Happy Labor Day Weekend. Grill and chill…
The El Segundo Little League has done the near impossible. With 27,000 sanctioned Little League baseball teams in the USA the El Segundo Little Leaguers are the 2023 World Champs. What does it mean to the little community of El Segundo (also known affectionately as “Mayberry by the Sea.”)? The Head Chef of El Segundo Brewing Company’s popular The Slice + Pint restaurant was a little leaguer as a youngster in Gundo and played Baseball at El Segundo High School. Chef Andrew Fujii joins us to explain why El Segundo remains absolutely baseball crazy!
“Mija Handcraft Kitchen in Culver City is now open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner (on select evenings.) Pop champagne with friends, enjoy a refreshing cocktail or celebrate with a special bottle of wine to compliment their modern delicious California Mexican dishes made from local ingredients. Chef and owner, Katherine Gonzalez, was raised in Southern Arizona. Her mother’s family migrated from Chihuahua, Mexico, and her father’s family from Spain. Growing up, there was always a pot of beans cooking, freshly made flour tortillas, salsa, and sopas fideo. Every celebration featured warm and delicious comfort food including her mother’s famous tamales, chips, and fresh salsas.” Chef Katherine takes a break from her busy kitchen to join us with a plate of the signature Mom’s Chilaquiles in hand.
“Black Restaurant Week is presenting its sixth annual campaign in the Los Angeles Region. It’s on until September 3rd. Discover black-owned restaurants, food trucks, sweets, and more across Los Angeles and additional surrounding metro areas.” One of the participating restaurants in Los Angeles Black Restaurant Week is Long Beach’s Axiom Kitchen Smoked Meats & BBQ. “Ian and Qiana Mafnas of Axiom Kitchen Smoked Meats & BBQ are a husband and wife pitmaster/executive chef team, who have over 20 years of restaurant experience between the two of them. Ian has been developing his love for smoking meats over a period of eight years, and Qiana has worked in some of the finest restaurants in California. They have finally decided to share their experience as well as the love for smoking meats and cooking with their community.” Qiana Mafnas joins us with a tempting, juicy brisket plate in hand.
“Once a year Zapien’s Salsa Grill in Pico Rivera hosts a series of Hatch Pepper-themed events to celebrate the New Mexican spicy, yet savory pepper from Hatch, NM, including a Saturday Hatch Pepper Roast. Join the Salsa Grill for a special Hatch Pepper Brunch on Saturday, September 9th from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. with over 10 Hatch Pepper inspired dishes. Enjoy all-you-can eat specialties, handmade Tortillas, Sparkling Wine and Mimosas. The Hatch Chile Brunch Menu also includes some classic favorites like Menudo and Pozole. Think Hatch Chile Verde and lots more. Zapien’s will also be turning on the roasters that same day, so take home a case (ordered in advance) of Roasted Hatch Peppers. For Zapien’s Salsa Grill’s grand Hatch Pepper Finale for 2023 join Chef Marco Zapien at the award-winning Zapien’s Salsa Grill & Taqueria on Wednesday evening, September 13th from 6 to 8:00 p.m. for one of his lively and entertaining cooking demonstrations and dinner, combined with his creativity and the seasonal Mexican Hatch Pepper.”
Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) and also the founder and pizzaiola of Big Parm (New Jersey-style pizza) located in the Mess Hall in Tustin provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries. It’s Labor Day Weekend, the official last stand of the Summer grilling season. Chef Andrew has some useful hints including thoughts on grilling whole fish.
All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s not-to-miss show!
The post Show 541, September 2, 2023: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris appeared first on SoCal Restaurant Show.