Show Introduction with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris

SoCal Restaurant Show

Andy Harris, Executive Producer and Co-host previews the show.

Program Note for Saturday, April 12th. For the 4th time we’re honored to be broadcasting live from The Big Island Chocolate Festival celebrating that Hawaii is the only place in the United States where cacao (the base of fine chocolate) can successfully grow commercially. Please join us…

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. On today’s menu is an important update on the Napa Rose Restaurant at Disney’s Grand Californian (it’s now on vacation for a bit) and the background on Orange County’s two prestigious James Beard Award nominations. As always more Orange County morsels will be part of the conversation.

“Chef Eileen Elizabeth is a published, award-winning vegan chef based in Los Angeles California. Her newest cookbook, The Vegan Blueprints, is the culmination of her decade-long career. Whether she is feeding celebrities, helping people manage disease, cooking for wellness retreats or developing menus for restaurants, Chef Eileen really is taking the culinary world by storm. Proving that plant-based food can be fun, creative, and enjoyed by vegans and meat eaters alike. Her cookbook The Vegan Blueprints highlights some of her most popular creations, as well as teaches you how to realistically integrate more plant-based food into your diet.” Chef Eileen takes a break from her busy kitchen to join us.

“Vegas Unstripped producers Eric Gladstone & Chef & Restaurateur James Trees (Bar Boheme) have announced the list of chefs and bartenders participating in this year’s Vegas Unstripped food festival. As always, the festival will gather many of Las Vegas’ most acclaimed and creative culinary leaders, who will each create a new dish or drink for one night only, taking place from 6-9 p.m. on Sunday, April 27 at the Palms Casino Resort.” A sampling of the culinary talent on display includes Pizzaiolo John Arena of Metro Pizza, Brian Howard of Sparrow & Wolf, Bruce Kalman of SoulBelly BBQ, Gina Marinelli of La Strega and James Trees of the just debuted Bar Boheme. Prominent Vegas Bartenders mixing it up include Tony Abou-Ganim (The Modern Mixologist) and Adam Rains of The Golden Tiki. Vegas Unstripped creator Eric Gladstone joins us with (Festival Co-creator) Las Vegas Celebrity Chef James (Bar Boheme) for the tempting preview. There also is a very special ticket discount offer exclusively for listeners.

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. We’re revisiting the costly subject of 3rd Party Delivery for restaurants. Chef Andrew will provide his insight on the new option to “Buy Now, Pay Later” for home-delivered restaurant fare. Also the expensive and unfair system of the 3rd party delivery companies assessing chargebacks to restaurants that might not be justified.

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