The Bite Goes On - Radio Misfits

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The Bite Goes On – Bernard Guillas Aug 28, 2020

Show notes

It was great catching up with Chef Bernard Guillas at the Marine Room in La Jolla. I had almost forgotten what a wonderful positive, uplifting person that he is and funny too. He brings us up to date about what is happening in San Diego, how he is managing things through the pandemic, the shifts that he has made during this time and his continual love for food and fresh ingredients. Chef Bernard Guillas joined La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, Inc. as executive chef in June 1994. Right at home in La Jolla, Guillas’ affinity for the coastal lifestyle reminded him of his home in Brittany. “When I lived in France, the smell of the sea and the lure of its bounty were constantly part of our table,” Guillas recalls. “I’m inspired by the variety and quality of the local produce and seafood found throughout our region. I love to use my classical training and my love for Pan Pacific flavors in all our restaurants.” Guillas is responsible for directing the resort’s three restaurants and all catering operations for the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, the Shores Restaurant at the La Jolla Shores Hotel, and the landmark Marine Room Restaurant. On Instagram @chefbernardguillas You can enjoy his food at www.ljbtc.com

The Bite Goes On – Chris Cosentino, Cockscomb Aug 21, 2020

Show notes

They say three times is a charm and it certainly was when we finally pinned down chef Chris Cosentino for an up close and personal, laughter filled, fun episode. We try to figure out how Chris and Sondra met way back when. Our conversation drifts from subject to subject, beginning with his early start in the business to his rise in popularity. He opens up about his personal challenges as a boy and how he ended up a chef. His honesty is humbling and could be a motivator for those with learning disabilities and not sure about a career direction. We touch on the hardships of business during covid and how he is making things work, including his very entertaining cooking videos on instagram. This is a fascinating episode with Chris and between the laughter, distractions and some interesting stories that makes it worth listening to. Be warned – it is a long one.

Find Chris at his restaurant at http://cockscombsf.com/ On instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cockscombsf/ and his personal instagram account – https://www.instagram.com/chefchriscosentino/

The Bite Goes On – Professor Dustin Rogge Aug 14, 2020

Show notes

It was great to catch up with Culinary Institute of America alumni turned Professor Dustin Rogge. Dustin worked for the girl & the fig over 15 years ago just a few years after he graduated from the CIA. He started at the Sonoma restaurant and was the opening General Manager of the girl & the fig in Petaluma. Though the restaurant was short lived Dustin was an amazing asset to the team. We were sad when he left the country for the big city to work at Farallon restaurant for a few years before he helped open the Waterbar Restaurant. Dustin will be known by many as simply one of the best in the restaurant business. After many years transitioning from a working manager to a Professor was a welcome adjustment. He was determined to take his passion for pleasing guests to instill the knowledge and ability for his students to carry on his expertise in hospitality. We learn about the adjustments of teaching during Covid, listen to a few stories of the past, his love for the outdoors and just have a wonderful conversation. [EP93]

The Bite Goes On – Ari Weiswasser, Glen Ellen Star Aug 07, 2020

Show notes

It was long overdue to catch up with Ari Weisswasser, Chef and co-owner of the Glen Ellen Star with his wife Erinn Benziger in Glen Ellen. As Sondra’s restaurant neighbor in Glen Ellen, we started the conversation about how Ari proceeded during the lockdown and how after a quick peek on email en route to Paris, the family vacation took a u-turn to come back to see what the situation was all about. Returning to Glen Ellen, Ari and a minimal team began serving it up for both lunch and dinner. He has been grateful and pleasantly pleased with the support from the neighborhood, his regulars and his ability to roll into another disaster focusing on the task at hand. We didn’t go back into Ari’s culinary training which has included some stints with some important names in the restaurant world including Thomas Keller at the French Laundry. He has culminated what he has learned and created his personal style by concentrating on simplicity and sourcing the absolute best products he can find. About 25% of the Glen Ellen Star’s restaurant comes from the family farm, Glentucky farm also in Glen Ellen. The menu is heavy on farm fresh vegetables with good reason. We converse about some of the inner workings and challenges that restaurants are having in maintaining reasonable margins, PPP, attracting staff and tipping, balanced life and guest perception. To be noted, not long before the whiff of Covid, Ari and his wife Erinn purchased a partnership in a local catering company only to deal with the fact that 2020 in the event world has moved to 2021 with hope. Learning a new side of the business during this time will clearly be an asset when it is time to reopen. Read more about Ari and the Glen Ellen Star at www.glenellenstar.com

The Bite Goes On – Sondra & Brian Jul 31, 2020

Show notes

With a small snafu in our scheduling, it actually gave Brian and I a chance to get caught up, especially since he has finally been called back to his real job. Other than talking about the changes in his workplace, he also told us about CALI-FORNO STREET EATS which is the Sonoma Fairmont Hotel’s new airstream food truck that just opened. Situated on the driveway of the hotel, guests and locals can order from the bar, get some truck food and drinks and relax in a physically distanced outdoor dining area with minimal service on Friday and Saturday. It was great to hear of something new happening in this crazy time. Always nice to catch up with Brian on our weekly calls! [EP91]

The Bite Goes On – Mia Sebastiani Jul 25, 2020

Show notes

Hailing from one of the oldest wine families in California, Mia gravitated to food much more than she did wine. She realized that she liked to cook and carry on the traditions that her Nonna started. She started with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and found herself selling it out of her car to all of the local markets and specialty stores. Having the advantage of a family with the greater understanding of supply chains and distribution, she has turned her focus on the fabulous California tomato, producing tomato sauce in many flavors as well as a couple pizza sauces. She has grown her company Mia’s Kitchen, and you can now find her products in mainstream grocery stores from coast to coast. In regards to branding, authentic has a strong meaning in spreading the word for this ultra premium tomato sauce. Local.fresh ingredients to recreate the flavors of her family’s heritage shines a light on a brand that is made by a person that you can relate to and not just a large company. She works closely with her family and even worked with her husband to create a non-tomato sauce – butternut squash and bourbon. As Mia’s siblings are involved in both the wine business as well as spirits, I think they have the market of throwing a fabulous dinner party. Can’t wait to see what comes next for this very Sonoma business.

[EP90]

Follow Mia’s Kitchen on Instagram at @mias_kitchen and visit Mia’s website for some great recipes using their products at http://miaskitchen.com/

The Bite Goes On – Avidan Lebenthal Jul 17, 2020

Show notes

With fond memories of Mexico City, Sondra reached out to Avidan Lebenthal or better known as “The Taco Mensch”. He was Sondra’s guide on her first day in Mexico City and have remained in touch. Wanting to find out what is happening with him during C-19, we actually tracked him down at his parents in Tel Aviv. In this episode you will hear Avidan’s story of how and why he is the Taco Mensch and how he became one of AirBnB’s top experiences (with over 175 5 Star reviews) all to be put on hold at least until October. True to form, Avidan was cheery, formidable if not slightly tired of having surfed for most of the afternoon into the evening, and it was great to catch up from him. The conversation dances around from Mexico City, Tel Aviv, Sondra’s trip to Mexico City, Avidan’s new business plan and much more. We hope you enjoy this episode and the next time you are in CDMX, you must do his tour. AirBNB Instagram [EP89]

The Bite Goes On – Ric Orlando Jul 10, 2020

Show notes

This episode was so much fun to record as we were able to catch up with an old friend, Chef Ric Orlando who lives in the Hudson Valley. We dart all over the place talking about his passion of making people happy and entertaining them with his food and fun personality. He closed his restaurant after 25 years, New World Bistro Bar in Woodstock, NY in 2018, but continued to concentrate on the ‘Urban” Albany NWBB until recently. It has been very important for Ric to be connected with his community and has supported them over the years with fundraisers and events. Just because he doesn’t work in a restaurant every day, Ric has not slowed at all – he continues with his cooking classes, podcasts, culinary travel, monthly pop-ups and he even launched his Flavor Maker Spice line. I look forward to all of the creative things that are around his corner! Sink into this one! Full of great perspective and Ric’s history. We never did get a chance to hear him play his guitar though!

[EP88]

Learn more about Ric on ricorlando.com and on Facebook at @ricthechef and on Instagram @chefricorlando

The Bite Goes On – Lauren Cotner, Delicious Dish Jul 03, 2020

Show notes

Lauren has pivoted Delicious Dish into a few different business models as the landscapes around her have changed. Starting small in catering in San Francisco where she built her clients from small tech companies one at a time. As the tech companies grew so did Lauren’s business. In the midst of these years, Lauren decided she wanted to move back to her hometown of Sonoma, purchased an existing restaurant to use the kitchen and continued to service her SF tech clients and private families. After years of commuting and serving these companies, things started to change, some tech companies built their own kitchens in house and didn’t require outside catering services, families moved away and most lately, tech companies have steered their employees to work from home.

None of that stopped self acclaimed “scrappy” Lauren as she just changed things up a bit. Her business Delicious Dish offers a daily family menu that is available to pick up. She is able to market her offerings with a small amount of newspaper advertising and a hefty mailing list. She has taken her most popular and favorite meals that she created in SF and brought them home to offer them to her new clients. During early Covid time her business saw an uptick of orders but as restaurants began their to-go models, her orders began to shrink. Lauren turned her attention to preparing her outdoor patio space for physical distancing and a comfortable dining experience which is scheduled to open the first week of July. She is working on a few cool ideas, so we are excited to hear what comes next. Tune in to learn more!

https://www.deliciousdishsf.com/
https://www.instagram.com/deliciousdishsf/

The Bite Goes On – Leah Scurto Jun 26, 2020

Show notes

Leah’s story is fabulous as she starts from absolute scratch. She started making pizza because she was 18 and needed money. Turns out she was a natural. After working her way up the ranks and managing a pizza chain of 24 units, she decided to do it for herself. Leah Scurto is an award-winning pizza chef and a 7-year member of the United States Pizza Team. She has won multiple awards for cooking pizza. Because of her win in the US she was invited to compete in the world Pizza Championships in Parma, Italy where she finished 13th in the world. She opened her Pizza Leah restaurant in Windsor, CA sadly just 2 weeks prior to the state order to stay home and shelter in place. We can’t wait to go taste leah’s pizza – as the 13th best pizza maker in the world, I have high expectations except that every single pie sounds delish! [EP86]

Taste Leah’s Pizza in Windsor at 9240 Old Redwood Hwy (707) 620-0551
pizzaleah.com
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