In this special installment of Snacky Tunes, Darin continues the conversation on how the Los Angeles culinary community is responding to the devastating L.A. fires. First, we welcome back Brad Metzger and Jacqui Leanza, who are behind one of the most incredible fundraising dinners—Chefs Love LA. The event features an all-star lineup including Ruth Reichl, Daniel Boulud, Nyesha Arrington, Billy Harris, Phil Rosenthal, Jeremy Fox, Curtis Stone, Jonathan Waxman, and more!!! The dinner at the legendary Lawry’s is raising critical support for World Central Kitchen and Restaurants Care.

In the second half of the show, we sit down with Zak Fishman, owner of Prime Pizza and a longtime Altadena local, to discuss the impact of the fires on the neighborhood and the restaurant community. He shares his experience navigating the aftermath and the path to rebuilding.

For those looking to support LA restaurants, check out the latest Snacky Tunes Substack for donation links and action items.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

In this episode of Snacky Tunes, Darin continues the conversation about the ongoing challenges faced by the Los Angeles restaurant community in the wake of the devastating fires. Over two weeks in, the fires continue to impact the city with little clarity on the road ahead.

First, Darin welcomes back Charles Namba and Courtney Kaplan of Tsubaki, Ototo, and Camélia, who share their experiences navigating the crisis. The duo instead provides an honest look at how the fires have affected their business and the broader restaurant industry—facing a 50% drop in covers, grappling with outdoor dining decisions, and doing their best to keep staff employed. They offer valuable insights and practical tips on how listeners can support their favorite spots during these uncertain times.

In the second half of the show, Courtney Storer joins the conversation to discuss how she has been feeding the community through her company, Coco’s to GoGo, an inspiring culinary initiative driven by a dedicated network of volunteers. She shares actionable advice on organizing community support, the importance of self-care for those committing to long-term relief efforts, and her goal to make her nonna inspired food feel like a warm hug.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

In this heartfelt and timely episode of Snacky Tunes, host Darin Bresnitz delves into the early recovery efforts following the devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles, including the Palisades and Eaton Canyon areas. The culinary community, as always, is at the forefront of healing, offering food, love, and support to those in need.

This week’s lineup features three incredible guests:

• Mary Sue Milliken: The renowned chef and co-founder of Border Grill discusses her work with World Central Kitchen, her deep ties to LA, and how the culinary world comes together in times of crisis, like Re:Her & The James Beard Awards.
• Andy Valdez from HomeState: Andy shares how the beloved Tex-Mex spot mobilized to deliver breakfast tacos to first responders and emergency workers, offering comfort through food in challenging times. Sign up here if you would like to volunteer. 
• Travis Hayden: Returning from last week’s episode, Travis reflects on how the fires have impacted him personally, as both a member of the culinary industry and a victim of the disaster.

This episode also includes a robust list of resources for listeners who want to support the recovery efforts, emphasizing the importance of financial aid, gift cards, and direct restaurant donations. Join us as we explore how LA’s food community is working tirelessly to rebuild, one meal at a time. Tune in, take action, and remember: Together, we can help restore what was lost.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

We recorded this episode on Tuesday, January 7th at 12:30pm.  A few hours later, Travis Hayden, chef of Bar Etoile, would lose his house to the Palisades Fire and my family would lose our house to the Eaton Canyon Fire. Our communities have been devastated, but also beyond supportive and full of so much love. We wanted to share the episode we had put together for the start of the year to have something normal and regular.

On this episode of Snacky Tunes, Darin sits down with Julian, Jill, and Travis of Bar Etoile to chat about their recent opening and all of the amazing success from the jump. They talk about their journey to starting the restaurant, why they wanted to build a neighborhood spot, and which dish of theirs was named one of the best in LA.  Then we hang out with Andrew Dost of Metal Bubble Trio, who talks about and plays tracks from his new album, Cucumber.  We talk about his love for food, his creative process and how music & art has helped shape his life.

If you are looking to feed the community who was effected by the LA fire, please donate to WCK.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

This episode of Snacky Tunes features host Darin Bresnitz wrapping up the year with a heartfelt thank-you to all the guests, engineers, and PR teams who made the show possible. He also shares exciting news about the return of new episodes and newsletter content in the new year. In this episode, he sits down with two key figures in the LA food scene, Bill Addison and Jenn Harris, for a deep dive into the annual L.A. Times 101 list. They discuss the evolution of the restaurant community over the past year, their collaborative process in crafting this year’s list, and what attendees can look forward to at the upcoming event. Tickets are still available at latimes.com/events.

To close out, Darin takes listeners back to the archives with a special segment featuring indie band Radical Dads. From their 2013 performance on Snacky Tunes, they reflect on their soda zine, pizza blog, and what drew them to the intersection of food and music.

As the holidays approach, please consider supporting HRN. Your donations, whatever you can afford, are greatly appreciated.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

Darin sits down with Xander Soren, the founder and Chief Wine Operator of Xander Soren Wines.  They chat about his time at Apple, working on game-changing programs like GarageBand, his deep affinity for Japanese culture, and he shares some of his playlists that pair perfectly with his pinot.  Then we dip into the archives when singer-songwriter Sarah Jaffe swung by to share stories and songs from the latest EP, SMUT.

As the year rolls on, please consider supporting HRN. Your donations, whatever you can afford, are greatly appreciated.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

To kick off the holiday season, Darin is joined by Mackenzie Hoffman, Harley Wertheimer, and Caroline Leff of Stir Crazy, and Kat Turner and Cary Mosier of Highly Likely for a live roundtable chat at the Snacky Tunes Salon. They share their favorite seasonal traditions, what it means to host the community this time of year, and finally agree on if Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not.

A huge shout out to our presenting sponsors for the event, Square and ChowNow, along with support from Jumbo Time Wines, Skyduster Beer, and American Water.

As the year rolls on, please consider supporting HRN. Your donations, whatever you can afford, are greatly appreciated.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

Darin sits down with Andrew Lawson, the GM and co-owner behind LA’s latest hotspots, Ètra and Café Telegrama. They chat about Lawson’s roots growing up in LA, his game-changing years in NYC's restaurant scene, and how he teamed up with some stellar partners to create two of the most buzzed-about spots in Los Angeles. And for a little throwback treat, Darin digs into the archives to feature a performance from one of Brooklyn’s favorites, Erika Spring of Au Revior Simone and NAF. It’s a tasty trip back to Roberta’s shipping containers and a reminder of all the magic made there.

As the year rolls on, please consider supporting HRN. Your donations, whatever you can afford, are greatly appreciated.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

On this episode of Snacky Tunes, Darin sits down with Ashley and Colby Frey of Frey Ranch Distillery, a farm-to-glass whiskey farm that's truly one of a kind. They dive into what it means to be fifth-generation farmers, the music they listen to while crafting their spirits, and how they bring a thoughtful, farming-first approach to their delicious bourbon, rye, and other spirits. It’s a lively conversation that captures the essence of their craft.

Later in the episode, Darin digs into the archives, featuring a performance from The Spring Standards, who stopped by to share their folk tunes and offer their thoughts on the Philadelphia Flyers.

As the year rolls on, please consider supporting HRN. Your donations, whatever you can afford, are greatly appreciated.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.

Darin sits down with Steven Clarke, VP of Marketing at Golden Krust, the iconic Jamaican fast-casual restaurant celebrating its 35th anniversary. They chat about his journey into the family business, the enduring appeal of Jamaican cuisine, and how Steven balances his professional life with his passion for DJ'ing.

Plus, the episode features a throwback to May 2015 with singer-songwriter Lily McQueen, who shares tracks from her EP and talks about her musical influences, life in the city, and her favorite studio snacks.

As the year rolls on, please consider supporting HRN. Your donations, whatever you can afford, are greatly appreciated.

Snacky Tunes: Music is the Main Ingredient, Chefs and Their Music (Phaidon), is now on shelves at bookstores around the world. It features over eighty of the world’s top chefs who share personal stories of how music has been an important, integral force in their lives. The chefs also give personal recipes and curated playlists too. It’s an anthology of memories, meals and mixtapes. Pick up your copy by ordering directly from Phaidon, or by visiting your local independent bookstore. Visit our site, www.snackytunes.com for more info.

Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Snacky Tunes by becoming a member.

Snacky Tunes is Powered by Simplecast.