Podcasts
Hour One: Pasta Sisters, Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens
Hour Two: Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens, Tony Abou-Ganim, Andrew Gruel
Segment One: Show Introduction with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segments Two and Three: Ferragosto Helms Design District Preview with Pasta Sisters Giorgia Sinatra
Segments Four and Five: Restaurateur & Chef Rich Mead – 10th Anniversary of Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens, Corona del Mar
Segments Six and Seven: Tony Abou-Ganim – The Modern Mixologist, Las Vegas
Segment Eight: “Ask the Chef” with Chef Andrew Gruel of Calico Fish House and Show Co-host
“Pasta Sisters, the popular Italian restaurant celebrated for its scratch-made pasta and generational family recipes, is teaming up with Helms Design District to bring the Italian summer tradition of Ferragosto to Southern California. The free, street fair-style event is open to all ages and takes place Saturday, Aug. 15, from 1 to 6 p.m. For one day only, the historic Helms campus will transform into an Italian-inspired piazza filled with a vibrant array of local food and beverage vendors, entertainment, and family activities.” Pasta Sisters’ Giorgia Sinatra joins us with the preview.
“For the past decade, Chef Rich Mead’s Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens has become one of Southern California’s defining farm-to-table dining destinations by honoring the people behind every plate. This month, Farmhouse will commemorate its 10th anniversary with an extraordinary one-night-only culinary experience, followed by additional events and special programming throughout September. On Thursday, August 20, Farmhouse Owner and Executive Chef Rich Mead will host the Friends of Farmhouse 10th Anniversary Dinner, an elevated, intimate dining experience celebrating the farmers, artisans, ingredients and community that have shaped the restaurant since opening in 2016.” Chef Rich Mead takes a break from shopping at the ever- popular Santa Monica Farmers Market to join us.
“Tony Abou-Ganim, The Modern Mixologist, is a world-renowned bar professional and beverage consultant, known for his pioneering contributions to mixology. He has appeared on national TV shows like TODAY and Iron Chef America, where he is a three-time champion. Tony is the author of The Modern Mixologist and Vodka Distilled and has hosted both virtual and in-person cocktail-making demonstrations, as well as the Fine Living series Raising the Bar.” His latest venture (a true labor of love) is the restoration of The Brass Rail in Port Huron, Michigan established in 1937.” Tony moves from behind the bar to join us.
Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (located in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) now joins us with his timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries. Chef Andrew (as a Father of four) is a long-time proponent of cooking healthy (and delicious,) keeping it simple while cooking and stretching the food shopping dollars. He was the first chef contributing to a new online cooking series, “The Real Food Show,” available on You Tube. He prepares crispy wild Alaskan salmon cakes with an apple, white bean and greens salad. The budget is a respectable $5 per serving. Chef Andrew provides us with the overview.
All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s not-to-miss show!
“Pasta Sisters, the popular Italian restaurant celebrated for its scratch-made pasta and generational family recipes, is teaming up with Helms Design District to bring the Italian summer tradition of Ferragosto to Southern California. The free, street fair-style event is open to all ages and takes place Saturday, August 15th, from 1 to 6:00 p.m. For one day only, the historic Helms campus will transform into an Italian-inspired piazza filled with a vibrant array of local food and beverage vendors, entertainment, and family activities.” Pasta Sisters’ Giorgia Sinatra joins us with the preview.
“Highlights include a beer garden from Father’s Office; live music; baby dance-alongs (in Italian) led by nonprofit language school Fondazione Italia; an Orto Farms produce stand featuring heirloom Italian and DOP-certified varietals; complimentary Caffe Luxxe espresso; gelato from award-winning Dolcenero; cheese, salumi, and olive oil tastings from Sogno Toscano; Pasta Sisters pasta-making demonstrations; an IKEA family fun lawn; and more.”
“Ferragosto is a widely celebrated summer holiday in Italy. Rooted in centuries-old tradition and originating as a day of rest following an intense harvest season, today it’s marked by family gatherings, outdoor celebrations, abundant food and drink, and often seaside visits. Ferragosto at Helms embraces the spirit of this Italian celebration, while adding a local twist by bringing together community businesses from Culver City and beyond.”
“Ferragosto is one of our favorite days of the year back home. It’s about slowing down, being together, and enjoying summer,” said Giorgia Sinatra, Creative Director and one of the “sisters” behind Pasta Sisters. “We wanted to bring that same spirit to our Helms community: good food, good music, and a whole neighborhood out celebrating summer together.” Participants include Helms Design District shops and restaurants offering Ferragosto-inspired activations for the day and community partners popping up to offer samples, sell goods, educate, or create a unique experience for the occasion.”
“The celebration will also give back: Ferragosto at Helms is collecting school supplies for A Child’s Dream, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing essential items and resources to children in underserved local communities. Attendees are encouraged to bring new backpacks and unused school supplies to the event, where they will be collected throughout the day.”
“For the past decade, Chef Rich Mead’s Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens has become one of Southern California’s defining farm-to-table dining destinations by honoring the people behind every plate. This month, Farmhouse will commemorate its 10th anniversary with an extraordinary one-night-only culinary experience, followed by additional events and special programming throughout September.”
On Thursday, August 20th, Farmhouse Owner and Executive Chef Rich Mead will host the Friends of Farmhouse 10th Anniversary Dinner, an elevated, intimate dining experience celebrating the farmers, artisans, ingredients and community that have shaped the restaurant since opening in 2016.” Chef Rich Mead takes a break from shopping at the ever-popular Santa Monica Farmers Market to join us.
“Designed for just 100 guests, the community table-style dinner will feature a five-course menu with thoughtfully curated wine and cocktail pairings, showcasing the seasonal ingredients and local partnerships that have become synonymous with the Farmhouse experience.”
“While Farmhouse celebrates ten years this year, the philosophy behind the restaurant began long before its doors opened. Since 1994, Chef Rich Mead has made weekly early-morning trips to the Santa Monica Farmers Market, personally selecting the freshest seasonal ingredients while building enduring relationships with California’s most respected farmers, ranchers and purveyors. Those friendships became the heart of Farmhouse’s ever-changing menus, inspiring guests to discover the best of each season with every visit.”
“Proceeds from the evening will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, supporting the organization’s mission to provide nutritious food and hope to children, families and seniors throughout Orange County.”
“Created exclusively for the anniversary dinner, the menu will feature collaborations with acclaimed guest chefs and many of the growers and purveyors who have helped define Farmhouse over the past decade, including guest chefs Cathy McKnight, Paddy Glennon, Paul Buchanon and Shachi Mehra; local farmers Alex Weiser, Peter Shaner and Troy Regier; and additional longtime Farmhouse partners. Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy stories behind each course, meet many of the people who grow and produce the featured ingredients and experience firsthand the philosophy that has made Farmhouse one of Orange County’s most celebrated culinary destinations.”
“Farmhouse has always been about much more than serving great food,” said Chef Rich Mead. “It’s about honoring the incredible people who grow it, raise it, harvest it and inspire every menu we create. For more than 30 years, I’ve had the privilege of building relationships with California’s top sustainably minded farmers and producers. This dinner is our opportunity to recognize them, thank the guests who have supported us over the past decade and kick off a month of anniversary festivities.”
“Tony Abou-Ganim, The Modern Mixologist, (Las Vegas-based) is a world-renowned bar professional and beverage consultant, known for his pioneering contributions to mixology. He has appeared on national TV shows like TODAY and Iron Chef America, where he is a three-time champion. Tony is the author of The Modern Mixologist and Vodka Distilled and has hosted both virtual and in-person cocktail-making demonstrations, as well as the Fine Living series Raising the Bar.”
“His mixology journey began at Michigan’s Brass Rail Bar and led to groundbreaking roles at iconic venues such as San Francisco’s Balboa Café and Bellagio Las Vegas, where he helped launch the beverage program in 1998, taking the beverage industry to new heights. He is the managing partner at Libertine Social inside Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, and collaborates with the team at Royal Caribbean to develop innovative beverage programs for their newest ships.”
Tony’s latest project (he’s truly come full circle) is the restoration of his cousin’s, Helen David’s, The Brass Rail Bar (circa 1937) in Port Huron, Michigan. It’s where he got his start. The Rail was a place to appreciate the classic cocktail. This venture is a true labor of love. In her memory (breast cancer survivor) Tony established the Helen and David Relief Fund which is a charity that benefits bartenders undergoing cancer treatments.
According to Tony: “The Rail was a classy neighborhood joint, where on any given evening you would see nurses bellied up next to lawyers, sitting next to fireman, construction workers, police officers, the mayor… all walks of life met and imbibed at The Rail…”
Tony puts down his cocktail shaker and joins us with us with a property prepared Old Fashioned at the ready.
Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (located in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) now joins us with his timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries.
Chef Andrew (as a Father of four) is a long-time proponent of cooking healthy (and delicious,) keeping it simple while cooking and stretching the food shopping dollars. He was the first chef contributing to a new online cooking series, “The Real Food Show,” available on You Tube. He prepares crispy salmon cakes with and apple, white bean and greens salad. The budget is a more than respectable $5 per serving. Chef Andrew provides us with the overview.
Andrew Gruel’s Family Cookbook is available with signed copies at his Calico Fish House on Pacific Coast Highway in Sunset Beach.
Podcasts
Hour One: Pasta Sisters, Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens
Hour Two: Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens, Tony Abou-Ganim, Andrew Gruel
Segment One: Show Introduction with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segments Two and Three: Ferragosto Helms Design District Preview with Pasta Sisters Giorgia Sinatra
Segments Four and Five: Restaurateur & Chef Rich Mead – 10th Anniversary of Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens, Corona del Mar
Segments Six and Seven: Tony Abou-Ganim – The Modern Mixologist, Las Vegas
Segment Eight: “Ask the Chef” with Chef Andrew Gruel of Calico Fish House and Show Co-host
