We’re previewing the show with Executive Producer & Co-Host Andy Harris. It’s been an especially eventful week as restaurants in Southern California can again serve guests with full-service outdoor or patio dining with various requirements defined by each County. LA County remains the most restrictive.
“The restaurant world is changing faster than ever before and some of the best chefs are all looking for ways to test out new concepts without a huge financial investment.” Food entrepreneur Jolene Mannina, President of SecretBurger.com, has brought Las Vegas its first Test Kitchen (Vegas Test Kitchen.) It’s a brick & mortar location in downtown Las Vegas on E. Fremont St. offering a variety of cuisines five days a week (Wednesday through Sunday) from celebrated chefs testing new concepts. “This is a win-win for these amazing chefs and the food loving community we all know Vegas has.” Jolene Mannina is our enterprising guest.
“Washington State is one of today’s most exciting viticulture regions and L’Ecole No 41 is one of its leading benchmark wineries. More than three decades of winemaking experience, ongoing investments in their Walla Walla Estate Ferguson and Seven Hills Vineyards, and partnerships with some of Washington’s oldest vineyard sites are central to L’Ecole’s well-deserved reputation for excellence across their portfolio of wines.” We’ll meet General Manager Constance Savage and Winemaker (and wine educator) Marcus Rafanelli to uncork all that is L’Ecole.
Rich Mead, Owner and Executive Chef of Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar is once again offering guests patio seating in a lush, garden setting for lunch and early dinner with an all-day menu. With over 4,000 square feet of al fresco dining, guests can relax outdoors while responsibly enjoying an award-winning cocktail or a seasonal, sustainably sourced meal. Also available is a robust menu of takeout offerings in place including a Curbside Market with local ingredients and pantry staples, nourishing Family Meals and weekly Farmers Market Produce Boxes. Classic and signature cocktails are available for dine-in or curbside pickup courtesy of Chef de Swigs, Anthony Laborin and his team. We divert Rich Mead from the Saturday morning Santa Monica Farmers Market for a chat.
“Women restaurateurs from across Los Angeles have created a new charitable organization called RE:Her. Its debut initiative, a food festival called 10 Days RE:Her, featured 10 days of unique collaborations, thematic menus, and one-on-one conversations between female industry leaders. 10 Days RE:Her kicked off on January 21, the anniversary of the groundbreaking Women’s March of 2017, and ran through Saturday, January 30. Over 100 restaurants and collaborators are involved. Observing local dining restrictions, aspects of the festival took place virtually and remotely. “Restaurateur Sylvie Gabriele (a 2nd generation Restaurateur) of Manhattan Beach’s Love & Salt is one of the organizers of the Festival as well as serves on the active RE:Her board. Sylvie takes a break from her restaurant to recap the variety of “10 Days RE:Her” events that she and her team were part of.
Our own Chef Andrew Gruel of the Slapfish Restaurant Group provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where Chef Andrew responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries. Chef Andrew is regularly updating us on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis in the hospitality field and what we, as diners, can do to support the very survival of restaurants which is a genuine (and increasingly growing) concern. This week restaurants in Southern California were finally allowed to reopen for outside/patio dining at reduced capacities with all the requisite COVID 19 safety precautions. Los Angeles County has the most restrictions on what is allowable. It’s a welcome start back. We’ll “Ask the Chef.”
All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness (with proper Social Distancing) on this week’s not-to-miss show!
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