Show 375, May 30, 2020: Chef Frank Ostini of Hitching Post 2 Restaurant & Hitching Post Wines

Frank Ostini of Hitching Post IIIt’s hard to believe but until fairly recently Hitching Post Wines (made famous in the Oscar-winning 2004 feature motion picture, “Sideways,”) never had a tasting room. That all changed for the better in August of 2018 when acclaimed winemakers Gray Hartley and Frank Ostini debuted a mid-century farmhouse, destination Tasting Room (with the bonus of lunch service delivered from Hitching Post 2) adjacent to Chef Ostini’s prominent Hitching Post 2 Restaurant in Buellton.

The Tasting Room is still on temporary hiatus but Hitching Post 2 has reopened for pick-up and delivery. Hitching Post Wine packages available, too. Lunch service with wine available by the glass has returned outside under a covered canopy in the picnic area adjacent to the Tasting Room. (Closed on Monday & Tuesday.)

“The Hitching Post 2 blends traditional Santa Maria Barbecue with eclectic local ingredients and award -winning wines for an exciting cuisine that is uniquely its own.”

Chef Frank has put together an impressive Take Home Dinner for Four (Hitching Post BBQ Box) that is delivered to Los Angeles (pick-up at Mar Vista Restaurant every other Tuesday) via Los Alamos Delivers. It includes 1 lb. Prime Top Sirloin Steak, 1 lb. Natural Pork Back Ribs, ½ BBQ’d Fresh Natural Chicken and sides of BBQ’d Baked Potatoes, Rice Pilaf, Assorted Vegetables, Roots Farm Green Salad, Garlic Bread and Salsa. Comes chilled and ready to re-warm at home.

We nudge Chef Frank away from his Santa Maria style BBQ grill to share the details.

Show 236, August 12, 2017: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris

Now a tantalizing preview of this Saturday’s abundant show. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case, upon careful reflection, that’s probably a pretty good thing…

The new The Mar Vista restaurant in the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles is a chef-driven, food-first experience with locally sourced farm-to-table ingredients, unusual & rare- label wines and an eclectic lineup of live music. The culinary personalities behind it are Executive Chefs D. Brandon Walker and Jill Davie. It’s dinner nightly and Sunday Brunch. We’ll meet “Chef D.”

Out regular contributor, Anita Lau, “diary of a Mad Hungry Woman” blogger, is just back from a visit to the ever-evolving Hong Kong. She will share a pair of her memorable Hong Kong dining experiences, Haku and Ju Xing Home. It’s the last Weekend of DINE LBC Long Beach Restaurant Week. Anita has her Top 10 picks posted on her Website but provides us with two suggestions for now or future dining.

When we last visited Victor Novak, the accomplished Brewmaster for Golden Road Brewing, he had just started brewing in Anaheim in a new facility located just across the street (E. Orangewood Ave.) from Angel Stadium. In addition to the existing Taproom a distinctive brewery restaurant and expansive outdoor beer garden are moving toward completion. Victor joins us with the effervescent update.

The Meatheads from West Coast Prime Meats, Terry Hanks and Jay Henderson, are back with us. In the smoker is advancing the great BBQ debate about which rates higher between Brisket and Tri-Tip. The Meatheads have spirited opinions. Also, some good information on the lesser known cuts of beef that are worthy of your attention, versatile and value priced.

Nutritionist & Chef Patricia Greenberg runs The Fitness Gourmet ushering in a new era of bite-size livable health, nutrition and fitness solutions. Her new cookbook, written with her teen-age daughter, Gabriella, is Scrumptious Sandwiches, Salads and Snacks – Simple, healthy recipes, for school, work and home. We’ll chat about healthy eating that also tastes good with The Fitness Gourmet.

CHAYA Downtown has established a popular tradition of hosting an annual summer festival. On now for weekdays through August 31st is the CHAYA Downtown Summer Festival 2017. It’s a Japanese beer garden, yakitori, sorbet cocktails, sake, video games, air hockey, foosball, shuffleboard and more. Second generation CHAYA proprietor Yuta Tsunoda joins us with the celebratory 411.

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s show!

Show 236, August 12, 2017: Chef D. Brandon Walker, The Mar Vista, Los Angeles

Derek Brandon WalkerThe new The Mar Vista restaurant in the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles is a chef-driven, food-first experience with locally sourced farm-to-table ingredients, unusual & rare-label wines and an eclectic lineup of live music. The culinary personalities behind it are Executive Chefs D. Brandon Walker and Jill Davie. It’s dinner nightly and Sunday Brunch.

The Mar Vista’s menu, affectionately dubbed progressive Los Angeles cuisine, features renditions of local favorites enhanced by wide-ranging flavors from L.A.’s diverse communities. Walker, Davie, and Chef de Cuisine Jorge Rivas infuse dishes with flavors from North Africa, Central America, Asia, and the Mediterranean to represent the varied diaspora. Daily specials, a Brazilian churrasco, and Davie’s signature Cranked, a tableside device that uses vintage grinders to make “ugly” fruit into granita, complete the offerings.

Further enriching the community-driven concept, The Mar Vista presents live music performances on Friday and Saturday evenings with a late-night menu accompanying the mellow sounds from a bluegrass or jazz band, among others.

We’ll meet the always energetic “Chef D.”

 

August 12: The Mar Vista, Mad Hungry Woman, Golden Road Brewing, West Coast Prime Meats, Patricia Greenberg, CHAYA Downtown

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chef D. Brandon Walker, The Mar Vista, Los Angeles
Segment Three: Anita Lau, diary of a Mad Hungry Woman Blogger. Travels in Hong Kong
Segment Four: Brewmaster Victor Novak, Golden Road Brewing Part One
Segment Five: Brewmaster Victor Novak, Golden Road Brewing Part Two
Segment Six: The Meatheads from West Coast Prime Meats, Terry & Jay. For Best in BBQ is it Brisket or Tri-Tip?
Segment Seven: Patricia Greenberg, The Fitness Gourmet. Scrumptious Sandwiches, Salads and Snacks
Segment Eight: CHAYA Downtown Summer Festival, Yuta Tsunoda, President, CHAYA Restaurants

Now a tantalizing preview of this Saturday’s abundant show. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case, upon careful reflection, that’s probably a pretty good thing…

The new The Mar Vista restaurant in the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles is a chef-driven, food-first experience with locally sourced farm-to-table ingredients, unusual & rare- label wines and an eclectic lineup of live music. The culinary personalities behind it are Executive Chefs D. Brandon Walker and Jill Davie. It’s dinner nightly and Sunday Brunch. We’ll meet “Chef D.”

Out regular contributor, Anita Lau, “diary of a Mad Hungry Woman” blogger, is just back from a visit to the ever-evolving Hong Kong. She will share a pair of her memorable Hong Kong dining experiences, Haku and Ju Xing Home.

When we last visited Victor Novak, the accomplished Brewmaster for Golden Road Brewing, he had just started brewing in Anaheim in a new facility located just across the street from Angel Stadium. In addition to the existing Taproom a distinctive brewery restaurant and expansive outdoor beer garden are moving toward completion. Victor joins us with the effervescent update.

The Meatheads from West Coast Prime Meats, Terry Hanks and Jay Henderson, are back with us. In the smoker is advancing the great BBQ debate about which rates higher between Brisket and Tri-Tip. Also, some good information on the lesser known cuts of beef that are worthy of your attention and value priced.

Nutritionist & Chef Patricia Greenberg runs The Fitness Gourmet ushering in a new era of bite-size livable health, nutrition and fitness solutions. Her new cookbook, written with her teen-age daughter, Gabriella, is Scrumptious Sandwiches, Salads and Snacks – Simple, healthy recipes, for school, work and home. We’ll chat about healthy eating that also tastes good with The Fitness Gourmet.

CHAYA Downtown has established a popular tradition of hosting an annual summer festival. On now for weekdays through August 31st is the CHAYA Downtown Summer Festival 2017. It’s a Japanese beer garden, yakitori, sorbet cocktails, sake, video games, air hockey, foosball, shuffleboard and more. CHAYA proprietor Yuta Tsunoda joins us with the celebratory 411.

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s show!

Derek Brandon WalkerThe new The Mar Vista restaurant in the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles is a chef-driven, food-first experience with locally sourced farm-to-table ingredients, unusual & rare-label wines and an eclectic lineup of live music. The culinary personalities behind it are Executive Chefs D. Brandon Walker and Jill Davie. It’s dinner nightly and Sunday Brunch.

The Mar Vista’s menu, affectionately dubbed progressive Los Angeles cuisine, features renditions of local favorites enhanced by wide-ranging flavors from L.A.’s diverse communities. Walker, Davie, and Chef de Cuisine Jorge Rivas infuse dishes with flavors from North Africa, Central America, Asia, and the Mediterranean to represent the varied diaspora. Daily specials, a Brazilian churrasco, and Davie’s signature Cranked, a tableside device that uses vintage grinders to make “ugly” fruit into granita, complete the offerings.

Further enriching the community-driven concept, The Mar Vista presents live music performances on Friday and Saturday evenings with a late-night menu accompanying the mellow sounds from a bluegrass or jazz band, among others.

We’ll meet the always energetic “Chef D.”

Anita Lau of Mad Hungry WomanOut regular contributor, Anita Lau, diary of a Mad Hungry Woman” blogger, is just back from a visit to the ever-evolving Hong Kong. She will share a pair of her memorable Hong Kong dining experiences, Haku and Ju Xing Home.

“Haku is a French concept using predominantly Japanese ingredients. The restaurant is a collaboration between Chef Hideaki Matsuo of Kashiwaya in Osaka, Japan, and Chef Agustin Balbi, who is Argentinian. Chef Balbi has spent many years in Japan and his menu is a reflection of the aesthetically stunning cuisine, but is also, well thought out and exquisitely executed.”

Ju Xing Home is where Michelin-starred chefs go when they’re off duty, and wanting a bite before heading home for the night. “Chef/Owner Mr. Ng is a humble man who takes immense pride in preparing dishes for his customers. He is in the kitchen, personally cooking every single dish which hits the table.”

Victor Novak and his Blueberry Mocha Stout from Golden Road BrewingWhen we last visited Victor Novak, the accomplished Brewmaster for Golden Road Brewing, he had just started brewing in Anaheim in a new facility located just across the street from Angel Stadium. In addition to the existing Taproom a distinctive brewery restaurant and expansive outdoor beer garden are now moving toward completion.

In a fun historical footnote Victor and his brewmaster team and now brewing in Anaheim on the original 15- barrel brewing system that started Golden Road Brewing in their initial Atwater Village brewery in 2011.

The Anaheim Taproom is open 7 days a week. It features a rotating selection of 20 Golden Road styles and beer is also available to-go.

There is convenient & ample on-site parking. Here’s a great tip…On game-days at The Big A guests can park at Golden Road, partake of The Taproom and then walk across Orangewood to Angel Stadium.

Victor joins us with the effervescent update.

Golden Road’s year-round offerings include Wolf Pup Session IPA, Point the Way IPA, Golden Road Hefeweizen, Get Up Offa That Brown and Wolf Among Weeds IPA. Along with the core beers, Golden Road brewers are constantly experimenting with the freshest ingredients through a collection of rotating, seasonal and limited-edition brews including the Custom IPA Series, a line-up of diverse, hop-forward IPAs.

The Anaheim Taproom is open 7 days a week. It features a rotating selection of 20 Golden Road styles and beer is also available to-go.

Santa Maria style Trip Tip from West Coast Prime MeatsThe Meatheads from West Coast Prime Meats, Terry Hanks and Jay Henderson, are back with us. In the smoker is advancing the great BBQ debate about which rates higher between Brisket and Tri-Tip.

Also, some good information on the lesser known cuts of beef that are worthy of your attention and value priced. The round primal is a good example.

Patricia GreenbergNutritionist & Chef Patricia Greenberg runs The Fitness Gourmet ushering in a new era of bite-size livable health, nutrition and fitness solutions.

Her new cookbook, written with her teen-age daughter, Gabriella, is Scrumptious Sandwiches, Salads and Snacks – Simple, healthy recipes, for school, work and home. The book contains 50 light and nutritious recipes using ingredients that you already have in your kitchen. It’s a perfect resource for back to school.

As a working parent, a teenager, a busy professional, single parent, young couple, or caretaker, this collection of scrumptious, simple, and healthy recipes will help you learn to prepare foods that taste good and are good for you. For on the go, as well as at home, made with readily available ingredients that are simple to prepare.

We’ll chat about healthy eating that also tastes really good with The Fitness Gourmet.

Yudo Tsunoda of Chaya BrasserieCHAYA Downtown has established a popular tradition of hosting an annual summer festival. On now on weekdays through August 31st is the CHAYA Downtown Summer Festival 2017. It’s a Japanese beer garden, yakitori, sorbet cocktails, sake, video games, air hockey, foosball, shuffleboard and more.

To partake of the celebration, come relax and bask in the lantern-covered Japanese Beer Garden located on the CHAYA patio while savoring a rare Japanese Whisky and cold premium Sapporo, or sip a Sparkling Sake or CHAYA Downtown’s special house-made Sangria. For those that want to cool down and indulge, CHAYA Downtown will also be preparing two refreshing and delicious Yuzu and Cherry Blossom Summer Sorbet Cocktails.

For those craving that perfect summer bite, CHAYA Downtown Executive Chef Joji Inoue is firing up the Yakitori Grill and has you covered with his Chicken,Tsukune and Shisito & Mushroom Yakitori Skewers for just $2.50 each. Chef Inoue is also preparing his Tako Tacos with grilled octopus, Asian slaw and wasabi Miso for $4, Fried Noodles made with pork belly, cabbage and pickled ginger for $6, Grilled Squid with a chili-miso dipping sauce for $12, and summer’s finest grilled Corn on the Cob with a sweet soy glaze for $4. And for the sweet tooth lovers, there is a choice of three Sweet CrepesMatcha and Azuki BeansNutella and Strawberry or the Banana Crème for just $7 each.

Any guests ready for some good old-fashioned summer fun after a long workday can enjoy a friendly game of air hockeyshuffleboardfoosball or choose from a selection of over 25 classic video games, all while reminiscing summers past.

The CHAYA Downtown Summer Festival will run every Monday through Friday from 4:00 pm to close throughout the month of August and through August 31st, 2017 on the patio at CHAYA Downtown

CHAYA proprietor Yuta Tsunoda joins us with the celebratory 411.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Chef D. Brandon Walker, The Mar Vista, Los Angeles
Segment Three: Anita Lau, diary of a Mad Hungry Woman Blogger. Travels in Hong Kong
Segment Four: Brewmaster Victor Novak, Golden Road Brewing Part One
Segment Five: Brewmaster Victor Novak, Golden Road Brewing Part Two
Segment Six: The Meatheads from West Coast Prime Meats, Terry & Jay. For Best in BBQ is it Brisket or Tri-Tip?
Segment Seven: Patricia Greenberg, The Fitness Gourmet. Scrumptious Sandwiches, Salads and Snacks
Segment Eight: CHAYA Downtown Summer Festival, Yuta Tsunoda, President, CHAYA Restaurants