SoCal Restaurant Show

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

When it comes to offering vitally needed assistance when a disaster strikes chefs and restaurateurs are aways in the forefront of providing meaningful assistance. The devastating fires (now finally heading toward control) in Pacific Palisades and Pasadena / Altadena are the most recent examples. Chef Andrew explains what’s being done within his sphere. Personally he’s functioning as an OC hub for product donations going up to L.A. for the L.A. Dream Center Foundation. Providing meals for those needing assistance and volunteers at Dream Center are also part of his efforts.

Andrew Gruel’s Family Cookbook (newly published) is also available with signed copies at his Calico Fish House on Pacific Coast Highway in Sunset Beach.

“PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS organization, has launched this month the Seventh Season of the locally produced, historical documentary series, LOST LA. Public historian and writer Nathan Masters returns as Host for the untold histories behind Southern California’s space shuttle program, the Cold War, the St. Francis Dam disaster and finally, uncovering Disney’s roots and how the city became the birthplace of modern animation. The series is a co-production with the University of Southern California Libraries, as part of their longstanding commitment to building public engagement with regional history collections. The first episode of the new season explores how Southern California took part in creating the Space Shuttle, bringing humanity closer to the cosmos.” Host Nathan Masters is our guest to preview Season Seven of LOST LA.

“Celebrating its 15th year, Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks (January 19th to February 1st) has become a favorite tradition in the valley. And why not? The Santa Ynez Valley’s reputation as a culinary-driven destination—with imaginative chefs, deep agricultural roots, collaborative culinary culture, and cuisine that ranges from contemporary, innovative farm-to-table fare to traditional Scandinavian feasts—is as well-earned as its reputation for making world-class wines. And for two weeks, the valley’s restaurants offer the best of the region’s cuisine at an unbeatable price. From January 19th to February 1st, 2025, Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks will showcase the region’s culinary bounty — and being that this is the Santa Ynez Valley, the perfect wine pairings — with a variety of special three-course prix fixe price menus. Dozens of restaurants will participate, each offering curated, chef-driven, three-course menus at prices of $30, $40, or $50, plus tax and gratuity. More than two dozen of the region’s wineries and tasting rooms will also participate at various levels, offering two-for-one tastings, special tasting flights, and discounts on bottle purchases.” Our guide to Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks is Shelby Sim, President and CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley. 

“Studio UNLTD, the designer of the reimagined Helms Bakery in Culver City, is an award-winning hospitality design firm offering comprehensive services in architecture, interior design, lighting, and furniture design. They believe in a collaborative approach that puts the client’s vision at the forefront. Their legacy of community-altering projects showcases their ability to design spaces that make a lasting impression. Founded in 2009, Studio UNLTD made its mark designing iconic adaptive reuse projects that helped put the Arts District in downtown Los Angeles on the map.  The firm, helmed by principals Greg Bleier and Terri Robison, established itself as the go-to interior design company for chefs and restaurateurs in Los Angeles and beyond looking for trusted creative partners to bring their vision to life.”  Founder Greg Bleier is our guest unraveling the mystery of successful restaurant design.

“Studio UNLTD, the designer of the reimagined Helms Bakery in Culver City, is an award-winning hospitality design firm offering comprehensive services in architecture, interior design, lighting, and furniture design. They believe in a collaborative approach that puts the client’s vision at the forefront. Their legacy of community-altering projects showcases their ability to design spaces that make a lasting impression. Founded in 2009, Studio UNLTD made its mark designing iconic adaptive reuse projects that helped put the Arts District in downtown Los Angeles on the map.  The firm, helmed by principals Greg Bleier and Terri Robison, established itself as the go-to interior design company for chefs and restaurateurs in Los Angeles and beyond looking for trusted creative partners to bring their vision to life.”  Founder Greg Bleier is our guest unraveling the mystery of successful restaurant design.

“Canopy Wine Lounge in Downtown Palm Springs is the first upscale wine lounge in the Coachella Valley, catering to locals, domestic, and international tourists. With nearly 150 wines from around the world, amongst greats Lithology (St. Helena, CA), Waypoint (Napa, CA), Otronia (Patagonia, Argentina), and Alkina (Barossa Valley, South Australia), it promises an unforgettable experience where the world's finest wines meet Executive Chef Kristin Puttkamer’s gourmet culinary delights showcasing elevated seasonal California cuisine.

Canopy Wine Lounge seamlessly blends the art of winemaking with a vibrant social hub and an elegant event space. Last year they proudly produced a signature wine, Desert Wren, crafted with care by Winemaker and Sommelier Josh Kelly.” It’s unusually aged in clay amphora. Chef Kristin Puttkamer and Sommelier Josh Kelly are our guests to uncork all that is Canopy Wine Lounge.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries. When it comes to offering vitally needed assistance when a disaster strikes chefs and restaurateurs are always in the forefront of providing meaningful assistance. The devastating fires in Pacific Palisades and Pasadena / Altadena are the most recent examples. Chef Andrew explains what’s being done. He’s focusing on coordinating supply & product donations for L.A.’s Dream Center.

Our heartfelt concerns to all the area residents impacted by the tragic fires in Pacific Palisades and Pasadena / Altadena. In the hospitality community chefs and restaurateurs have lost both homes and their businesses.

“PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS organization, has launched this month the Seventh Season of the locally produced, historical documentary series, LOST LA. Public historian and writer Nathan Masters returns as Host for the untold histories behind Southern California’s space shuttle program, the Cold War, the St. Francis Dam disaster and finally, uncovering Disney’s roots and how the city became the birthplace of modern animation. The series is a co-production with the University of Southern California Libraries, as part of their longstanding commitment to building public engagement with regional history collections. The first episode of the new season explores how Southern California took part in creating the Space Shuttle, bringing humanity closer to the cosmos.” Host Nathan Masters is our guest to preview Season Seven of LOST LA.

“Celebrating its 15th year, Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks (January 19th to February 1st) has become a favorite tradition in the valley. And why not? The Santa Ynez Valley’s reputation as a culinary-driven destination—with imaginative chefs, deep agricultural roots, collaborative culinary culture, and cuisine that ranges from contemporary, innovative farm-to-table fare to traditional Scandinavian feasts—is as well-earned as its reputation for making world-class wines. And for two weeks, the valley’s restaurants offer the best of the region’s cuisine at an unbeatable price. From January 19th to February 1st, 2025, Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks will showcase the region’s culinary bounty — and being that this is the Santa Ynez Valley, the perfect wine pairings — with a variety of special three-course prix fixe price menus. Dozens of restaurants will participate, each offering curated, chef-driven, three-course menus at prices of $30, $40, or $50, plus tax and gratuity. More than two dozen of the region’s wineries and tasting rooms will also participate at various levels, offering two-for-one tastings, special tasting flights, and discounts on bottle purchases.” Our guide to Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks is Shelby Sim, President and CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley. 

“Studio UNLTD, the designer of the reimagined Helms Bakery in Culver City, is an award-winning hospitality design firm offering comprehensive services in architecture, interior design, lighting, and furniture design. They believe in a collaborative approach that puts the client’s vision at the forefront. Their legacy of community-altering projects showcases their ability to design spaces that make a lasting impression. Founded in 2009, Studio UNLTD made its mark designing iconic adaptive reuse projects that helped put the Arts District in downtown Los Angeles on the map.  The firm, helmed by principals Greg Bleier and Terri Robison, established itself as the go-to interior design company for chefs and restaurateurs in Los Angeles and beyond looking for trusted creative partners to bring their vision to life.”  Founder Greg Bleier is our guest unraveling the mystery of successful restaurant design.

“Canopy Wine Lounge in Downtown Palm Springs is the first upscale wine lounge in the Coachella Valley, catering to locals, domestic, and international tourists. With nearly 150 wines from around the world, amongst greats Lithology (St. Helena, CA), Waypoint (Napa, CA), Otronia (Patagonia, Argentina), and Alkina (Barossa Valley, South Australia), it promises an unforgettable experience where the world's finest wines meet Executive Chef Kristin Puttkamer’s gourmet culinary delights showcasing elevated seasonal California cuisine.

Canopy Wine Lounge seamlessly blends the art of winemaking with a vibrant social hub and an elegant event space. Last year they

proudly produced a signature wine, Desert Wren, crafted with care by Winemaker and Sommelier Josh Kelly.” It’s unusually aged in clay amphora. Chef Kristin Puttkamer and Sommelier Josh Kelly are our guests to uncork all that is Canopy Wine Lounge.

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries. When it comes to offering vitally needed assistance when a disaster strikes chefs and restaurateurs are always in the forefront of providing meaningful assistance. The devastating fires in Pacific Palisades and Pasadena / Altadena are the most recent examples. Chef Andrew explains what’s being done. He’s focusing on coordinating supply & product donations for L.A.’s Dream Center.

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

“PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS organization, has launched this month the Seventh Season of the locally produced, historical documentary series LOST LA. Public historian and writer Nathan Masters returns as Host for the untold histories behind Southern California’s space shuttle program, the Cold War, the St. Francis Dam disaster and finally, uncovering Disney’s roots and how the city became the birthplace of modern animation. The series is a co-production with the University of Southern California Libraries, as part of their longstanding commitment to building public engagement with regional history collections. 

“The first episode of the new season explores how Southern California took part in creating the Space Shuttle, bringing humanity closer to the cosmos.” 

“The half-hour series LOST LA explores the region’s hidden past through documents, photos and other rare artifacts from California libraries and archives. Since its premiere in January of 2016, the series has continued to challenge the assumption that Los Angeles is a city without a history. Instead, LOST LA offers a history of Southern California that is not often told, or has been forgotten, bringing primary sources of Los Angeles history to the screen and connecting them to the Los Angeles of today.”

Next up for LOST LA is “Cold War Secrecy” airing Tuesday, January, 14th at 7:30 p.m. on PBS SoCal and Wednesday, January 15th at 8:00 p.m. on PBS SoCal Plus.

Nathan Masters is our guest to preview Season Seven of LOST LA.

“Celebrating its 15th year, Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks (January 19th to February 1st) has become a favorite tradition in the valley. And why not?” 

“The Santa Ynez Valley’s reputation as a culinary-driven destination—with imaginative chefs, deep agricultural roots, collaborative culinary culture, and cuisine that ranges from contemporary, innovative farm-to-table fare to traditional Scandinavian feasts—is as well-earned as its reputation for making world-class wines. And for two weeks, the valley’s restaurants offer the best of the region’s cuisine at an unbeatable price.”

“From January 19th to February 1st, 2025, Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks will showcase the region’s culinary bounty — and being that this is the Santa Ynez Valley, the perfect wine pairings — with a variety of special three-course prix fixe price menus. Dozens of restaurants will participate, each offering curated, chef-driven, three-course menus at prices of $30, $40, or $50, plus tax and gratuity. More than two dozen of the region’s wineries and tasting rooms will also participate at various levels, offering two-for-one tastings, special tasting flights, and discounts on bottle purchases.”

“For the latest updates on Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks, including menus and participating restaurants, wineries, and tasting rooms, visit www.DineSYV.com or follow Visit the Santa Ynez Valley on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.”

Our well-informed guide to Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks is Shelby Sim, President and CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley.

“Studio UNLTD, the designer of the reimagined Helms Bakery in Culver City, is an award-winning hospitality design firm offering comprehensive services in architecture, interior design, lighting, and furniture design. They believe in a collaborative approach that puts the client’s vision at the forefront. Their legacy of community-altering projects showcases their ability to design spaces that make a lasting impression.”

“Founded in 2009, Studio UNLTD made its mark designing iconic adaptive reuse projects that helped put the Arts District in downtown Los Angeles on the map.  The firm, helmed by principals Greg Bleier and Terri Robison, established itself as the go-to interior design company for chefs and restaurateurs in Los Angeles and beyond looking for trusted creative partners to bring their vision to life.” 

“While the studio’s work is still firmly rooted in hospitality design, its expertise and perspective continue to evolve through its experience crafting a diverse range of projects.”

Standout designs from Studio UNLTD include Bestia, Bavel, Otium and Lustig (also located in the Helms Bakery District.)

Founder Greg Bleier is our guest unraveling the mystery of successful restaurant design.

“Studio UNLTD, the designer of the reimagined Helms Bakery in Culver City, is an award-winning hospitality design firm offering comprehensive services in architecture, interior design, lighting, and furniture design. They believe in a collaborative approach that puts the client’s vision at the forefront. Their legacy of community-altering projects showcases their ability to design spaces that make a lasting impression.”

“Founded in 2009, Studio UNLTD made its mark designing iconic adaptive reuse projects that helped put the Arts District in downtown Los Angeles on the map.  The firm, helmed by principals Greg Bleier and Terri Robison, established itself as the go-to interior design company for chefs and restaurateurs in Los Angeles and beyond looking for trusted creative partners to bring their vision to life.” 

“While the studio’s work is still firmly rooted in hospitality design, its expertise and perspective continue to evolve through its experience crafting a diverse range of projects.”

Standout designs from Studio UNLTD include Bestia, Bavel, Otium and Lustig (also in the Helms Bakery District.)

Founder Greg Bleier continues as our guest unraveling the mystery of successful restaurant design.

“Canopy Wine Lounge located in Downtown Palm Springs is the first upscale wine lounge in the Coachella Valley, catering to locals, domestic, and international tourists. With nearly 150 wines from around the world, amongst greats Lithology (St. Helena, CA), Waypoint (Napa, CA), Otronia (Patagonia, Argentina), and Alkina (Barossa Valley, South Australia), it promises an unforgettable experience where the world's finest wines meet Executive Chef Kristin Puttkamer’s gourmet culinary delights showcasing elevated seasonal California cuisine.”

“Born and raised in the vibrant city of Boston, Kristin Puttkamer's journey to becoming the Executive Chef at Canopy Wine Lounge in Palm Springs is marked by an exciting array of experiences and a passion for culinary excellence. Puttkamer’s early exposure to different cultures ignited her love for food and hospitality. Puttkamer later honed her skills through formal education at The Culinary Institute of America in Saint Helena, California. During her studies, she embarked on an externship at the Michelin Star restaurant, State Bird, where her culinary prowess caught the attention of Darioush Winery. At Darioush, she worked under Michelin Star Chef Chris Lemerand and Chef Sean Massey, embracing the challenge of crafting innovative menus inspired by California's seasonal bounty and Persian influences, enhancing the winery's culinary experience for guests. In 2024, Kristin's culinary journey reached new heights as she accepted the role of Executive Chef at Canopy Wine Lounge in Palm Springs.”

“Canopy Wine Lounge seamlessly blends the art of winemaking with a vibrant social hub and an elegant event space. Last year they proudly produced a signature wine, Desert Wren, crafted with care by Winemaker and Sommelier Josh Kelly.” It’s unusually aged in a striking, custom clay amphora on display at Canopy. In addition to the Desert Wren Pinot Noir, 2023 Sonoma Coast there will be other future Desert Wren releases including a Chardonay.

“Canopy Wine Lounge invites guests to unwind in style and enjoy their diverse selection of wines five days a week. (Closed on Tuesday & Wednesday.) As a wine lounge, Canopy offers a diverse selection of wines in a brilliantly curated atmosphere with the relaxed appeal of your neighborhood wine bar.”

Chef Kristin Puttkamer and Sommelier Josh Kelly are our guests to uncork all that is Canopy Wine Lounge.

“Canopy Wine Lounge located in Downtown Palm Springs is the first upscale wine lounge in the Coachella Valley, catering to locals, domestic, and international tourists. With nearly 150 wines from around the world, amongst greats Lithology (St. Helena, CA), Waypoint (Napa, CA), Otronia (Patagonia, Argentina), and Alkina (Barossa Valley, South Australia), it promises an unforgettable experience where the world's finest wines meet Executive Chef Kristin Puttkamer’s gourmet culinary delights showcasing elevated seasonal California cuisine.”

“Canopy Wine Lounge seamlessly blends the art of winemaking with a vibrant social hub and an elegant event space. Last year they proudly produced a signature wine, Desert Wren, crafted with care by Winemaker and Sommelier Josh Kelly.” It’s unusually aged in a striking, custom clay amphora on display at Canopy. In addition to the Desert Wren Pinot Noir, 2023 Sonoma Coast there will be other future Desert Wren releases including a Chardonnay.

“Canopy Wine Lounge invites guests to unwind in style and enjoy their diverse selection of wines five days a week. (Closed on Tuesday & Wednesday.) As a wine lounge, Canopy offers a diverse selection of wines in a brilliantly curated atmosphere with the relaxed appeal of your neighborhood wine bar.”

Chef Kristin Puttkamer and Sommelier Josh Kelly continue as our guests uncorking all that is Canopy Wine Lounge.