SoCal Restaurant Show

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the recently launched, full-service Calico Fish House (in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) and also the founder of Big Parm (New Jersey-style pizza) in the Mess Hall in Tustin provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where Chef Andrew responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries.

When you use your Visa or MasterCard for payment at your favorite restaurant there are actually only a few firms that do the bank processing and the fees to the restaurant keep escalating. Some restaurants are now even adding on a credit card fee if plastic is used for payment. What’s going on? We’ll “Ask the Chef.” Chef Andrew’s tip: If you give your server his/her gratuity in cash they get it immediately and you save the restaurant paying that (3 to 5 percent) credit card processing fee on the tip. Everyone wins.

The post Show 530, June 17, 2023: Chef & Co-Host Andrew Gruel with “Ask the Chef” appeared first on SoCal Restaurant Show.

The Bells Up Winery’s (Newberg, Oregon) Story…“If you’re this successful in a career that makes you sick, stressed and miserable… how much more successful would you be doing something you love?” That’s the question Sara Specter asked husband, Dave 13 years ago, following his mental and physical breakdown from more than a decade as a successful corporate tax attorney. This, while watching Sara’s mentor battle pancreatic cancer at age 40. The answer, for The Specters, was that life is too short to spend unhappy. So they turned the basement hobby that brought Dave joy — winemaking — into Bells Up Winery.” Winemaker Dave Specter is our guest pulling the cork on all that is Bells Up Winery.

“Chef Raphael Lunetta and Executive Chef / Partner Emilio Cuyuch provide their guests a chef driven, neighborhood diner with a rustic California dining room and bar. Both sides feature the freshest, highly sourced ingredients, cocktails, great coffee, craft beers & friendly service. All are offered in a very social environment. Menus for Lunetta are locally sourced and responsibly grown, using seasonal ingredients based on the abundant product available on the California Coast. Food is served either as separate items for each guest or family style to share amongst everyone at your table.” Chef / Proprietor Raphael Lunetta is our guest.

It’s hard to believe but before late 2018 Hitching Post Wines (made famous in the Oscar-winning 2004 feature motion picture, “Sideways,”) never had a tasting room. That all changed for the better in 2018 when acclaimed winemakers Gray Hartley and Frank Ostini debuted a mid-century farmhouse, destination Tasting Room (with lunch service delivered from Hitching Post 2) adjacent to Chef Ostini’s prominent Hitching Post 2 restaurant in Buellton. Lunch on the back Patio of The Hitching Post Wines Tasting Room is now provided with full service. Think Grilled Artichoke with Smoked Tomato Mayo and a Pulled Pork Sandwich on a Brioche Bun, South Carolina-style. Gray Hartley joins us popping the cork on a bottle of their signature Highliner for us.

“The Garagiste Wine Festival returns to Los Angeles at Glendale Civic Auditorium for the eighth time on Saturday, June 17th with over 40 micro-production, commercial ‘garagiste’ California wineries from Malibu, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara County, Paso Robles, Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Baja California, and more. The festival, which takes place at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, also offers a VIP tasting seminar on Santa Barbara County’s smallest, but perhaps most intriguing AVA, ‘Happy Canyon’, and features winemakers Dusty Nabor (Dusty Nabor Wines), Anna Lancucki (Final Girl Wines) and Jessica Gasca (Story of Soil). The festival also includes a “No Repeats Rare and Reserve” early access hour.” “We love bringing The Garagiste Festival to Los Angeles because it is the only wine event in L.A. that brings together so many high quality, small-production winemakers from so many different areas,” said Garagiste Festival Co-founder Doug Minnick. “It’s a whole California winery road trip all in one place on one day.” Co-Founder Doug Minnick joins us to pull the cork on all that is Garagiste Wine Festival: Urban Exposure.

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 of Big Parm (New Jersey-style pizza) in the Mess Hall in Tustin provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where Chef Andrew responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries. Finally egg prices are descending from the stratosphere. Unfortunately beef prices continue to rise. What’s going on? We’ll “Ask the Chef.”

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

The post Show 529, June 10, 2023: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris appeared first on SoCal Restaurant Show.

The Bells Up Winery’s (Newberg, Oregon) Story…

“If you’re this successful in a career that makes you sick, stressed and miserable… how much more successful would you be doing something you love?”

“That’s the question Sara Specter asked husband, Dave 13 years ago, following his mental and physical breakdown from more than a decade as a successful corporate tax attorney. This, while watching Sara’s professional mentor battle pancreatic cancer at age 40.”

“The answer, for The Specters, was that life is too short to spend unhappy. So they turned the basement hobby that brought Dave joy — winemaking — into Bells Up Winery.”

“Dave left the legal field, dedicating himself full-time to learning the business of making wine as a professional at Henke Winery while the Family lived in Cincinnati, Ohio.”

“After Dave won two different amateur national winemaking competitions with two different wines, The Specters decided to relocate to Newberg, Oregon. In 2013, they established Bells Up Winery and their winemaking dreams took root.”

“Today — micro-boutique, un-domaine and open exclusively for one winemaker-hosted tasting experience at a time — Bells Up composes handcrafted, classically-styled Oregon Pinot Noir, Rosé, Pinot Blanc, Seyval Blanc, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon with grapes sourced from their estate vineyard and from micro-sites in the Willamette Valley and Eastern Oregon.”

“The name “Bells Up” refers to a dramatic moment in classical music where the composer instructs French horn players to lift the bells of their instruments up and project sound with maximum intensity. Dave, a French horn player who performed throughout high school and college, says the winery is his “Bells Up” moment.”

Winemaker Dave Specter is our guest pulling the cork on all that is Bells Up Winery.

The post Show 529, June 10, 2023: Bells Up Winery, Newberg, OR with Winemaker Dave Specter Part One appeared first on SoCal Restaurant Show.

The Bells Up Winery’s (Newberg, Oregon) Story…

“If you’re this successful in a career that makes you sick, stressed and miserable… how much more successful would you be doing something you love?”

“That’s the question Sara Specter asked husband, Dave 13 years ago, following his mental and physical breakdown from more than a decade as a successful corporate tax attorney. This, while watching Sara’s professional mentor battle pancreatic cancer at age 40.”

“The answer, for The Specters, was that life is too short to spend unhappy. So they turned the basement hobby that brought Dave joy — winemaking — into Bells Up Winery.”

“Dave left the legal field, dedicating himself full-time to learning the business of making wine as a professional at Henke Winery while the Family lived in Cincinnati, Ohio.”

“After Dave won two different amateur national winemaking competitions with two different wines, The Specters decided to relocate to Newberg, Oregon. In 2013, they established Bells Up Winery and their winemaking dreams took root.”

“Today — micro-boutique, un-domaine and open exclusively for one winemaker-hosted tasting experience at a time — Bells Up composes handcrafted, classically-styled Oregon Pinot Noir, Rosé, Pinot Blanc, Seyval Blanc, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon with grapes sourced from their estate vineyard and from micro-sites in the Willamette Valley and Eastern Oregon.”

Winemaker Dave Specter continues with us pulling the cork on all that is the boutique Bells Up Winery.

The post Show 529, June 10, 2023: Bells Up Winery, Newberg, OR with Winemaker Dave Specter Part Two appeared first on SoCal Restaurant Show.

“Chef Raphael Lunetta and Executive Chef / Partner Emilio Cuyuch provide their guests a chef driven neighborhood diner with a rustic California dining room and bar. Both sides feature the freshest, highly sourced ingredients, cocktails great coffee, craft beers & friendly service. All are offered in a very social environment.”

“Menus for Lunetta are locally sourced and responsibly grown, using seasonal ingredients based on the abundant product available on the California Coast. Food is served either as separate items for each guest or family style to share amongst everyone at your table.”

Lunetta built spacious patios so that guests can continue the al fresco dining-out experience. Lunetta has the All-Day dining room that opens for lunch, happy hour and dinner and the Fireplace dining room and Gallery Room for dinner or a private event.

The OG patio is the outdoor seating area connected to the all-day restaurant. The Cove patio is the covered seating area in the middle of the parking lot.

Lunetta serves breakfast items until 3 p.m. Tuesday – Sunday. The dinner menu is offered in both the all-day dining room and at night in the back fireplace dining room and Moon Bar.

“At Lunetta people matter most, seasonal makes sense, authenticity rules, quality governs, deliciousness is undeniable, pretense is absurd, comfort feels good, fun tastes better, teamwork and pride sustain it all.”

On-site parking in the rear as well as street parking.

Chef Raphael is doing a guest chef dinner at Jar in Los Angeles with Suzanne Tracht on Tuesday, July 18th.

Chef / Proprietor Raphael Lunetta is our guest.

The post Show 529, June 10, 2023: Executive Chef & Partner Raphael Lunetta, Lunetta All Day, Santa Monica Part One appeared first on SoCal Restaurant Show.

“Chef Raphael Lunetta and Executive Chef / Partner Emilio Cuyuch provide their guests a chef driven neighborhood diner with a rustic California dining room and bar. Both sides feature the freshest, highly sourced ingredients, cocktails great coffee, craft beers & friendly service. All are offered in a very social environment.”

“Menus for Lunetta are locally sourced and responsibly grown, using seasonal ingredients based on the abundant product available on the California Coast. Food is served either as separate items for each guest or family style to share amongst everyone at your table.”

Lunetta built spacious patios so that guests can continue the al fresco dining-out experience. Lunetta has the All-Day dining room that opens for lunch, happy hour and dinner and the Fireplace dining room and Gallery Room for dinner or a private event.

“Lunetta serves breakfast items until 3 p.m. Tuesday – Sunday. The dinner menu is offered in both the all-day dining room and at night in the back fireplace dining room and Moon Bar.”

“At Lunetta people matter most, seasonal makes sense, authenticity rules, quality governs, deliciousness is undeniable, pretense is absurd, comfort feels good, fun tastes better, teamwork and pride sustain it all.”

On-site parking in the rear as well as street parking.

Chef/Proprietor Raphael Lunetta continues as our guest.

The post Show 529, June 10, 2023: Executive Chef & Partner Raphael Lunetta, Lunetta All Day, Santa Monica Part Two appeared first on SoCal Restaurant Show.

It’s hard to believe but before late 2018 the well-respected Hitching Post Wines (made famous in the Oscar-winning 2004 feature motion picture, “Sideways,”) never had a tasting room. That all changed for the better in 2018 when acclaimed winemakers Gray Hartley and Frank Ostini debuted a mid-century farmhouse, destination Tasting Room (with lunch service delivered from Hitching Post 2) adjacent to Chef Ostini’s Hitching Post 2 restaurant in Buellton.

Leading the Hitching Post Wines team are the creators and two long-time friends, Gray Hartley and Frank Ostini, who have been making wines in Santa Barbara County, California since 1979. Long before Hollywood discovered the winemaking landmark and its excellent wines, Gray Hartley, a former Alaskan salmon fisherman and Frank Ostini, chef and owner of the famed Hitching Post 2 Restaurant in Buellton, were brought together by their love of wine and winemaking. Over the years their backyard hobby has turned into a highly acclaimed winemaking enterprise.

Lunch on the back Patio of The Hitching Post Wines Tasting Room is now accommodated with full service. Think Grilled Artichoke with Smoked Tomato Mayo and a Pulled Pork Sandwich on a Brioche Bun, South Carolina-style.

Most of the Hitching Post Wines are available by the glass in the alfresco Patio Dining area. The various Tasting Flights (Traditional and Reserve Tasting) are available inside the front HPW Tasting Room.

Gray Hartley joins us popping the cork on a bottle of their signature Highliner for us.

The post Show 529, June 10, 2023: Hitching Post Wines, Buellton, with Gray Hartley appeared first on SoCal Restaurant Show.

“The Garagiste Wine Festival returns to Los Angeles at the Glendale Civic Auditorium for the eighth time on Saturday, June 17th with over 40 micro-production, commercial ‘garagiste’ California wineries from Malibu, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara County, Paso Robles, Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Baja California, and more. The festival, which takes place at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, also offers a VIP tasting seminar on Santa Barbara County’s smallest, but perhaps most intriguing AVA, ‘Happy Canyon’, and features winemakers Dusty Nabor (Dusty Nabor Wines), Anna Lancucki (Final Girl Wines) and Jessica Gasca (Story of Soil). The festival also includes a “No Repeats Rare and Reserve” early access hour.”

“We love bringing The Garagiste Festival to Los Angeles because it is the only wine event in LA that brings together so many high quality, small-production winemakers from so many different areas,” said Garagiste Festival Co-founder Doug Minnick. “It’s a whole California winery road trip all in one place on one day.”

“The Garagiste Festival showcases under-the-radar, innovative, commercial winemakers who handcraft 1,500 cases or less of wine and is renowned for its passionate winemakers who pour in-person at the festival, as well as for its diversity of handcrafted wines, renegade spirit, and rules-breaking, ‘no snobs allowed’ ethos. The festival has been described as “tasting nirvana,” “strange and wondrous,” and “one not to miss” by the Los Angeles Times and ‘beloved by geeks near and far” by Sonoma Magazine. About its wineries says the Sonoma Sun: “if corporate mega-wineries are like the dinosaurs of rock music, these are the garage bands,” and, wrote Vinography’s Alder Yarrow: “they offer a sense of discovery. I’ve watched many a wine brand start out small…and end up an established name on the California Wine scene.”

Tickets are very limited for the Garagiste Festivals and always sell out.

Founder Doug Minnick joins us to pull the cork on all that is Garagiste Wine Festival: Urban Exposure.

The post Show 529, June 10, 2023: Garagiste Wine Festival: Urban Exposure with Co-Founder Doug Minnick appeared first on SoCal Restaurant Show.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the recently launched, full-service Calico Fish House (in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) and also the founder of Big Parm (New Jersey-style pizza) in the Mess Hall in Tustin provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where Chef Andrew responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries.

Finally egg prices are descending from the stratosphere. Unfortunately beef prices continue to rise. According to The New York Times ground beef has increased in cost 20.7 per cent since February of 2020. What’s going on and where can you find value in proteins? We’ll “Ask the Chef.”

The post Show 529, June 10, 2023: Chef & Co-Host Andrew Gruel with “Ask the Chef” appeared first on SoCal Restaurant Show.

The OC Brewers Guild is hosting OC Beer Week from Saturday, June 17th to Saturday June 24th. OC Beer Week is a collection of events county-wide showcasing the best of what OC has to offer. For example, at Riip Beer Co they are crafting 3 special beers for the week.  A pair are collaborations, one with There Does Not Exist (San Luis Obispo) and the other with North Park Brewing Company (San Diego). All participating Orange County craft breweries are also brewing a fundraiser beer for the OC Brewers Guild called Guilded Together. 

OC Brewers Guild President and Board Member, and Director of Brewing & Operations for Riip Beer Co, Ian McCall, joins us in-studio along with other members of the OCBG to tap the keg on all that is OC Beer Week.

“To kick off the summer season, Salt & Straw ice cream has launched one of their most renowned and innovative monthly menus of the year to highlight creative and delicious solutions to help rescue wasted food: The Upcycled Food Series. With 229 million tons of food going unsold or uneaten each year, Salt & Straw was able to rescue over 38,000 pounds to use in the creation of these special flavors. To help craft this menu, they have partnered with five thoughtful brands that are dedicated to reducing food waste in the USA. Each ice cream flavor uses groundbreaking recipe development tactics and tells a unique story about different ways brands and people alike can rescue wasted food. Salt & Straw is proud to announce this menu and each flavor is officially Upcycled Certified®, awarded by the Upcycled Food Association (UFA).” Salt & Straw’s Co-Founder, Tyler Malek, and Urban Gleaners’ Nico Nordin (Executive Director) are our guests.
 
“Hidden away inches from the sand, overlooking the gorgeous Makaiwa Bay and historic Kalahuipuaʻa fishponds you will find Napua Restaurant (open daily for Lunch and Dinner) at the Mauna Lani Beach Club in Waikoloa Village on The Big Island of Hawaii. Owners Brandon and Chef Keoni (Brothers-in Law) strive to bring back the nostalgia of old Hawaii with new techniques and a fresh twist on the classics. With an honest farm-to-table concept the restaurant offers dishes sourced directly from Kaunamano Farms (owned and operated by Brandon and Chef Keoni) and other small local farmers in order to perpetuate a more sustainable Hawaii.” Think farm-raised pork from pampered Berkshire pigs. Come see their Hawaii which is a memorable contrast to dining at the exclusive, high-end restaurants at the nearby Kohala Coast destination resorts. Joining us from Napua is Brandon Lee, the Co-Proprietor.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (in Huntington Beach) and also the founder of Big Parm (New Jersey-style pizza) in the Mess Hall in Tustin provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where Chef Andrew responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries. How do you feel about accessing a menu at a better restaurant by scanning a QR code? Is that really user friendly to the guest? There are also other practical uses for a QR code at a restaurant. We’ll “Ask the Chef.”

Food journalist Steve Dolinsky, NBC 5 TV Chicago’s “The Food Guy”, is the recipient of an impressive 13 James Beard Foundation Awards for journalistic excellence. The James Beard Foundation Awards Gala for Restaurant and Chef Awards is in Chicago at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday evening, June 5th. Steve will preview the 2023 James Beard Foundation Awards Gala and what it means to Chicago to again host such a prestigious event. “The James Beard Media Awards honoring broadcast media, cookbook, and journalism nominees from around the country is Saturday evening, June 3rd at Columbia College Chicago.” Steve Dolinsky is our well-informed, on-the-scene guide to all the Beard Awards festivities this Weekend in Chicago.

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

The post Show 528, June 3, 2023: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris appeared first on SoCal Restaurant Show.