Celebrity Chef Curtis Stone’s first restaurant at sea, SHARE, gives you an exclusive opportunity to enjoy his exquisite cuisine in 6-courses with lots of choice along the way. It’s available aboard select Princess vessels including Ruby Princess. SHARE by Curtis Stone originated on Ruby Princess a bit over 3 years ago.

SHARE aims to capture the Maude experience at sea in gorgeous dining room located on one of the top decks of the ship. There are choices for each course so there is a lot of variety. I particularly enjoyed the Pork Ravioli with a green curry filling coated in a lemongrass cream and topped with crunchy chicharrones (made fresh daily) along with the Duck Leg Confit.

Chef Curtis’ Corporate Chef Christian Dortch (ex-Maude) works with the staff at each SHARE at sea to guarantee Curtis Stone’s culinary vision is maintained. We’ll meet him.

Distinguised and honored chef Pierre-Marie Leprince, a native of Brittany, France, is Princess Cruises’ Director of Guest Culinary Experience. He has been honored as a “Master Chef of France.” He is only one of 4 chefs around the world associated with a cruise line to be so honored.

With Princess Cruises leading the way the glory days of distinctive dining at sea have returned. No matter what a guest might be craving, there is a delicious, freshly-prepared option available aboard each Princess Cruises ship.

We chatted with Chef Leprince earlier this year after visiting his well-equipped research kitchen in Santa Clarita for a tasting and he now encores with us to discuss our cruise dining experience aboard Ruby Princess.

Bill Esparza is winner of a James Beard award (with Lesley Bargar Suter) for his coverage of the LA taco scene in Los Angeles Magazine. Considered one of the country’s leading experts on Mexican food, the LA native previously curated the annual Tacolandia festival in Los Angeles (on hiatus) and writes about Mexican food for Los Angeles Magazine and other notable publications. He is also the author of LA Mexicano – Recipes, People & Places.

Bill is a new Princess Cruises spokesperson and their authoritative Latin America shore excursion consultant.

In Cabo at San Jose del Cabo we partook of a tour he created, Le Revolucion / Tortilla Workshop and Taco Experience with Chef Benito Molina. His famous Oyster Kung Fu Tacos were on the menu.

Bill fills us in on his new role for Princess Cruises and the upcoming opportunity to cruise with him on a Princess ship.

A relatively new position with the Princess Cruises’ family is the post of Entertainment Director. On Ruby Princess this is Kelly Rose. In the role of Entertainment Director she is responsible for the entire entertainment operation. The Cruise Director (a direct report) hosts the main shows or events.

In this new elevated position Kelly concentrates on all the administrative sides of the job and all guest entertainment schedules. She is moving around the vessel to watch how all venues are running. She also keeps a firm eye on overall guest satisfaction.

Now an enticing preview of this Saturday’s properly celebratory show. It’s the 6th Anniversary of the launch of the “SoCal Restaurant Show” and we’re celebrating in style with Princess Cruises aboard Ruby Princess. It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case, upon careful reflection, that’s probably a pretty good thing…

This week we’ve been aboard Ruby Princess for a 5-Night sailing to Cabo San Lucas in Baja California. Today’s show will highlight this experience from the luxe accommodations to the diversity of the appealing cuisine and memorable shore excursions in Cabo. Thanks to Princess Cruises and the wonderful team aboard Ruby Princess, especially Food & Beverage Director Andrea Baiardo, for all the gracious hospitality. I was among the 3,000 guests aboard.

The inaugural cruise of Ruby Princess was November 8, 2008. It’s 951 feet in length with 1,200 in crew.

Riccardo Capraro is the Hotel Director aboard Ruby Princess. After the Captain he’s the next highest-ranking officer aboard ship. He’s responsible for just about everything other than safely maneuvering the ship. Huge responsibility. Ricardo has served 22 years with Princess Cruises and speaks English, Italian and Spanish.

What’s a cruise without appealing food and a range of creative libations?  On Ruby Princess this is the responsibility of Andrea Baiardo, the Food & Beverage Director. We’ll meet Andrea, an executive chef by experience and training, and a five-year employee of Princess.

Celebrity Chef Curtis Stone’s first restaurant at sea, SHARE, gives you an exclusive opportunity to enjoy his exquisite cuisine. It’s available aboard select Princess vessels including Ruby Princess. Chef Curtis’ Corporate Chef Christian Dortch works with the staff at each SHARE at sea to guarantee Curtis Stone’s culinary vision is maintained. We’ll meet him.

Distinguised chef Pierre-Marie Leprince is Princess Cruises’ Director of Guest Culinary Experience. We chatted with him earlier this year after visiting his impressive research kitchen in Santa Clarita and he now encores with us to discuss our cruise dining experience aboard Ruby Princess.

Bill Esparza is winner of a James Beard award (with Lesley Bargar Suter) for his coverage of the LA taco scene in Los Angeles Magazine. Considered one of the country’s leading experts on Mexican food, the LA native previously curated the annual Tacolandia festival in Los Angeles (now on hiatus) and writes about Mexican food for Los...

Riccardo Capraro is the Hotel Director aboard Ruby Princess. After the Captain he’s the next highest- ranking officer aboard ship. As we’re chatting with Riccardo this morning he is supervising the logistically challenging Turnaround aboard the ship. 3,000 guests need to be comfortably escorted off Ruby Princess while the ship is prepared for the afternoon arrival of 3,000 new guests cruising for 7-days to the Mexican Riviera. Every stateroom and suite needs to be completely cleaned and properly replenished for the next guests.

He’s responsible for just about everything other than safely maneuvering the ship. Huge responsibility. Riccardo oversees Food and Beverage, Hotel Operations, Customer Service, Housekeeping, Shore Excursions, Entertainment and the Medical Staff.

Ruby Princess is just back in service after 2-weeks in dry dock. Among the enhancements are large flat screen TV’s in all the staterooms and suites, digital ship directories on all decks located by the elevators and 30,000 square feet of new carpeting!

Ricardo has served 22 years with Princess Cruises and speaks English, Italian and Spanish.

What’s a cruise without incredible food and a range creative libations? On Ruby Princess this is the responsibility of Andrea Baiardo, the Food & Beverage Director.

Aboard Ruby Princess the appealing dining choices include Traditional Dining with fixed First & Second Seatings, Anytime Dining (flexible restaurant-style dining,) Specialty Dining (SHARE by Curtis Stone, Crown Grill steakhouse, Salty Dog Gastropub and Crab Shack) and casual dining (Slice Pizzeria) with 24-hour complimentary room service.

None of the entrees aboard Ruby Princess are pre-cooked. All dishes are fired for the guests as they are ordered.

We’ll meet Andrea, an executive chef by training with five-years of service with Princess.

Now a tantalizing preview of Saturday’s properly mouthwatering show. It’s burger mania with a side of outrageous fries…It’s not, with profuse apologies, for dieters. If we’re successful we will always leave you incredibly hungry and thirsty. In our case, upon careful reflection, that’s probably a pretty good thing…

We’re live from the Pechanga Resort Casino in the beautiful Temecula Valley wine country for the “2nd Annual Battle of the Burgers” and the new “Loaded Fries” competition. This is a benefit for the Career Technical Education students in the Culinary Arts program at Temecula Valley High School.

First we’re delighted to briefly welcome back our peripatetic Co-Host, Chef AndrewGruel, of Slapfish fame. He’s been busily on the road speaking at high profile hospitality industry gatherings and opening new Slapfish restaurants on the East Coast. Like to have his frequent flyer miles…

The defending champ from the inaugural “Battle of the Burgers” is owner/chef Sid Hamilton of Mad Madeline’s Grill located in Old Town Temecula. Their winning Tractor Racer Burger from 2017 is a half-pound beef patty lathered with homemade BBQ sauce, special seasoning, and topped with a thick, beer-battered onion ring. We’ll hear what new creation Chef Sid has in store for 2018!

Regular listeners will remember Chef Ivan Flowers as a past show guest when he was overseeing the creative, seafood-centric menu at Top of the Market in San Diego. Chef Instructor Ivan is now part of the Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation program at Temecula Valley High School. “Battle of the Burgers” is a benefit for Chef Ivan’s culinary students.

El Cholo Restaurants are celebrating its 95th year in Los Angeles by offering its all-time bestselling dish, a Number 1 combination plate (cheese enchilada, rolled beef taco, Spanish rice and refried beans), for 95 cents all day on Tuesday, October 23rd at its six restaurant locations, including three locations in Orange County:  Corona del Mar, Anaheim Hills and La Habra. 3rd generation Family Patriarch, Senor Ron Salisbury, is our guest with all the celebratory details.

Seasoned Executive Chef Duane Owen oversees all the busy, high-volume kitchens at the Pechanga Resort Casino. He’s coordinating Pechanga’s participation in the “Loaded Fries” competition and also is serving as a Competition Judge. Thirteen Pechanga Resort Casino chefs are partnering with third year CTE students at Temecula Valley High School to create their ori...

The defending champ from the inaugural “Battle of the Burgers” is owner/chef Sid Hamilton of Mad Madeline’s Grill located in Old Town Temecula. They launched back in 1991. It’s a real family affair. The outdoor patio is pet friendly.

Their winning Tractor Racer Burger is a half-pound beef patty lathered with homemade BBQ sauce, special seasoning, and topped with a thick, beer-battered onion ring. Sid says the secret to the winning burger is charbroiling.

“Prominently located on Front Street, Old Town Temecula, Mad Madeline’s Grill has a reputation based on the freshness of all their

ingredients and friendly, hard-working staff. There are 18 different kinds of burgers, there’s also pastrami, chili, chicken and fish, and their special BBQ ribs every Friday! Come for the award-winning burgers, and save room for a good, old-fashioned root beer float, shake or malt. Mad Madeline’s is the place to be.”

We’ll hear what new creation Chef Sid has in store for 2018’s competition!

Update : Congrats to Sid and Mad Madeline’s Grill. Their Chili Relleno Burger was the People’s Choice Winner for the 2nd Annual “Battle of the Burgers.”

 

 

Regular listeners will remember Chef Ivan Flowers as a past show guest when he was overseeing the creative, seafood-centric menu at Top of the Market in San Diego.

Chef Instructor Ivan is now part of the Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation program at Temecula Valley High School. The teaching classroom is a $5.2 million state-of-the-art kitchen facility. All of the proceeds from the $10 admission price for “Battle of the Burgers” goes directly to the purchase of the needed food handler cards for the culinary students.

“Battle of the Burgers” is a benefit for Chef Ivan’s culinary students.