Show 269, April 14, 2018: Professor Richard Carrico, Of Wine On The Lees Well Refined – A History Of Wines & Wineries In San Diego County

Richard CarricoThe long and rich history of winemaking in California began in San Diego County more than two hundred years ago. Professor Richard Carrico is a Lecturer at San Diego State University and the author of Of Wine on The Lees Well Refined – A History of Wines & Wineries in San Diego County. Professor Carrico will be presenting a talk, “The Surprising History of Wine in San Diego County” for the Culinary Historians of San Diego on Saturday, April 21st @ 10:30 a.m. at the Neil Morgan Auditorium at San Diego Central Library.

Carrico will guide the audience on a visual trip through wine’s long San Diego County history as he weaves an enlightening tale of vineyards, grape stomping, murders, Prohibition, and the near death and recovery of the County’s wine industry.

Professor Carrico earned Bachelor degrees in History and Anthropology from San Diego State, and has a Master’s degree in History from the University of San Diego. Carrico has studied wine-making at UC Davis.

The event is free and open to the public. A tasting and book-signing will follow the presentation.

Professor Carrico departs the lush San Diego County vineyards to join us.

Show 217, April 1, 2017: Kim Murray, Proprietress, Beach House Winery, Oceanside

Kimberly MurrayOceanside’s Beach House Winery is an award-winning winery with all wines produced onsite. Two and one-half acres of the four-acre site are planted in vineyards.

The Winery offers unrivaled ocean and panoramic views of San Diego County, and is the first vineyard “Vigna al Mare” (Vineyard at the Sea) and winery established in this beautiful seaside community. The comfortable Tasting Room is open on Weekends and by appointment.

Beach House Winery’s pursuits are providing fine wines with time-honored processes to be enjoyed with family and friends.

Proprietress Kimberly Murray is our guide through the vineyard.

Show 124, May 30, 2015: “Diary of a Mad Hungry Woman” Blogger – Anita Lau

anita-lau-mad-hungry-womanAnita Lau is the well-known and closely followed Diary of a Mad Hungry Woman blogger. She principally shares her Orange County and San Diego finds with her followers but there is an occasional Los Angeles find along the way, too. Her prose comes to life with her accompanying food photos. We’ll catch-up with Anita with both a profile of a San Diego and Orange County restaurant.

A new favorite of hers in La Jolla is Catania, part of Whisknladle Hospitality. She is over the moon for their Charred Local Spot Prawns. “There are no words to describe how mind-blowingly delicious these plump crustaceans are.”

In Costa Mesa Anita raves over the pre-theater dining at Leatherby’s Café Rouge at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Executive Chef Ross Pangilinan (a previous guest on the show) puts a lot of creativity into planning these special menus themed with the shows.

“This blog is a journal of mostly my eating adventures, but also, other things I’m passionate about, including travel, the arts, and also, necessities to complete my life. Centered predominantly in and around Orange County, CA, some will extend to Los Angeles, San Diego and beyond. I am constantly searching for delicious food to eat and fun things to do, nothing is out of bounds. Sometimes it doesn’t end well, but I can definitely say, it will always be an interesting journey.”

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 53, December 21, 2013: Troy Johnson, Editor-at-Large & Food Critic of San Diego Magazine

Troy JohnsonTroy Johnson, the Food Critic of San Diego Magazine, represents the enthusiastic new breed of youthful restaurant journalists with a point-of-view.

You perhaps remember him on Food TV from his Cooking Channel series, “Crave.” He’s also one of the regular judges on Food Network’s new Sunday evening “Guy’s (Fieri) Grocery Games.”

There is a lot happening on the San Diego restaurant scene. The big noise is that chef and restaurateur Richard Blais is leaving his base in Atlanta to open Juniper & Ivy in the Little Italy area of San Diego. It will seat 200 when open so this is an ambitious project! Chef Blais is probably best known nationally for his multiple seasons on Bravo’s “Top Chef.”

In addition to his reviews in San Diego Magazine, Troy also writes about restaurant comings and goings in San Diego County.

Show 37, August 3, 2013: Kedric Francis, Executive Editor of Coast Magazine and the Orange County Register Magazine

Kedric Francis of Coast Magazine and the Orange County Register MagazineFirst Kedric previewed the Savor The Central Coast food and wine festival presented by Sunset Magazine and San Luis Obispo County. This is always a great event and there is a lot new for 2013. The dates are September 26th to 29th. The main event site is the Santa Margarita Ranch.

The featured celebrity chef is Michael Voltaggio of ink. and ink.sack in Los Angeles. You’ll remember him from Bravo’s “Top Chef” where, in his season’s finale, he bested his brother to win!

Montage Laguna Beach has their 2nd Annual “Surf with a Legend” weekend coming up Sept. 13th to 15th. In addition to the spectacular surfing guests enjoy a special BBQ created by the Resort’s Executive Chef, Rob Wilson.

Thoroughbred Racing is at Del Mar in San Diego County through Sept. 4th. At nearby Grand Del Mar, their Addison fine-dining restaurant is offering a series of culinary, winemaking, and mixology classes, continuing for the next few months.

In closing Kedric reminded that The Orange County Fair continues through next Weekend. He shared some useful tips for saving money while attending the Fair. Take advantage of the many family-friendly, free activities and exhibits!

Show 12, January 5, 2013: Anita Lau of the “Diary of a Mad Hungry Woman” Blog

Anita blogs about her dining adventures in Orange County and San Diego. She is not afraid to experience something new or adventurous. All of her informative and objective postings feature food photography to illustrate her meals. Very useful blog…

Anita shared some of her recent San Diego County dining.

First up was Valley View Casino near Escondido. This is a resort hotel and casino with a number of appealing dining options. Anita enjoyed her suite which actually had an impressive “valley view.”

Rib Eye at Black and Blue at Valley View CasinoThe fine-dining restaurant there is Black & Blue with is a upscale steakhouse with lots of seafood options, too. Her favorite dish was the 10 oz. Filet Mignon which she found “tender, flavorful, and cooked a perfect medium rare.”

Valley View is well-known for their lobster buffet which Anita partook of the next day. She consumed more of the tasty lobsters than she cares to admit to.

Menuderia Don Vicente in National CityAnita has had menudo all over California but it’s a dish that has been previously lost on her. A stop at Don Vicente Menuderia in National City changed all of that.

There was a 25 minute wait for a table so she knew she was in the right place. Anita was also the only non-Latino in the joint which was a plus. No Americanized, combo plate Mexican here…She loved the aroma of the tripe soup and the reaction upon tasting was “ahhhh, so so good!”

There are other Mexican specialties on the menu and the fresh tortillas are house-prepared.

January 5: Cathy Thomas, Linda Kissam, Anita Lau, Dean McDermott

Podcasts

Segment One: Cathy Thomas, long-time, award-winning Food Journalist for The Orange County Register and best-selling author Part One
Segment Two: Cathy Thomas, long-time, award-winning Food Journalist for The Orange County Register and best-selling author Part Two
Segment Three: Linda Kissam, Food, Wine & Travel Journalist, First Vice President of International, Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association
Segment Four: Anita Lau of the “Diary of a Mad Hungry Woman” Blog”
Segment Five: Cooking Channel star, Aarti Sequeira
Segment Six: Dean McDermott, actor. Dean is a celebrity contestant on Food Network’s “Rachael vs. Guy : Celebrity Cook-off” for Season 2

We’re starting off the New Year right with some fresh thinking on increasing our energy level and feeling good. We’ll also give some attention to contemplating travel opportunities for 2013 and how you can be better informed on the possibilities!

Cathy Thomas is the long-time, award-winning food writer for The Orange County Register. No writer is more knowledgeable or enthusiastic about the restaurant and food scene in Orange County.

Melissa's 50 Best Plants on the Planet CookbookCathy’s third book has just been released in hard cover. That’s Melissa’s 50 Best Plants On The Planet: The Most Nutrient-Dense Fruits and Vegetables, in 150 Delicious Recipes.

This carefully researched volume with beautiful, full-page color photos is not a diet book. It’s an easy to follow reference for adding more tasty fruits and vegetables to your diet. The big plus is more energy and you’ll be feeling good.

The Forward is by James Beard Award-winning chef Cheryl Forberg, RD who is the nutritionist for NBC’s The Biggest Loser series.

All of the recipes in the book really work in the home kitchen. The corporate chefs at Melissa’s tested every recipe in their modern test/research kitchen.

Did we say travel?

Linda Kissam joins the show. Linda is an accomplished (and seasoned) travel writer who was probably on the road last year more than she was home.

Linda is also the newly elected First Vice President of the International Food, Wine, & Travel Writers Association, a global group of credentialed food, wine and travel writers who endeavor to elevate the professionalism of their members.

Linda is part of a panel on Sunday afternoon, January 13th at The 8th Annual Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show at the Long Beach Convention Center. She will preview her panel and pass along some helpful travel tips.

Anita Lau of Mad Hungry WomanAnita Lau has to be one of the more fascinating food writes blogging about dining in Orange and San Diego Counties. Her entertaining blog is “Diary of a Mad Hungry Woman.” It’s always illustrated with helpful food photography of the dishes she samples.

Anita joins us to talk about one of her recent dining discoveries in San Diego County and her encounter with menudo in National City.

Jet and Producer Andy chat about some of their recent dining. Jet had a festive New Year’s Eve at Sotto (a really wonderful Italian restaurant) near Century City where there is a serious (and accomplished) chef in the kitchen.

Dean McDermottThe 2nd season of Food Network’s “Rachael vs. Guy : Celebrity Cook-off” launches on Sunday, Jan. 6th. This season was all shot in LA.

Celebrity contestant from “Team Guy,” Dean McDermott, joins the show to preview the frenetic 2nd season. He’s also known as “The Gourmet Dad.” Dean lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Tori Spelling, and their kids.

Podcasts

Segment One: Cathy Thomas, long-time, award-winning Food Journalist for The Orange County Register and best-selling author Part One
Segment Two: Cathy Thomas, long-time, award-winning Food Journalist for The Orange County Register and best-selling author Part Two
Segment Three: Linda Kissam, Food, Wine & Travel Journalist, First Vice President of International, Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association
Segment Four: Anita Lau of the “Diary of a Mad Hungry Woman” Blog”
Segment Five: Cooking Channel star, Aarti Sequeira
Segment Six: Dean McDermott, actor. Dean is a celebrity contestant on Food Network’s “Rachael vs. Guy : Celebrity Cook-off” for Season 2

Show 7: November 24, 2012: Chef Dean A. Thomas, Innkeeper (with his wife, Nicole) of The Inn At Europa Village and Executive Chef de Cuisine at Europa Village Winery and Tasting Room

The Inn at Europa Village is perched on its own private hilltop in the heart of the Temecula Valley Wine Country. Each of the newly renovated 10 rooms has a majestic view of the surrounding lush vineyards. The patio (where guests may enjoy breakfast) has a sweeping 180 degree view of the Valley.

Before he came to Temecula, Dean was the highly regarded Executive Chef of Barona Resort & Casino (the large Indian casino) in San Diego County. He supervised everything from fine-dining to the casual fare there.

Chef Dean brings that same impressive culinary tradition to breakfast at The Inn. Each morning Chef Dean and Nicole prepare a rotating, 2-course breakfast spectacular for their guests. A lot of the fruit comes from the Inn’s property or Dean’s organic garden at nearby Peltzer Farms. He typically makes his own condiments, salsas, and preserves.

Dean is also the unofficial concierge of the Temecula Valley. He offers superb, unbiased recommendation for activities and locals-only dining spots for lunch and dinner. It’s a very personalized experience tailored to the guests’ specific needs. Producer Andy recommends The Inn with enthusiasm as he’s been a frequent guest over the last two yearts.

They have a TravelZoo discount promotion coming up for a weekday stay so be looking for that.