Grilled Street Corn on the Cob (aka Mexican Street Corn)

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Adam Bell

Closeup of Grilled Street Corn on the Cob

Recipe excerpt from:
Melissa’s World Variety Produce
by Chef Tom Fraker

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 6

Also known as “elote” in Spanish, this grilled corn is a favorite for picnics, BBQs, tailgating, or backyard pool party.

Ingredients

6 ears fresh corn, unhusked
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
6 tablespoons Mayonnaise, divided
1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese or shredded Parmesan cheese
Melissa’s Hatch Chile Powder
1 lime (cut into wedges)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Roast the corn for 25 mintues. Let cool for 5 minutes, then pull the husks down in layers, leaving them attached to the base of the cob.
Remove the silk and discard.
While the corn is still warm, spread each ear with some of the butter and 1 tablespoon of the mayonnaise.
Sprinkle each ear of corn with cheese, then dust with a little hatch chile powder.
Finish with a squirt of lime.

Roasted Hatch Pepper Mac ‘N’ Cheese

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Adam Bell

Recipe excerpt from:
Melissa’s World Variety Produce
by Chef Tom Fraker

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Serves: 2

Ingredients

1 (16-ounces) box Cavatappi or Macaroni pasta
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (½ cup)
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1 cup crema or Crème Fraîche
½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 cups pre-shredded Cheddar-Jack Cheese (about 8 ounces)
2 cups pre-shredded gouda cheese (about 8 ounces)
1½ teaspoons smoked paprika, divided
Salt
Freshly ground white pepper
4 fresh Hatch Peppers, charred, peeled, stems and seeds removed, finely diced
¾ cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

Directions

Prepare pasta according to package directions; drain. Drizzle with about 1 tablespoon oil to keep pasta from sticking.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Coat insides of 6 (6×2-inch) foil loaf pans with cooking spray.
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; whisk in flour until a smooth paste is formed, about 3 minutes. Whisk in milk, crema, and nutmeg until smooth; whisk in cheeses until completely melted. Whisk in 1 teaspoon paprika; whisk in salt and white pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
Add pasta and Hatch Pepper to cheese mixture; toss together. Pour evenly into prepared pans.
In a bowl, combine remaining 2 tablespoons oil, remaining ½ teaspoon paprika, and breadcrumbs; stir in salt to taste.
Sprinkle evenly over pasta mixture.
Bake at 350°F until bubbly and lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes. Serve.

Hatch Chile Deviled Eggs

Posted on August 1, 2025 by Adam Bell

Recipe excerpt from:
Hatch Pepper Cookbook
by Melissa’s World Variety Produce

12 large eggs
½ cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon dry mustard
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons Melissa’s Hatch Chile Powder

In a large pot, combine the eggs with enough cold water to cover by 1 inch. Set the pot over high heat and bring the water to a boil. When the water comes to a boil, remove the pot from the heat, then cover and let sit for 17 minutes.

Transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water. When they are cool enough to handle, carefully peel the eggs and rinse them. Slice each egg in half lengthwise. Remove the yolks and transfer them to a mixing bowl. Reserve the whites.

Mash the yolks with a fork. Add the mayonnaise, mustard, and relish. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Mix until creamy.

Pipe or scoop the yolk mixture into the reserved egg white halves. Arrange on a platter or serving dish and sprinkle with Hatch Chile powder. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve, up to 24 hours.

Melissa’s Endive Boats

Posted on May 30, 2025 by Adam Bell

Belgian Endive Boat at Melissa's World Variety Produce

by Tom Fraker
Melissa’s World Variety Produce

1 head Belgian Endive – base cut off; leaves separated
1 Asian Pear – diced small
1 Org. Hunnyz Apple – diced small
1 cup Mini Midnight Watermelon – diced small
¼ cup Melissa’s Organic Snax™ Dry Roasted & Salted Almonds – chopped
¼ cup Melissa’s Organic Snax™ Dry Roasted & Salted Cashews – chopped
½ cup Crumbled Blue Cheese
To Taste Melissa’s Habanero Hot Honey
6 tablespoons Melissa’s Sea Bean – diced small

Fill the endive leaves in the order of the ingredients beginning with the Asian pear and ending with the blue cheese. Finish with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of the sea bean and serve. Makes 14-16 boats.

Show 440, August 28, 2021: Chef / Proprietor Marco Zapien, Zapien’s Salsa Grill, Hatch Chile Festivities Part One

Posted on August 29, 2021 by Adam Bell

Marco Zapien of Zapiens Salsa Grill and Taqueria

“Hatch Chile Pepper season is here and Zapien’s Salsa Grill is ready to turn on the roasters and get creative with the bright green, glossy pepper’s limited annual availability”.

“For the eleventh year, the restaurant and Chef / Proprietor Marco Zapien are making a late Summer celebration of the unique Hatch Chile, hosting both a Hatch Chile Roast and Hatch Chile Cooking Demo.”

“This year’s Hatch Chile Roast on Saturday, Sept. 4 from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. will be back to its normal format with the roasters directly outside the restaurant along with other unique Hatch Chile items available for sale.” While the roasting is going on the restaurant will feature Hatch Chile menu specials for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Think Hatch Enchiladas Suizes with creamy Hatch-salsa verde for starters.

“The 2021 roast will be bigger than ever with more roasters running to eliminate wait-times.”

“It’s strongly suggested that cases are reserved in advance. You can select the level of spice – from mild to very hot. Each case is $45 and includes 25 pounds of Hatch Chiles.”

“Chef Marco Zapien’s Hatch Chile cooking demonstration is Wednesday, September 8th at 6 p.m. Participants will learn how to make several Hatch Chile recipes.” The menu, now available, will include highlights of Chef MZ’s creativity such as Hatch Pozole Tostada, Hatch Pepper Braised Short Ribs and Spiced Chocolate – Banana Cream Pie Chimichanga for a properly decadent dessert. All guests will receive a copy of the all-new Melissa’s Hatch Pepper Cookbook which Chef Marco contributed to supporting the culinary efforts of Melissa’s Sharon Hernandez (Co-Founder,) Chef Ida Rodriguez and Chef Tom Fraker.

“Recipes for more than seven different Hatch Chile dishes, including dessert, will be demonstrated and then served for all to enjoy. Class goers will take home recipes and step-by-step directions.”

“And what would a Chef Marco cooking demo be without a raffle? Prizes will range from official Salsa Grill swag to other crave-worthy Melissa’s Produce Hatch Chile signature products.”

Chef Marco Zapien continues as our guest with freshly roasted Hatch Chiles in hand.

Show 440, August 28, 2021: Chef / Proprietor Marco Zapien, Zapien’s Salsa Grill, Hatch Chile Festivities Part Two

Posted on August 29, 2021 by Adam Bell

“Hatch Chile Pepper season is here and Zapien’s Salsa Grill is ready to turn on the roasters and get creative with the bright green, glossy pepper’s limited annual availability”.

“The 2021 roast will be bigger than ever with more roasters running to eliminate wait-times.”

“It’s strongly suggested that cases are reserved in advance. You can select the level of spice – from mild to very hot. Each case is $45 and includes 25 pounds of Hatch Chiles.”

“And what would a Chef Marco cooking demo be without a raffle? Prizes will range from official Salsa Grill swag to other crave-worthy Melissa’s Produce Hatch Chile signature products.”

Chef Marco Zapien continues as our guest with freshly roasted Hatch Chiles in hand.

Hatch Clam Chowder

Posted on August 8, 2021 by Adam Bell

Recipe excerpt from:
Melissa’s Hatch Pepper Cookbook
by Tom Fraker
Melissa’s World Variety Produce

To Steam the Clams:

1/4 cup Water
1/2 cup Chicken Broth
6 cloves Melissa’s Peeled Garlic – crushed
2 pounds Fresh Clams – cleaned (See Instructions below)

Using a large skillet with a lid, bring the water, chicken broth, and garlic to a boil. Add the clams into the skillet and place the lid on top. Cook for 5-10 minutes. Watch closely. Once all the clams have opened, remove from heat immediately. Do not overcook – your clams will be rubbery. Reserve some of the liquid for use in the chowder, and scoop the meat out of the shells.

For the Chowder:

4 ears Fresh Corn – Husks and Silks Removed
8 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, divided use
Freshly Ground Black Pepper – to taste
1/2-pound Bacon – chopped
2 Melissa’s Perfect Sweet Onions – diced
8 cloves Melissa’s Peeled Garlic – minced
2 ribs Celery – ends trimmed; finely chopped
2 Fresh Hatch Roasted Peppers – peeled; chopped
1/2 cup All-Purpose Flour
6 cups Whole Milk
2 cups Heavy Cream
2 Bay Leaves
2 Yukon Potatoes – peeled; cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 tablespoons Melissa’s Red Hatch Powder
Fresh Chopped Cilantro for Garnish
Melissa’s Hatch Pepper Salsa for Garnish

Prepare a hot grill. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter, brush onto the corn and season with the pepper. Grill until completely slightly charred.

Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp. Add the onion and the next 3 ingredients. Cook until the onions are translucent. Stir in remaining butter. Add the flour and stir to combine. Slowly whisk in the milk and cream. Add the bay leaves and potatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer about 15 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender. Remove the bay leaves and stir in the corn and the clams (chopped, if desired). Simmer until heated through. Adjust the seasonings and garnish with the cilantro and salsa. If you want more clam flavor, add some of the reserved steaming liquid. Makes about 12 servings.

Note: Cleaning Clams
In a large bowl, combine 4 cups of cold water with 1/3 cup of salt. Place all clams that passed your inspection into the bowl. Refrigerate for 20 minutes. Transfer clams into a new clean bowl with a new salt and water mixture. Refrigerate for another 20 minutes. This process draws the dirt out of the clams. If any clams float to the top during this process instead of settling at the bottom, discard them.

Remove clams from the water, but do not pour into a strainer. Pouring everything into a strainer can put dirt back into the clams. Use your hands or a slotted spoon.

Finally, brush the outsides of the shell with a vegetable brush to remove any remaining dirt from the outside of the shell.

Show 244, October 14, 2017: Show Preview with Co-Hosts Andy Harris & Chef Andrew Gruel

Posted on October 16, 2017 by Adam Bell

Andy Harris and Andrew Gruel at the Fifth Anniversary of the SoCal Restaurant Show Now a tempting preview of Saturday October 14^th’s properly decadent & celebratory 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…

It’s our special 5^th Anniversary Show. Pop the Champagne corks. Thanks so much for being part of our audience and joining in the festivities. The show is live from the state-of- the art Test / Demonstration Kitchen at Melissa’s World Variety Produce’s Vernon complex. We’ll encore some great guests from the past 5 years and also look to the future.

Robert Schueller of Melissa’s is our resident authority on all things fruits and vegetables. If it’s legally grown (or imported) in the United States and Robert doesn’t know about it then it probably doesn’t exist!

Today it’s the best of the season including Melissa’s Dutch Yellow Potatoes, Pearl Onions, Dragon Apples, Winter Crunch Grapes, Steamed Beets and Lentils. Also, Melissa’s new and expanding line of Clean Snax.

Over the past decade at The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar, Partners JC Clow, William Lewis and Chef Yvon Goetz have created quite a stir by successfully pairing chef-driven, contemporary California regional cuisine, with a hip, vibrant, sophisticated setting, to create a cutting-edge dining experience. Located at The District in Tustin and on the Bay in Newport Beach, The Winery was named “Restaurant of the Year” by the Orange County Concierge Association in its first year in business. The 3^rd location of The Winery Restaurant will launch before year’s end in La Jolla in Westfield UTC. Restaurateur and Managing Partner JC Clow, the master of welcoming service and gracious hospitality, is our guest.

Celebrity Chef Jet Tila (Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen with Alton Brown”) was the original Co-host of the “SoCal Restaurant Show” in late 2012, 2013 and 2014. His new cookbook which is already generating a wok-ful of deserved praise is 101 Asian Dishes You Need To Cook Before You Die. Just launched is Jet’s new 5-part video series on Facebook, Authentically Asian with Jet Tila. Just this last week Chef Jet earned a new certified Guinness World Record for creating the largest California Roll done with students at SUNY Purchase College. Jet joins us.

Food journalist Cathy Thomas has been the highly-regarded food columnist for the Orange County Register for over 26 years. Most of that time was as the greatly respected Food Editor. In addition to that she is the online columnist for Orange Coast Magazine where you can view many of her entertaining and informative cooking videos featuring area and celebrity chefs. She also is the author of the well-received, first three Melissa’s cookbooks which remain valued reference guides. We get Cathy away from the cutting board for a chat.

Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, cook, lifestyle personality, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, The Perfect Blend,, and creator of The Blender Girl Smoothies app with Random House. She shares her enthusiasm for healthy living at theblendergirl.com. We’ll meet her.

Tom Fraker, a Melissa’s Corporate Chef and the manager of the Melissa’s Corporate Test Kitchen, came to cooking late as a second career. He spends a great deal of time creating practical & tested recipes that can be prepared in the home kitchen with ease. As a high-profile Melissa’s representative he participates in special events, trade shows, and culinary functions throughout the country. We’ll chat with Chef Tom about choosing and cooking with peppers.

Chef Andrew Gruel rejoins us after launching the first Slapfish in New Mexico in Albuquerque. Chef Andrew and Lauren dine out often with their young son, William. We’ll get Chef Andrew’s thoughts about managing young kids in restaurants and what the parents’ responsibilities are.

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

Show 244, October 14, 2017: Tom Fraker, Melissa’s Corporate Chef & Test Kitchen Manager

Posted on October 16, 2017 by Adam Bell

Tom Fraker, a Melissa’s Corporate Chef and the manager of the Melissa’s Corporate Test Kitchen, came to cooking late as a second career. He was the oldest student in his class at the California School of Culinary Arts Le Cordon Bleu and was the recipient of a lot of teasing.

As a high-profile Melissa’s representative he participates in special events, trade shows, and culinary functions throughout the country. He also creates many of the great, tested recipes on the genuinely useful Melissa’s Website that are designed to be easy-to-prepare winners in home kitchens.

We’ll chat with Chef Tom about choosing and cooking with peppers. We’ll be highlighting recipes from Melissa’s The Great Pepper Cookbook – The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Cooking with Peppers. On the menu are items like Crab Stuffed Cucumber Cups, Devlish Deviled Eggs, Brussels and Kale Sprouts Salad, Potato and Cauliflower Bake, Pollo en Crema, Chile-Lime-Jackfruit Puffs and Apple Cinnamon-Chile Crumb Cake.

Tom created most of the recipes for Melissa’s The Great Pepper Cookbook – The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Cooking with Peppers. These were all represented on the buffet in the Melissa’s Test Kitchen for the audience to enjoy at the 5^th Anniversary celebration of the “SoCal Restaurant Show.”

October 14: SoCal Restaurant Show’s 5th Anniversary!

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Adam Bell

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Hosts Andy Harris & Chef Andrew Gruel
Segment Two: Robert Schueller, Melissa’s Prince of Produce
Segment Three: JC Clow, Founding Managing Partner, The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar
Segment Four: Chef Jet Tila, 101 Asian Dishes You Need To Cook Before You Die
Segment Five: Food Journalist & Author Cathy Thomas
Segment Six: Tess Masters, The Blender Girl
Segment Seven: Tom Fraker, Melissa’s Corporate Chef & Test Kitchen Manager
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel, Slapfish and Trade’s Two Birds & Butterleaf

Now a tempting preview of this Saturday’s properly decadent & celebratory 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…

It’s our special 5^th Anniversary Show. Pop the Champagne corks. Thanks so much for being part of our audience and joining in the festivities. The show is live from the state-of- the-art Test / Demonstration Kitchen at Melissa’s World Variety Produce’s Vernon complex. We’ll encore some great guests from the past 5 years and also look to the future.

Over the past decade at The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar, Partners JC Clow, William Lewis and Chef Yvon Goetz have created quite a stir by successfully pairing contemporary California regional cuisine, with a hip, vibrant, sophisticated setting, to create a cutting-edge dining experience. Located at The District in Tustin and on the Bay in Newport Beach, The Winery was named “Restaurant of the Year” by the Orange County Concierge Association in its first year in business. The 3^rd location of The Winery Restaurant will launch before year’s end in La Jolla in Westfield UTC. Restaurateur and Managing Partner JC Clow, the master of welcoming service, is our guest.

Celebrity Chef Jet Tila (Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen with Alton Brown”) was the original Co-host of the “SoCal Restaurant Show” in 2012 and 2013. His new cookbook which is already generating a wok-ful of deserved praise is 101 Asian Dishes You Need To Cook Before You Die. Just launched is Jet’s new video series on Facebook, Authentically Asian with Jet Tila. Jet joins us.

Cathy Thomas has been the highly-regarded food columnist for the Orange County Register for over 26 years. Most of that time was as Food Editor. In addition to that she is the online columnist for Orange Coast Magazine where you can view many of her entertaining and informative cooking videos featuring area and celebrity chefs. We get Cathy away from the cutting board for a chat.

Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, cook, lifestyle personality, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, The Perfect Blend, and creator of The Blender Girl Smoothies app with Random House. She shares her enthusiasm for healthy living at theblendergirl.com. We’ll meet her.

Tom Fraker, a Melissa’s Corporate Chef and the manager of the Melissa’s Corporate Test Kitchen, came to cooking late as a second career. As a high-profile Melissa’s representative he participates in special events, trade shows, and culinary functions throughout the country. We’ll chat with Chef Tom about choosing and cooking with peppers.

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

This morning it’s the best of the season including Melissa’s Dutch Yellow Potatoes, Pearl Onions, Green Dragon Apples, Winter Crunch Grapes, Steamed Beets and Lentils. Also, Melissa’s new and expanding line of Clean Snax.

“Dutch Yellow Potatoes from Idaho are considered waxy as they remain dense and moist when cooked. The DYP also cooks a lot quicker than other kinds of potatoes. It is also the only potato variety that is not light sensitive, so it does not turn a greenish hue when exposed to light for an extended length of time.”

Melissa’s new CLEAN SNAX® comes in seven tasty mixes: Almond, Pumpkin Seed, Coconut, Quinoa, Cranberry, Carrot Cake, and Matcha.

Each convenient clamshell package contains 5-6 servings of delicious bite-sized squares that are packed with nutrient-dense ingredients like chia and flax seeds, nuts and more.

They are the perfect snack for kids and adults that satisfy both sweet and salty cravings in deliciously healthy nuggets of natural flavors

All CLEAN SNAX® mixes are vegetarian, gluten free, low-fat, low-sodium and contain no artificial ingredients.

Over the past decade at The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar, Partners JC Clow, William Lewis and Chef Yvon Goetz have created quite a stir by successfully pairing contemporary California regional cuisine, with a hip, vibrant, sophisticated setting, to create a cutting-edge dining experience. Located at The District in Tustin and on the Bay in Newport Beach, The Winery was named “Restaurant of the Year” by the Orange County Concierge Association in its first year in business.

The 3^rd location of The Winery Restaurant will launch before year’s end in La Jolla in Westfield UTC. The restaurant menu will focus on contemporary California regional cuisine at its finest, with Executive Chef & Partner Yvon Goetz directing a team that delivers a culinary experience straight from the Wine Country.

At The Winery La Jolla, Chef Goetz’s menu will feature wild game and USDA Prime steaks, as well as Pacific Rim flavorings, such as fresh line-caught Opah, Mong Chong, Ono & Mahi Mahi flown in daily from Hawaii. Tying the expansive wine list into the menu, Chef Goetz will feature numerous wine-infused ingredients into many of his signature dishes.

“At The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar, we pride ourselves on really focusing on our guest experience. Our third location to open in La Jolla will have the same level of service, with highly skilled Chefs to orchestrate a warm and passionate menu created by our award-winning Chef Yvon Goetz, and a team of Certified Sommeliers to oversee an incredible wine program,” explained JC Clow, Founding Partner of The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar. “It’s exciting to join a group of retailers that are among the best in their respective fields. We anticipate endless possibilities, with something to suit every palate.”

Restaurateur and Managing Partner JC Clow is our guest.

Celebrity Chef Jet Tila (Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen with Alton Brown”) was the original Co-host of the “SoCal Restaurant Show” in 2012 and 2013. His new cookbook which is already generating a wok-ful of deserved praise is 101 Asian Dishes You Need To Cook Before You Die. Just launched is Jet’s new video series on Facebook, Authentically Asian with Jet Tila. Episode one is “PHOnomenal Adventure” and Episode Two is “Korean BBQ” with Chef Chris Oh.

Jet also holds numerous Guinness World Records for creating unusual, large format foods. Earlier this week he guided students at SUNY Purchase College to set a new World Record for the longest California Roll. It was measured at 504 feet. 300 pounds of sushi rice and 650 sheets of Nori…!

Chef Jet joins us.

“My first book was published in 2006, “Melissa’s Great Book of Produce” (Wiley, $29.95, 2006 – written for Melissa’s World Variety Produce, the LA-Based company that is the nation’s largest distributor of specialty and organic produce). My second book is “Melissa’s Everyday Cooking with Organic Produce” (Wiley, $29.95). The book has received fantastic reviews. Emeril plugged the book on Good Morning America, naming it as one of the top ten cookbooks for the season. My third book, “50 Best Plants on the Planet (Chronicle, $29.95) explores the fifty most nutrient dense fruits and vegetables that grow on earth. The recipes are easy and delicious.”

“Because I’ve studied with chefs across America, Europe and Asia, I have a passion for ethnic cuisines. I love to embrace new flavors, new aromas and new techniques. When it comes to cooking and eating, there is always something new to experience.”

We’ll pull Cathy away from the cutting board for a chat.

Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, cook, lifestyle personality, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, The Perfect Blend, and creator of The Blender Girl Smoothies app with Random House. She shares her enthusiasm for healthy living at theblendergirl.com.

“In the third installment of The Blender Girl cookbook series (The Perfect Blend – 100 Blender Recipes to Energize and Revitalize), Tess serves up 100 smoothies, tonics, soups, salads, appetizers, snacks, main dishes, desserts, and condiments to help you lead a vibrant, healthy life, and have fun.”

“Anchored to a master list of nutrient-dense ingredients, each of the twelve chapters addresses specific health goals, such as gaining energy, optimizing protein intake, boosting immunity, losing weight, and reducing inflammation. Tess lists the foods that can help you stay in optimal health, and shares a few top-line takeaways for each of them-practical information on their health benefits, and how to prepare, blend, and cook them for amazing textures and tastes.”

“There are three optional boosters listed for each recipe that enhance flavor and/or nutrition. I’ve chosen them to work separately or together, so you can supplement any base recipe with one, two, or all three. The food is functional and geared toward flexibility, so you can tailor the recipes to your own taste and requirements to find your perfect blend.”

We’ll meet her.

As a high-profile Melissa’s representative he participates in special events, trade shows, and culinary functions throughout the country.

We’ll chat with Chef Tom about choosing and cooking with peppers.

We’ll be highlighting recipes from Melissa’s The Great Pepper Cookbook – The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Cooking with Peppers. On the menu are items like Crab Stuffed Cucumber Cups, Devlish Deviled Eggs, Potato and Cauliflower Bake, Chile-Lime -Jackfruit Puffs and Apple Cinnamon-Chile Crumb Cake.

Chef Andrew Gruel rejoins us after launching the first Slapfish in New Mexico in Albuquerque.

Chef Andrew and Lauren dine out often with their young son, William. We’ll get Chef Andrew’s informed thoughts about managing young kids in restaurants and what the parents’ responsibilities are.

Both Slapfish and Butterleaf are part of Saturday afternoon’s Oozefest 3 (cheese festival of epic proportions) at Main Place Mall in Santa Ana. Slapfish is bringing back the Lobsticle with queso dip, a signature item from the original food truck.