The Best Ceats Podcast

Family is everything, and many know that statement to be gospel. I myself am a firm believer in that those you surround yourself with and call family - blood-related or otherwise - help to shape your life. Chef/Owner Henry Pineda of Lola's by MFK in Anaheim, CA has had his career shaped by his family. He is now set to open a new location of his beloved Modern Filipino Kitchen, dedicated to, and in...

Let's talk about bar culture - more specifically, stepping into an existing space and making it your own. In this episode, we revisit a restaurant previously showcased on the podcast - Craft House , in Dana Point, CA - however, we have a new guest. Bar Manager Breden Burley joins the show to discuss the restaurant's robust whiskey list, moving from the bustle of Long Beach to Dana Point, and his o...

One of the things I love most is to travel - a lot of us do. One of the best parts about the world "reopening" has been the ability to do so again. Where to go though, and what to see? Well, why not ask a friend? That's why I was so happy to hop onto a video call with my friend - and former Orange County bartending powerhouse - Ravin Buzzell . Some months ago Ravin moved to Denver, CO. He is now t...

Distilling is something very near and dear to my heart. The effort of creating something that won't just fill a bottle, but fill one's spirit (no pun intended) is a truly wonderful endeavor. When it comes to Orange County, it wasn't until Blinking Owl Distillery spread its wings that this dream became a reality. Founded by Brian Christenson , and Robin Christenson - one of the best couples you cou...

I’m thrilled this week to be sitting down with two very special guests to dive into the world of wine - specifically, those of Bianchi Winery . With a brand new, stunning tasting room recently opened in Laguna Beach, I sit down with the Owner of Bianchi, Beau Bianchi , and, Tasting Room Manager Cristina Martinez to talk all things wine. From surviving 2020 to the devastating fires, bottle shortage...

Everyone needs a place to call their own - a bar, a favorite place to get a bite, or even a spot to get the dogs together(or kids if that’s your thing). If that spot happens to have 80 taps filled with craft beers, food, and fun, then I think we can all agree that's a good spot to be. This is exactly what OC Local Taproom aims to be. Industry veteran Patrick Thomas and prior guest of the show Troy...

I am a flawed man, because for all of my critiques, misunderstandings, and assumptions about "influencers," it turns out, I am one. Not on the same scale - nowhere close in fact - to those around me, but as the very word evolves, so does my understanding of it. That is why I wanted to put my bias aside, and sit down to listen, learn, and laugh with my friend, and food influencer extraordinaire, Me...

The greatest thing about having a podcast that continues to grow and find success is I am able to go back and check-in with friends from older episodes to see what success they are finding in their own lives and bring their stories to you. That's why I'm so happy to bring back my friend Ava Navarrete to the show. We sit down to discuss her new digs and job - running all things liquid lifestyle at...

I am very happy to bring the latest episode of the podcast to you featuring the very talented Tony Juarez . Truth be told, this episode is long overdue, as we have been trying to sit down together for some time. Low and behold we were finally able to find some time and sit down at the Oceanside eatery and more, Carte Blanche . We talk about what fuels his bar, his passion and influence from his da...

A new year means new opportunities and fresh chances to grow - so who better to talk to about "growing" than the queen of the green thumb, my friend Ashley of Heirloom Potager . We sit down to check in on her success in 2021, what the future holds for business, and what sorts of things folks can do at home to grow their own culinary environments and build a new foundation for themselves as we ente...

Let's kick off 2022 with a bang! How will we do that? By sitting down with the wonderful charming Jon Sanchez of Native Son , in Santa Ana. Native Son may not be a bar you're familiar with unless you live in the area, and that’s a true shame. It is a wonderful place - unpretentious, honest, and welcoming to all. It achieves this while providing fantastic beers, great bites, and - rather recently -...

This week I'm humbled to sit down with one of the most talented cocktail creators around, Inga Tantisalidchai . An industry veteran, and cocktail competition rockstar, Inga has been evolving the craft cocktail scene in Orange County for years. A former history teacher, she takes her appreciation for storytelling and lore to the bar, where her monthly, rotating cocktail at Newport Beach's Olea . In...

Let's talk tequila! Specifically, let's talk about what it means to create a new tequila company, the branding, and the innovative marketing techniques behind it. Let's talk about Otaca ! Based in Aliso Viejo, the brand is in its infancy, but that hasn't stopped it from exploding throughout Southern California. I sit down with two of the founders, and brand visionaries to talk about all things teq...

It is always amazing to see what a chef can do with a restaurant - but there is only so much you can do with so many tables and guests to care for. Sometimes those creative juices are limited by ticket times, and the reality of running a kitchen. That is where the "Chef's Table" comes into play - like a private performance from your favorite artist, the chef's table concept exists for a lucky few...

It's always good to check in on your friends - when those friends are former guests of the show, and great chefs, it's even better. The best is when they bring along a friend, so you can have a truly wonderful episode of The Best Ceats Podcast . That is just what we have here today, as I sit down with Executive Chef Rob Wilson , and his GM, Marcos Costas, of Glasspar in Dana Point.  I catch u...

There are some things in this world that are undeniable truths to me. Facts so ingrained in my very DNA that nothing can change my mind. One of these truths, is that The Blind Pig in Rancho Santa Margarita is one of the most important cocktail programs in Orange County. That is why I am so thrilled to be joined for this episode of The Best Ceats Podcast by the current bar lead and manager, Josh Da...

Well, I knew that I wanted to do something special for this year's Halloween episode - it had been my plan all along - but I never expected this... I was contacted last week by a representative for a very well-known figure from Gotham City. He said his boss wanted to be on the show as he is a big fan, and loves eating out and drinking on the town. I literally couldn't refuse, so, for episode 67, I...

I was always a fan of mashups as a kid - even now for that matter. Something about artists, or other creatives coming together to work on something is exciting. In the case of episode 66 of The Best Ceats Podcast , we have just that. I sit down with Ryan Friesen, and Dylan Almendral - podcast hosts in their own right, as well as historians, distillers, advocates, and more. Both, fantastic humans a...

Sometimes a guest gets scheduled for an episode, and for better or for worse, something else in the world occurs that directly relates to that person(s). In the case of Mike Flynn, Founder, and GM of O Sea , it was the tragic oil spill off the Southern California coast. Mike and his team at the restaurant were already in the process of generating a charitable program for the month to benefit ocean...

Well, this episode is a certainly a big one. I know I say that quite often, but im generally referring to a specific guest, or possible topic of the show. No, this episode is big, because it is big - literally.  Last Tuesday (9.28) there was a little cocktail competition called " The Herbies" held at Poppy & Seed in Anaheim, bu none ofter then friend of the show, Ashley Irene of Heirloom...

This week's episode features the duo behind the popular pop-up turned food truck, Hammer Burger , Kevin Hammons, and Curt Sheetz. The business started as a pandemic pop-up and has shot up in popularity across Orange County, quickly becoming one of the most popular and sought-after food trucks in the entire region. It is the old adage, of sometimes the best things are the simplest, and Hammer Burge...

My guest for this episode is Chef Shachi Mehra . She is responsible for so many wonderful things - ADYA probably being the first one that comes to mind if you are familiar with her work. She also recently launched Spice Girl Sauces (which are crazy delicious) and is constantly educating, inspiring, and carving out a massively successful path as a chef and champion of her food and flavors. I have s...

This week's episode is a shorter one, but one that is equally as important as any other show. It features the co-founder of the wonderful FKN Bread in San Juan Capistrano, Dave Vandenberg . Dave and his wife Bree (who unfortunately couldn't join Dave on the show on the day we recorded) started making sourdough bread during the initial shut-down phases of the pandemic - just as so many others did a...

I am thrilled to welcome Chef Paige Riordan back to the podcast for episode 60. It has been over a year since she was first on the show, and to say a lot has happened since then would be an understatement. The Chef/Owner of Scarlet Kitchen & Lounge in Rancho Mission Viejo was a bit under the weather, unfortunately, so we recorded this episode remotely. While I apologize for any audio quality i...

Making cocktails isn't a hard thing to do - just follow the recipe, or, if there is no recipe at hand, just use good sense when mixing ingredients. Podcasts aren't much different - get good people, and use good sense to have even better conversations. This brings us to episode 59 of The Best Ceats Podcast , as we dive headfirst down in the world of bars and cocktails. One part above-average podcas...