Show 549, October 28, 2023: Atlantic City, NJ Dining Gems with Adam Bell, Creative Guru for “SoCal Restaurant Show”

Adam Bell of dataTV

Adam Bell is our accomplished, long-time Website and Social Media maven. He’s a foodie in good-standing with a particular affinity for the best in regional pizza, distinctive craft beer, and artisan coffee brewed from freshly roasted and ground, fair-trade coffee beans.

Adam was recently in Atlantic City for a few days. Earlier in his career he lived there for a number of years. Adam avoided the heavily-hyped restaurants in the big Hotel Casino Resorts and, instead, renewed his acquaintance with the smaller establishments (representing better value) oozing with local character that the residents frequent.

Along the way Adam will profile the Mancuso Family’s Angelo’s Fairmount Tavern a locals’ hang since 1935 with a ton of history. It’s an iconic red sauce Italian spot with meatballs that still truly amaze.

Show 456, December 18, 2021: Sammy’s Original, Lake Forest, with General Manager / Partner Scott Terheggen

“Since 2014 Sammy’s Original in Lake Forest has been the welcoming place to go in South Orange County for upscale sports bar food, craft cocktails, tap beers, live entertainment and premiere Mini Satellite Horse Wagering.” The handsome, well-appointed and spacious interior features 120 Hi-Def Television screens. There is plenty of on-site parking.

Breakfast is served until 12 Noon daily. Think Breakfast Enchiladas with scrambled eggs and Jack and Cheddar cheese…Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 2:00 p.m., to 7:00 p.m. with both beverage and snack specials.

All the pizzas (12”) are created using house-prepared dough and sauce. New pizza additions include Ham & Pineapple and White with chicken breast, red onion and green onion.

The pastas are prepared in-house. The Lasagna with Nana’s meat sauce and Mozzarella and Ricotta is from one of the proprietor’s mother’s family recipes. All the soups and salad dressings are prepared from-scratch.

We were intrigued to see (and sample) Cincinnati Spaghetti, a regional favorite, on the menu. It’s Spaghetti topped with Sammy’s chili, Jack and Cheddar cheese and white onions served with garlic bread. A hearty dish to be sure for a cold Winter day.

There are beverages aplenty. Typically there are 12 rotating beers on tap in addition to a wide variety of bottled beers including domestic, imported and craft selections. A signature cocktail is the Mango Peach Passion with Absolut Mango Vodka, passion fruit puree, DeKuyper Peachtree and pineapple juice.

Partner and General Manager Scott Terheggen is our guest.

Show 323, May 11, 2019: Brian Kurata, General Manager, Lagasse’s Stadium, Las Vegas

Brian Kurata at Lagasse's StadiumFor the 4rd time in the show’s history we’re happily broadcasting from Lagasse’s Stadium at The Palazzo. It’s a sport’s fan’s and foodies’ paradise. Lagasse’s Stadium is the ultimate sports bar: a restaurant with stadium-seating featuring elevated game-time classics and gourmet options from Emeril Lagasse. Executing Chef Emeril’s culinary vision in the kitchen on a daily basis is long-time Chef de Cuisine, Scott Pajak.

Watch the most exciting games and biggest sporting events at Lagasse’s Stadium, the ultimate ages 21 and over sports bar and sports book in Las Vegas.

“Named “Best Sports Bar in Las Vegas” by Las Vegas Golf & Leisure, Lagasse’s Stadium combines Emeril Lagasse’s signature cuisine and kicked-up game day eats with more than 100 HD TVs including a 9 foot x 16 foot main TV, luxury boxes, plush stadium-style seating, billiard tables, and an outdoor patio just steps from the Strip.”

“Guests can listen to any game showing via the free hearTV app on their smartphone. Now, you’ll never have to choose between great food and the big game.”

Named “Best Sports Lounge” by Vegas Seven, “Best Sports Bar” by Las Vegas Review-Journal and one of the “Top Sports Bars in Las Vegas” by Yahoo! Sports and one of the “10 Best Sports Bars Across the USA” by USA Today.

Brian Kurata, the able General Manager since 2013, is our insightful Coach.

Show 201, December 10, 2016: Chef Scott Pajak, Chef de Cuisine, Lagasse’s Stadium, The Palazzo Resort, Las Vegas

Scott PajakScott Pajak is the Chef de Cuisine at the high volume Lagasse’s Stadium at The Palazzo. It sets the standard for Sports Bars in Sin City. He’s been with Emeril Lagasse since 2002 and was promoted to his current position in May of 2011.

Growing up in Lancaster, NY, Scott Pajak could often be found in the kitchen – cooking chicken noodle soup and sauces with his grandparents, or helping his dad tend the grill and savoring the smoky aroma of barbecue.

While studying at UNLV, he worked in numerous restaurants around Las Vegas, including Planet Hollywood, New York New York Casino and TPC Country Club, where he prepared meals for participants on the PGA Tour.

In 2002, Pajak entered the kitchen at Emeril Lagasse’s seafood eatery Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House as a line cook. Over the next 9 years, he would work in nearly every position in Lagasse’s kitchen, from saucier to butcher, eventually rising to the post of sous chef. He helped write the restaurant’s daily menus and showed off his creativity as he cooked for guests at the chef’s kitchen table.

For Monday Night Football Chef Scott adds nightly specials creatively themed to the cities of the teams playing. For “Big Game” Sunday viewing Chef Scott is featuring a Tomahawk Bone-In 32 oz. Ribeye with Mashed Potatoes. The guest can kick it up with the addition of Sauteed Mushrooms & Onions, Sauteed Lump Crabmeat, Seared Foie Gras, Sauteed Lobster Meat or Alaskan Mini Crab Legs.

Chef Scott also has appealing specials for Christmas Eve & Day 2016 as well for New Year’s Eve.

Bring on the kicked-up wings and we’ll talk hearty tailgate food (and more) with Chef Scott.

Show 151, December 19, 2015: Scott Pajack, Chef de Cuisine, Lagasse’s Stadium, The Palazzo, Las Vegas

Scott PajakThis show originated from Lagasse’s Stadium at The Palazzo. The chef de cuisine here is Scott Pajak. We visit with Chef Scott and learn why this isn’t you average sports bar and is actually a preferred destination for discerning Las Vegas locals as well as visitors. It’s consistently rated as the Number 1 Sports Bar in Vegas.

“Lagasse’s Stadium at The Palazzo kicks off a new breed of sports bar – this sports book, restaurant and entertainment club has enough to distract even the most committed fan.

Chef, sports enthusiast and tailgating-pro Emeril Lagasse has lowered the lights and turned up the heat with crave-worthy kicked up game-day fare. Experience a whole new take on tailgating, with freely flowing brews on tap, refreshing cocktails, hi-def action on over 100 screens, and couches that just won’t let you go.

Watch the most exciting games and biggest sporting events at Lagasse’s Stadium, the ultimate ages 21 and over sports bar and sports book in Las Vegas.”

Let’s talk about the food…Think a chicken sandwich is kind of pedestrian? Not to Chef Scott at Lagasse’s Stadium. Here it’s a Grilled Marinated Free Range Chicken Sandwich. It’s a tender chicken breast with lettuce, tomato and Applewood smoked bacon with black pepper mayo and served on griddled ciabatta bread.

Show 55, January 4, 2013: Sean E. Brown, Executive Chef, ESPN Zone of Anaheim

Sean Brown of the ESPN Zone in AnaheimThe ESPN Zone in Anaheim in Downtown Disney is the last of the ESPN Zone’s so it’s a special place. ESPN television and radio is owned by Disney and it’s an enormous profit center for the parent corporation.

Besides being the primo sports viewing complex of choice in the area there is a welcome new direction in the food. The new executive chef, Sean E. Brown, is committed to serving the best in homestyle American comfort food. Let’s talk about the brined pork chop special for instance.

Chef Sean spent ten years cooking in Hawaii before returning to the mainland so fresh and local is part of his repertoire! He wants to be part of the community and especially welcomes Orange County locals to stop-by and say hello.

Look for a new lunch menu in the near future. Currently they offer an all-day menu. Also look for new signature BBQ items coming in time for Super Bowl Sunday!