California Cooking

Before social distancing, Jess got to hang out with actress, entrepreneur and mom Haylie Duff. Their kids go to the same school and they've been talking about getting in the kitchen together for a while so Jess was so happy when they could finally made it happen. Haylie showed Jessica how to make one of her go-to recipes, a creamy tuscan salmon skillet dinner that was so good. They chatted about her adorable family, her clothing line Little Moon Society, where her passion for cooking comes from, her career in acting and more.

This week on California Cooking, Jess is checking out a great new restaurant at the Row in Downtown LA. Michelin Star chef Melissa Perello made quite the name for herself in San Francisco with her two restaurants, Octavia and Frances. Jess catches up with Melissa to learn more about what she's firing up in L.A. Her new restaurant is called M. Georgina. Melissa shares why she joined L.A.'s restaurant scene, the pressure that comes with a Michelin star reputation, and why M. Georgina is her dream restaurant.

This week on California Cooking, Jessica is hanging out with chef and restaurateur Nick Liberato. Nick is quite the busy guy; he has 3 daughters ages 5 and under, 2 restaurants in Venice and his show Restaurants on the Edge just came out on Netflix. We talked about his new show, his travels around the world, and how he brings life back into distressed restaurants. Then, he taught Jess how to cook up the most epic mussels dish.

This week on California Cooking, Jess is checking out West Hollywood’s newest hot spot, Olivetta. In a city where new restaurants are popping up all the time, Olivetta stands out among the rest. Not only is the restaurant visually stunning, but the food is spectacular. Owner Marissa Hermer, who you may know from the Ladies of London, opened Olivetta because she and her husband believed that Los Angeles was missing this kind of restaurant. She teamed up with executive chef Michael Fiorelli and they created a menu that Hollywood's biggest stars cant get enough of!

In this episode of California Cooking, Jessica is celebrating the Oscars with the owner of Casa Vega, Christy Vega. Casa Vega is an L.A. landmark, so it was no surprise that award-winning director Quentin Tarantino featured the iconic valley restaurant in his Oscar-nominated movie "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood." Christy even makes a cameo appearance in the movie! She shares some behind-the-scenes stories, shows Jess how to make their famous enchiladas (the same ones they served to Leo and Brad in the film), and she even reveals Quentin Tarantino's personal margarita recipe!

In this episode, Jessica meets the 2 guys responsible for bringing authentic Chicago-style deep dish pizza to Los Angeles, Dan Michaels and Tod Himmel. Dan and Tod have very fond memories growing up eating at Gino's East, a very popular pizza joint in Chicago. Tod moved to L.A. 30 years ago to get into showbiz, and would find himself bringing back a dozen frozen pizzas from Gino's East every time he went back to visit Chicago. Then, he and his pal Dan decided to bring this Chicago staple to Los Angeles. They opened Gino's East in Sherman Oaks just this past December and have gotten quite the warm welcome from Chicago transplants and L.A. natives alike!

Whether you have visitors coming into town, or looking for a new place to try in 2020, you won't want to miss these gems! The Infatuation's L.A. Editorial Lead Brant Cox takes Jessica to three of the best new restaurants on the westside of Los Angeles. Brant breaks everything down from vibe, to must-have dishes on the menu, and more! Hear what Dudley Market, Pasjoli, and Birdie G's all have to offer!

This week, Jessica is baking desserts with Julie Tanous. Julie is a recipe developer, food writer, and co-creator of the very popular food blog Julie & Jesse with Jesse Tyler Ferguson from the show Modern Family. Julie tells Jessica all about her chance encounter with Jesse, and how they were already planning to write a cookbook together on the first night they met. Jesse also walks Jess through baking incredible sweet potato pie bars, which are perfect for the holidays!

This week on California Cooking, Jessica visits a quaint neighborhood restaurant in Santa Monica called Osteria Bigoli. Osteria Bigoli is all about old world Italian food with a new flair. The chef at the helm of the kitchen is Claudio Marchesen. Chef Claudio has the most charming personality and his pasta-making skills are top notch. Chef Claudio and General Manager Mark Arreola have been working side by side for decades, and share their stories about the LA food scene through the years.

This week on California Cooking, Jess is hanging out with the executive chef of Pizzana, Daniele Uditi. Chef Daniele is living out the American dream, but his road to success hasn't been the easiest. It all started out with Daniele and his brother moving to the U.S. From Italy. They fell on some hard times and even had to live out of their van for while. Everything changed when Daniele made a pizza for a famous actor, and the rest is history.

This week on California Cooking, Jess is sitting down with the chef and owner of NIGHT+MARKET, Kris Yenbamroong. Kris has made quite the name for himself with his L.A. take on Thai food. Kris grew up working in his family's restaurant on Sunset Blvd. before opening NIGHT+MARKET. He talks about the ups and downs of the restaurant biz, the person who single handedly helped put NIGHT+MARKET on the map, and the Oscar-winning actress who he calls his "noodle bae."

This week on California Cooking, Jessica is getting transported to the Greek islands without ever leaving L.A. The Kassi Club is a new restaurant and lounge whose vibe, decor, and food makes you feel like you're on vacation. That immersive experience was exactly what inspired owner Nick Mathers to create this restaurant when he was on holiday in Uruguay. He shares all about how he envisioned the Kassi Club from start to finish, the secret to owning multiple successful restaurants, and why some people credit him for starting the avocado toast craze.

This week on California Cooking, Jessica is learning all about Peruvian cuisine from Chef Ricardo Zarate of Rosaline. Chef Ricardo’s restaurant is a tribute to his mom, the name sake of Rosaline. As the 11th of 13 siblings, Ricardo grew up surrounded by lots of food, noise, and laughter. His earliest childhood memories take place in the kitchen. Chef Zarate recounts the meals he shared with his family, his fascinating journey to becoming a restaurant chef and owner, the origins of peruvian cooking, and more.

Welcome to a brand new season of California Cooking! Jess is excited to share with you what she's been cooking up the last few months. She has met so many culinary rockstars over the past few months who have inspired her. First up is the chef and owner of Jaffa, Anne Conness. Anne is not a chef by trade. She took a trip to Israel that completely changed her life. Jess and Anne talk about her travels, the food, the culture, and the dish she ate that changed everything.

This week on California Cooking, Jessica visits one of the hottest new restaurants on the Sunset Strip: 1 Kitchen. She sits down with executive chef Chris Crary, who describes the inspiration behind the restaurant's "Cali-Italian" cuisine and its farm-to-table philosophy. Jessica also talks with him about his time on the hit Bravo television series Top Chef, his childhood growing up on a farm in Ohio, and how cooking helped him get his wife.

This week, Jessica visits the newest rooftop restaurant and bar in Hollywood: Sorra. She sits down with executive chef Brandon Kida, who fuses both Japanese and Mexican flavors together to create truly memorable dishes. She talks with Brandon about where the unique name for the restaurant comes from, what inspired him to combine two completely different flavor profiles, and what combinations they've tried in the kitchen that didn't work.

Jessica is checking out a new neighborhood restaurant in Venice on Abbot Kinney called Yours Truly. Jess chats with the executive chef and partner in charge, Vartan Abgaryan. Vartan is known for combining different flavors from around the world in unexpected ways. He explains how in college, he briefly thought he wanted to be a doctor, but the only subject he could focus on in class was food and he quickly realized he had a passion for cooking. Vartan shares how he could work 24/7 because this profession makes him so happy. The genuine love for his craft is reflected in every dish he creates.

On this episode of the podcast, Jessica meets Chef Keith Corbin, the man behind California soul food restaurant Alta Adams. Unlike any previous chefs on the show, Chef Keith’s story is about so much more than food and cooking. It’s about finding hope and redemption after years of troubling times. Chef Keith experienced some dark days and spent some time in prison, but when he met Michelin star chef Daniel Patterson, he completely turned his life around. Chef Daniel believes in giving people second chances, and that’s exactly what he gave Keith. Since then, Chef Keith has proven to his family, friends and community that he could turn his second chance into something truly special. In just a few short months since its opening, his soul food restaurant Alta Adams has become a neighborhood favorite.

On this episode of California Cooking, Jessica is getting you ready for grilling season. Jessica loves grilled meats and veggies, but for her, it's all about the sauces and the dips that go with them. After years of searching, Jess has finally found a sauce and dip-obsessed kindred soul in Hunter Pritchett. Hunter is the executive chef and partner of Atrium, a new greenhouse inspired eatery in Los Feliz. Inspired by L.A.'s diversity, Hunter combines ingredients and flavors from different cuisines to create one-of-a-kind dishes.

On this episode of the podcast, Jessica is hanging out with L.A.'s Pie Queen, Nicole Rucker, at the most charming neighborhood restaurant and bakery called Fiona. Located in the Fairfax District, Fiona serves up an eclectic mix of Vietnamese cooking and American baking. The unusual combo is loved by customers and keeps them coming back for more. Jessica and Nicole talk all about the restaurant, how she got started, and the pies that made her baking royalty.

It seems everyone in Los Angeles is talking about Teddy's Red Tacos, but what's all the buzz about? On this episode of California Cooking, Jessica goes straight to the source: the owner himself, Teddy Vazquez. Teddy started out with nothing, but his "never give up" attitude and positive energy propelled him to where he is today. Teddy started as an Uber driver and sold tacos out of his trunk to his customers. Eventually, he saved up enough money doing that to quit Uber and launch his own taco truck. Word about his amazing tacos spread and he amassed a following. Teddy parlayed this popularity into a brick and mortar restaurant on Venice Boulevard, just steps away from the beach. Teddy also tells Jessica about taco Tuesday night with Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, and how a Super Bowl commercial that featured Teddy's Tacos was the big break he needed to launch him to new heights.

In this episode of California Cooking, Jessica is hanging out with one of the most talented couples in the culinary world, Jet and Ali Tila. Not only has Jet made a splash on a number of Food Network TV shows, but he also holds the world record for the largest stir fry. Jet tells Jessica all about the celebrity chefs who have made a big impact on his career, plus which Food Network star he shares a matching tattoo with. Jet and Ali also share the fantastic story of how they met, and what it was like putting together their new cookbook.

On this episode of the podcast, Jessica is hanging out at the newest, most gorgeous rooftop restaurant in Los Angeles: Margot. Located in Culver City, Margot's California chic design, breathtaking views of LA, and delicious food is creating quite the buzz. The chef at the helm of the kitchen is Mike Williams. Chef Mike's story starts with him serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq right after 9/11. When he got back to the states, he decided to get into culinary world. He shares how military life has helped him run a kitchen. He shared the best piece of advice he has for young chefs, and also reveals the hardest part of running a restaurant.

In this episode, Jess chats with Chef Zach Pollack at his casual pizza joint, Cosa Buona. Zach studied abroad in Florence, Italy and fell in love with cooking and, more importantly, the way Italians dine. Zach also shares the history of pizza making, what type of pizza stole his heart in Italy, and how he's taken that style of pizza and created the perfect hybrid at Cosa Buona that both Italians and Americans love. Zach also reveals some of the special ingredients that make Cosa Buona's other dishes so delicious.

On this episode of California Cooking, Jess hangs out in the kitchen with Chef Ray Garcia of Broken Spanish. Chef Ray teaches Jess how to make queso fundido, the most mouth-watering carne asada marinade, the secret on how to cook the perfect beans, and more! What's even more incredible about Chef Ray is his story. He grew up in Cypress and attended UCLA with aspirations of being a lawyer. While he was working his way through school, he realized how passionate he was about cooking. After finishing college, he enrolled at the California School of Culinary Arts and hasn't looked back since. You could say he didn't exactly find his passion, but rather, his passion found him. The late food critic Jonathan Gold once wrote, "If you could design a perfect chef for Los Angeles, he might seem a lot like Ray Garcia..."

On this episode, Iranian-American actress Shohreh Aghdashloo shares her remarkable story. As a young adult, she left her home country of Iran, parting ways with her family and the only life she knew. She came to Los Angeles with a dream to pursue her passion for acting and one day grace the silver screen. Today, she is a bonafide Hollywood star with dozens of film and television credits. Jess and Shohreh talk about family, her TV show, upcoming movie, and of course, food!

Jessica chats with a husband and wife duo who are changing the culinary scene one restaurant opening at a time. Chef Phillip Frankland Lee and pastry chef Margarita Kallas-Lee are married, business partners, and have started a unique dining experience with four concepts located side-by-side in a single strip mall. They now have six concepts in total and counting. Jess hears all about how their restaurants and bars got started, including the early days of running their business out of a one bedroom apartment. They also dish on their plans for the future and their new restaurant that one publication is referring to as, "maybe one of the world's best."

Jessica meets up with Eater LA's senior editor Farley Elliott to find out about L.A.'s most essential burger spots. From an underground beef & bun operation that started out in a backyard, to a gourmet Italian burger topped with ragù bolognese, to the only burger spot in the city serving up 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef.

Chef Casey Lane is a four-time James Beard nominated chef. He opened his first restaurant, The Tasting Kitchen, when he was just 25 years old. In addition to also owning Casa Apicii in New York's Greenwich Village, Casey now has two more restaurants in Los Angeles: Breva in Downtown L.A. and Viale dei Romani at the La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood. Jess chats with Chef Casey Lane about food, fortune, his future, and more.

Jessica gets in the kitchen with America's favorite French chef, Ludo Lefevrbe. Chef Ludo moved to Los Angeles from France more than 20 years ago, and his hard work has paid off in spades. He now has 4 restaurants and countless awards to prove it. Jess meets up with Chef Ludo at his newest restaurant Petit Trois, where he shares his love for food, family, the French and his secret to running a successful business. With Valentine's Day around the corner, Chef Ludo also gives some romantic cooking advice.

Jessica is in the kitchen with Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, TV host, and former New England Patriots cheerleader Camille Kostek. 2019 is off to a great start for Camille; she was recently named this year's first Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model and rookie, and her boyfriend, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, is Super Bowl bound. Jessica and Camille whip up a hearty vegetable stew (one of Gronk's favorites) while chatting about her modeling career, football, and her relationship.

Jonah Freedman is the 25-year-old food phenom behind Freedman's in Silver Lake. Jonah's vision was to take the traditional Jewish deli concept, mainly known for breakfast and lunch, and hip it up with dinner, cocktails, and an overall modern vibe. Jessica heads to Freedman's, where Jonah shares his journey as a restaurateur and the source of his inspiration.

Jessica chats and cooks with chef, author, and TV personality Antonia Lofaso. She is the co-owner and executive chef of L.A. restaurants Black Market Liquor Bar and Scopa Italian Roots. Chef Lofaso shares stories behind her restaurant business, the secret to her success, and how she got into the world of food. Jess and Chef Lofaso then head into the kitchen to make a Creste Rigate, a delicious mushroom pasta dish.

In this episode of the California Cooking podcast, Jess enters the test kitchen of celebrity chef Curtis Stone. He shows Jessica how to whip up one of his favorite side dishes, baked mashed potatoes with bacon and mascarpone cheese. With the holidays just around the corner, Jess also gets some invaluable advice on avoiding a gravy disaster. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/cooking.

Jess heads to one of her favorite restaurants, EP & LP in West Hollywood to learn a thing or two from executive chef Louis Tikaram. He shares the inspiration and cooking techniques behind some of the world class dishes found at the restaurant, including Jessica's favorite sticky spare ribs. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/cooking.

Evan Funke is a pasta-making master and the owner of Felix Trattoria. Evan has traveled all over Italy learning how to make pasta of all different styles and shapes, while taking extra care to prepare the pasta he makes adhering to local methods and traditions. In this episode, Jess tries her hand and pasta making. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/cooking.

Jessica visits with Candace Nelson, co-founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes and Pizzana restaurant. Candace shares how she left her career as an investment banker to pursue her dream of opening her own bakery, and also explains how a pizza party inspired her to open her newest venture, Pizzana. Jess and Candace also whip up some tasty treats from The Sprinkles Baking Book. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/cooking.

Jessica cooks up the "Greatest of All Time Burger" with Laila Ali, daughter of boxer Muhammad Ali. Laila also teaches Jess how to make a delicious side-dish just in time for Thanksgiving, all while sharing stories from her childhood and her love for being in the kitchen. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/cooking.

Kim Malek, a mother of three, was working a six-figure job for U2 lead singer Bono when she decided to give it up to follow her passion: opening an ice cream shop. The result was Salt and Straw, an Oregon-based artisanal ice cream brand that began as a push cart in Portland and has since expanded to other West Coast cities, include five locations in the Los Angeles area. Salt and Straw is known for its unique, unexpected and flavorful combinations, like avocado & Oaxacan chocolate fudge and bone marrow & smoked cherries, in addition to classics such as sea salt with caramel ribbon and chocolate gooey brownie. The creations are so tasty and popular that the ice cream shop has developed somewhat of a cult-like following. Jessica Holmes goes behind the brand with Co-founder and CEO Kim Malek, who discusses the humble beginnings of her business and reveals her favorite Salt and Straw flavor. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/cooking.