SoCal Restaurant Show

It’s that time of the year where we break bread with Legends Executive Chef Dennis Radcliffe to chat about what’s new in salivating food and beverage options at Angel Stadium.

This year there are new Casa Modelo stands serving Birria and Veggie Quesadillas. Their always popular Brewery X has a host of new menu items. A new dessert item that’s already attracting a lot of attention is the Walk Off Waffles (Section 232) featuring decadent Strawberries & Cream Waffles and S’mores Waffles.

Pastry Chef L.A. Tracy teases us with the descriptions of a pair of newly available beer floats she created for Brewery X. It’s Mango Baja Boi Float and Dublin My Vision Float. Dublin My Vision also is available in a non-alcoholic variation. Cheers!

Chef Dennis Radcliffe takes another break from his busy kitchen to continue with us along with Legends Hospitality’s Pastry Chef L.A. Tracy.

“Las Vegas’ The Feast of Friends is encoring the wildly popular Vegas Unstripped food festival this spring, with a notable new home. This year, the event takes place from 7-10:00 p.m. on Saturday May 18 at the Palms Casino Resort on the Resort Pool Deck conveniently located just off The Strip. Thirty of the city’s most acclaimed and creative chefs will be brought together to present one-night-only original dishes, accompanied by cocktails from many of the city’s best bars, live local entertainers, art activations and more.”

“Tickets are available via vegasunstripped.com. Price has remained at $150 plus fees (and the fees have gone down!). Attendees must be 21+.”

Parking is free.

Ex-Pat Southern California Chefs participating who now reside in Las Vegas include James Trees of Esther’s Kitchen and Bruce Kalman of SoulBelly BBQ.

“Vegas Unstripped is Las Vegas’ only festival by chefs, about chefs, and for the Vegas community. Participating chefs represent the cutting edge of independent talent in Las Vegas, and are challenged to create unique dishes for the night reflecting their culinary passions. The evening is augmented by beverages from Las Vegas’ best local bars, local musicians, local art and more. Created in 2018 as a reaction to the Strip-focused Vegas Uncork’d event (now defunct), Vegas Unstripped initially only invited chefs working off-Strip but now welcomes Vegas chefs regardless of where they cook, offering open submissions. All necessary expenses of the independent chef/restaurateur are covered by event revenue to the extent possible, with net proceeds going to underserved local charities. To date, Vegas Uncorked has donated nearly $30,000.”

Eric has a very special discount offer for our Listeners. The ticket price is a reasonable $150 per guest given the value of the quality of chef created dishes and beverages available on the Resort Pool Deck at Palms Casino Resort on May 18th. For an additional $15 off each ticket (up to 4 tickets) use the “coupon code” SOCAL42 at checkout.

Remember parking is free which is unusual in Vegas resort properties.

Founder and Event Producer Eric Gladstone joins us with all the enticing details.

Acclaimed Restaurateur and Chef (and James Beard Award recipient) “Nancy Silverton is the co-owner of Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles and Newport Beach as well as Osteria Mozza, Mozza2Go, and chi SPACCA in Los Angeles. Silverton also founded the world-renowned La Brea Bakery as well as Campanile Restaurant, an institution that Angelenos cherished for decades. Silverton has worked with some of the nation’s most notable and influential chefs including Jonathan Waxman at Michael’s Restaurant and Wolfgang Puck at Spago. She has served as a mentor to numerous others who have gone on to become award-winning chefs and restaurant owners themselves.” Nancy Silverton now warmly invites all foodies to the C-CAP Los Angeles Gala on Friday, May 17 at Jonathan Club DTLA! Join her for a glittering evening of food and drink to benefit C-CAP Los Angeles’ (Careers through Culinary Arts Program) students and programming. Longtime C-CAP supporter and pioneering chef Nancy Silverton is creating a delicious multi-course menu along with Jonathan Club’s heralded Executive Chef Andreas Roller. Nancy Silverton is our guest previewing what’s on the salivating May 17th menu.

Chef Dustin Trani represents the 4th generation of the celebrated Trani Family to be an owner/chef cooking in San Pedro. Currently he is best known for J. Trani’s Ristorante which is his Family’s successor restaurant to their original San Pedro establishment, Trani’s Majestic Café opened in 1925 in downtown San Pedro. His latest venture (in the works since 2019) is the ambitious, soon to celebrate it’s first anniversary, Trani’s Dockside Station located in San Pedro’s historic waterfront in a vintage (fully restored and renovated) 1920 building that initially served as an immigration hall. In more recent years it was the local diner, Canetti’s Seafood Grotto, which closed in 2010 after a 70-year run. The exterior has been restored and preserved along with the addition of a striking, art deco neon vertical sign. Sunday Brunch is on the horizon. Chef Dustin Trani joins us with all the update details for Trani’s Dockside Station.

“James Beard cookbook-award-winning authors Ann Taylor Pittman and Scott Mowbray explore in The Global Pantry Cookbook the exciting range of versatile, short-cut, high-flavor ingredients in the global pantry: gochujang, toasted sesame oil, Banyuls vinegar, za’atar, palm sugar, sorghum, chipotles in adobo and many more. These easily found products burst with flavors that Americans have come to love in restaurants in recent years—and are hugely useful for home cooking.

Ann and Scott tasted and tested more than 100 pantry stars to find the best for both traditional recipes (such as Grilled Pork Satay from Indonesia) and for playful mashups like their Ground Beef Bulgogi Sloppy Joes with Fiery Napa Slaw and their Coconutty Banana Pudding with Candied Black Walnuts. The book provides in-depth shopping and storage advice, has many tips to ensure recipe success, and suggests alternative uses for each product.” Ann Taylor Pittman joins us to discuss The Global Pantry Cookbook.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) and also the founder and pizzaiola of the fast-casual Big Parm (New Jersey-style pizza) located in the Mess Hall in Tustin provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries. Chefs prefer to cook with natural gas based on the cost and efficiency of existing technology. Berkeley passed a first of its kind law in 2019 banning natural gas piping from being installed in new construction. Berkeley has now backed off that ban influenced by a federal appeals court ruling and Chef Andrew now provides the explanation.

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

“Acclaimed Restaurateur and Chef (and James Beard Award recipient) Nancy Silverton is the co-owner of Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles and Newport Beach as well as Osteria Mozza, Mozza2Go, and chi SPACCA in Los Angeles. Silverton also founded the world-renowned La Brea Bakery as well as Campanile Restaurant, an institution that Angelenos cherished for decades.” 

“Silverton has worked with some of the nation’s most notable and influential chefs including Jonathan Waxman at Michael’s Restaurant and Wolfgang Puck at Spago. She has served as a mentor to numerous others who have gone on to become award-winning chefs and restaurant owners themselves.” 

Silverton’s newest cookbook (her 11th) is The Cookie That Changed My Life and More Than 100 Other Classic Cakes, Cookies, Muffins, and Pies That Will Change Yours. As the original pastry chef at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago (celebrating their 40th Anniversary this year,) she made us rethink how we make and eat bread. Now this “pastry doyenne” (Los Angeles Times) has not only returned to her roots, she has surpassed anything she has done before. Biting into a particularly delicious peanut butter cookie one day from Friends & Family’s Roxana Jullapat, she and had an epiphany: every single thing we bake should taste this good. And so she decided to return to her roots, and set to work perfecting the rest of the American baking canon.”


Nancy Silverton now invites all foodies to the C-CAP Los Angeles (Careers through Culinary Arts Program) Gala on Friday, May 17 at Jonathan Club DTLA!

Join her for a glittering evening of inspired food and drink to benefit C-CAP Los Angeles’ students and programming. Longtime C-CAP supporter and pioneering chef Nancy Silverton is creating a delicious multi-course menu along with Jonathan Club’s heralded Executive Chef Andreas Roller. 

The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with a social hour on the rooftop’s Great Lawn. Guests will enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres and select premium wines and craft cocktails while overlooking the beautiful vista of downtown Los Angeles.

At 7:30 p.m. guests will then make their way to the Grand Ballroom for a spectacular, multi-course wine-paired seated dinner. The program includes remarks from Chef Silverton, C-CAP students and alumni and culminates with the C-CAP Live Auction and a decadent dessert finale. 

Nancy Silverton is our guest previewing what’s on the May 17th menu.

Nancy gracious talks to us from the road as she is on her way driving to Ojai for her special Dinner with Chef Jonathan Waxman at The Farmhouse at the Ojai Valley Inn.

“Acclaimed Restaurateur and Chef (and James Beard Award recipient) Nancy Silverton is the co-owner of Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles and Newport Beach as well as Osteria Mozza, Mozza2Go, and chi SPACCA in Los Angeles. Silverton also founded the world-renowned La Brea Bakery as well as Campanile Restaurant, an institution that Angelenos cherished for decades.” 

“Silverton has worked with some of the nation’s most notable and influential chefs including Jonathan Waxman at Michael’s Restaurant and Wolfgang Puck at Spago. She has served as a mentor to numerous others who have gone on to become award-winning chefs and restaurant owners themselves.” 

Silverton’s newest cookbook (her 11th) is The Cookie That Changed My Life and More Than 100 Other Classic Cakes, Cookies, Muffins, and Pies That Will Change Yours. As the original pastry chef at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago (celebrating their 40th Anniversary this year,) she made us rethink how we make and eat bread. Now this “pastry doyenne” (Los Angeles Times) has not only returned to her roots, she has surpassed anything she has done before. Biting into a particularly delicious peanut butter cookie one day from Friends & Family’s Roxana Jullapat, she and had an epiphany: every single thing we bake should taste this good. And so she decided to return to her roots, and set to work perfecting the rest of the American baking canon.”


Nancy Silverton now invites all discerning foodies to the C-CAP Los Angeles (Careers through Culinary Arts Program) Gala on Friday, May 17 at Jonathan Club DTLA!

Join her for a glittering evening of food and drink to benefit C-CAP Los Angeles’ students and programming. Longtime C-CAP supporter and pioneering chef Nancy Silverton is creating a delicious multi-course menu along with Jonathan Club’s heralded Executive Chef Andreas Roller. 

The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with a social hour on the rooftop’s Great Lawn. Guests will enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres and select premium wines and craft cocktails while overlooking the beautiful vista of downtown Los Angeles.

At 7:30 p.m. guests will then make their way to the Grand Ballroom for a spectacular, multi-course wine-paired seated dinner. The program includes remarks from Chef Silverton, C-CAP students and alumni and culminates with the C-CAP Live Auction and a decadent dessert finale. 

Nancy Silverton continues as our guest previewing what’s on the salivating May 17th menu along with an update on Max and Helen’s, a diner concept in Larchmont Village she is creating with Producer and Food TV Personality Phil Rosenthal.

Chef Dustin Trani represents the 4th generation of the celebrated Trani Family to be an owner/chef cooking in San Pedro. Currently he is best known for J. Trani’s Ristorante which is his Family’s successor restaurant to their original San Pedro establishment, Trani’s Majestic Café opened in 1925 in downtown San Pedro. Chef Dustin is also an alum of the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP.)

His latest venture (in the works since 2019) is the ambitious, soon to celebrate it’s first anniversary, Trani’s Dockside Station located in San Pedro’s historic waterfront in a vintage (fully restored and renovated) 1920 building that initially served as an immigration hall. In more recent years it was the local diner, Canetti’s Seafood Grotto, which closed in 2010 after a 70-year run. The exterior has been restored and preserved along with the addition of a striking, art deco neon vertical sign.

The restaurant is open for Lunch and Dinner. Sunday Brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. launched April 21st.

Chef Dustin Trani joins us with all the update details for Trani’s Dockside Station.

Chef Dustin Trani represents the 4th generation of the celebrated Trani Family to be an owner/chef cooking in San Pedro. Currently he is best known for J. Trani’s Ristorante which is his Family’s successor restaurant to their original San Pedro establishment, Trani’s Majestic Café opened in 1925 in downtown San Pedro. Chef Dustin is also an alum of the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP.)

His latest venture (in the works since 2019) is the ambitious, soon to celebrate it’s first anniversary, Trani’s Dockside Station located in San Pedro’s historic waterfront in a vintage (fully restored and renovated) 1920 building that initially served as an immigration hall. In more recent years it was the local diner, Canetti’s Seafood Grotto, which closed in 2010 after a 70-year run. The exterior has been restored and preserved along with the addition of a striking, art deco neon vertical sign.

The restaurant is open for Lunch and Dinner. Sunday Brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. launches April 21st.

Chef Dustin Trani continues with us providing all the update details of Trani’s Dockside Station.

“James Beard cookbook-award-winning authors Ann Taylor Pittman and Scott Mowbray explore in The Global Pantry Cookbook the exciting range of versatile, short-cut, high-flavor ingredients in the global pantry: gochujang, toasted sesame oil, Banyuls vinegar, za’atar, palm sugar, sorghum, chipotles in adobo and many more. These easily found products burst with flavors that Americans have come to love in restaurants in recent years—and are hugely useful for home cooking.”

“Ann and Scott tasted and tested more than 100 pantry stars to find the best for both traditional recipes (such as Grilled Pork Satay from Indonesia) and for playful mashups like their Ground Beef Bulgogi Sloppy Joes with Fiery Napa Slaw and their Coconutty Banana Pudding with Candied Black Walnuts. The book provides in-depth shopping and storage advice, has many tips to ensure recipe success, and suggests alternative uses for each product.”

“The Global Pantry Cookbook, released in October 2023, appeared on best-of-2023 lists by Food & Wine, national NPR, the LA Times, Wired and more, and was selected to be recommended for all US libraries as one of just 12 cookbooks from 2023 “that will stand the test of time, become reliable favorites, and nourish readers."

“James Beard cookbook-award-winning authors Ann Taylor Pittman and Scott Mowbray explore in The Global Pantry Cookbook the exciting range of versatile, short-cut, high-flavor ingredients in the global pantry: gochujang, toasted sesame oil, Banyuls vinegar, za’atar, palm sugar, sorghum, chipotles in adobo and many more. These easily found products burst with flavors that Americans have come to love in restaurants in recent years—and are hugely useful for home cooking.”

“Ann and Scott tasted and tested more than 100 pantry stars to find the best for both traditional recipes (such as Grilled Pork Satay from Indonesia) and for playful mashups like their Ground Beef Bulgogi Sloppy Joes with Fiery Napa Slaw and their Coconutty Banana Pudding with Candied Black Walnuts. The book provides in-depth shopping and storage advice, has many tips to ensure recipe success, and suggests alternative uses for each product.”

“The Global Pantry Cookbook, released in October 2023, appeared on best-of-2023 lists by Food & Wine, national NPR, the LA Times, Wired and more, and was selected to be recommended for all US libraries as one of just 12 cookbooks from 2023 “that will stand the test of time, become reliable favorites, and nourish readers.””

Ann Taylor Pittman continues with us highlighting The Global Pantry Cookbook

Chefs prefer to cook with natural gas based on existing technology. Berkeley passed a first of its kind law in 2019 banning natural gas piping from being installed in new construction. Berkeley has now backed off that ban influenced by a federal appeals court ruling and Chef Andrew provides the explanation. Understand Chef Andrew in everyday practice is consciously environmentally friendly in his business and is as sustainable as he can be.