneficiary is Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley.

For one price beer enthusiasts can taste unlimited samples of craft and small production brews from San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange Counties as well as selections from Northern California, the Midwest and East Coast. Ticket holders also can enjoy limitless tastes of eight varieties of homemade chili, fired-up by the award-winning chefs at Pechanga Resort & Casino. Attendees can vote for their favorite chili among the bunch.

One of the participating craft breweries is the fast-growing Golden Road Brewing in Los Angeles. Announced is a new production brewery and tap room soon to be located across the street from Angel Stadium on E. Orangewood Ave. in Anaheim.

Golden Road Brewing will be pouring their flagship Point The Way IPA (India Pale Ale) as well as their 329 Lager (Lager) at the Pechanga Microbrew Festival.

The brewmaster for the future Orange County facility, Victor Novak, is our guest.

Show 33, June 29, 2013: David Vergari, Winemaker at Thornton Winery in Temecula

Thornton Winery in TemeculaYou really know David is a regular guy when he shares with you the winemakers’ tip that after a long day of tasting and blending a winemakers’ remedy for refreshing the fatigued taste buds is to enjoy a cold beer.

Vergari is only the 3rd winemaker in the rich, 25 year history of the proudly Family-owner Thornton Winery, and he has been in residence there for three years. They are known for consistently excellent California sparkling wines but in recent years they have developed a reputation for producing significant still wines, too. He has a current release of a Nebbiolo and Vermentino (both Italian grape varietals) that he’s very pleased with.

2013 is also the 25th Anniversary of Thornton’s Champagne Jazz Series. The concerts are performed outdoors in their acoustically superior Mediterranean fountain terrace and continue through October. The intimate space overlooks the scenic Temecula Valley wine country.

Huge acts who you would normally only see in large concert halls perform in this special venue because it’s a quality space. Headliner Dave Koz performed last weekend and tonight is Spyro Gyra and Acoustic Alchemy,

Thornton Winery’s long-time executive chef Steve Pickell of Café Champagne prepares a seated picnic menu (enjoyed under a shaded canopy) for every concert. It’s really an unfussy fine-dining experience with three courses. Both Thornton and other carefully selected premium wines are suggested as appropriate pairings for each course.

The appetizer course is field-to-table as all the fresh fruits and vegetables are sourced from local family farmers. Besides the wine grapes the unincorporated Riverside County portion of Temecula is an abundant agricultural area.

February 2: Andrew Zimmern, Leah DiBernardo, Ti Adelaide Martin, Tony DiSalvo, Jason Kessler

Podcasts

Segment One: Andrew Zimmern of Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods America”
Segment Two: Leah DiBernardo, Executive Chef & Co-Owner of E.A.T. (Extraordinary Artisan Table) in Temecula and head (as a volunteer) of the Slow Food Temecula Valley convivium
Segment Three: Ti Adelaide Martin, New Orleans restaurateur, co-owner of Commander’s Palace, Café Adelaide and the Swizzle Stick Bar, and SoBou
Segment Four: Tony DiSalvo, Executive Chef of Whist and the Viceroy Santa Monica
Segment Five: Jason Kessler, food writer, Food Republic and Bon Appetit Part One
Segment Six: Jason Kessler, food writer, Food Republic and Bon Appetit Part Part Two

Travel Channel’s biggest star and celebrity chef is with us live to kick off the show.

From there it’s genuine farm-to-table dining supplied by artisan purveyors in Temecula.

Super Bowl mania is residing in New Orleans this weekend and we’ll be chatting with a veteran New Orleans restaurateur (actually NOLA restaurant royalty) who will give us the real insider’s view of the goings-on in the City.

Then it’s on to the Noodle Bowl Festival in Santa Monica.

There is an ultra-premium dining experience available to a few select diners each evening at The Bazaar by Jose Andres and we’ll hear all about it.

Finally some intell on new restaurants (and a few veteran ones) making waves on the Los Angeles dining scene.

Andrew Zimmern (2 time James Beard Award-winner) has taken Travel Channel, and the country, by storm with his engaging and highly entertaining food travels. Andrew is with us live (from New Orleans) to talk about the new season of “Bizarre Foods America” (debuting February 11th) which begins in Washington, D.C.

Restaurateur & Chef Leah DiBernardo of E.A.T. (Extraordinary Artisan Table)Temecula is a large, fast-growing bedroom community adjacent to a rural agricultural area in Riverside County. It’s well known for wine grapes but a number of dedicated family farmers grow fruits (lots of citrus) and vegetables there for restaurants.

Restaurateur & Chef Leah DiBernardo of E.A.T. (Extraordinary Artisan Table) is the head of Slow Food Temecula Valley and an articulate champion of the local artisan food movement. Leah joins us to talk about the inspiring mission of Slow Food Temecula Valley and the year anniversary of her gourmet take-out shop, E.A.T. which also caters.

Ti Adelaide MartinIt’s Super Bowl madness in New Orleans. Also Mardi Gras time there leading up to Fat Tuesday.

If there is restaurant royalty in New Orleans it’s embodied by the legendary Brennan Family.

Ti Adelaide Martin (a 2nd generation member of the Brennan Restaurant Family) joins us to talk about the food aspects of Super Bowl. Ti co-owns Commander’s Palace, Café Adelaide and the Swizzle Stick Bar, and the newest, SoBou in the French Quarter.

Tony DiSalvo of Whist at the Viceroy Santa MonicaTony DiSalvo is executive chef at Whist at The Viceroy Santa Monica.

Chef Tony is hosting the Noodle Bowl Festival at The Viceroy on Sunday, February 10th from 4 to 7 p.m. to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Chef DiSalvo is serving kimchi sujebi, a traditional Korean noodle soup made with from-scratch dough.

Last Monday Chef DiSalvo was part of a group of celebrity chefs presenting a 6-course meal at the Abigaile in Hermosa Beach.

Food writer Jason Kessler (Food Republic and Bon Appetit Magazine) is back with us to profile some new dining adventures in Los Angeles.

First is a chronicle of dining at Saam at The Bazaar by Jose Andres. This is a very expensive, 22-couse tasting menu experience that is served in an exclusive private club setting.

From there Jason takes us on a verbal dine-around of some new (or revamped) area hot spots worthy of your attention.

Podcasts

Segment One: Andrew Zimmern of Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods America”
Segment Two: Leah DiBernardo, Executive Chef & Co-Owner of E.A.T. (Extraordinary Artisan Table) in Temecula and head (as a volunteer) of the Slow Food Temecula Valley convivium
Segment Three: Ti Adelaide Martin, New Orleans restaurateur, co-owner of Commander’s Palace, Café Adelaide and the Swizzle Stick Bar, and SoBou
Segment Four: Tony DiSalvo, Executive Chef of Whist and the Viceroy Santa Monica
Segment Five: Jason Kessler, food writer, Food Republic and Bon Appetit Part One
Segment Six: Jason Kessler, food writer, Food Republic and Bon Appetit Part Part Two