Tag Archives: small plates

Show 628, May 24, 2025: Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine 2025 with Restaurateur & Wine Director Caroline Styne (A.O.C.)

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Caroline Styne of Lucques Restaurant Group

“The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association has announced the mouthwatering and diverse menus for the 2025 Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine season. Now into the tenth year with award-winning chef Suzanne Goin and restaurateur Caroline Styne, Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine promises exceptional dining for visitors to the iconic venue. Goin and Styne’s culinary history has defined Los Angeles tastes since 1998 when they opened Lucques, their legendary first restaurant.”

 “At the Hollywood Bowl, their California-inspired offerings include three restaurants and three marketplaces. Additionally, menus for the Terrace and Garden Boxes, which can be ordered a day in advance, are created by four-time James Beard Foundation award-winner Suzanne Goin. Goin’s vibrant new summer dishes pair beautifully with the exceptional wine and beer programs curated by Caroline Styne, the James Beard Foundation’s 2018 Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year award recipient. Overseeing the broad range of dining options serving Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine’s thousands of nightly guests is Executive Chef Erik Lopez.”

“Restaurateur Caroline Styne has curated a diverse retail wine selection in the three marketplaces at The Hollywood Bowl for Hollywood Bowl Food + Wine 2025. On the list are a broad selection of varieties and options for wine lovers visiting the Bowl. The markets feature a number of canned wines as well as a wide selection of vegan, organic and biodynamic bottles, including a collection of natural wines from producers including Broc Cellars, Wavy Wines, Nat Cool by Neipoort and Hollywood Bowl wine sponsor WINC wines. Returning for the 2025 season are the Wednesdays and Sunday Market Tastings – a 16-week program of complimentary wine tastings at the Plaza Marketplace with guest winemakers, importers and sommeliers hand-selected by Caroline to give the venue’s visitors an immersive and personal experience with her favorite people in the wine world.”

“Inspired by Suzanne and Caroline’s local a.o.c restaurant, Ann’s Wine Bar by a.o.c. features a wide selection of Caroline Styne’s favorite new- and old-world wines to be explored by adventurous and less experienced wine drinkers alike, all paired with Suzanne Goin’s signature small-plates menu.”

Caroline Styne is our guest with a proper corkscrew at the ready.

Show 564, February 10, 2024: Pine & Crane in Downtown Los Angeles – A Profile

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PINE & CRANE DTLA is a casual Taiwanese restaurant located artfully designed by Preen in the South Park neighborhood of downtown Los Angeles. This location follows up their original, far more compact restaurant in Silver Lake “and aims, as ever, to bring their guests delicious Taiwanese fare in a comfortable, modern setting. They are passionate about what they do, and take pride in preparing their food using simple, fresh ingredients.” 

“In addition to familiar favorites from the Silver Lake location, DTLA features dishes specific to DTLA, still offering a variety of small plates, traditional cold appetizers, dumplings, noodles, and rice dishes. Along with an extensive tea menu, Pine & Crane also features beer, wine, unusual whiskies and specialty cocktails.”

Standout dishes are the Dan Dan Noodles with sesame-peanut sauce, cucumber and cilantro ; Beef Roll with 5-spice beef, hoisin, cucumber and cilantro; and Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken.

They are currently open every day, with all day service running from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Breakfast Hours are 8 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and Lunch & Dinner Hours are 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Producer Andy Harris provides the salivating overview of Pine & Crane DTLA based on his recent dining experiences there. They really know hospitality and the staff is well-trained and helpful.

Show 532, July 1, 2023: Executive Chef Andie Hubka, Cork & Fork, Indio, CA Part One

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Andie Hubka of Platinum Hospitality Group

“Cork & Fork restaurant in Indio was born out of their Cooking School, Cooking with Class. What started as a weekly get together on Wednesday evenings inside the cooking school featured small plates and wines by the glass. Each week the list of attendees grew and grew until Executive Chef Andie Hubka was turning away more people than she could seat. The empty space next door suddenly became very appealing!

A big move to a new location in 2023 saw the addition of twice the seating, a full bar and private dining rooms. The rest as they say, is history!”

This is casual fine dining at its best. The menu features creative small plates ranging from classic comfort to exotic fusion. Chef Andie uses the highest quality ingredients and shops locally, organically and sustainable whenever possible. Cork & Fork’s Mix, Match, Share & Enjoy philosophy allows you to choose your own adventure and order many small plates to share, or let the chef choose for you if you’d like with their Seasonal Tasting Menu.”

“Cork & Fork offers an eclectic list of affordable wines by the glass and bottles to share, with perfect pairing advice for each of their tasty dishes. The wine list features important varietals and award-winning winemakers from around the world, with an emphasis on food friendly wines.”

Chef Andie Hubka takes a break from her busy kitchens to join us.

Show 455, December 11, 2021: Chef / Proprietor Ross Pangilinan, Terrace by Mix Mix, South Coast Plaza Part One

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Ross Pangilinan of Mix Mix Kitchen Bar

“TERRACE by Mix Mix at South Coast Plaza focuses on well-priced, market-driven small plates. The cuisine showcases Chef Ross Pangilinan’s (Mix Mix Kitchen Bar (Santa Ana,) ReMix Kitchen Bar (Long Beach)) eclectic style, which is influenced by French, Italian, and modern Filipino flavors, as well as his refined technique. An approachable wine list offers varietals by the glass and bottle as well as rotating craft beers.”

“True to its name, the restaurant showcases full-service dining for Lunch, Dinner and Weekend Brunch in a beautifully designed covered terrace located at the west end of the Bridge of Gardens. Features include a small wine bar, an open kitchen and a chef’s table counter offering an omakase-style tasting menu experience.”

A highlight at Terrace by Mix Mix is the three-course Express Lunch menu changing frequently. A sample entrée is Salmon Paella with sofrito, market vegetables, parmesan and gremolata.

Chef Ross Pangilinan also provides creative off-site catering.

Chef Ross takes a break from his busy Holiday kitchens and joins us.

Show 455, December 11, 2021: Chef / Proprietor Ross Pangilinan, Terrace by Mix Mix, South Coast Plaza Part Two

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Ross Pangilinan of Mix Mix Kitchen Bar

“TERRACE by Mix Mix at South Coast Plaza focuses on well-priced, market-driven small plates. The cuisine showcases Chef Ross Pangilinan’s (Mix Mix Kitchen Bar (Santa Ana,) ReMix Kitchen Bar (Long Beach)) eclectic style, which is influenced by French, Italian, and modern Filipino flavors, as well as his refined technique. An approachable wine list offers varietals by the glass and bottle as well as rotating craft beers.”

“True to its name, the restaurant showcases full-service dining for Lunch, Dinner and Weekend Brunch in a beautifully designed covered terrace located at the west end of the Bridge of Gardens. Features include a small wine bar, an open kitchen and a chef’s table counter offering an omakase-style tasting menu experience.”

A highlight at Terrace by Mix Mix is the three-course Express Lunch menu changing frequently. A sample entrée is Salmon Paella with sofrito, market vegetables, parmesan and gremolata.

Chef Ross Pangilinan also provides creative, off-site catering.

“Chef Ross’ passion for cuisine started at a young age and he has since crafted it with a remarkable background of culinary experience including studying at Le Cordon Bleu, working at the two-Michelin-starred Les Trois Marche in France, the Patina Restaurant Group‘s Pinot Provence and Patina, where they earned a Michelin star in 2007, opening Sinatra within Encore at the Wynn in Las Vegas, and as executive chef of Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Pangilinan opened Mix Mix Kitchen Bar in Downtown Santa Ana to rave reviews in 2016 and was named Restaurant of the Year by Orange Coast Magazine and Best New Restaurant by the Golden Foodie Awards.”

Chef Ross takes another break from his busy Holiday kitchens and continues.

Show 393, October 3, 2020: Mayfield Restaurant and Market, San Juan Capistrano Part One

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George Barker of Mayfield Restaurant and MarketMayfield Restaurant & Market is an ambitious, modern California restaurant and market located in Downtown San Juan Capistrano in an extensively refurbished historic building. It’s on two levels and includes a comfortable covered patio. The menu has a Mediterranean and Levant flair and there is also an extensive cocktail list created by a serious Mixologist along with an ample selection of craft beers and natural wines. All of the ingredients are organic.

Friday through Saturday (and Sunday afternoon) is their Supper Club menu. It’s served family-style. The menu categories (with choices in each area) include Rip and Dip, Small Plates, Large Plates and Desserts. Already attracting a following is the Za’atar Fried Chicken with hot honey, house ranch and house pickles. (Wednesday and Thursday evenings it’s an a la carte menu with dishes designed to be shared.)

The daytime, a la carte menu (served Wednesday through Sunday,) offers menu categories of Dips, Breakfast Bits and Lunch Dishes.

The Mayfield Market is stocked with food products Chef Jayro makes in-house and items Mayfield uses and loves. They carry anything to do with eating and drinking well, including pantry items, natural wines, homeware, cookbooks and more.

Proprietor George Barker and Executive Chef Jayro Martinez join us with all the tempting details.

Show 393, October 3, 2020: Mayfield Restaurant and Market, San Juan Capistrano Part Two

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George Barker of Mayfield Restaurant and MarketMayfield Restaurant & Market is an ambitious, modern California restaurant and market located in Downtown San Juan Capistrano in an extensively refurbished historic building. It’s on two levels and includes a comfortable covered patio. The menu has a Mediterranean and Levant flair and there is also an extensive cocktail list created by a serious Mixologist along with an ample selection of craft beers and natural wines. All of the ingredients are organic.

Friday through Saturday (and Sunday afternoon) is their Supper Club menu. It’s served family-style. The menu categories (with choices in each area) include Rip and Dip, Small Plates, Large Plates and Desserts. Already attracting a following is the Za’atar Fried Chicken with hot honey, house ranch and house pickles. (Wednesday and Thursday evenings it’s an a la carte menu with dishes designed to be shared.)

The daytime, a la carte menu (served Wednesday through Sunday,) offers menu categories of Dips, Breakfast Bits and Lunch Dishes.

The Mayfield Market is stocked with premium food products Chef Jayro makes in-house and items Mayfield uses and loves. They carry anything to do with eating and drinking well, including pantry items, natural wines, homeware, cookbooks and more.

Proprietor George Barker and Executive Chef Jayro Martinez continue the conversation.

Show 292, September 29, 2018: Food Finders’ “Chefs to the Rescue Benefit” featuring “Edible Extras,” Long Beach

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Philip PrettyFood Finders, an established food recovery nonprofit, is hosting the 3rd annual “Chefs to the Rescue”, a fundraising event on Tuesday, October 9th from 6 – 9pm in Long Beach.

For this unique event, Food Finders is challenging prominent local chefs to create “Edible Extras”; tasting samples and small plates made from perfectly tasty and safe rescued, recovered or repurposed food that otherwise would end up being tossed away.

“We are making inroads on reducing hunger and food waste, but we have a ways to go, so this event is designed to remind people that food and water are precious commodities,” said Patti Larson, executive director of Food Finders. “We’re continuing this theme not only because it remains timely, but aligns perfectly with our mission—and everyone loves the food created but these popular local chefs!”

Participating Chef Philip Pretty of Long Beach’s Restauration and Food Finders’ Patti Larson (Executive Director) join us.

Show 123, May 23, 2015: Executive Chef/Proprietor Andrew Kirschner, Santa Monica Yacht Club and Tar & Roses, Santa Monica

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Andrew Kirschner

Before he ventured out on his own to open the popular Tar & Roses in Santa Monica in 2012, Executive Chef Andrew Kirschner was best known as Executive Chef and partner at Wilshire, also in Santa Monica.

Now Chef Kirschner is expanding his restaurant empire with the launch of the Santa Monica Yacht Club located a short walk away from Tar & Roses on Santa Monica Blvd. Unlike Tar & Roses with its emphasis on the wood-burning grill the focus at SMYC is on seafood with small plates. Also different from Tar & Roses is that SMYC has a full bar.

“With Tar & Roses Kirschner aims to share a restaurant that speaks to his travels and deeply ingredient-focused food philosophy. With influences from around the world and the rustic touch of a wood-burning oven, quality ingredients and bold flavors combine to create a menu that merges classical cuisine with modern sensibilities.”

Andrew Kirschner is our guest.

Show 86, August 30, 2014: Executive Chef Shirley Chung of TWENTY Eight

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Shirley ChungYou’ll remember the always opinionated Chef Shirley Chung (Las Vegas – based) as a finalist in Season 11 of Bravo’s “Top Chef.”

Prior to her ride to fame on “Top Chef” she held the Executive Chef position at China Poblano by Jose Andres at The Cosmopolitan.

Chef Shirley is opening a modern Chinese restaurant in Irvine at the end of September. “I like my cuisine to tell a story,” commented Chef Shirley, who has developed the innovative menu of sharable plates for TWENTY EIGHT. “My inspiration for this menu is reflective of my childhood years in Beijing, my past experiences, and my travels, all of which have inspired me to push the envelope.”

“In addition to the menu of modern Chinese specialties, diners can look forward to an enticing Dim Sum and Small Plates menu, a full bar with a focus on craft cocktails, and private dining options for both large and small gatherings.”