Show 122, May 16, 2015: Executive Chef Deborah Schneider, SOL Mexican Cocina and solita Tacos & Margaritas Continues…

Deborah SchneiderExecutive Chef Deborah Schneider’s new cookbook is Salsas and Moles – Fresh and Authentic Recipes for Pico de Gallo, Mole Poblano, Chimichurri, Guacamole, and More.

Chef Deborah Schneider is the Executive Chef/Partner of SOL Cocina in Newport Beach, CA and Scottsdale, AZ, as well as solita in Huntington Beach and Santa Clarita. She is the author of The Mexican Slow Cooker; The James Beard Award-nominated Cooking with the Seasons at Rancho La Puerta; Amor y Tacos; Baja! Cooking on the Edge, which was one of Food & Wine’s Best of the Best of 2006. She is also the co-author of Williams-Sonoma’s Essentials of Latin Cooking.

We’re now talking about mole. Chef Deb points out that all moles don’t have chocolate as their base. She also shares her recipe for a “quick mole” that’s great in a pinch. In her extensive research for the book Chef Deb developed a new-found appreciation for the depth of moles.

Show 97, November 15, 2014: Rick Rodgers, cookbook author and culinary instructor

Rick RodgersRick Rodgers is an award-winning cookbook author and cooking teacher and the accomplished writer of more than forty cookbooks on subjects ranging from baking to grilling, and more. Rodgers often works behind the scenes as a recipe tester, co-author, and valued consultant on cookbooks by other authors, including Sarabeth Levine of Sarabeth’s Bakery

Rodgers has also penned corporate cookbooks for well-known clients such as Kingsford Charcoal and Sur La Table, as well as many titles for Williams-Sonoma.

Just in time for the Holidays is The Big Book of Sides – More than 450 Recipes for the Best Vegetables, Grains, Salads, Breads, Sauces and More. What’s the Thanksgiving feast without the assortment of tasty sides? Side dishes make the meal. Rick gives the humble side dish its due, elevating it to its proper, important place on the menu – front and center.

“With 32 color photos, main course pairings for every recipe and a guide to the best cooking methods, The Big Book of Sides provides answers to the age-old question of what to serve with what, with side dishes for all seasons, celebrations, occasions and even everyday weeknight meals.”

Show 40, September 14, 2013: Lena Kwak, Research and Development Chef, Thomas Keller Restaurant Group

Lena KwakChef Lena Kwak is the highly acclaimed research and development chef for The French Laundry and The Thomas Keller Restaurant Group based in Yountville, CA. She created the position.

With the backing of Keller she developed Cup4Cup, a healthy wheat flour-substitute which has gone national over the last two years. It’s carried in Williams-Sonoma stores and also available at the Bouchon Bakeries in Yountville, Beverly Hills, Las Vegas and New York.

Last year Kwak was named as one of Forbes Magazine’s “Top 30 Under 30” for her work with Cup4Cup.

In addition to bread mixes the proprietary line also includes a brownie mix, pizza dough, and pancake/waffle mix.

When Cup4Cup is used as a flour substitute in frying it typically bests regular flour in blind taste tests!

September 14: Azunia Tequila, Vegas Food Trucks, Elizabeth Huettinger, Lena Kwak, Amar Santana, Eric Klein, Michael Passmore

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Jim Riley, founder of Azunia Tequila
Segment Three: Brock Radke, Food and Web Editor, Las Vegas Weekly
Segment Four: Elizabeth Huettinger, Wine Director, Addison Del Mar
Segment Five: Lena Kwak, Research and Development Chef, Thomas Keller Restaurant Group
Segment Six: Amar Santana, Executive Chef / Owner, Broadway by Amar Santana
Segment Seven: Eric Klein, Executive Chef & Partner, Spago Las Vegas
Segment Eight: Michael Passmore, Passmore Ranch, Sustainable Aqua Farming

Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris preview the show.

Thai 2013 Food FestivalMark Sunday afternoon, September 29th on your calendar. Our very own Jet Tila is hosting the Thai 2013 Food Festival at Paramount Pictures Studios in the heart of Hollywood. It starts at 3:00 p.m.

Celebrity chefs from around the country and outstanding local Thai chefs will be there presenting their signature dishes for the guests to sample and enjoy. Entertainment will include music, Thai dancers and fruit carving.

VIP and Regular Tickets are now on sale!

Azunia TequilaJim Riley, the founder of Azunia Tequila joins us. In his spare time Jim is a professional off-road racer of some note.

This is a case study of how a boutique tequila company grows a brand in an environment dominated by cash-rich giants. Riley has built his brand with clever grass-roots marketing and being seen in the right places.

Azunia Tequila is organic and 100 per cent Weber Blue Agave. It is available in the styles of Platinum Blanco (great for cocktails,) Reposado, and Anejo.

Brock Radke of Las Vegas WeeklyOur man in Las Vegas, Brock Radke, is back with us. Brock is the respected Web and Food Editor for The Las Vegas Weekly.

Last month Brock had a great piece in The Weekly entitled. “Where are they now? Checking up on the first wave of Vegas food truckers.”

Fukuburger has probably been the most successful and is still on the streets. A brick and mortar location for Las Vegas is in the plans. Sloppi Jo’s was a big success with the food critics but, ultimately, not a viable business model. Proprietress Jolene Mannina has parlayed this into other food projects for herself. In fact she’s the head of Culinary Arts for the upcoming “Life is Beautiful” Festival in Downtown Las Vegas. The originator of Slidin’ Thru has moved on but the truck still does events and catering and there is a bricks and mortar drive-through.

Brock also talked about the just launched Heritage Steak at The Mirage on The Strip. The proprietor is Tom Colicchio of Bravo’s “Top Chef” fame and a James Beard Award recipient.

Elizabeth Huettinger of the Addison in Del MarSommelier Elizabeth Huettinger is the new Wine Director at Addison restaurant and The Grand Del Mar Resort in Del Mar. She was previously part of the wine team at Spago Beverly Hills.

Elizabeth just took the incredibly difficult “Advanced” certification test from the Court of Master Sommeliers. She shares that humbling experience with us.

Earlier in the Summer the Grand hosted a special screening of the documentary, “SOMM”. It’s the first effort by filmmaker Jason Wise.
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“SOMM” tells the fascinating story of four sommeliers attempting to pass the rigorous and prestigious Master Sommelier exam. This test has one of the lowest pass rates imaginable. Elizabeth’s head sommelier at Spago (her previous post) is a Master Sommelier. She talks about hosting the screening (there was wine and abundant food stations) and her reaction to the highly acclaimed documentary.

Lena KwakChef Lena Kwak is the highly acclaimed research development chef for The French Laundry and The Thomas Keller Restaurant Group in Yountville, CA. She created the position.

With the backing of Keller she developed Cup4Cup, a healthy wheat flour-substitute which has gone national over the last two years. It’s carried in Williams-Sonoma stores and also available at the Bouchon Bakeries in Yountville, Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, and New York.

Last year Kwak was named as one of Forbes Magazine’s “Top 30 Under 30” for her work with Cup4Cup.

In addition to bread mixes the proprietary line also includes a brownie mix, pizza dough, and pancake/waffle mix.

Amar SantanaChef Amar Santana is very familiar to Orange County foodies. His mentor, Chef Charlie Palmer (Aureole,) brought him out here from Manhattan in 2008 to open Charlie Palmer’s at Bloomingdales at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. Talk about a plum assignment for a young chef…

With the backing of one of his very loyal guests he later departed to open a venture of his own, Broadway by Amar Santana in Laguna Beach. Since opening in 2011 it’s been a hit with both the food critics and guests. The bar has also created its own loyal following for unusual libations and a welcoming atmosphere. Their superior Moscow Mule (not listed on the bar menu) is a thoughtful homage to the original version created in the late 30s in Hollywood and now using all fresh ingredients and from scratch ginger beer.

Eric KleinIn 2007 Executive Chef Eric Klein (now a partner) was handed the keys to Spago Las Vegas by Wolfgang Puck and charged with freshening up the concept. This was quite a formidable assignment given that Spago is Wolfgang Puck’s flagship restaurant in Las Vegas! They celebrated their 20th Anniversary last year.

The restaurant is a busy café (with exhibition pizza oven) in the front and an elegant fine-dining restaurant in the back. The front patio opens onto the busy main Forum Shops walkway.

As with the Beverly Hills original Spago Las Vegas attracts the celebrity clientele in addition to sophisticated foodies. Chef Eric is the visible personality of the establishment.

Chef Eric’s first assignment in Las Vegas (after relocating from Beverly Hills) was SW Steakhouse at Wynn Las Vegas.

Michael Passmore of Passmore RanchMichael Passmore is an elite class freshwater fish farmer in the Sacramento area. His Passmore Ranch is sustainable aqua farming and his clientele are discriminating celebrity chefs all across the country who he, unusually, supplies directly.

They started modestly by selling live fish at Northern California farmers’ markets, and their quality and service quickly established them as premium purveyors for top restaurants and Michelin-starred chefs around the country.

Passmore Ranch offers premium freshwater white sturgeon, black bass, striped bass, catfish, silver carp and trout, plus prized domestic caviar.

Today Passmore Ranch is 86 acres and they raise fish in 80 million gallons of fresh water pumped up from the pristine Cosumnes aquifer. The ranch has a variety of open lakes and massive tanks used to increase the variety of sustainable fish they grow.

In the works is a plan to begin a thoughtful rollout of limited direct sales to serious home cooks. The info will be posted on their website.

Podcasts

Segment One: Host Jet Tila and Producer Andy Harris
Segment Two: Jim Riley, founder of Azunia Tequila
Segment Three: Brock Radke, Food and Web Editor, Las Vegas Weekly
Segment Four: Elizabeth Huettinger, Wine Director, Addison Del Mar
Segment Five: Lena Kwak, Research and Development Chef, Thomas Keller Restaurant Group
Segment Six: Amar Santana, Executive Chef / Owner, Broadway by Amar Santana
Segment Seven: Eric Klein, Executive Chef & Partner, Spago Las Vegas
Segment Eight: Michael Passmore, Passmore Ranch, Sustainable Aqua Farming

December 8: Thomas Keller, Wild Things Seafood, Scott Conant, Chef Race Champion

Podcasts

Segment One: Jet Tila on Fresh Seafood
Segment Two: Thomas Keller of the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group
Segment Three: Jeff Moore – President of International Pacific Seafoods (parent of Wild Things Seafood.)
Segment Four: Gisele Perez
Segment Five: Chef Scott Conant
Segment Six: Stan Frazier

Wild Things Seafood in FullertonWe’re broadcasting live this morning from the Wild Things Seafood plant in Fullerton. (Easy to get to via the Freeways.) It’s there BIG annual Holiday sale. The highest quality seafood and steaks are available at very special prices. If you’re there during our broadcast between 10:30 a.m. and Noon you’ll get an extra $10 off your order!

The festivities include informative cooking demos, tastings, AM 830 KLAA giveaways, and great recipes.

(866) 360-FISH (3474) for directions.

Chef Jet has an extensive background in seafood and is an accomplished amateur angler. He’ll be talking Seafood 411 basics to get the conversation going.

Chef Thomas Keller of Bouchon, per se and French LaundryWe’re thrilled to welcome Thomas Keller to the show. He’s probably the most talked about chef in the country. His restaurants, The French Laundry, per se, and Bouchon (the original in Yountville, the Napa Valley,) have earned an impressive 7 Michelin Stars!

Chef Keller is just completing an extensive book tour in support of The Bouchon Bakery Cookbook.

On Monday evening, December 10th he’s signing books at Williams-Sonoma in Beverly Hills. On the evening of December 11th he’s encoring in Orange County at the Williams-Sonoma in South Coast Plaza.

Jeff Moore is the President of International Pacific Seafoods (the corporate parent of Wild Things Seafood.) He’s a recognized authority on all things seafood including responsible and sustainable practices. He’s much in demand nationally as a highly articulate speaker representing the Industry. He also teaches food service suppliers how to merchandise seafood to their own customers.

Jeff will be joining us to tell you what you need to know about the recent headline stories regarding the mislabeling of seafood products at the retail level.

Oysters Rockefeller is a classic celebratory Holiday dish which originated at the legendary Antoine’s in New Orleans which opened in 1840. New Orleans native Gisele Perez who writes for OKRA, the official magazine of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, revisited the classic Oysters Rockefeller at Antoine’s last spring and will share her thoughts.

New Orleans food writer Tom Fitzmorris (Hungry Town, A Culinary History of New Orleans) has developed a well-researched replica recipe for Antoine’s Oysters Rockefeller because Antoine’s keeps the original under wraps as a carefully protected Family secret. Gisele reports it took him 50 tries to match the flavor of the Antoine’s recipe. An Antoine’s insider regards the Fitzmorris recipe as “embarrassingly close” to the genuine menu item as served at Antoine’s!

“The Feast of the Seven Fishes” is a classic Italian and Italian-American tradition for Christmas Eve dinner.

Scott Conant of Scarpetta and Food NetworkCelebrity chef Scott Conant of Food Network’s “Chopped” and “24 Hour Restaurant Battle” joins us from Las Vegas to discuss this delightful tradition.

Conant’s flagship restaurant in Manhattan is Scarpetta but way out West we know him for the Scarpetta at The Montage Beverly Hills and a Scarpetta in the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas as well as D.O.C.G. Enoteca, a wine bar.

We’ve been following “Chef Race: U.K. vs. U.S.” since it’s debut on BBC America on Oct. 2nd. 16 chefs (half Brits & half Americans) competed in difficult challenges along the way as they raced across the country from Santa Monica to New York. At the end one chef was left standing and was awarded a cool $100,000 for the effort. Jamie Oliver, “The Naked Chef,” himself executive produced the series.

That winning chef was Newport Beach’s own, Stan Frazier, who is a drummer in the rock band Sugar Ray. He also has an ownership interest in A Restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. He was clearly the wild card contestant. Stan will be our guest. Go USA!

Podcasts

Segment One: Jet Tila on Fresh Seafood
Segment Two: Thomas Keller of the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group
Segment Three: Jeff Moore – President of International Pacific Seafoods (parent of Wild Things Seafood.)
Segment Four: Gisele Perez
Segment Five: Chef Scott Conant
Segment Six: Stan Frazier