The Debbie Nigro Show

Dear pal Lucia Kaiser received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, at Ellis Island this past weekend.

Yes that’s "Ray Donovan" / Liev Schreiber of Showtime fame standing with her, as got one of those medals too!

The Ellis Island Medals of Honor have been presented since 1986 and is one of our nation’s most prestigious awards. Each year its recipients are read into the Congressional Record.

The Medal celebrates inspiring Americans who are selflessly working for the betterment of our country and its citizens. Many distinguished and diverse diverse Americans have received the award including Presidents Ronald Reagan and Joe Biden, as well as six other Presidents of the United States.

Lucia’s family immigrated from Italy and she went on to become an achiever, breaking ground for women in the entertainment industry, and has been involved in promoting youth incentive programs and speaking out against human trafficking.

Lucia is a two-time Emmy Award-winning Producer whose years of experience scaling the heights of the entertainment industry has won her the respect, accolades, and camaraderie of socialites, business moguls, and celebrities who share her passion for affecting positive change around the country and around the world. You should check out some of her photos from her lifes travels on her website here. You'd never ever call Lucia dull.

I thought Lucia should join my show today to take a curtsy for her fabulous self. Yes she's fabulous and she sure can drop some celebrity names as being her friends, but she's also as down to earth and selfless as anyone I know. She's also always the first one to laugh at herself and since I too am quick to make fun of myself, together we often share bust a gut belly laughs about ourselves. We've also shared lots of great business talks, as Lucia and I both love putting all the pieces and people together to make interesting new business deals come to fruition.

Lucia's also had her fair share of life's diificult life moments which she candidly shares in this chat, like losing her husband, the love of her life, to suicide. 

Lucia one of my most trusted lifetime Girlfriends In Business and life. Proud to know her. Enjoy this podcast chat of ou live consversation on The Debbie Nigro Show, as Lucia Kaiser recaps her big Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award moment, which includes some candid stories that should make laugh about what went on behind the scenes.

 

 

On a random drive to upstate NY in a random General Store I found James B. Flahertys’ book ‘Dear Old Friends’ - A Loving Reminder the Band Won’t Stop Playing Till You Stop Dancing.’ 

The cover of the new book sitting on the very old wooden table pulled me in and I quickly read the first few pages. Jim’s words leaped out and hit me in the eye like a bigga pizza pie! 

 I especially loved catching quickly he wrote the book when he was 42 and it took him 45 years to publish it! (My kinda procrastinator!)

Talk about SPIRIT! I wanted to be friends with this guy!

 "Jim" is now 87 1/2 years young, and I could sense from his writing he’s an endless fountain of energy, wisdom and fun! I bought the book from Sharon the General Store owner in Wassaic, N.Y. who knew Jim and suggested my boyfriend Dave and I take a little drive up the mountain and go see the Inn Jim built back when. 

 Sharon said it was a beautiful drive to 'Troutbeck'. Which we had never heard of and of course which I was quickly googling soon as we got back in the car to put the address in my Waze. 

OMG. We pulled up to paradise, parked and walked up to the Inn passing people in hammocks resting in the breeze. Saw the smoke of an outdoor fire pit calling and found our way inside to have a glass of wine in the classiest calmest most incredibly designed venue. (Although my personal calm was soon interrupted when my always calm boyfriend accidentally spilled red wine all over my new favorite light pink jacket and destroyed it. I yelled at it to shout it out to no avail. Sooo typical, as was my spending 20 minutes in their lovely lobby bathroom after discovering my tiny vial of hair smoothing oil opened inside my weekend purse and coated everything. Smooth, eh?)

 Anyway … I read Jim’s book in one day, loved his good energy that exploded through his writing and wanted to know more about him. I wrote him (he asks people to do that in his book if they want to) and asked him for ‘the next dance’ I invited him to join me on The Debbie Nigro Show...to talk.

I was talking about great ‘spirits’ on my show all this week and well, he just fit in!

As Jim wrote on his website: 

"Dear Old Friends will remind you that you don't stop playing because you got old--you got old because you stopped playing. Besides a Happy Memoir from an author who wrote this book at age 44 and 85--yes, that's correct--it's full of loving advice for aging magnificently. You'll want to read it and want all your Dear Old Friends--not just your parents, to read and laugh and learn and think about how satisfying it is to be someone's Dear Old Friend.   XO, Jim

I think we all come to know at a certain point in life where we realize that  'Dear Old Friends' are golden and truly the meaning of life.

Wisdom only comes with age and time and that wisdom is to be shared. So, here's some more of Jim's wisdom. 

"You want to hear pure truth? You’re only as old as you think. I know what I’m talking about. I’m 87 this year—going on 60. Life is full of promise. Every day is a miracle. Join me."

 "Having a purpose is fundamental to health, happiness & longevity. A brilliant scholar named Richard Leider, said, “Purpose is an active expression of our values and our compassion for others—it makes us want to get up in the morning and add value to the world.”

Jim’s Background: Besides an award-winning career as an advertising writer/creative director in NYC and Buenos Aires with clients like FORD, Pan Am, Kodak, Lever Brother and more, Jim built 'Troutbeck' from a pile of stones and then spent decades as Owner & Innkeeper of this multi-star country inn/conference center which was taken over by new owners only a few years ago. 

Jim also published two novels and now happily lives in an art-filled converted barn nearby with an interior pool and two adoring pooches. Father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he’s a popular mentor and storyteller, and believes Work is much more fun than fun. He’s 86! He sings in his church choir.

Jim’s a writer who knows how to make money writing and he’s hoping some big kahuna will partner with him to help turn his novels to a film for the big screen or into a winning streaming series. You can read more about Jim at jamesbflaherty.com. Or say hello to him like I did at [email protected].

I hope you enjoy the podcast of my live conversation with 87 ½ years young James. B. Flaherty on The Debbie Nigro Show as much as I did. Should make you realize... the band won't stop playing till you stop dancing.

 

 

 

 

That's The Spirit! See a Gap in the Market and Go For It! 

 ‘Faire La Fete’ is the fastest growing French Sparkling Wine in the U.S. I found out about it and met dynamic and sophisticated Co-Founder Charlotte Holl at a ‘Woman Owned’ event in Greenwich, CT I was invited to last month.

I picked up Charlottes’ smart vibe quickly and wanted to know more about her sparkly new venture, one, because I'm a start up junkie, and two, because knowing I know how hard it is to launch any new venture never mind a new sparkling wine. Does the world really need more bubbles? Apparently yes.

Charlottes' brilliant business Dad Edward Holl saw the opportunity and decided to go for it and lured Charlotte away from her fashion world to come work the new venture together under the umbella of First Growth Brands. They hired best in class 'spirits industry' pros, and the best in class creative agency (Miramar.)

They make their French bubbly in Limoux France, famous for actually having invented the process for making sparkling wine. Their sparkling wine has half the sugar of prosecco, is being sold at a third of the price of champagne but has all the quality of both. They priced it right to make women smile and now have big orders from big chains across the country.

 Sure, looks like ‘Faire la Fete’ has a sparkling future ahead if things keep going the way they’re going.

BTW, Faire La Fete translates to…’To Party’! 

Gotta love the French easy way of partying. (Especially since they somehow don’t get fat doing it) 

Meet First Growth Brands Co-Founder Charlotte Holl and hear all about Faire La Fete the fastest growing French Bubbly in the U.S. in this podcast of our live interview on The Debbie Nigro Show. 

Ted Dumbauld, Founder of SoNo 1420, the Double Gold award-winning distillery in historic So. Norwalk, CT was the first guy and his was the first distillery to incorporate hemp seed into whiskey! Talk about taking a shot! 

His  latest innovation is a line of ready -to-mix cocktails he calls ‘threesomes’. (Think 3 little airline bottles wrapped together that you pour in unison for a flawless cocktail.) His ‘threesomes’ choices include a Margarita, a Cosmopolitan, and an Espresso Martini.

Ted Dumbauld is sumthin'! He's a former navy submarine officer, who got an MBA from MIT, then spent two decades on Wall Street, then launched his own Hedge Fund and money management business, which led to the medical cannabis business as an investor and operator, which led him to create America's first distillaery to incorporate hemp seed, which led to the innovative 'threesomes' ready-to-mix cocktails and his appearance on my show. Whew! And the guy didn't even know how to make whiskey! He bought a still and had it installed in his basement and taught himself! 

Enjoy meeting Ted Dumbauld Founder of SoNo 1420 Double Award Winning Distillery Norwalk, CT., in this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

The show airs weekdays on WGCH Radio 11-12noon ET. If you can’t get the 1490 signal in the NY/CT area you can listen live from anywhere by going to WGCH.com and hitting the 'listen live' button. Follow me on Facebook at "The Debbie Nigro Show", on Instagram @therealdebbienigro, and on LinkedIn at Debbie Nigro. Get in touch if you or your company are  doing something innovative that I could help you shine a light on. I have a very engaged and enthusiastic audience. 

Wellness Wednesday. 

One day a week on my one hour weekday radio show, I cover all things health and wellness related. Things I find important or interesting that I like to share with others who might benefit. If even one nugget of new knowledge helps one of you listening or reading here, my time has been well spent. 

This Wellness Wednesday show podcast is just me talking. No guests. Just Me. (and occasionally my engineer Bob) 

There was big news this week that we have a crisis of loneliness going on here in the U.S. Half of the U.S. Adults are feeling lonely every day? How horrible is that? 

The U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory on Tuesday calling attention to the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in the United States. 

Everyone should read the story from ABC News called ‘US Surgeon General calls for action regarding the ongoing 'epidemic of loneliness and isolation', by Emma Egan.

The report highlights that a lack of social connection can present significant health risks, as loneliness can increase risk of premature death by 26% and social isolation by 29%.

On the flip side…U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy was quoted as saying, "Social connection can reduce the health risks associated with isolation and loneliness.” “By taking small steps every day to strengthen our relationships, we can rise to meet this moment together… And we can ensure our country and the world are better posed than ever to take on the challenges that lay ahead.”

I’m personally suggesting that everybody put a little more effort into stepping up your social connections for your own sake and for the good of us all. And check in with a friend, a family member or someone who you think might need a dose of caring…just because.

Hey if parrots can do it we can do it. What? You missed the story about the parrots being taught to call each other to become less lonely? It’s True. U.S. scientists got owners to train their pet parrots to contact other birds using a touchscreen tablet. Read the story in The Guardian Here.

Other Topics I covered this episode include;

Why are Teen Girls Suffering from Record Levels of Sadness and Suicidality? A very disturbing report from Amen CLINICS. Parents and caretakers of teenage girls really need to read this.

World Password Day. Celebrated the first Thursday of May exists to raise awareness about the importance of password security. I say create passwords that makes you smile each time you type one in! 

What Does a Kids Healthy Eating Plate Look Like? Just because I always have a stash of emergency lollipops and gummies in my car, doesn’t mean I don’t ‘try’ and teach my little granddaughter about healthy eating. The Kid’s Healthy Eating Plate featured on Harvard.edu  is a visual guide to help educate and encourage children to eat well and keep moving.

Everyone and their mother is playing Pickleball. What’s the draw — and is it really a workout? Found some good answers in this NY Times story here;

I only tried Pickleball once but so far I don’t think like the Pickleball ‘ball’. As a tennis player I’m not sure I can get used to what feels like a WIFFLE BALL. 

While we’re on the subject of Wiffle Balls (we weren’t but who cares) did you know where the Wiffle Ball came from? It was Summer 1953, and a Dad was watching his kids play a game in their backyard in Fairfield Ct. using a perforated plastic gold ball and a broomstick handle. The rest of the story and family legacy is here on Wiffle.com

Ever get an allergic reaction and freak out? Me too. That’s relaxing, eh? It’s why I always carry Benadryl with me especially when traveling. ‘Allergies in the sky: Airlines are pressed to treat severe reactions', was a report this week from NBC. The FAA is considering updates to their emergency kits including Epi Pens, pediatric doses of antihistamines and meds to reverse opioid overdoses.

BTW: AN EpiPen® is an auto-injector that contains epinephrine, a medication that can help decrease your body’s allergic reaction by:

• Relaxing the muscles in your airways to make breathing easier
• Helping to reverse the rapid and dangerous decrease in blood pressure
• Relaxing the muscles in the stomach, intestines, and bladder

EpiPen® is for emergency treatment only and does not replace seeing a healthcare provider or going to the hospital.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carmines Deli in Elmsford, NY risked a big idea and won. Besides serving up terrific food they also decided to serve up fabulous live music on the weekends. Despite your original confusion in your head trying to imagine it, let me just tell you it’s very cool. In fact, it’s my bet that that Carmines Deli going to become a N.Y. area destination night out to hear live music.

There's something special about going out to hear live music. Just lifts you up, right? So, here’s how I found out about it.

One recent Friday afternoon my sista buddy “Mo’ who lives nearby texted me this message. “Let's go see some music up at Carmine's Deli”. I was like, what the hell are you talking about? You want me to go see music tonight at a deli? “Yes”, she said, “It’s great Johnny Feds and the Blues Boys are playing. Foods great too.” While trying to imagine in my head what kind of deli would all of a sudden become a live music venue that would feel normal, I start to google Carmine's Deli and music and pulled up an article that was written by my friend a local food reporter Jeanne Muchnick on LoHud.com. After reading all about it, I decided it sounded fun.

 My boyfriend Dave loves music. He's a passionate aficionado and he's kind of a snob about it too. He likes musicians and people who love the art of it. I figured he’d love it too since I read this place is all about the music, and they just happen to have a deli that serves great food too. I read these were passionate music guys who are creating a community hub for live music that’s not only bringing in big names, but also encouraging some of the up-and-coming artists.

What could be wrong with this idea? NOTHING. It’s a hit.

 Boy, was I surprised when we walked into a packed house where everyone was partying, eating and drinking and fully enjoying the kick ass band jamming on stage. Yes, Carmines Deli has their own music stage, cool lighting and drums.  

 Owner Robert Venuti who makes all the delicious food plays sax and harmonica and sings and dances when he performs with his band The Surf. He joined me in the radio studio along with his partner in crime on this big idea, Joe Palumbo. Joe who’s the Music Director and heads up Marketing, spent years in the music business. He’s tapping into his network of well-known musicians to come play. Guys like Milo Z whose high energy NYC Funk Band is known for tight grooves and funky dance moves. And guys like guitarist Alex Skolnick. They also just featured a special group of Women Who Rock. We were totally in awe the night we went of the sheer level of talent of Johnny Feds and Da Bluez Boys.

I always like to know how a new idea is born. So, who came up with the idea to turn the deli into a music club at night?

 Robert says it wasn't just a meeting where they sat down and came up with the idea. “I always loved music; I like to play music. Yes, I’m a sax player and a harmonica player but mainly I’m a singer and dancer. I love the James Brown stuff. I'm at that deli 98 hours a week anyway. It's a big spot. So, my friends would come down on Friday nights, and just play like Neil Young songs." And of course, the guys would get hungry, and Rob would cook up some great food.

 “And then it just evolved, evolved, evolved up and down”, said Rob. “And then Joe comes in on a recommendation from the bass player in my band, The Surf. And we got to know each other. They wanted me to hire a guy, and two weeks later he wants to be my partner.”

 Joe Palumbo too at first thought music in a deli was kind of kooky idea.

 “When my friend Rich, who's the bass player in Robert’s band The Surf said, come let's go hear some music in a deli. I had the same reaction you had. Rich had been trying to get me to come down. Rich had worked with me when I had a company called Rock House, and that's where I was in the music business, and we used to throw big parties in LA with a lot of famous musicians, and they used to come as friends. Rich would come in and help me out, make sure people didn't steal other people's gear. I said Rich, I can't, like, you know, it's a deli. I couldn't get my head around it. “

 “So, the first time I went there, I pulled up and I was like, maybe they're in the back in a garage, you know, and then II walked in and I was like, wow, this is kind of cool. I could bring a date here. I went to two nights, and I think Rich said, you gotta meet Rob and I think he told Rob, Joe's the guy. Together you guys can make this take off. “

 Joe met Rob and instantly loved him. 

"I really didn't want anything. I was thinking, hey, I'll come out a couple nights a week, I'll get out of the house. Now I think it's just really taken off. I think Rob and I have built a solid, not just business relationship, but really a personal relationship. Rob has created a family there, and that's what I was all about.”

 Rob says, “We're a place that does music and has food, not a food place that has music”.

 “The deli is basically a mirror of what it was for me growing up and that was six kids, mother, father and Italian grandmother who lived with us, and we never went out to dinner. Went out once somewhere in Scarsdale and my grandmother was so mad. I know every curse word in Italian because I was called it. She had five boys and she also she lived with her youngest son which was my father and we had always had 12-13 people every single night. Homemade meals and there was a lot of music in my family. My uncle Joe played violin at Carnegie Hall, and he knew every instrument and he knew and hung out with Cab Calloway who lived right up the street. Every night there was singing and there was eating. Music is in my veins.”

 Rob always opens the music night on the deli stage with a little speech.

 “I always say, you know it's not about you, it's not about me, it's about us. It brings everybody together from the beginning of the show. It's a beautiful gift to be able to share it. And we want to embrace that it is a deli. I tell everybody yes; it is a real deli. There's a deli counter and everything you’d expect in a deli. But everybody sits at a table, and everybody sits together.”

Joe said a big part of the music plan is to provide opportunity. For example, Carmines Deli is working with guys Dennis Polanco at the White Plains High School Songwriters Club. Dennis teaches about 70 kids, some of them at-risk kids, and he’s teaching them how to write their own music. Carmines Deli invites them to try out their craft in real time and they get exposure to professional music industry talent. 

 Joe says, “Once a kid gets up on that stage and is playing in front of people, the next week their confidence is up 100%.”

 Carmines has also established relationships with The Hudson Valley Blues Society, The Westchester Bluegrass Society and The White Plains School of Rock. Their upcoming Big O Series features four nights, eight bands, all their own original music.

If you go to Carmines Deli to hear some great music, you’re going to get a great dinner meal, not a deli sandwich. It's a cafe menu with very reasonable prices. The main act is the eggplant rollatini. They make two, three cases a week. The marinara sauce is the marinara sauce Rob grew up on as is his Chicken Scarpariello. You could do a night there for under a hundred bucks with four people. Yes, wine and beer are on the menu. I had red wine and an awesome eggplant mozzarella & roasted peppers wrap and rocked out with an amazing band. I left full and with a smile. You should go.

Carmines Deli 7 Old Road Elmsford, NY.   Find them on FB or Instagram Music@TheDeli

Robert Venuti and Joe Palumbo brought some good energy to the radio studio and I hope you enjoy listening to this podcast of our live radio conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.

Elisa Brown, 65, is risking you’ll love her one woman show ‘Hoodwinked From Heaven’.

You know I'm always a champion for anyone risking a new idea. 

Elisa Brown is a classically trained vocalist who thrilled audiences around the world for decades with her wide range of vocal styles before returning home to care for her Dad Bill, who had Alzheimer’s. 

"Daddy", Elisa explained in her Texas twang, was always a little bummed that his daughter was turned on by Mozart and Classical Music, because he really really liked Country Music. 

Elisa’s Dad knew Alzheimers would eventually take his memory but he also knew, as did Elisa, that music memories often remain in the brains of Alzheimer patients even as language and other memories disappear. So he asked Elisa to write him some Country and Americana songs that he could listen to every day so as not to forget her. And he made her promise to do something with them.

So Elisa Brown wrote her Daddy six songs and sonofagun, he never forgot her. 

And sonofagun,now she's doing something with those songs as promised with, as she put it, her father directing from Heaven! Funny.

In her Dad's honor after he passed, Elisa made the crazy bold decision to take those darn country songs powered by her late fathers joy of hearing them, and turn them into a one woman show."Hoodwinked from Heaven". It's a show that’s been described as heart-warming and knee slapping fun. A show completely different that anything Elisa's ever done in her life. Even she can't belive she's doing this. LOL

And as her lyrics in one song go, "Hoodwinked From Heaven" ...'a delightfully devine con.'

Should be a riot to see Elisa kick up her cowboy boot heels and spin some tall Texas tales (many of them true and outlandish family stories) in her show that celebrates the deeply American music that kept her family alive with hope and laughter. 

I mean ya gotta love the song about her Grandmother who was married like 9 times. Ha. 'Too Many Yeses Not Enough Nos'. "Expect men to have problems said Grandma one day. Lovers are like chips you just can't have one. I took that to heart and thought I'd have fun'. 

And then there's the song 'Pizza and Beer' about Elisa's bad marital decision. "We met in a bar, I was naive he was a star. He was smooth, I was dumb and hot to trot. Didn't know at the time, he was slime. Married on the spot, and he took all I got. I was hitched to a sack of manure."

Honestly Elisa Brown really got my attention with her funny Texas stories, witty songwriting and talented composing. She's a force for sure and she's decided to have some fun doing something completely different than she's ever done before. Never too late to try something new!

Enjoy this podcast of the live studio interview with Elisa Brown who joined me on The Debbie Nigro Show. She's terrific. She tells some wildly fun Texas family stories, and you'll also hear some snippets of the songs she wrote for her Dad that inspired  ‘Hoodwinked from Heaven’ making it's NYC debut at  Symphony Space in NYC on  Sunday, May 7, 2023 @ 3:00 PM.

Address: 250 W 95th St. @ Broadway, New York, NY 10025

Lyrics, Music, and Story Written and Performed by Elisa Brown- 

For Tickets ($45) and more info: ElisaBrownMusic.com

Julie Rogers Pomilia is the granddaughter of one of the most famous couples in Western film & TV history,  the legendary Western Movie & TV Stars Roy Rogers & Dale Evans . 

They were the Brad & Angelina of the 50’s having adopted 5 out of their 9 children who were often photographed all lined up in little matching western outfits. (OMG I used to dress up just like that when I was a little kid.)

Julie is the youngest daughter of Dale Evans’ only biological son. She first realized her grandparents were famous when Grandpas’ photo was on the cover of Weekly Scholastic in 2nd grade. LOL

Julie was in her dorm room in college when she first heard the infamous song ‘Happy Trails’ on the radio and heard the announcer say Dale Evan’s wrote the song . She had no clue. She called up her  Grandma and  and said, “Really Grandma? You wrote that song? No one in this family tells me anything” Lol Some good inspiartional lyrics in the song Happy Trails.

"Some trails are happy ones, Others are blue. It's the way you ride the trail that counts!" 

Famous as the couple was, Julie remembers family was everything to them and though they could be sleeping over at the White House one weekend they’d be on the floor playing Old Maid with the kids the next . But Julie shared, there was as much tragedy in the family as there was joy, as the couple lost three children along the way. 

Roy Rogers & Dale Evans were second only to Walt Disney in their merchandising in the late 40’s and 50’s with over 400 items with their names and likeness. They actually didn’t not make a lot of money from their movies back then because that’s just how it was, so they had to make their money through products.

As for ‘Trigger’ Roy’s’ famous horse, he lived to be 30 years old and yes it’s true after he passed he was stuffed and mounted at the Roy Rogers and Dale Evan’s Museum. His hide was stitched over a foam mold and he was placed in his signature rearing move. 

Meet the lovely Julie Rogers Pomilia on this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. Her new book “Your Heroes, My Grandparents” is just out. 

We Need a New Dynamic Word for Women Over 50! I know this because I’m one. The existing words suck.   'Woman of a certain age ?' 'Past my prime?' Who the hell says so?   I’m ready for my next act and I’ll never be out of next acts!   Did you know there are 999 adjectives on Google to describe an older woman and they’re all rotten. Words like old bag, granny, biddy, and that line I remember hearing a young idiot guy say behind my back once- “she’s got a few miles on her.’ I shoulda kicked his puny ass right then. Lol .   Point is...we seriously need a new upbeat word to describe all the dynamic women making their individual ways through the latter phases of life reinventing, taking chances, having new adventures, and savoring their time invested in ‘life’. We especially need to let the younger women coming up behind us know, it’s never over as long as you say so.   Lesley Jane Seymour former Editor-in Chief of More Magazine and current Founder of Covey Club, a National and international group of women interested in personal and business growth, was just quoted in a story about women and ageism.   She joined me today on my radio show to talk about that piece in The Hill titled “2023 is shaping up to be the Year of the 50+ Woman.” 60 year old Oscar winner Michelle Yeohs acceptance comment was loud. “Ladies, do not let anyone ever tell you you are past your prime”.   Ok damnit we won’t!   Most wise women know the problem is our society that values youth and beauty. That and obnoxious men who don’t have mirrors ( sorry to the respectful guys) . I'm talking about the guys who are quick to joke about older women being past their sexual prime. (Sidebar: One peek through the blinds at a woman over 50 having a hot romance night would cure them of that thought but hey that’s another story. )   Men who age are celebrated with cool words like ‘silver fox ‘ and ‘dignified older gentleman ‘.   There are no positive words for women who age. We need a new word!   Women collectively need to put our heads together. How ‘bout WNDY? (Woman Not Done Yet!)    Enjoy Lesley Jane Seymour and I gettin' real about all the fabulous 'Women Not Done Yet' on this podcast of our live interview on my radio show.    And check out Lesley's Covey Club  - you might just want to join.   ABOUT MY RADIO SHOW    THE DEBBIE NIGRO SHOW 11-12 noon EST WGCH Radio1490 or hit Listen LIVE at WGCH.com Show Interview Podcasts Posted After Here on DebbieNigro.com   No Politics - Always Relevant...Always Hopeful...and Always A Little Humor...In Spite Of It All! If You Appreciate The Spirit Of My Show I’d Appreciate A ‘High Five “to my social media  pages. Thank You! Follow me on Facebook : The Debbie Nigro Show Follow me on Instagram: @therealdebbienigro Follow Me on Twitter: Debbie Nigro Connect on LinkedIn: Debbie Nigro Sign up for my "Risk It or Regret It!" newsletter here at: DebbieNigro.com

Meet the chef of the moment. Chef Adrien Bleck. He's the guy making kitchen magic at Orienta Restaurant in Greenwich, Ct. He just competed against Bobby Flay on the Food Network in that Beat Bobby Flay show and he beat him! 

Chef Adrien joined me in the studio today to share the behind the scenes of the unique experience and the recipes that made him a Food Network Winner. 

 By the way If you haven’t seen the TV show it features various chefs competing against Bobby Flay and the show is taped in front of a live audience.

 Was it nerve-wracking, I asked?

 “Well, yeah, said Chef Adrien. “I think it was in the beginning. Yeah, definitely. Mostly the build-up, you know, because they reach out to you, then it's like, okay, do you want to do it? And then there are three or four months of lead-up and interviews. It's a major process to get called on to the show. “

 Do they notify you you’ve made the show cut like you're getting a college acceptance letter?  By Email? By Phone?

 “You get an email and when you get the news you’re accepted and they give you a filming date and tell you you’re filming on this day against Bobby Flay at this time. “

 

On the day he got the exciting green light email, I wondered who did Adrien call first?

 “I think my wife and then my parents. I think we were at the restaurant. So I think I passed around the email once I got it."

 Adrien is French American. “I wondered are French people as excitable as Italians when something big happens? Like screaming out loud excited?” 

 “Yes. I can tell you the most excited people were my High School football coaches from Rye Neck High School in Mamaroneck, NY.  There's a video of them absolutely going crazy watching the show. It was really, sweet to watch.”

Ever wonder what happens when a contestant first shows up ready to film at the Food Network studio? Nothing. At least for awhile. Chef Adrien had about a three-hour wait time with the other contestant. 

 “We were just talking, so it's just us two in a room and she tells me all about herself and she's a James Beard finalist and they flew her out from Oakland and they put her up in a Manhattan hotel.”

 I’m thinking she was trying to intimidate him.   

 “That was intimidating” (See I told you) “I don't have any of those accolades. And I just drove down from Greenwich to Queens. So right after that I was nervous. “But she was sweet.”

 Chef Adrien said he was very comfortable in just doing his best because it was such an anticipation getting there. He had good advice for himself and for anyone who likes to cook. 

  “Just do what you can in the moment and cook how you cook. “

 Yes Just ...“Cook How You Cook.”!

 When the show finally kicked in and filming started they do as they always do. They give contestants a mystery ingredient they have to work with.

 What was the ingredient they gave Adrien? Escarole.

 “I like escarole. Kind of like a bitter green. Love it. Kind of a lettuce. And you could do many things with it, and I used to work in California, and I'd have to go to the Santa Monica farmer's market three times a week, or twice a week, or whatever it is, to get our stuff, but it was always new and always different. Whatever you get at the farmers market, that's what's going to be your special of the day. So, when I see escarole, I immediately thought of my time in California and what is like the newer California type cuisine. That was a good thought. So, I just went with it. I grilled it and I made like a spicy honey vinaigrette with some bacon and It turned out to be quite good.” 

 The judge, Scott Conant, said it was one of the best things he's tasted on the show.

Everybody's going to want to come taste this at his restaurant now. But Is it on the menu? Nope not yet.  He still hasn’t made it again, but he promises he will.

 I told him to put it on the menu and call it The Chef Bobby Flay Beater Special.

 “That's a great idea Debbie you know I think I'm going to do it.”

 That's what I do here on this show, I give ideas to people. ( it's gonna cost him a spring roll.) 

Alright so the other winning savory crepe dish, where'd that come in? 

 “So that came in as my specialty dish that I went in to kind of take Bobby by surprise because I'm pretty sure he's got my number on that.

 Chef Adrien’s winning dish was his Vietnamese Savory Crepe. What’s in it? 

 “It’s a turmeric-based coconut and rice flour, so it's crispy, a little sweet and subtle on the outside, mix of chicken, shrimp, pickled onions, and a lot of fresh herbs mint, cilantro, Thai basil comes with a nice salad on the side and a numoc cham dipping sauce which is a traditional Vietnamese sauce. “

 I hope Chef Adrien puts a big sign on his restaurant window that says Food Network Winner and I Beat Bobby Flay. He said he’ll ask his wife Kate to take care of that. She’s great at marketing. Cooking’s not her thing but word is she makes terrific food for their one and a half year old baby. “He seems to enjoy it my wife's cooking a lot more than mine.”  

 You're a great chef, and an amazing restaurateur. Tell us what are you terrible at?

“I think I'm terrible at like soccer.”  Okay we won't call on you for that.

 “What goes on in this chefs head all day long? Is he making stuff in his head? Does he have recipes in his head? What’s he you doing in there?”

 “Well, normally when I come in after my day's off, my sous chef will order me the fish for the special for the day. It comes from Bonton Fish Market right down the street. Another local shout out. And I don't know necessarily know what he's going to order me unless I have something already specific in mind. So, I come in and it's sort of a surprise. And I got to go from there. And I start pulling ideas. I got a lot of cookbooks. I could take a little something from here, a little something from there. And I kind of turn it into my own thing. Since I wasn't classically trained in Asian food. There's a lot of reading and a lot of cookbooks. So, I just pull little bits from everywhere and then make it to what I think is good. I cook like I cook. “

Love his passion. It all started with Chef Adriens parents and growing up the restaurant business. His Mom was a great cook and he learned much from her gift for seasoning and using different ingredients and really making complete dishes. She's American. His grandmother was a talented cook too. So it runs through the women of his family. His Dad has always been a restaurateur, so Adrien would always see him in the restaurants and be eating in restaurants since he was very young. I guess you could say Chef Adrien grew up with the cooking gene.

For Chef Adrien his restaurant reviews are very important. “I like to take the feedback from our guests and people that I don't know, and I use it a lot. If you see trends and some stuff’s not working, then you know obviously it's our job to fix that and rectify it somebody has a bad time. You know I want to do everything I can so that they come back. We try, and really make it nice and make sure that they're all having a great experience. “

 Sounds really nice to me. During the week Orienta Restaurant has sip and shop events , where  local vendors come by and highlight their products and it encourages people to support local businesses and support the restaurant and network with each other.

 They also have happy hour on the weekends which is unique.

 If you’re in the area check out Orienta Restaurant on Lewis Street in Greenwich, Connecticut.  

OrientaRestaurant.com. 

 

About Orienta Restaurant

Antoine Blech originally opened Orienta restaurant on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in 1995. Over two decades later Blech and his wife Suzanne reopened the iconic French and Asian-inspired restaurant in Greenwich with a menu that is highlighted by Vietnamese flavors. Today, this restaurant is truly a family affair, their son, Chef Adrien Blech joined their team as Executive Chef with his impressive resume of over 13 years working at world-renowned establishments such as Le Bernardin, Soho House LA, Le Royal Monceau, Guy Savoy, in addition to sister restaurants, Le Penguin, and Le Fat Poodle. Chef Blech’s multi-talented wife, Kate is maître d' and mother to their 1-year-old daughter who Antoine and Suzanne hope will be leading the team one day in the future.