If it's a Friday afternoon, that means it's time for the SoCal Restaurant Show on KLAA-AM 830 to give us a scoop on what they'll have on their Saturday morning show. Without further ado, here's producer (and kinda-co-host) Andy Harris with the details!
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Pastry princess Sherry Yard is guest hosting the “SoCal Restaurant Show.” She was Wolfgang Puck's long-time pastry chef until departing after the Oscars this year to embark on a restaurant project of her own.
10:30 a.m. to 10:42 a.m.
Sherry Yard is a multiple James Beard Award-winner for both the pastry arts as well as writing. These coveted medallions are the Oscars of the food world! Sherry was just in New York for the annual Beard Awards presented at Lincoln Center. Sherry will tell us what it's like to be backstage and onstage in Manhattan during the Beard Awards.
10:45 a.m. to 10:57 a.m.
Craig Strong is the executive chef of Studio at Montage Laguna Beach. This is one of Orange County's elite fine-dining destinations. It's housed in its own architecturally distinctive building on the luscious grounds of Montage and the added bonus is the view of the Pacific. On Sunday, June 3 the annual Share Our Strength – Taste of the Nation benefit in Studio and the adjacent grounds. It's a refined walk-around wine and food tasting afternoon with incredible tastes from some of the most high profile chefs in the country. Alan Wong from Alan Wong's in Honolulu is one of the distinguished visiting chefs. Chef Alan cooks for the President at Alan Wong's when he visits Honolulu. Also Chef Brooke Williamson of Hudson House in Redondo Beach. She was the runner- up in this season's “Top Chef” series on Bravo!
11:00 a.m. to 11:12 a.m.
Saxophonist Bill Esparza has been dubbed the “Mexican Food Maestro.” As a hobby he's developed an expertise (now a bustling second career) career) in the foods of Baja California and the other culinary regions of Mexico. He leads escorted food tours there for journalists and food fans alike. He's even given advice to Travel Channel's Andrew Zimmern.
On Sunday, June 23rd he's hosting L.A. Weekly's Tacolandia Tacofest from Noon to 5:00 p.m. on the parking lot of the Hollywood Palladium.
11:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
When a group of accomplished French chefs get together to cook, guaranteed fun is always on the menu. The 33rd Annual Picnic des Chefs will be held on Sunday, June 2, 2013 at Vasa Park in Agoura Hills. This picnic is organized annually by the Club Culinaire of Southern California to benefit area charities. On hand will be food tasting stations from 20 area restaurants complimented by premium wines from 20 wineries. Chef Martin Blin the executive chef of Sofitel Los Angeles (across from The Beverly Center) and the President of the group joins us with all the appetizing details.
11:30 a.m. to 11:42 a.m.
Back to our conversation with Sherry Yard. Her new venture is the reimagined Helms Bakery (under construction) in partnership with Sang Yoon of Father's Office and Lukshon. This will be on the site of the original Helms Bakery, an iconic food landmark and brand established in 1931 (with home delivery) which sadly closed in 1969.
11:45 a.m. to 11:57 a.m.
Marcus Samuelsson of Red Rooster and Ginny's Supper Club in Harlem really needs no introduction. Among his many achievements he orchestrated the menu for President Obama's first State Dinner at The White House during his initial term. His excellent memoirs, Yes, Chef, is now in paperback. It just earned a James Beard Award. It's a must read for any young person contemplating a career in the culinary arts. Chef Marcus is brutally honest in recounting his achievements and failures on the lengthy path to the major success he now is.
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