Show 554, December 2, 2023: 3rd Annual Long Beach International Tamale Festival

Long Beach promoter Sal Flores

“The 3rd Annual Long Beach International Tamales Festival will take place December 9, 2023. The wildly popular holiday event will take place at Long Beach City College PCH campus located at 1350 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Long Beach, 1:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. and will include music, food, drinks, performances, Best Homemade Tamale Contest and more.

“Organized by Long Beach Home + Living, a local lifestyle multimedia outlet, the event is devoted to celebrating the diverse Tamale-making restaurants, pop-ups and food trucks around Long Beach. The event is designed to be a medium to bring everyone to the table, from all walks of life, to showcase the city’s diverse Latin food scene featuring holiday tamales.”

“As somebody who grew up with this holiday tradition, I remember making tamales with my grandma and my tias, sharing great family stories, going to la plaza and seeing all the Christmas decorations, the folklorico dancers, the music, but best of all; eating delicious tamales on Christmas Eve together as a family,” stated co-organizer Sal Flores. “I want people to feel right at home, to embrace the Latino culture and history, while introducing what may be a new holiday tradition to people from different backgrounds.” Sal Flores joins us with a plate of freshly steamed traditional tamales in hand.

Show 541, September 2, 2023: Restaurateur & Chef Katherine Gonzalez, Mija Handcraft Kitchen, Culver City Part One

Katherine Gonzalez of Mija Handcraft Kitchen by Chula

Mija Handcraft Kitchen in Culver City is an artisan eatery featuring a variety of modern Mexican fare inspired by the Californian lifestyle. Made with locally-sourced ingredients, all of their made-from-scratch recipes are vibrant, unique, delicious, and oh so bueno!”

“Mija Handcraft Kitchen is now open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Pop champagne with friends, enjoy a refreshing cocktail or celebrate with a special bottle of wine to compliment their modern delicious California Mexican dishes made from local ingredients.

“Chef and owner, Katherine Gonzalez, was raised in Southern Arizona. Her mother’s family migrated from Chihuahua, Mexico, and her father’s family from Spain. Growing up, there was always a pot of beans cooking, freshly made flour tortillas, salsa, and sopas fideo. Every celebration featured warm and delicious comfort food including her mother’s famous tamales, chips, and fresh salsas.”

“Katherine’s love for heritage-inspired dishes began at a young age while cooking with her mama. After years of watching her mother in the kitchen, Katherine began learning how to make her signature tamales, chips, and salsa. Over time, Katherine began to experiment with her family’s recipes to create different flavor profiles. She spent many hours learning the secrets to vibrant and tasty dishes which she is proud to share through Chúla Artisan Eatery in La Quinta and, now, Mija Handcraft Kitchen!”

Chef Katherine takes a break from her busy kitchen to join us with a plate of the signature Mom’s Chilaquiles in hand.

Show 541, September 2, 2023: Restaurateur & Chef Katherine Gonzalez, Mija Handcraft Kitchen, Culver City Part Two

Katherine Gonzalez of Mija Handcraft Kitchen by Chula

Mija Handcraft Kitchen in Culver City is an artisan eatery featuring a variety of modern Mexican fare inspired by the Californian lifestyle. Made with locally-sourced ingredients, all of their made-from-scratch recipes are vibrant, unique, delicious, and oh so bueno!”

“Mija Handcraft Kitchen is now open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Pop champagne with friends, enjoy a refreshing cocktail or celebrate with a special bottle of wine to compliment their modern delicious California Mexican dishes made from local ingredients.

“Chef and owner, Katherine Gonzalez, was raised in Southern Arizona. Her mother’s family migrated from Chihuahua, Mexico, and her father’s family from Spain. Growing up, there was always a pot of beans cooking, freshly made flour tortillas, salsa, and sopas fideo. Every celebration featured warm and delicious comfort food including her mother’s famous tamales, chips, and fresh salsas.”

“Katherine’s love for heritage-inspired dishes began at a young age while cooking with her mama. After years of watching her mother in the kitchen, Katherine began learning how to make her signature tamales, chips, and salsa. Over time, Katherine began to experiment with her family’s recipes to create different flavor profiles. She spent many hours learning the secrets to vibrant and tasty dishes which she is proud to share through Chúla Artisan Eatery in La Quinta and, now, Mija Handcraft Kitchen!”

Chef Katherine takes a break from her busy kitchen to join us with a plate of the signature Chula Chip & Salsa Flight at the ready.

Show 489, September 3, 2022: L.A. Weekly’s Food Editor, Michele Stueven on The Tam O’Shanter at 100 Part One

Michele Stueven of LA Weekly

The venerable and architecturally significant Tam O’Shanter in Atwater Village is celebrating it’s 100th birthday this year. Always a favorite of Walt Disney it’s currently overseen by the fourth-generation of the founding Frank and Van de Kamp families. Their CEO (Ryan O’Melveny Wilson) is an accomplished chef.

A culmination of the anniversary festivities was a six-course centennial repast held in mid-July. The elaborate Sunday dinner highlighted significant dishes from various eras of the Tam’s historic past. Of course the signature Lawry’s Prime Rib with Yorkshire Pudding was on the evening’s menu. Would you believe beef tamales, too?

LA Weekly’s well-respected Food Editor, Michele Stueven, was the co-host. Michele joins us to recap the memorable evening and the historical significance of the Tam O’Shanter on the Los Angeles restaurant scene.

Show 489, September 3, 2022: L.A. Weekly’s Food Editor, Michele Stueven on The Tam O’Shanter at 100 Part Two

Michele Stueven of LA Weekly

The venerable and architecturally significant Tam O’Shanter in Atwater Village is celebrating it’s 100th birthday this year. Always a favorite of Walt Disney it’s currently overseen by the fourth-generation of the founding Frank and Van de Kamp families. Their CEO (Ryan O’Melveny Wilson) is an accomplished chef.

A culmination of the anniversary festivities was a six-course centennial repast held in mid-July. The elaborate Sunday dinner highlighted significant dishes from various eras of the Tam’s historic past. Of course the signature Lawry’s Prime Rib with Yorkshire Pudding was on the evening’s menu. Would you believe beef tamales, too (and there is a story behind that)?

LA Weekly’s well-respected Food Editor, Michele Stueven, was the co-host. Michele continues with us to recap the memorable evening and the historical significance of the Tam O’Shanter on the ever-changing Los Angeles restaurant scene.

Show 335, August 3, 2019: Executive Chef / Partner Yvon Goetz, The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar

Yvon Goetz of the Winery Restaurant and BarIt’s the start of the short, but eagerly anticipated, Hatch Chile season. To celebrate Executive Chef/Partner Yvon Goetz of The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar in Tustin is hosting a Roasting & Toasting on the Vineyard Hatch Chile afternoon celebration at the original The Winery.

On the menu are beer, Tequila and live music along with a Hatch Chile roasting. Chef Yvon is preparing an incredible assortment of Hatch Chile hors d’oeuvres including Hatch Chile Braised Pulled Pork Tacos and Hatch Chile and Butternut Squash Tamales.

Every guest departs with a copy of the Melissa’s Hatch Chile Cookbook by Sharon Hernandez (Melissa’s Co-Founder) and Melissa’s Corporate Chef Ida Rodriguez and a tote of fresh Hatch Peppers.

Chef Yvon turns up the flavorful heat for us.

Show 287, August 25, 2018: FOODBEAST’s SPAM Restaurant Month

Geoff KutnickFor the entire month of August, FOODBEAST is bringing you SPAM® Restaurant Month! This month-long event showcases the versatility of SPAM® and its place on the restaurant scene nationwide, from fast-casual to fine dining concepts. Think $100 Gold SPAM® Musubis in San Francisco to SPAM® Tamales in Orlando.

FOODBEAST has curated an impressive lineup of concepts across the United States to share their SPAM® creations. Each item is what FOODBEAST likes to call ‘FOODBEAST Approved’ for taste, creativity and newsworthiness, pushing restaurants to unprecedented lengths of SPAM® innovation.

FOODBEAST’s Geoff Kutnick opens the tin for us on these wild chef-driven creations.

Show 26, April 27, 2013: Nancy Zaslavsky, “A Cook’s Tour to Mexico”

Nancy is an author, serious home cook, cooking instructor and tour leader with a love of the culture, cuisine, and people of Mexico. She also is an active board member of the Culinary Historians of Southern California.

Her highly recommended culinary tours to various regions of Mexico are always small groups including chefs, food professionals and food-and-fun loving people in search of dynamic tastes in stimulating environments.

Nancy just returned from guiding a food tour of Morelia and Patzcuaro in Michoacan.
On June 1st is her popular L.A. Mexican Market Tour & Lunch”. It’s a whirlwind tour of Nancy’s favorite wholesale Mexican food markets in downtown Los Angeles. Also on the tour is a terrific bakery stocked with pan dulce and their famous tamales.

The final stop on the excursion is lunch at La Casita Mexicana. Nancy was a judge there for their challenge on “Bobby Flay’s Throwdown” seen on Food Network