Show 444, September 25, 2021: George Geary with Made in California – The California-Born Burger Joints, Diners, Fast Food & Restaurants That Changed America Part Two

Cookbook Author George Geary

Made In California – The California-Born Burger Joints, Diners, Fast Food & Restaurants That Changed America chronicles the history and influence of some of America’s best-known California-born restaurants.”

A&W Root Beer. Foster’s Freeze. IHOP. Der Wienerschnitzel. See’s Candies. Jack in the Box. You name the American food icon, and chances are its roots are in California. Food historian and chef George Geary tells the remarkable stories of the early 20th-century food startups that captured America’s hearts and stomachs, from Bob’s Big Boy to McDonald’s, Winchell’s Donuts to In-N-Out, Peet’s Coffee to Taco Bell. With more than 200 historic and contemporary photos.”

“George Geary is the author of many hit books, including L.A.’s Legendary Restaurants and The Cheesecake Bible. He is a cooking teacher, pastry chef, culinary travel guide, and in-demand public speaker. A California native, he lives in the Los Angeles area.”

In 2022 look for George Geary’s sequel to his 2016 L.A.’s Legendary Restaurants book (with recipes.)

George Geary continues with us with a 2nd cup of Peet’s Coffee in hand.

Show 268, April 7, 2018: Nancy Luna, Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News

Nancy LunaOrange County food fans know Nancy Luna as the Orange County Register’s long-time restaurant beat writer since 2005. Earlier in the year she moved on to the respected trade publication, Nation’s Restaurant News in the position of Senior Editor. Her new national beat is the restaurant industry’s largest and most talked about fast-food brands including McDonald’s, Starbucks, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Subway.

Luna is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton. When she’s not digging for news on her beat, you can find Nancy regaling her fans about her latest dining adventures on her Fast Food Maven social media channels. Follow her on Twitter @fastfoodmaven.

Nancy invites her followers to Subscribe to the daily e-newsletter from NRN.

We’ll meet her.

Show 27, May 4, 2013: Gustavo Arellano, Editor of OC Weekly and creator of the syndicated and wildly popular, “Ask a Mexican” column

Gustavo Arellano of Ask a MexicanGustavo’s latest book, Taco USA – How Mexican Food Conquered America is now in paperback.

First Gustavo discussed the history of Cinco de Mayo and the fact that it’s a pretty minor holiday in Mexico. The large beer distribution entities in the United States have created (with great marketing) a festive holiday around the day in the States. It’s all a great excuse to increase beer sales!

Then it was on to the history of the taco. In Mexico references to “tacos” date to the 1880s. In the US the name first appeared about 1915.

In Mexico the hard shell taco originated in Central Mexico. The soft shell variation wasn’t popularized in homes until the 1960s.

Whether the shell was made of flour or corn depended on the region. In Northern Mexico, for instance, it was typically made with a flour tortilla.

Burritos were always made with flour tortillas.

The breakfast taco first became popular in Texas.

Gustavo is not a fan of the tacos served at Taco Bell but thinks the breakfast tacos at Del Taco are “not bad.”

Show 24, April 6, 2013: Gustavo Arellano, Editor of The OC Weekly & author of Taco USA – How Mexican Food Conquered America

Gustavo Arellano of Ask a MexicanTaco USA is Gustavo’s third book and he gave us the background of how the project originated. This is a thoughtful, well-researched history of Mexican food in the United States.

The book is overflowing with great stories. One of the best is how Glen Bell developed the taco for the original Taco Bell. It actually wasn’t his creation but he learned from a master in San Bernardino…