Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segments Two and Three: Holy Saints! Pasadena, with Proprietor & Chef Daniel Torres
Segments Four and Five: Zuzu’s Petals, Long Beach, with Co-Proprietor Evan Papadakis
Segments Six and Seven: Chef Wes Whitsell, Culinary Director, Local LA – Waterfront and Mama’s Boy, Venice
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel, Co-Host, with “Ask the Chef”

Andy Harris, Executive Producer and Co-host previews the show.

“Holy Saints! in Old Pasadena opened in May 2023 and is owned by Chef Daniel Torres and partner Stephanie, a husband-and-wife team. As a small business, they understand the importance of working with local farmers, small family vineyards, and micro-breweries. The menu reflects a progressive Californian-style cuisine and some of Chef Daniel’s favorite homemade meals. You’ll experience the warmth and passion in their work through their delicious wine, beer, and food. Stop by for lunch to try the famous Cubano sandwich. They also cater for special events, too. Chef Daniel endeavored to be a future industry titan since 2009 when he started to sell tacos late-night to patrons in East LA while going to college. Chef Daniel was most recently the executive chef of Ace Hotel for nearly 6 years and was the youngest and only chef within the Ace Hotel brand to be awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand award for his work with Best Girl restaurant along with Michelin starred Chef Michael Cimarusti (Providence.)” Chef Daniel takes a break from his busy kitchen to join us.

“Zuzu’s Petals located in the East Village area of Long Beach is a one-of-a-kind brunch restaurant that combines the best of Contemporary American cuisine. Their dishes are crafted with locally sourced, organic ingredients, and they incorporate unique flavors and spices from around the world. Their cooks under the direction of partners Evan Papakakis and Chef Jessie Franco take pride in preparing each dish with care, infusing them with flavors and textures that are sure to delight your senses. Zuzu’s Petals commitment to quality extends to all aspects of establishment, from their friendly and attentive staff to their artfully-designed space that makes guests feel right at home.” The establishment is also a thoughtful tribute to the Frank Capra classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Proprietor Evan Papadakis is our guest to unwrap all that is Zuzu’s Petals.

Chef Wes Whitsell earned a well-deserved Michelin Star for Hatchet Hall in Culver City and thereafter took a little breather from L.A. kitchens to recharge along with some consulting work. Chef Wes is back with the new post as Culinary Director for the Local LA restaurant group. Local LA operates the beachfront Waterfront on The Boardwalk in Venice and the nearby Mama’s Boy at Winston House. For 2025 Chef Wes will oversee an ambitious new concept in the former (and fondly remembered) Enterprise Fish Co. space in Santa Monica. Chef Wes takes a break from the Santa Monica Farmers Market to join us.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries. It’s summer grilling season so a juicy steak is definitely on our minds. What’s the difference between skirt steak, flat iron steak and hangar steak? What are the other popular cuts of steak? Chef Andrew answers the meaty steak questions.

All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s not-to-miss show!

“Holy Saints! in Old Pasadena opened in May 2023 and is owned by Chef Daniel Torres and partner Stephanie, a husband-and-wife team. As a small business, they understand the importance of working with local farmers, small family vineyards, and micro-breweries. The menu reflects a progressive Californian-style cuisine and some of Chef Daniel’s favorite homemade meals. You’ll experience the warmth and passion in their work through their delicious wine, beer, and food. Stop by for lunch to try the famous Cubano sandwich. They cater for special events, too.”

“Chef Daniel endeavored to be a future industry titan since 2009 when he started to sell tacos late-night to patrons in East LA while going to college. Chef Daniel was most recently the executive chef of Ace Hotel for nearly 6 years and was the youngest, and only, chef within the Ace Hotel brand to be awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand award for his work with Best Girl restaurant along with Michelin starred Chef Michael Cimarusti (Providence.)”

“Holy Saints! works with only local farmers to source the majority of the vegetables, fruit, and dairy that go into their dishes. The wines and beers there showcase the craft and highlight small family vineyards and micro-breweries.”

Chef Daniel takes a break from his busy kitchen to join us.

“Zuzu’s Petals located in the East Village area of Long Beach is a one-of-a-kind brunch restaurant that combines the best of Contemporary American cuisine. Their dishes are crafted with locally sourced, organic ingredients, and they incorporate unique flavors and spices from around the world.”

“Their cooks under the direction of partners Evan Papakakis and Chef Jessie Franco take pride in preparing each dish with care, infusing them with flavors and textures that are sure to delight your senses. Zuzu’s Petals commitment to quality extends to all aspects of establishment, from their friendly and attentive staff to their artfully-designed space that makes guests feel right at home.”

The establishment is also a thoughtful tribute to the Frank Capra Hollywood classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Proprietor Evan Papadakis is our guest to unwrap all that is Zuzu’s Petals.

Chef Wes Whitsell earned a well-deserved Michelin Star for Hatchet Hall in Culver City and thereafter took a little breather from the L.A. kitchens to recharge with some consulting gigs along the way. Chef Wes is back with the new post as Culinary Director for the Local LA restaurant group.

Local LA operates the beachfront Waterfront on The Boardwalk in Venice and the nearby Mama’s Boy at Winston House. For 2025 Chef Wes will oversee an ambitious new concept in the former, long-running Enterprise Fish Co. space in Santa Monica.

“The Waterfront is a California cuisine restaurant (with a Texas-accent) located on Venice Beach. Happy Hour daily (closed on Monday) and Weekend Brunch with bottomless beverages. Chef Wes’ food and beverage menus celebrate California with carefully selected seasonal produce from local farms. Their tortillas are handmade daily. The corn tortilla is made from organic Kernel of Truth masa. The flour tortilla is made from Tehachapi Grain Project Sonora wheat.”

“Mama’s Boy is a playful Italian dinner club with a Southern accent, brought to you by Michelin-starred Chef Wes Whitsell. Situated inside Venice’s Winston House – a popular community hub with live music and DJ sets – Mama’s Boy is the perfect start to a night out. With lively dishes that embody Chef’s Texan roots and mom’s home-cooked Italian food, the menu strikes a balance between comfort and creativity.”

“At Mama’s Boy, he presents his most innovative menu yet: a fusion of nostalgic Italian cuisine with a Southern twist – a true ‘Spaghetti Western’. Each dish is a nod to his upbringing, a journey home where every bite tells a story of love, tradition, and the connection of family.”

Think Pimento Cheese Arancini with hot pepper-tomato jelly and dill, ultra-thin crispy “Dad’s Pies” pizzas with Tehachapi grain Sonora wheat, and Mt. Lassen Trout Almondine. Chef Wes is known for his biscuits so do contemplate his seasonal Strawberry Shortcake with Tehachapi Sonora Biscuit and fresh whipped cream.

Chef Wes takes a break from the Santa Monica Farmers Market to join us.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries.

It’s summer grilling season so a juicy, properly-cooked steak is on our minds. What’s the difference between skirt steak, flat iron steak and hangar steak? What are the other popular cuts of steak? Chef Andrew answers the meaty steak questions.

Podcasts

Segment One: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris
Segments Two and Three: Holy Saints! Pasadena, with Proprietor & Chef Daniel Torres
Segments Four and Five: Zuzu’s Petals, Long Beach, with Co-Proprietor Evan Papadakis
Segments Six and Seven: Chef Wes Whitsell, Culinary Director, Local LA – Waterfront and Mama’s Boy, Venice
Segment Eight: Chef Andrew Gruel, Co-Host, with “Ask the Chef”