Podcasts
Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Owner / Chefs Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis, Bavel, DTLA’s Arts District
Segment Three: Chef Tia Baker, The Federal Bar, Long Beach
Segment Four: Tony Yanow, Brennan’s in Marina del Rey, Artisanal Brewers Collective
Segment Five: Robert Schueller, Mellissa’s “Prince of Produce”, Hatch Chile Season
Segment Six: Farley Elliott, Senior Editor, Eater LA Part One
Segment Seven: Farley Elliott, Senior Editor, Eater LA Part Two
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel, Founder, Slapfish Restaurant Group
Now a tempting preview of this Saturday’s properly decadent 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…
When we last spoke with Owner/Chefs Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis they had recently opened Bestia (2012) in DTLA’s emerging Arts District. Flash forward to the recent opening of their Bavel, also in the Arts District. It’s Middle Eastern flavors with influences from Israel, Morocco, Turkey and Egypt. We pull then both from the active Bavel kitchen for a chat.
Eat your heart out Long Beach ! DINE LBC – Long Beach Restaurant Week is on through August 12, 2018. Experience cuisine that delights the palate and defines the art of dining in Long Beach. Held annually, Dine LBC features value-oriented two or three course menus from dozens of Long Beach’s best restaurants in twelve unique neighborhoods throughout the city. The Federal Bar on Pine Avenue in Downtown Long Beach is one of the participating restaurants in DINE LBC. We’ll meet new Chef Tia Baker (ex-Sol Cocina) and talk about the elevated fare at The Federal Bar. New Happy Hour menu, too.
Brennan’s in Marina del Rey has been a friendly, locals’ institution in the area since 1972. It is known for their Thursday night Turtle Racing and potent libations. It was never about the food. In recent years it had become pretty divey. The Artisanal Brewers Collective came to the rescue last year and after a lengthy, top-to-bottom restoration reopened Brennan’s in time for St. Patrick’s Day 2018. The food is now something to talk about (including Vegan specialties) as well as the potent libations. Proprietor Tony Yanow (ex-Golden Road Brewing) is our guest.
Hatch Chiles, grown only in the Hatch Valley and along the Rio Grande river of New Mexico, are considered by chile aficionados to be the best peppers in the world. Hatch is the premium growing area for New Mexico chiles. Hatch, New Mexico is not only the Chile capital of the US but also of the World The ultimate chile, these chiles are only available from New Mexico in a short, six-week window every year (between August and September.) Our resident produce authority, Robert Schueller of Melissa’s, joins us with all the spicy details.
Food journalist Farley Elliott is the Senior Editor for Eater L.A. He contributes six pieces a day, five days a week to this very widely read on-line magazine and newsletter. He’s part of a panel, “PR Bootcamp for Restaurants: In Memory of Fifi Chao” that will be part of the upcoming Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo on August 19th at the L.A. Convention Center. We’ll chat about the panel and the latest news on the L.A. dining scene with Farley.
Chef Andrew Gruel, the founder of The Slapfish Restaurant Group, joins us with another installment of “Ask the Chef.” What’s the secret of drool-worthy Crab Cakes? What’s the tastiest crab to use? How does Maryland’s Old Bay Seasoning impact this ? We’ll find out from Chef Andrew with the promise of no added filler.
When we last spoke with Owner/Chefs Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis they had recently opened Bestia (2012) in DTLA’s emerging Arts District. Flash forward to the recent opening of their long-in-the-works Bavel (buh-vel), also in the Arts District. It’s Middle Eastern flavors with influences from Israel, Morocco, Turkey and Egypt.
“Bavel, in Downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District, is a Middle Eastern restaurant from Chefs Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis. With family roots in Israel, Morocco, Turkey, and Egypt, Ori and Genevieve have always wanted to open a restaurant that showcases the cuisines of their family lineages, bringing together the flavors and dishes they grew up with.”
With a background in the field of interior design, Genevieve played a key role in the design of both Bestia and Bavel.
“Bavel – Stems from the story of Babel, from the original Old Testament. The Hebrew letters ‘b’ – bet, and ‘v’ – vet, both look the same, except that bet has a dot in the center of it. It is theorized that when the Old Testament was translated, it was not transcribed properly and Bavel turned into Babel.”
“The name is pronounced how it was originally written – Bavel (buh-vel). The story of Bavel is from a time when the Middle East was one. The people of Babylon came together to build a tower to heaven but God did not want them to succeed. In turn, he gave the people different languages so they could no longer communicate and work together.”
“When we read this story, we liked the word Bavel, because it was written during a time when everything was one – Bavel is not specific to any one region.”
We pull then both from the bustling Bavel kitchen for a chat.
Eat your heart out Long Beach! DINE LBC – Long Beach Restaurant Week is on through August 12, 2018. Experience cuisine that delights the palate and defines the art of dining in Long Beach. Held annually, Dine LBC features value-oriented two or three course menus from dozens of Long Beach’s best restaurants in twelve unique neighborhoods throughout the city.
The Federal Bar on Pine Avenue in Downtown Long Beach is one of the participating restaurants in DINE LBC. We’ll meet new Chef Tia Baker (ex-Sol Cocina) and talk about the elevated fare at The Federal Bar. New Happy Hour menu, too.
“Passing through the double doors into the main hall of this 1920’s Beaux-arts style building is just the beginning of the Federal experience. Your gaze will draw up into our three-story restaurant that doubles as an event space that can accommodate up 600 patrons, featuring two full-service bars, hand-painted beamed ceilings, towering columns, high windows that provide grand natural lighting, and an attached outside patio.”
The DINE LBC menu for $35 per person is three courses with choices for each course. Selections for the Mains include Pine Street Bouillabaisse, Meatloaf Sundae, Investors Pasta and Chefs Fish of the Day.
Brennan’s in Marina del Rey has been a friendly, locals’ institution in the area since 1972. It is particularly known for their Thursday night Turtle Racing and potent libations. It was never about the food. In recent years it had become pretty divey.
The Artisanal Brewers Collective came to the rescue last year and after a lengthy, top-to-bottom restoration reopened Brennan’s in time for St. Patrick’s Day 2018. The food is now something to talk about (including Vegan specialties) as well as the potent libations. Happily the turtle racing is back twice a month on the traditional Thursday evenings.
“Combining the traditions of the past with a few new ideas, Brennan’s strives to be the premier beach city restaurant for entertaining visitors, grabbing a drink with friends for the game or dining with your loved ones. We promote the improvement of our community and the people in it. We pride ourselves on presenting a menu and environment for locals, visitors and everything in between. Best of all, we do it with the perfect pint, one turtle race at a time!”
Proprietor Tony Yanow (ex-Golden Road Brewing) is our guest.
Hatch Chiles, grown only in the Hatch Valley and near the Rio Grande river of New Mexico, are considered by chile aficionados to be the best peppers in the world. Hatch is the premium growing area for New Mexico chiles. Hatch, New Mexico is not only the chile capital of the US but also of the World. Hatch Chiles have been growing in this region for over 135 years, developed by New Mexico State University.
The ultimate chile, these chiles are only available from New Mexico in a short, six- week window every year (between August and September.) Unusually Hatch Chiles are available in mild, medium, hot and extra hot varieties.
Aficionados generally buy the chiles in bulk by the case (typical case is 25 lbs.) and store the chiles in their freezers, assuring use of these chiles year-round. The chiles can be frozen, roasted up to 2 years. Freeze with or without roasted skin and seeds. The chiles tend to get warmer in heat when you freeze with veins and seeds before storage.
Hatch Chiles have a meaty flesh and mild-medium heat making them ideal for use in Chile Con Queso, Chile Rellenos, and Chile Verde. But it doesn’t just stop there. You can also try roasting and using them in salads, soups, stews, dips, and sandwiches. For even more great ideas on how to use this incredible chile, purchase a copy of the genuinely useful Melissa’s Hatch Chile Cookbook.
Our resident produce authority, Robert Schueller of Melissa’s, joins us with all the spicy details.
Food journalist Farley Elliott is the Senior Editor for Eater LA He contributes six pieces a day, five days a week to this very widely read on-line magazine and newsletter. He also graciously responds to readers’ feedback.
Farley is part of an upcoming panel, “PR Bootcamp for Restaurants : In Memory of Fifi Chao” that will a program at the upcoming Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo on August 19th at the L.A. Convention Center. We’ll chat about the panel and the latest news of the L.A. dining scene with Farley.
We’ll be talking about the closing (at year’s end) of Santa Monica’s trend-setting, Italian fine-dining restaurant, Valentino, and some eagerly anticipated restaurant openings on the horizon for the balance of the year.
Chef Andrew Gruel, the founder of The Slapfish Restaurant Group, joins us with another installment of “Ask the Chef.”
What’s the secret of drool-worthy Crab Cakes? What’s the tastiest crab to use? How does Maryland’s Old Bay Seasoning impact this? We’ll find out from Chef Andrew with the promise of no added filler.
Podcasts
Segment One: Show Preview with Co-Host Andy Harris
Segment Two: Owner / Chefs Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis, Bavel, DTLA’s Arts District
Segment Three: Chef Tia Baker, The Federal Bar, Long Beach
Segment Four: Tony Yanow, Brennan’s in Marina del Rey, Artisanal Brewers Collective
Segment Five: Robert Schueller, Mellissa’s “Prince of Produce”, Hatch Chile Season
Segment Six: Farley Elliott, Senior Editor, Eater LA Part One
Segment Seven: Farley Elliott, Senior Editor, Eater LA Part Two
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel, Founder, Slapfish Restaurant Group
