2 SHARP CHEFS & A MICROPHONE

Chef Nicole Brisson is well known for her commanding presence in some of the most storied kitchens on the Las Vegas Strip. And after a quick stint off The Strip, she's back where she thrives - at a massive luxury resort opening on the Boulevard, Resorts World.

"I have so many customers that are sprinkled all over the United States who have been following me for years. And I feel like I’m creating a home for them again at Bar Zazu and Brezza. And I can’t wait to welcome my guests back home and cook for them and give them a fun environment to relax and enjoy food and wine,” said Brisson.

The veteran Las Vegas chef chats with Chefs Lorraine Moss and Louiie Victa about heritage breeds, sustainable seafood, and why she will use White Oak in her new wood-fired grill at Brezza.

Brisson also shares how she plans to take care of herself mentally this time around. In this candid conversation, the three chefs make a commitment to each other and the chef community at large to check in more and make sure everyone's okay.

In Show & Tell, the former Executive Chef of Eataly Las Vegas shares a beautiful story about why she DOESN'T have one of the tools she would have liked to show us.

PODCAST MENTIONS: Chris Decker, Gina Marinelli, James Beard Foundation, Bon Appetit, Mary Sue Milliken, Susan Feniger, Christina Tosi, Elizabeth Blau, Jason Rocheleau, Bazaar Meat, Jose Andres, Frank Reese, Hashimoto’s, Creekstone Farms, Aaron Franklin, Jolene Mannina, Brian Howard, Gary LaMorte 

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Chef Will Staten feels at home when he's cooking, tasting, and sharing the flavors of his family's history. To the Las Vegas based chef, Cajun and Creole dishes manifest the true origins of American cooking.

The multiracial chef with roots in the South prefers the heat of habaneros, but he also likes to comfort his Cravin' Creole food truck customers by letting them choose their own adventure in terms of spice level with BYOG - "Build Your Own Gumbo."

Will spices it up with Chefs Lorraine Moss and Louiie Victa explaining why he's so passionate about food truck life, martial arts, and bringing fresh food to underserved communities - feeding the city's most vulnerable.

In Show & Tell, he shows 2 Sharp Chefs something that seems so simple, but adds a new organizational twist that gets Louiie thinking. We think you'll fall in love with Cravin' Creole.

PODCAST MENTIONS: Ragin' Cajun Cookin', Lotus of Siam, Jolene Mannina, Chef James Trees Esther’s Kitchen, Chef Bruce Kalman Soulbelly, Momofuku, Mordeo

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Chef Mary Sue Milliken prefers to put activist at the forefront of her storied cooking career. The 63 year old former Food Network "Too Hot Tamales" chef started a new non-profit at the end of 2020 with 8 other female chefs in Los Angeles called Regarding HER Food.

“The community seems to just be hungry to support women-owned businesses. There’s sort of an understanding that these little 'Mom and Pop' & 'Mom and Mom' restaurants are what knit together our communities and keep us connected to each other. And if we lose them, what do we have?” says the Border Grill, Socalo, and BBQ Mexicana chef co-owner.

Mary Sue also tells Chefs Lorraine Moss & Louiie Victa how she finds balance with physical AND mental healthcare strategies. The James Beard Foundation board member talks about her most recent experiences lobbying Congress and explains why chefs prove to be the perfect people to get policy passed.

Plus, in Show & Tell, she shares a sad story about an old scale that holds special meaning in her chef journey.

You don't want to miss this candid conversation with a true OG in the hospitality industry in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and across the globe.

PODCAST Mentions: Women’s Hospitality Initiative, Let’s Talk, Chef Rohini Dey, Oxfam America, New American Rescue Plan Act 2021, Share Our Strength, Al-Anon, The Chef Show, Chef Roy Choi, Jon Favreau, I Cook in Color - Chef Asha Gomez, Jubilee - Toni Tipton-Martin, The Milk Carton Kids, Waffles & Mochi, Michelle Obama

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Have you checked out the new Summerlin sensation at Tivoli Village? In Italian, Al Solito Posto means "in the usual place." But according to statistics, its Executive Chef Emily Brubaker is NOT the usual person at the helm. Although more women than men are graduating from culinary schools across the United States, just seven percent of females hold top positions in the professional kitchen.

That isn't lost on Emily who runs her kitchen with collaboration at its heart. Al Solito Posto in Las Vegas is a stick-to-your-ribs East Coast style thick red sauce Italian restaurant with sublime bread and cocktails as well. The former Sage at Aria chefs tells 2 Sharp Chefs Lorraine Moss & Louiie Victa that the perfect focaccia took some major research and development before it baked beautifully.

In Pandemic Provisions, Lorraine and Louiie talk about the origin of Women's History Month and our city's Women's Hospitality Initiative. Also, in Show & Tell, Emily shows us the smallest, most important tool in her arsenal.

Plus - you don't want to miss our adventures in sourdough starter and why you might someday see a unique version here in Las Vegas.

Podcast Mentions: Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Blau, Jolene Mannina, Mary Choi Kelly, Summerlin, Esthers Kitchen, Chef James Trees, Las Vegas Raiders, Joel Robuchon, Chef Gary FX LaMorte, Tasty, Chef Benoit Cornet, PF Changs, EDO Tapas, Chef Oscar Amador, Garagiste, Golden Knights, Beehive Barely Buzzed, Quentin Tarantino, Moonlight Beach

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Do you ever feel like other people are trying too hard to categorize you? Maybe it's by your race or sexual identity, or even your birthplace?

When entrepreneur Ryan Brown entered the hospitality business, she wanted everyone to just see her as a hard worker, someone striving to be a badass business person. She tells Chefs Lorraine Moss and Louiie Victa she now realizes that even though these are important goals, it's also important to be a black female role model because representation matters.

Brown sees her family's Downtown Las Vegas bar, Classic Jewel, as their own lane of activism, a place where you can feel safe no matter who you are, a place to enjoy a cocktail and hookah, or even attend a community or political event.

Classic Jewel has hosted President Joe Biden. Hear how she made that happen and why she thinks one day, it'll also host fellow sorority member, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Podcast Mentions: DTLV Instagram, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., LV Raiders

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You've been abuzz at Makers & Finders in Downtown and in Summerlin. Now the coffee shops' young owner, Josh Molina, wants you to chill out at his Chinatown coffee spot, Take It Easy Roasters.

Josh is no sloth - as his mascot at Take It Easy might suggest. The young entrepreneur owned 2 successful coffee hot spots in his twenties! And at his new Chinatown location, he's showing off his high-tech roaster, a Diedrich IR12 roaster to be exact. He explains to 2 Sharp Chefs, Lorraine Moss and Louiie Victa, that the fancy roaster helps his team create the perfect roast over and over again.

From making his way through the coffee countries of South America to discovering the nuances of each pour through coffee cupping, the first generation Colombian-American is bringing something special, delicious, and fascinating to our burgeoning caffeine scene.

Podcast mentions: John Arena, Metro Pizza

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Happy New Year! 2020 was a tumultuous year, but you pushed through it with us. And we are proud of our progress as we pivoted from recording on location at restaurants and casinos to social distancing on Zoom.

To kickoff Season 3 of 2 Sharp Chefs & A Microphone, Chefs Lorraine Moss & Louiie Victa share some of their favorite guests and podcasts of 2020 starting with the powerful speaker, Punam Mathur, Co-Founder of Delivering With Dignity. She talks about our "native gifts" and how you can find your true calling.

You'll also here from Chef Mariana Alvarado of MasAzul, Chef Gina Marinelli of La Strega, Pizzaiolo Chris Decker of Metro Pizza, Jolene Mannina of SecretBurger.Com, Katherine Miller, VP of Impact at James Beard Foundation, & the Pizza Godfather, John Arena, Co-Owner of Metro Pizza.

We're excited to be back, and as always, WE GOT YOUR BACK!

Podcast Mentions: Anova, Eater Las Vegas, Bon Appetit, GoodPie, Soulbelly BBQ, Vegas Test Kitchen, Lotus Of Siam, Toridokoro Raku, Julia Child, Mary Sue Milliken, Susan Feniger

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Do you ever feel like a rockstar in the kitchen? Do you know about Foie Grock?

In Show & Tell, you'll learn about the most important part of Bruce's life, and it's not brisket.

Podcast Mentions: Chef James Trees, Chris Decker, Backbeat BBQ, Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters, Pantera, Whiskey Dick, Foie Grock, Chef Duff Goldman, Ace of Cakes, Beat Bobby Flay, Bravo’s Top Chef, Meatloaf, Secretburger.com, Drago’s

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Merry Christmas family! Feliz Navidad. Happy Hanukkah.

It took time, a lot of experimentation, and a ton of tenacity for Saul Talavera to take El Tamalucas to the tamale heights he's experiencing today. The Las Vegas tamalero used to talk with his father, Saul Talavera, Sr., about starting a tamale business one day. They would kick a few back and dream, but the idea never materialized. Solo un sueno.

When his father died in 2014 and Saul, Jr. lost his job, his wife pushed him to take a chance on their family's tamales. It wasn't easy, and at times, it felt impossible. In this 2 Sharp Chefs episode, El Tamalucas owner explains to Chefs Lorraine Moss & Louiie Victa how he finally got people to listen, try his family's recipes, and queue up for hours just to get a taste.

In Show & Tell, Saul shares a cooler that looks more like a rock guitar case and carries the sentimental value of a priceless heirloom.

Podcast mentions: Sonic, Foodbeast

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What do you know about Ghost Kitchens? They've been around a while, but their popularity is increasing as more and more people prefer grabbing food to go or getting it delivered to their homes. For Las Vegas small business owners, it's also helped many local chefs keep their concepts thriving and their costs down.

In 2 Sharp Chefs & A Microphone** Pandemic Provisions, Chefs Lorraine Moss & Louiie Victa** chat about their favorite shared food items. And in this week's chef Show & Tell, Jon brings a photo that he keeps in his food truck for inspiration, and Jordon shares a knife that gave him the confidence to keep moving up.

PODCAST MENTIONS: YourPanadas, Chef JD’s Taste Kitchen, Valley Cheese and Wine, John Arena, Robert Irvine’s Public House, Jolene Mannina, Vegas Test Kitchen, Justin Franco, Chefs 4 Vegas, Department of Agriculture, Get Fresh, Three Square, Vesta Food Service, James Beard Foundation

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