SoCal Restaurant Show

When it comes to entertaining and engaging food walking tours in Los Angeles no one does it better than Melting Pot Food Tours! Sisters and co-founders Lisa and Diane Scalia are L.A. natives and lifelong residents of Italian heritage who truly “live to eat.” Lisa, a caterer and private tour guide, and Diane, a professional chef (BarComida in Redondo Beach,) cookbook author, and food writer, together have over 25 years of combined experience in the hospitality business. Current tours are Farmers Market - 3rd Street, Old Pasadena, and L.A. Latin Spice. It all started in 2008 with the Original Farmers Market Tour at Third & Fairfax in Los Angeles. Melting Pot’s newest addition is Chef Jet Tila’s Flavors of Thai Town Tour. This is an incredible VIP experience all the way. When Travel Channel’s Tony Bourdain brought his “No Reservations” crew to Los Angeles he selected Chef Jet, the honorary Mayor of Thai Town, to guide him through the area. Since then visiting journalists and prominent chefs have prevailed upon Jet to escort them through Thai Town on the same trail. Now this enhanced, ultimate insider’s experience is available to a select group of savvy food tourists on a very limited basis.

When it comes to entertaining and engaging food walking tours in Los Angeles no one does it better than Melting Pot Food Tours! Sisters and co-founders Lisa and Diane Scalia are L.A. natives and lifelong residents of Italian heritage who truly “live to eat.” Lisa, a caterer and private tour guide, and Diane, a professional chef (BarComida in Redondo Beach,) cookbook author, and food writer, together have over 25 years of combined experience in the hospitality business. Current tours are Farmers Market - 3rd Street, Old Pasadena, and L.A. Latin Spice. It all started in 2008 with the Original Farmers Market Tour at Third & Fairfax in Los Angeles. Melting Pot’s newest addition is Chef Jet Tila’s Flavors of Thai Town Tour. This is an incredible VIP experience all the way. When Travel Channel’s Tony Bourdain brought his “No Reservations” crew to Los Angeles he selected Chef Jet, the honorary Mayor of Thai Town, to guide him through the area. Since then visiting journalists and prominent chefs have prevailed upon Jet to escort them through Thai Town on the same trail. Now this enhanced, ultimate insider’s experience is available to a select group of savvy food tourists on a very limited basis.

You don’t expect to find superb regional BBQ favorites with a spectacular bay view in Newport Beach but that’s exactly what’s on the menu at DivBar. It’s Kansas City inspired ‘cue with touches of Texas and The Carolinas. All the BBQ sauces are house-made. The secret is executive chef Bill Bracken (ex-Island Hotel, Newport Beach) who grew up in the Midwest. For the last 20 years he’s been at the pinnacle of fine-dining but is now having lots more fun adding all of his creative touches to a more accessible cuisine. There is praise-worthy broasted chicken and pizza, too. Jet particularly raved about the duck fries. Producer Andy praised the beef dip sandwich which is actually shaved thin tri tip. Jet also savored the baby back ribs and the Texas dry-rubbed smoked brisket.

Zov and the entire Karamardian Family have one of those incredible success stories that you couldn’t make up if you tried. The Zov’s juggernaut in the Enderle Center in Tustin started as a modest 1,200 sq. ft. take out spot in 1987. Today, in over 14,000 sq. ft., it’s a destination bakery, gourmet specialty food emporium, wine ship, café, fine dining restaurant and catering space all under one large roof. Zov’s husband, Gary, her son, Armen, and daughter, Taleene, all have their specific responsibilities in the still-growing enterprise. Pastry Chef Michelle Bracken, one of the OC’s best, has been with Zov since almost the beginning. In addition to the Tustin flagship there are now busy Zov’s Neighborhood Cafes and Bars in Irvine and Newport Coast plus two spots at John Wayne Orange County Airport.

Zov and the entire Karamardian Family have one of those incredible success stories that you couldn’t make up if you tried. The Zov’s juggernaut in the Enderle Center in Tustin started as a modest 1,200 sq. ft. take out spot in 1987. Today, in over 14,000 sq. ft., it’s a destination bakery, gourmet specialty food emporium, wine ship, café, fine dining restaurant and catering space all under one large roof. Zov’s husband, Gary, her son, Armen, and daughter, Taleene, all have their specific responsibilities in the still-growing enterprise. Pastry Chef Michelle Bracken, one of the OC’s best, has been with Zov since almost the beginning. In addition to the Tustin flagship there are now busy Zov’s Neighborhood Cafes and Bars in Irvine and Newport Coast plus two spots at John Wayne Orange County Airport.

Barbara Fairchild’s (ex-Editor-in-Chief of Bon Appetit Magazine) commentary on her just completed dining adventures in Kauai. Barbara worked her way down the Garden Island from North (rustic Hanalei and the very upscale Princeville) to South (resort area of Poipu.) In Hanalei (which Barbara found charming) she recommends Chef Jim Moffat’s small plates Bar Acuda (just celebrating their 7th anniversary,) Hanalei Coffee Roasters, and the seafood and vegetarian-centric Postcards Café. For that one, very special fine-dining experience Barbara suggests Kauai Grill at the St. Regis Princeville Resort. It’s from New York –based celebrity Chef Jean-George Vongerichten. French flair with accent of Hawaii. A must stop on the way South is the new Garden Café at Common Ground in Kilauea. It’s a large farm-to-table, model sustainable operation with crops grown on site. Also in the area is the iconic, roadside burger joint, Duane’s Ono-Char Burger. The island’s famous & colorful wild chickens will join you for al fresco dining. In the area of Lihue, Barbara discovered the casual Feral Pig Pub & Diner. It’s a real find! The show-stopper is their Kauai Cubano sandwich with Kalua pork and ham! Near Poipu is a new development including The Shops at Kukuiula. Two famous practitioners of Hawaiian Regional Cuisine have restaurants there. Chef Jean-Marie Josselin operates Josselin Tapas Bar & Grill which gets excellent reviews from Barbara and Chef Peter Merriman owns Merriman’s Fish House and the more casual Downstairs Cafe. There is also a Lappert’s Ice Cream & Coffee parlor there. Sounds like a week’s worth of appealing dining options in one beautiful spot.

Barbara Fairchild’s (ex-Editor-in-Chief of Bon Appetit Magazine) commentary on her just completed dining adventures in Kauai. Barbara worked her way down the Garden Island from North (rustic Hanalei and the very upscale Princeville) to South (resort area of Poipu.) In Hanalei (which Barbara found charming) she recommends Chef Jim Moffat’s small plates Bar Acuda (just celebrating their 7th anniversary,) Hanalei Coffee Roasters, and the seafood and vegetarian-centric Postcards Café. For that one, very special fine-dining experience Barbara suggests Kauai Grill at the St. Regis Princeville Resort. It’s from New York –based celebrity Chef Jean-George Vongerichten. French flair with accent of Hawaii. A must stop on the way South is the new Garden Café at Common Ground in Kilauea. It’s a large farm-to-table, model sustainable operation with crops grown on site. Also in the area is the iconic, roadside burger joint, Duane’s Ono-Char Burger. The island’s famous & colorful wild chickens will join you for al fresco dining. In the area of Lihue, Barbara discovered the casual Feral Pig Pub & Diner. It’s a real find! The show-stopper is their Kauai Cubano sandwich with Kalua pork and ham! Near Poipu is a new development including The Shops at Kukuiula. Two famous practitioners of Hawaiian Regional Cuisine have restaurants there. Chef Jean-Marie Josselin operates Josselin Tapas Bar & Grill which gets excellent reviews from Barbara and Chef Peter Merriman owns Merriman’s Fish House and the more casual Downstairs Cafe. There is also a Lappert’s Ice Cream & Coffee parlor there. Sounds like a week’s worth of appealing dining options in one beautiful spot.

Celebrity Chef and culinary personality Susan Feniger, the co-owner owner of the Border Grill empire (Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Las Vegas & The Border Grill Food Truck) with Mary Sue Milliken, was a major star in the early days of Food Network with the "Too Hot Tamales" series. In 2010 she reinvented herself with the solo venture, Street, in Hollywood. It's her tribute to the best in International street food with the assistance of co-chef Kajsa Alger. Street's latest inspiration is Susan Feniger's Street Food: Irresistibly Crispy, Creamy, Crunchy, Spicy, Sticky, Sweet Recipes combines 83 street food recipes and 100 color photos from around the world. It's a great gift idea for the Holidays and if you take it to Street, Susan will even sign it for you!

Here's an inspirational story for you. Three, energized  young Korean-Americans (brothers Yong & Ted Kim and their chef, Chris Oh) join forces to sell Korean style sausages at Street Festivals in L.A. Word of mouth catches on quickly and long lines form at each new festival. By happenstance they audition for Season 3 of Food Network's "Great Food Truck Race." They had no previous experience running a food truck.  Unbelievably they are accepted and compete in a grueling cross-country seven week marathon starting in Long Beach, CA. At the finale the L.A. guys reign supreme. They win a cool $50,000 and the brand new food truck. It all of that wasn't enough on Oct. 6th they opened their retail sausage emporium (eat in or take-out) in West L.A.'s Little Osaka. Scion also build them a slick, street-legal, custom mobile grilling machine that needs to be seen to fully appreciated. Wow!

More of our exclusive interview with Yong & Ted Kim, and Chef Chris Oh of Seoul Sausage Co. in West L.A. The Seoul Sausage Co. truck, Big Mama, will be back on the Streets of L.A. in November!

Award winning Sommelier William Lewis (also a partner) of The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar in The District in Tustin  pulls back the curtain about what a sommelier really does. William was the recipient of "Wine List of the Year" at the recent Golden Foodie Awards in Newport Beach. William also introduces the basic concepts behind the art of pairing wine with food.

Award winning Sommelier William Lewis (also a partner) of The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar in The District in Tustin  pulls back the curtain about what a sommelier really does. William was the recipient of "Wine List of the Year" at the recent Golden Foodie Awards in Newport Beach. William also introduces the basic concepts behind the art of pairing wine with food.

It's the 20th Annual Pumpkin Festival at Cal Poly Pomona on Oct. 20th & 21st from 8 to 5:00 p.m. at the Farm Store field at Cal Poly. Over 50,000 pumpkins will be in the patch. Free admission and lots of fun, Family activities including a corn field maze. Proceeds benefit College of Agriculture student clubs and activities as well as farm activities.

Jet's first guest is Food Network’s Aarti Sequeira, the winner of Season 6 of Food Network's "Next Food Network Star." Aarti discusses how it all happened and how it's changed her life!

Part 2 of our Aarti Sequeira interview. Aarti previews her two new shows for Cooking Channel debuting in January of 2013. They are "Drop 5 Pounds" and "Taste in Translation."