Show 297, November 10, 2018: Kim Malek, Co-Founder, Salt & Straw Ice Cream

Kim MalekLast month Portland-based boutique ice cream maker Salt & Straw opened their first location in Downtown Disney in Anaheim. It replaced a familiar, franchised premium ice cream scoop shop whose worldwide brand is owned by a giant, multinational food corporation.

In May 2001 Kim Malek and her cousin and head ice cream maker Tyler Malek started their own small business, Salt & Straw Ice Cream serving eight flavors from a humble cart in NE Portland. Today the company is the largest small batch ice cream company in the world numbering scoop shops in Portland, greater Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and San Diego. Also unusually available in pints in New York City at Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group’s Daily Provisions.

“Our story is part luck, part strategy and part love (for ice cream, family, local foods, and other stuff we can’t mention here). I (Kim) have been wanting to open an ice cream scoop shop since 1996. I thought it would be nice to have a local spot where you could run into your neighbors, celebrate with your family, reward yourself…whatever! And I love exploring fun, interesting new flavors. After toiling away in safe mode working for several amazing Fortune 500 businesses, I moved back to Portland for love and found the window of opportunity and support that I’d been lacking to jump start my idea.”

“In the meantime, my cousin Tyler had been studying in China and traveling in Asia. He completed his business degree and had just announced to the family that he was going to enroll in Culinary School. I actually saw a posting on Facebook that he was considering moving to Portland and phoned him up…not even knowing about his plans! We traded stories and updated each other – coming to realize we are on similar paths by coincidence. Next thing I knew, I was getting reports from Tyler regarding ice cream tests he was running with his friends and family as tasters. He had a million ideas and wanted to join me in this crazy idea. How could I resist? He literally dropped what he was doing, loaded up his car and drove to Portland from Seattle to start work as our head ice cream maker the very next day. I would probably be somewhere rocking back and forth in a corner without him. He’s amazingly talented, super smart, hard-working, and quite possibly the nicest person ever.”

“We’re hoping to create the kind of company that’s fun to support, work for, and partner with. We’re about building strong local community – both in the neighborhoods where we do business and by purchasing as many local products as possible (to keep our money in Oregon and help create stronger local economies).”

Co-Founder Kim Malek is our guest.

Show 90, September 27, 2014: Salt & Straw Fresh Made Ice Cream

Kim Malek of Salt and StrawSalt & Straw, Portland’s iconic artisan ice cream brand known for its innovative, small batch and handmade flavors, opened the doors to its first Los Angeles scoop shop on Saturday, September 13th in Larchmont Village.” Founder Kim Malek is with us with the scoop.

Salt & Straw partners with local artisans, producers and farmers to create one-of-a-kind, gourmet flavors. Their ice cream is handmade using only all natural and local cream.

The company, which began in 2011, has three scoop shops in Portland and now one in Los Angeles. Each shop serves scoops, sundaes, milkshakes and floats as well as pints to go.

The “Early Autumn Harvest Series,” available now through October, is a cheat sheet for Southern California’s best seasonal ingredients. Highlights include sweet almonds from Kern County, last of the season peaches from Burkart Organic Farms in Dinuba, CA, Butter & Salt doughnuts from Sidecar Doughnuts and Grand Poppy liqueur from Greenbar Distillery in Downtown L.A.

September 27, Steve Samson, LuckyRice, Salt & Straw, Sherry Yard, Anepalco, Kip Barnes,

Podcasts

Segment One: Guest Host Chef Steve Samson and Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris preview the show
Segment Two: LUCKYRICE Night Market at The Cosmopolitan
Segment Three: Salt & Straw Fresh Made Ice Cream
Segment Four: Sherry Yard, iPic Theaters and Helms Bakery Part One
Segment Five: Sherry Yard, iPic Theaters and Helms Bakery Part Two
Segment Six: Anepalco in Orange
Segment Seven: Kristofor Barnes’ Beer Lover’s Southern California
Segment Eight: Executive Chef Steve Samson

Guest Host Chef Steve Samson (co-executive chef & co-owner) of Sotto in Los Angeles and Producer Andy Harris preview the show.

Danielle Chang the founder of the series of LUCKYRICE Night Markets staged across the country is back with us to preview the upcoming Las Vegas evening at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas.

“Salt & Straw, Portland’s iconic artisan ice cream brand known for its innovative, small batch and handmade flavors, opened the doors to its first Los Angeles scoop shop on Saturday, September 13th in Larchmont Village.” Founder Kim Malek is with us with the scoop.

The incomparable Sherry Yard is a two-time James Beard Award-winner. Her Beard Foundation honors are for both her acclaimed dessert and pastry book as well as for Outstanding Pastry Chef. The Princess of Pastry joins us to chat about the upcoming C-CAP’s Sweet & Savory Spectacular benefit, iPic Theaters, and the soon-to-be Helms Bakery in Los Angeles.

Hidden, in plain sight, just South of Angel Stadium at the corner of State College and West Chapman Ave. in Orange is Chef Daniel Godinez’s Anepalco. Anepalco is a modern Mexican-French restaurant with a refreshing cocktail program.

Kristofor “Kip” Barnes, the author of Beer Lover’s Southern California – Best Breweries, Brewpubs & Beer Bars, is an accomplished gold-medal-winning home brewer and the founder of the brew blog Bierkast.com. He also is the co-founder of Los Angeles Ale Works and is a founding member of the L.A. Beer Bloggers.

Today’s guest host is Executive Chef Steve Samson of Sotto in Los Angeles located just East of Century City. He was previously the high profile executive chef at Piero Selvaggio’s Valentino in Santa Monica. Orange County diners remember him as the opening executive chef at Pizzeria Ortica in Costa Mesa.

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

Luckyrice Night MarketDanielle Chang, the founder of the series of LUCKYRICE Night Markets staged across the country, is back with us to preview the upcoming Las Vegas evening at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas set for Saturday, October 4th.

In 2014 LUCKYRICE has already visited New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

“The LUCKYRICE Night Market at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas brings the flavors and sensations of Asian markets from Taiwan to Thailand to the Boulevard Pool. Join celebrity chefs from across the U.S. and Las Vegas as we recreate the celebratory chaos and delicious energy of the quintessential Asian night market experience with a distinctly cosmopolitan flavor.”

Kim Malek of Salt and StrawSalt & Straw, Portland’s iconic artisan ice cream brand known for its innovative, small batch and handmade flavors, opened the doors to its first Los Angeles scoop shop on Saturday, September 13th in Larchmont Village.” Founder Kim Malek is with us with the scoop.

Salt & Straw partners with local artisans, producers and farmers to create one-of-a-kind, gourmet flavors. Their ice cream is handmade using only all natural and local cream.

The company, which began in 2011, has three scoop shops in Portland and now one in Los Angeles. Each shop serves scoops, sundaes, milkshakes and floats as well as pints to go.

The “Early Autumn Harvest Series,” available now through October, is a cheat sheet for Southern California’s best seasonal ingredients. Highlights include sweet almonds from Kern County, last of the season peaches from Burkart Organic Farms in Dinuba, CA, Butter & Salt doughnuts from Sidecar Doughnuts and Grand Poppy liqueur from Greenbar Distillery in Downtown L.A.

Sherry YardThe incomparable Sherry Yard is a two-time James Beard Award-winner. Her Beard Foundation honors are for both her acclaimed dessert and pastry book as well as for Outstanding Pastry Chef. The Princess of Pastry joins us to chat about the upcoming C-CAP’s Sweet & Savory Spectacular benefit, iPic Theaters, and the soon-to-be Helms Bakery in Los Angeles.

Sherry is the honorary co-chair (with Suzanne Goin of Lucques, A.O.C. and Tavern) of C-CAP’s Sweet & Savory Spectacular Benefit set for Sunday Afternoon, Oct.,19th at The Art Institute’s campus in Santa Monica just above the airport. Both of Sherry’s current projects, iPic Theaters and Helms Bakery, will be serving distinctive tastes from their menus.

Sherry serves on the Los Angeles Advisory Board of the Careers through Culinary Arts Program as well as on the National Board.

Sherry will talk about how she is changing movie theater food for the better in her special culinary role at iPic Theaters. In Southern California iPic has luxury theater complexes in Old Pasadena and Westwood Village. Sherry will also have an update on the ambitious Helms Bakery project.

Anepalco's CafeHidden, in plain sight, just South of Angel Stadium at the corner of State College and West Chapman Ave. in Orange is Chef Daniel Godinez’s Anepalco. Anepalco is best characterized as a modern Mexican-French restaurant with a refreshing cocktail program. It also has a shaded patio.

Anepalco takes authentic Mexican ingredients with their bold flavors and infuses them creatively with traditional French techniques. The result is a fusion of creams and chiles with the cuisine served in a gourmet manner. Chef Godinez’s kitchen only uses the freshest of ingredients.

In addition to the lunch menu available daily, Anepalco serves brunch seven days from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Kip Barnes of Los Angeles Ale WorksKristofor “Kip” Barnes, the author of Beer Lover’s Southern California – Best Breweries, Brewpubs & Beer Bars, is an accomplished gold-medal-winning home brewer and the founder of the brew blog Bierkast.com. He also is the co-founder of Los Angeles Ale Works and is a founding member of the L.A. Beer Bloggers.

“With quality beer producers popping up all over the nation, you don’t have to travel very far to taste great beer ; some of the best stuff is brewing right in your home state. Beer Lover’s Southern California (the complete regional guide to craft beer) features breweries, brewpubs, and beer bars geared toward brew enthusiasts looking to seek out the best beers SoCal has to offer, from bitter seasonal IPAs to rich, dark stouts.”

Steve Samson of SottoToday’s guest host is Executive Chef Steve Samson of Sotto in Los Angeles located just East of Century City. He was previously the high profile executive chef at Piero Selvaggio’s Valentino in Santa Monica. Orange County diners remember him as the opening executive chef at the popular Pizzeria Ortica in Costa Mesa.

Chef Steve was just in Italy for a Family occasion.

Last Saturday afternoon at UCLA Chef Steve was one of the participating celebrity chefs at L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade culinary benefit. Samson was paired with one of the young cheftestantants from Fox’s MasterChef Jr. series.

Sotto delivers an honest, market-driven menu of regionally-inspired Southern Italian dishes, including fresh housemade pastas and Neapolitan pizza cooked in an artisan wood burning oven. This wood burning oven was built onsite by Neapolitan craftsmen using traditional Old World techniques.

Podcasts

Segment One: Guest Host Chef Steve Samson and Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris preview the show
Segment Two: LUCKYRICE Night Market at The Cosmopolitan
Segment Three: Salt & Straw Fresh Made Ice Cream

Segment Five: Sherry Yard, iPic Theaters and Helms Bakery Part Two
Segment Six: Anepalco in Orange
Segment Seven: Kristofor Barnes’ Beer Lover’s Southern California
Segment Eight: Executive Chef Steve Samson