Happy (and safe) 4th of July Weekend!

“Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards is hosting its second annual fundraiser to support mental health: Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction on Saturday, July 23, 2022.  To support community services as well as mental health research, the 2022 Peace of Mind event will be a walk of approximately 10,000 steps or 4.5 miles across the Alma Rosa estate in Buellton benefiting two organizations: the Mental Wellness Center and One Mind.” Alma Rosa’s Winemaker, Samra Morris, joins us with all the details.

“Since 2008 it has been a key mission for the Ment’or BKB Foundation to enable the best young talent in America to effectively train for the privilege and honor of representing the United States at the Bocuse d’Or in Lyon.  The result of that patience and determination was realized for the first time in 2015 when Team USA stood on the podium with the Silver Bocuse, garnering the recognition and respect of the international culinary community. In January of 2017 Team USA returned from Lyon with the Bocuse d’Or, having realized Monsieur Paul Bocuse’s dream of USA winning Gold.” Team USA 2023 includes Head Chef Jeffrey Hayashi and Commis Franco Fugel. The Head Coach is Bocuse d’Or veteran, Chef Robert Sulatycky. The next stop for Team USA on the long road to Lyon in January is the Bocuse d’Or Americas competition in Santiago, Chile on July 14th, representing all the countries of the American continent. Eight teams will be vying for the five places to advance to the Grand Finale in Lyon. Taking a short break to join us from the intensive practice sessions at the Ment’or Training Kitchen at the Copia Campus in Napa of the Culinary Institute of America are Team USA’s Head Coach Robert Sulatycky and Head Chef Jeffrey Hayashi.

Under the direction of Guittard Chocolate Company’s acclaimed Executive Pastry Chef Donald Wressell, the Guittard Chocolate Studio in Culver City offers hands-on workshops with prominent chefs, chocolatiers and bakers for a unique opportunity for cooking professionals and serious home cooks to learn new skills, finesse techniques and expand on their chocolate knowledge.

Next on this year’s class schedule is Market Driven Desserts with Della Gossett (Executive Pastry Chef for Wolfgang Puck’s Spago) and Roxana Jullapat (Co-Proprietor and Pastry Chef for Friends & Family in Hollywood.) It’s a 2-day course on July 13 & 14th from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Chefs Donald Wressell, Della Gossett and Roxana Jullapat join us rolling pin firmly in hand.

“Exciting culinary events are now underway at the Palms Casino Resort in the wake of the Las Vegas property’s recent grand reopening. Palms and Vegas Test Kitchen have unleashed an unparalleled pop-up, Greene Street Test Kitchen, to the Las Vegas valley. Guests are now enjoying a taste test of a wide variety of cuisine from three local chefs every Friday and Saturday night, continuing through July 30. From Polynesian Chinese inspired dining to American Italian cuisine, chefs Josh Bianchi, Crystina Nguyen, Bryan Tejada and Gary FX LaMorte will be trying out new concepts at the Greene Street Test Kitchen. Two rotating concepts remain on the debut schedule.” Producer Jolene Mannina joins us from Vegas Test Kitchen.

Chef Andrew Gruel has some exciting personal business news in his “Ask the Chef” segment. Chef Andrew and his wife, Lauren, have amicably sold their interest in Slapfish (founded ten years ago) to their former Houston-based partners. Next up is the creation of a new restaurant management enterprise. First is a launch of a fresh seafood restaurant and full bar with table service in the former Fish Camp location on Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach. Look for a September opening. Also, the Big Parm NJ-style, fast-casual pizza concept will be expanding and Chef Andrew’s popular Two Birds chicken restaurant will reopen in a new location.

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

The post Show 481, July 2, 2022: Show Preview with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris appeared first on SoCal Restaurant Show.