SoCal Restaurant Show

First congrats to Hitching Post for their Double Gold at the 2025 Orange County Fair for their Fiddlestix 2022 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills.

The tradition of innovation and never standing pat at Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post Wines continues with the 2nd generation of Family involvement. Co-Founder Gray Hartley’s son, Winemaker Weston, had an idea to create a French-style Piquette wine with the byproduct of vinifying the Valdiguie grape. Piquette is a low-alcohol wine (7 per cent) made from the second pressings of grape pomace. The Hitching Post creation is pleasantly fizzy.

One barrel (25 cases) was made as an experiment and wine devotees already give it high marks. The very limited bottling is presently available on their Website for $20.00.

“Piquette is a low alcohol, simply stated, slightly sparkling wine beverage that is refreshing, fun and easy to drink. Technically it is not a wine since it is made by adding water to grape pomace. It is then allowed to rehydrate and macerate to gain color and flavor rather than fermenting the grapes themselves. This second use for the grapes is a practice that goes back centuries to the ancient Greeks and Romans. The name is derived from the French term 'piquer' meaning to prick or prickle - the textural sensation it provides. Though Hitching Post Piquette is fresh and direct, they give it the same thoughtful consideration as their more complex wines.” 

Gray and Weston Hartley join us to pull the cork on their Fizzy Valdiguie Piquette. You will also see Hitching Post Wines at L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade on Oct. 4th on the Royce Quad at UCLA.

“October is Melissa’s Freaky Fruit® month, highlighting the most exotic and intriguing of Mother Nature’s sweet bounty. A bit creepy to look at, but surprisingly delectable to eat, Freaky Fruit® is a must for the entire month leading up to a frightening finale on Halloween.”

“Eaten out-of-hand, or added to desserts, baked goods, and other recipes, pomegranates, passion fruit, cherimoya, blood oranges, dragon fruit, finger limes, cactus pears, kiwano melon, pink pineapple and rambutan have the wow-factor to make any dish truly spooktacular.”

“For a boo-eautiful breakfast bowl, blend up a creamy pudding with Cherimoya (aka custard apple), plant-based yogurt, and avocado, and top with your choice of Freaky Fruit®. Add some omega 3-rich chia seeds and crumbled Clean Snax® for texture and crunch. This Freaky Fruit® scary-moya pudding bowl is the perfect way to start any October day.”

The Prince of Freaky Fruits, our resident produce guru, Robert Schueller, joins us to peel all the deliciousness of Freaky Fruit® for Halloween entertaining.

October is Melissa’s Freaky Fruit® month, highlighting the most exotic and intriguing of Mother Nature’s sweet bounty. A bit creepy to look at, but surprisingly delectable to eat, Freaky Fruit® is a must for the entire month leading up to a frightening finale on Halloween.”


“Eaten out-of-hand, or added to desserts, baked goods, and other recipes, pomegranates, passion fruit, cherimoya, blood oranges, Buddha’s hand, dragon fruit, finger limes, cactus pears, kiwano melon, and rambutan have the wow-factor to make any dish truly spooktacular.”

“For a boo-eautiful breakfast bowl, blend up a creamy pudding with Cherimoya (aka custard apple), plant-based yogurt, and avocado, and top with your choice of Freaky Fruit®. Add some omega 3-rich chia seeds and crumbled Clean Snax® for texture and crunch. This Freaky Fruit® scary-moya pudding bowl is the perfect way to start any October day.”

The Prince of Freaky Fruits, our resident produce guru, Robert Schueller resumes with us peeling all the deliciousness of Freaky Fruit® for Halloween entertaining.

“Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Tito’s Tacos are celebrating the eighth annual Tito’s Fiesta Mexicana on Saturday, October 4th, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Culver City. A local tradition in the community, this event will raise critical funds for the Culver City Arts Foundation to support a wide range of art, culture, and local artists.”

“At Tito’s Fiesta Mexicana, guests 21+ can sip on Tito’s Handmade Vodka cocktails while savoring Tito’s Tacos’ award-winning tacos, burritos, and flan. Alongside the mouthwatering cocktails and food, the celebration will feature five hours of live entertainment – headlined by world-class mariachi group, Mariachi Sol De Mexico de Jose Hernandez – folklórico dancers, and a traditional piñata station.” 

 “Since 2018, 100% of the event’s gross proceeds (that’s all ticket sales) have been donated in full to the Culver City Arts Foundation. Over the past seven years, Tito’s Fiesta Mexicana has raised over $113,000, with $23,000 raised in 2024 alone.”

2nd Generation Proprietor of Tito’s, Lynne Davidson, is our guest to preview all that is Tito’s Fiesta Mexicana.

Chef Andrew is just back from the vibrant, and fast-growing, Tulsa, OK where he was the Keynote Speaker for Women for Tulsa on “Food is Medicine.” We’ll hear about it.

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, and future, columns. Of course, more tasty Orange County morsels will be part of the conversation including a recent column (August 25th) highlighting four “Standout Spots” opened in Orange County this summer.

“Get ready to feast for a cause as the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) proudly presents the return of its beloved Tastemakers of Orange County on Wednesday, September 24, from 6 to 9:00 p.m. at the vibrant Julianne & George Argyros Plaza at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. This high-energy culinary celebration spotlights the rich and diverse flavors of Asian and Pacific Islander cuisine, crafted by more than two dozen of Orange County’s top chefs. Tickets are available to the public for $250 for VIP, which allows early entry at 6 p.m. (one hour earlier than General Admission); and $195 for General Admission from 7 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The event will be held in the Julianne & George Argyros Plaza at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts (600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa). Restaurateur Ed Lee (Co-founder of Wahoo’s Fish Taco) of Toast Bakery and Kitchen (Costa Mesa and Tustin) joins us. He’s a participating restaurant in Tastemakers of Orange County.

“Get ready to feast for a cause as the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) proudly presents the return of its beloved Tastemakers of Orange County on Wednesday, September 24, from 6 to 9:00 p.m. at the vibrant Julianne & George Argyros Plaza at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. This high-energy culinary celebration spotlights the rich and diverse flavors of Asian and Pacific Islander cuisine, crafted by more than two dozen of Orange County’s top chefs. Tickets are available to the public for $250 for VIP, which allows early entry at 6 p.m. (one hour earlier than General Admission); and $195 for General Admission from 7 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The event will be held in the Julianne & George Argyros Plaza at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts (600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa). Restaurateur Ed Lee (Co-founder of Wahoo’s Fish Taco) of Toast Bakery and Kitchen (Costa Mesa and Tustin) joins us. He’s a participating restaurant in Tastemakers of Orange County.

The annual L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade benefit is set for Saturday afternoon, Oct. 4th from Noon to 4:00 p.m. on the Royce Hall Quad on the UCLA Campus. “This spectacular cookout is hosted by Chef Suzanne Goin and business partner, Caroline Styne (A.O.C., Larder Baking Co, Cara Cara at Proper DTLA and The Hollywood Bowl), along with Chef David Lentz, featuring top chefs, breweries, vintners and mixologists to benefit kids with cancer. This fun and family-friendly afternoon features one-of-a-kind food and drink samplings. Guests can mingle with the celebrated chefs behind the dishes and taste fine dining nationwide. With over $1.6 million raised in 2024, this event’s impact only continues to grow for all kids with cancer. Since its inception, L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade has raised more than $10 million for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) to fund critical childhood cancer research.” Liz Scott (Alex’s Mom) is the Founder and Co-Executive Director of the Alex’s Lemonade Foundation for Childhood Cancer. Liz Scott joins us with all the details of the upcoming L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade.

Also joining us thereafter for his own segment supporting L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade is Chef and Restaurateur Steve Samson of Rossoblu, and Superfine Pizza in DTLA, and Superfine Playa in Playa Vista. Chef Steve is a multiple year participant in L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade, even predating the opening of Rossoblu eight years ago!

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (located in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries.

Continued from last week is California Restaurant Association’s (CRA) recently launched “What The Fork!” campaign with the theme that California’s lawmakers are making everything more expensive.

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

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, and future, columns. Of course, more tasty Orange County morsels will be part of the conversation including a recent column (August 25th) highlighting four “Standout Spots” opened in Orange County this summer.

“Get ready to feast for a cause as the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) proudly presents the return of its beloved Tastemakers of Orange County on Wednesday, September 24, from 6 to 9:00 p.m. at the vibrant Julianne & George Argyros Plaza at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. This high-energy culinary celebration spotlights the rich and diverse flavors of Asian and Pacific Islander cuisine, crafted by more than two dozen of Orange County’s top chefs. Tickets are available to the public for $250 for VIP, which allows early entry at 6 p.m. (one hour earlier than General Admission); and $195 for General Admission from 7 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The event will be held in the Julianne & George Argyros Plaza at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts (600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa). Restaurateur Ed Lee (Co-founder of Wahoo’s Fish Taco) of Toast Bakery and Kitchen (Costa Mesa and Tustin) joins us. He’s a participating restaurant in Tastemakers of Orange County.

The annual L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade benefit is set for Saturday afternoon, Oct. 4th from Noon to 4:00 p.m. on the Royce Hall Quad on the UCLA Campus. “This spectacular cookout is hosted by Chef Suzanne Goin and business partner, Caroline Styne (A.O.C., Larder Baking Co, Cara Cara at Proper DTLA and The Hollywood Bowl), along with Chef David Lentz, featuring top chefs, breweries, vintners and mixologists to benefit kids with cancer. This fun and family-friendly afternoon features one-of-a-kind food and drink samplings. Guests can mingle with the celebrated chefs behind the dishes and taste fine dining nationwide. With over $1.6 million raised in 2024, this event’s impact only continues to grow for all kids with cancer. Since its inception, L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade has raised more than $10 million for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) to fund critical childhood cancer research.” Liz Scott (Alex’s Mom) is the Founder and Co-Executive Director of the Alex’s Lemonade Foundation for Childhood Cancer. Liz Scott joins us with all the details of the upcoming L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade.

Also joining us thereafter for his own segment supporting L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade is Chef and Restaurateur Steve Samson of Rossoblu, and Superfine Pizza in DTLA, and Superfine Playa in Playa Vista. Chef Steve is a multiple year participant in L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade, even predating the opening of Rossoblu eight years ago!

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (located in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries.

Continued from last week is California Restaurant Association’s (CRA) recently launched “What The Fork!” campaign with the theme that California’s lawmakers are making everything more expensive.

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

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, and future, columns. First a tribute to the late Mike Weber the creator of the blog, “Eating My Way Through Orange County.”

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 tasty Orange County morsels will be part of the conversation including a recent column (August 25th) highlighting four “Standout Spots” opened in Orange County this summer. Also a look at Kei Concepts Ini Ristorante, a creative “Japanese Italian interpretation” in Fountain Valley.