SoCal Restaurant Show

“Tiki bar fans, rejoice — and grab a place at Strong Water Anaheim. It’s a creatively reimagined classic of the genre, with its curio-shop-in-a-shipwreck atmosphere, its supercharged bar-food menu, its encyclopedic list of classic and creative tropical libations (zero proof options included), and its treasure chest of rare artisanal rums worth drinking straight.” Strong Water’s latest national rec...

“LA County’s upscale Desi eatery, SHOR Bazaar, is kicking off the New Year with a brand-new mocktail menu to celebrate Dry January. Known for its innovative 100% non-alcoholic bar program, SHOR Bazaar located in Hawaiian Gardens continues to redefine the dining experience for those exploring the sober-curious movement, and the Dry January menu is no exception. Each mocktail on the Dry January...

“The Lido Theater, Newport Beach’s iconic and recently restored movie landmark, has launched its Café Pop-Up Experience, open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. This exciting new offering, curated by Chef Shelly Register under the direction Hollywood Director and Newport Beach native Joseph ‘McG’ Nichol of River Jetty Restaurant Group, features a variety of freshly prepared menu items alongside an assort...

“The Lido Theater, Newport Beach’s iconic and recently restored movie landmark, has launched its Café Pop-Up Experience, open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. This exciting new offering, curated by Chef Shelly Register under the direction Hollywood Director and Newport Beach native Joseph ‘McG’ Nichol of River Jetty Restaurant Group, features a variety of freshly prepared menu items alongside an assort...

“Restaurants Care at the California Restaurant Foundation has opened a $200,000 disaster fund to kick-start direct assistance to food and beverage workers who have lost their homes, jobs, and stability in the L.A. Fires.”  “Grants of up to $1,500 are available to help with critical needs like housing, food, and clothing as workers begin to recover from this crisis. Grants are awarded based on...

Chef Andrew remains tirelessly on the front line of providing disaster relief in his own small way for all the unfortunate victims of the Pacific Palisades and Pasadena / Altadena fires as part of a larger effort by restaurant & hospitality folks. He updates us on what is being done and what listeners can do to help. It’s an ongoing effort for the very long term. Andrew has also teamed up with...

It’s the new year and we’re always trying to creatively add more appealing fruits and vegetables to our daily meals. What are some great specialty produce items to consider for 2025 ? We’re joined by our resident produce authority, Robert Schueller of Melissa’s (also known as the “Prince of Produce” or the “Guru of Produce,”) for a “fresh of the season” overview. “Consider something different in t...

“Two stories unspool in (the book) Sideways Uncorked: the story behind Alexander Payne’s modern movie classic adapted from a most unlikely source—an unpublished novel by a burnt-out ex-filmmaker and wine connoisseur Rex Pickett—and the world of Pinot Noir (and Merlot) winemaking before and after Sideways was released. For as authors Kirk Honeycutt and Mira Advani Honeycutt show, the movie was a po...

Our ongoing heartfelt concerns to all the area residents impacted by the tragic fires in Pacific Palisades and Pasadena/Altadena. In the hospitality community chefs and restaurateurs have lost both homes and their businesses. Recovery is, unfortunately, not a speedy process. “Two stories unspool in (the book) Sideways Uncorked: the story behind Alexander Payne’s modern movie classic adapted from a...

“Descanso Restaurant, a modern taqueria founded in Costa Mesa, California in 2018, celebrates the grand opening of its eagerly anticipated Los Angeles flagship location on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Located on the Miracle Mile at 5773 Wilshire Blvd in the SAG-AFTRA Plaza, the new venture marks a significant milestone as Descanso expands beyond its Orange County roots into the vibrant city of Los...

“Two stories unspool in (the book) Sideways Uncorked: the story behind Alexander Payne’s modern movie classic adapted from a most unlikely source—an unpublished novel by a burnt-out ex-filmmaker and wine connoisseur Rex Pickett—and the world of Pinot Noir (and Merlot) winemaking before and after Sideways was released. For as authors Kirk Honeycutt and Mira Advani Honeycutt show, the movie was a po...

“Descanso Restaurant, a modern taqueria founded in Costa Mesa, California in 2018, celebrates the grand opening of its highly anticipated Los Angeles flagship location on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Located on the Miracle Mile adjacent to Museum Row at 5773 Wilshire Blvd in the SAG-AFTRA Plaza, the new venture marks a significant milestone as Descanso expands beyond its Orange County roots into th...

“Two stories unspool in (the book) Sideways Uncorked: the story behind Alexander Payne’s modern movie classic adapted from a most unlikely source—an unpublished novel by a burnt-out ex-filmmaker and wine connoisseur Rex Pickett—and the world of Pinot Noir (and Merlot) winemaking before and after Sideways was released. For as authors Kirk Honeycutt and Mira Advani Honeycutt show, the movie was a po...

“In the midst of a pandemic, chef and restaurateur Winnie Yee was looking for a distraction away from her business closures. She stumbled upon a brisket and started a lovely affair with live fire cooking. The result was Smoke Queen Barbecue “Where East meats West.”” It started modestly as a popular pop-up at the Sunday Smorgasburg in Downtown L.A. and now has expanded to a free-standing location w...

“Descanso Restaurant, a modern taqueria founded in Costa Mesa, California in 2018, celebrates the grand opening of its highly anticipated Los Angeles flagship location on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Located on the Miracle Mile at 5773 Wilshire Blvd in the SAG-AFTRA Plaza, the new venture marks a significant milestone as Descanso expands beyond its Orange County roots into the vibrant city of Los A...

“In the midst of a pandemic, chef and restaurateur Winnie Yee was looking for a distraction away from her business closures. She stumbled upon a brisket and started a lovely affair with live fire cooking. The result was Smoke Queen Barbecue “Where East meats West.”” It started modestly as a popular pop-up at the Sunday Smorgasburg in Downtown L.A. and now has expanded to a free-standing location w...

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (on Pacific Coast Highway in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries. When it comes to offering vitally needed assistance when a disaster strikes chefs and restaurateurs are aways in the forefront...

“PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS organization, has launched this month the Seventh Season of the locally produced, historical documentary series, LOST LA. Public historian and writer Nathan Masters returns as Host for the untold histories behind Southern California’s space shuttle program, the Cold War, the St. Francis Dam disaster and finally, uncoverin...

“Studio UNLTD, the designer of the reimagined Helms Bakery in Culver City, is an award-winning hospitality design firm offering comprehensive services in architecture, interior design, lighting, and furniture design. They believe in a collaborative approach that puts the client’s vision at the forefront. Their legacy of community-altering projects showcases their ability to design spaces that make...

“PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS organization, has launched this month the Seventh Season of the locally produced, historical documentary series LOST LA. Public historian and writer Nathan Masters returns as Host for the untold histories behind Southern California’s space shuttle program, the Cold War, the St. Francis Dam disaster and finally, uncovering...

Our heartfelt concerns to all the area residents impacted by the tragic fires in Pacific Palisades and Pasadena / Altadena. In the hospitality community chefs and restaurateurs have lost both homes and their businesses. “PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS organization, has launched this month the Seventh Season of the locally produced, historical documentary series, LOST LA.&n...

“Celebrating its 15th year, Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks (January 19th to February 1st) has become a favorite tradition in the valley. And why not?”  “The Santa Ynez Valley’s reputation as a culinary-driven destination—with imaginative chefs, deep agricultural roots, collaborative culinary culture, and cuisine that ranges from contemporary, innovative farm-to-table fare to tra...

“Studio UNLTD, the designer of the reimagined Helms Bakery in Culver City, is an award-winning hospitality design firm offering comprehensive services in architecture, interior design, lighting, and furniture design. They believe in a collaborative approach that puts the client’s vision at the forefront. Their legacy of community-altering projects showcases their ability to design spaces that make...

“Studio UNLTD, the designer of the reimagined Helms Bakery in Culver City, is an award-winning hospitality design firm offering comprehensive services in architecture, interior design, lighting, and furniture design. They believe in a collaborative approach that puts the client’s vision at the forefront. Their legacy of community-altering projects showcases their ability to design spaces that make...

“Canopy Wine Lounge located in Downtown Palm Springs is the first upscale wine lounge in the Coachella Valley, catering to locals, domestic, and international tourists. With nearly 150 wines from around the world, amongst greats Lithology (St. Helena, CA), Waypoint (Napa, CA), Otronia (Patagonia, Argentina), and Alkina (Barossa Valley, South Australia), it promises an unforgettable experience wher...