Anne Marie Panoringan is Culture OC’s well-informed food columnist. She reports industry news, current events and trends. Anne Marie also contributes regularly to Eater Los Angeles, LAist, TASTE and a host of other well-respected and noteworthy publications.

Anne Marie joins us in-studio to discuss her work as Food Columnist for Culture OC and highlight her current columns. Of course, more tasty Orange County morsels will be part of the conversation including a discussion of Darkroom restaurant in Santa Ana.

First Anne Marie provides an overview of her trip to Chicago to attend the James Beard Awards, the Oscars of the food world. How did the pair of Orange County nominees fare?

Anne Marie Panoringan is Culture OC’s well-informed food columnist. She reports industry news, current events and trends. Anne Marie also contributes regularly to Eater Los Angeles, LAist, TASTE and a host of other well-respected and noteworthy publications.

Anne Marie continues with us in-studio to discuss her work as Food Columnist for Culture OC and highlight her current columns. Of course more Orange County morsels will be part of the conversation including a further discussion of Darkroom restaurant in Santa Ana. Also Anne Marie provides an overview of her recent Culture OC’s suggestions for Summer dining and beverage picks.

“With a heritage dating back to the California Gold Rush, Sobon Estate (Amador County) has now been recognized as the oldest continuously operating winery in the state. This historic estate dates back to 1856 when the Uhlinger family planted the first vines in Amador County to maintain ownership of the land and prevent gold prospectors from staking a claim.”

“The Sobon family first staked their claim to this historic site in 1989 when Shenandoah Vineyards founders, Leon and Shirley Sobon, acquired the D’Agostini Vineyards for each other as a 30th anniversary present. After having reestablished Shenandoah Vineyards in 1977, the Sobon Family set their sights on reestablishing and renovating this once proud property. After nearly five arduous years of replanting and rehabilitating the over 200 acres of prime hillside vineyards, the family’s dream of producing small batch, estate grown Zinfandel was set to become a reality. Sobon Wine Company is now one of only a handful of independent regional wineries that is completely family owned, operated and managed, with a portfolio of fine, hand-crafted artisanal wines.”

A representative selection of Sobon Estate wines are available locally at Total Wine.

Winemaker and Winegrower Paul Sobon (2nd generation) joins us to pull the cork on all that is Sobon Wine Company.

“With a heritage dating back to the California Gold Rush, Sobon Estate (Amador County) has now been recognized as the oldest continuously operating winery in the state. This historic estate dates back to 1856 when the Uhlinger family planted the first vines in Amador County to maintain ownership of the land and prevent gold prospectors from staking a claim.”

“Sobon Estate wines (since the 2008 vintage) are all produced by 2nd generation winemaker Paul Sobon. He has been making wines, as well as tending to the families estate vineyards alongside his father and family patriarch, Leon Sobon, for over three decades before fully assuming the reigns of production. UC Davis trained with apprenticeships in both South Australia and Bordeaux, Paul has an innate feeling for the land, vineyard and wines in this region unlike any others.”

“Natural winemaking is their goal, with special care given to every barrel and every bottle. Sobon Estate strives to produce the highest quality wine possible and to fully express the true flavors and aromas of each grape variety and the soil from which they are grown.”

A representative selection of Sobon Estate wines are available locally at Total Wine.

Paul Sobon stays with us continuing to pull the cork on all that is Sobon Estate.

“Located in a historic train depot in San Juan Capistrano, Trevor’s at the Tracks (Trevor Baird) lives by the motto “Locally Acquired | Globally inspired.” They offer a rotating seasonal menu, plus Chef’s specials that rotate every couple of weeks. They’re open 7 days a week with live music nightly (and all day on the weekends). Never repeating a musician throughout the month, Trevor’s at the Tracks hires over 50 local musicians monthly to play on the patio.”

“With their commitment to sustainability and community, Trevor’s at the Tracks is redefining what it means to eat responsibly—without sacrificing flavor or experience. Trevor’s at the Tracks offers one menu from open to close with operating hours of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.”

“True to its motto, Locally Acquired | Globally Inspired, Trevor’s at the Tracks is now growing a vibrant assortment of high-yield produce, including lettuce, carrots, radishes, cabbage and herbs. Every ingredient grown at the farm is purposefully incorporated into the restaurant’s globally inspired dishes, adding freshness and depth of flavor while keeping the supply chain tight and local.”

“This farm represents a natural evolution of our mission,” says Trevor Baird, “We’re not only reducing our carbon footprint by sourcing produce mere minutes from our kitchen—we’re

closing the loop and providing our customers with the best possible tasting food there is.”

“Located in a historic train depot in San Juan Capistrano, Trevor’s at the Tracks (Trevor Baird) lives by the motto “Locally Acquired | Globally inspired.” They offer a rotating seasonal menu, plus Chef’s specials that rotate every couple of weeks. They’re open 7 days a week with live music nightly (and all day on the weekends). Never repeating a musician throughout the month, Trevor’s at the Tracks hires over 50 local musicians monthly to play on the patio.”

“With their commitment to sustainability and community, Trevor’s at the Tracks is redefining what it means to eat responsibly—without sacrificing flavor or experience. Trevor’s at the Tracks offers one menu from open to close with operating hours of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.”

“In addition to sourcing farm-fresh produce, Trevor’s is fully committed to zero-waste practices. Vegetable scraps and organic waste from the restaurant are returned to the farm in the form of nutrient-rich compost, helping cultivate the next crop and promoting healthy soil. “We believe that being a great restaurant today means more than great food,” adds Trevor “It means accountability—to the environment, to our community, and to the future.””

“Trevor’s at the Tracks has had an on-going green initiative since opening in February 2017. Trevor’s at the Tracks has had an on-going green initiative since opening in February 2017. At the heart of the restaurant has always been to limit the carbon footprint and, in turn, they have given their guests a taste of what sustainable, local dining can be.”

Restaurateur and Farmer Trevor Baird continues as our guest.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (located in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) was waylaid with some airline travel glitches. His “Ask the Chef Segment” returns on July 12th after his well-deserved Family vacation.

Meantime Executive Producer Andy Harris fills in on the tipping challenge dilemma. Prods to tip in unexpected places seem to be getting a bit out of hand. Tip lines appear on credit card payment screens and tip jars are everywhere. Should you really tip the counterperson at a gas station convenience store who hands you a wrapped sandwich? When staying at a hotel do tip the hard-working housekeeper in cash on a daily basis. Executive Producer Andy Harris shares his informed thoughts. (Rescheduled from last week.)

“Get ready for an unforgettable night as St. Vincent Meals on Wheels presents the fourth annual “Hollywood Under the Stars” gala fundraiser at the iconic Paramount Studios lot on Saturday, June 21, at 6:30 PM.  Nearly a dozen of Los Angeles' finest chefs and pâtissiers will showcase their exquisite dishes. Guests will kick off the evening with an exclusive VIP Hour in the legendary Paramount Theater, followed by a specially curated tasting menu featuring the talents of the 2025 Culinary Angels. Sip on signature cocktails and dance the night away under the stars to the lively tunes of a 10-piece live band. With Los Angeles County experiencing the fastest-growing population of seniors facing food and housing insecurities, St. Vincent’s work—and the support of their donors—becomes more important than ever.” Executive Director of St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, Veronica Dover, joins us with a preview of “Hollywood Under the Stars.” Also joining us are participating “Angel” restaurants Georgia’s (Nika Shoemaker-Machado) and Wife and the Somm (Chris Lucchese). All the restaurants are generously donating their food for the Benefit.

“The 10th annual Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure will feature more than 40 wineries from across California, including ten L.A.-based wineries showcasing the depth and breadth of the rising micro-production wine movement in Los Angeles. Among the L.A.-based winemakers showcased at the festival are Adorato Wines, Bivium Wine, Cavaletti Vineyards, Flowers & Cheese Winery, Fuil Wines, Hoi Polloi, Montage Vineyards, Pagter Winery, Pulchella Winery, and Sunland Vintage Winery, The Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure takes place on June 21st at the Glendale Civic Auditorium.” Garagiste Co-founder, Doug Minnick, is also the winemaker for his own label, Hoi Polloi. We’ll meet him.

“The 10th annual Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure will feature more than 40 wineries from across California, including ten L.A.-based wineries showcasing the depth and breadth of the rising micro-production wine movement in Los Angeles. Among the L.A.-based winemakers showcased at the festival are Adorato Wines, Bivium Wine, Cavaletti Vineyards, Flowers & Cheese Winery, Fuil Wines, Hoi Polloi, Montage Vineyards, Pagter Winery, Pulchella Winery, and Sunland Vintage Winery, The Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure takes place on June 21st at the Glendale Civic Auditorium.” Garagiste Co-founder, Doug Minnick, is also the winemaker for his own label, Hoi Polloi. We’ll meet him.


“Susan Lanier-Graham is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Wander With Wonder, an online food, wine, and travel magazine. It was named one of the top four travel journalism websites of 2022 by SATW. Susan is also the managing editor of North Peoria Lifestyle, a print luxury lifestyle publication in Phoenix. Susan has been writing for the past 30 years. She is the author of more than 75 books and hundreds of magazine articles. Along with Wander, Susan’s articles appear in various print and online publications, including AAA publications, WHERE publications, TravelandLeisure.com, Marriott.com, Fairmont’s blogs, Modern Luxury, and more. She is a Certified California Wine Appellation Specialist. Susan lives and works full-time from her fifth-wheel, finding wow moments wherever she visits. You can view Susan’s portfolio online at SusanLanierGraham.com.” Susan shares some hidden dining gems from across the USA. Travel Journalist and Publisher Susan Lanier-Graham is our guest.

“Get ready for an unforgettable night as St. Vincent Meals on Wheels presents the fourth annual “Hollywood Under the Stars” gala fundraiser at the iconic Paramount Studios lot on Saturday, June 21, at 6:30 PM.  Nearly a dozen of Los Angeles' finest chefs and pâtissiers will showcase their exquisite dishes. Guests will kick off the evening with an exclusive VIP Hour in the legendary Paramount Theater, followed by a specially curated tasting menu featuring the talents of the 2025 Culinary Angels. Sip on signature cocktails and dance the night away under the stars to the lively tunes of a 10-piece live band. With Los Angeles County experiencing the fastest-growing population of seniors facing food and housing insecurities, St. Vincent’s work—and the support of their donors—becomes more important than ever.” Executive Director of St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, Veronica Dover, joins us with a preview of “Hollywood Under the Stars.” Also joining us are participating “Angel” restaurants Georgia’s (Nika Shoemaker-Machado) and Wife and the Somm (Chris Lucchese). All the restaurants are generously donating their food for the Benefit.

“The 10th annual Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure will feature more than 40 wineries from across California, including ten L.A.-based wineries showcasing the depth and breadth of the rising micro-production wine movement in Los Angeles. Among the L.A.-based winemakers showcased at the festival are Adorato Wines, Bivium Wine, Cavaletti Vineyards, Flowers & Cheese Winery, Fuil Wines, Hoi Polloi, Montage Vineyards, Pagter Winery, Pulchella Winery, and Sunland Vintage Winery, The Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure takes place on June 21st at the Glendale Civic Auditorium.” Garagiste Co-founder, Doug Minnick, is also the winemaker for his own label, Hoi Polloi. We’ll meet him.


“Susan Lanier-Graham is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Wander With Wonder, an online food, wine, and travel magazine. It was named one of the top four travel journalism websites of 2022 by SATW. Susan is also the managing editor of North Peoria Lifestyle, a print luxury lifestyle publication in Phoenix. Susan has been writing for the past 30 years. She is the author of more than 75 books and hundreds of magazine articles. Along with Wander, Susan’s articles appear in various print and online publications, including AAA publications, WHERE publications, TravelandLeisure.com, Marriott.com, Fairmont’s blogs, Modern Luxury, and more. She is a Certified California Wine Appellation Specialist. Susan lives and works full-time from her fifth-wheel, finding wow moments wherever she visits. You can view Susan’s portfolio online at SusanLanierGraham.com.” Susan shares some hidden dining gems from across the USA. Travel Journalist and Publisher Susan Lanier-Graham is our guest.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (located in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) was waylaid with some unexpected airline travel glitches. His “Ask the Chef Segment” returns next week

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