Rory Herrmann - Chef de Cuisine
As Chef de Cuisine of Bouchon in Beverly Hills, Rory Herrmann is responsible for the daily supervision of the kitchen and staff, in addition to ensuring that the restaurant's high standards are met in every dish. Previously, Rory served as the Private Dining Chef for Per Se, Chef Thomas Keller's fine dining restaurant in New York City. In this position, he was responsible for the culinary preparation and execution of all large parties and offsite events. He first joined Per Se as Chef de Partie when the restaurant opened in 2004. Rory is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute in Manhattan. He has worked under notable chefs in the industry, including 3-star Michelin Chef Alain Ducasse at his eponymous restaurant at the Essex House and at the more casual Mix; as well as for Chef Dan Barber at Blue Hill Restaurant, all located in New York City. He also worked for several years in the kitchens of the Sundance Resort in Sundance, Utah. A California native, Rory is a firm believer in giving back to the community and actively contributes his culinary talents in helping raise funds and awareness for charitable organizations such as Meals on Wheels, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, March of Dimes and the Starlight Children's Foundation.Summer Supper's- Return to the French Classics which is taking place on Sunday through the Summer and served family style. Each week has a different dish from a different region of France. Also, with Father's Day that weekend, we would love to discuss the Father's Day special.
Chef Alexandra “Alex” Guarnaschelli - Food Network
Chef Alexandra “Alex” Guarnaschelli There are few American chefs, much less female chefs who can boast staying power in Michelin-starred restaurants. Chef Alexandra Guarnaschelli can boast indeed — she embarked on a culinary journey in France and ended up working in some of the country’s top restaurants including esteemed chef Guy Savoy’s eponymous three-star kitchen. After seven successful years in France, Guarnaschelli returned stateside where she joined Daniel Boulud at restaurant Daniel, and then moved to Los Angeles for two years to join Joachim Splichal’s Patina Group, where she worked at the acclaimed Patina restaurant in West Hollywood before moving to New York to open Splichal's first New York City venture. In 2003, Guarnaschelli become the executive chef at Butter Restaurant, where she would create her own eclectic American and green market-inspired menu. In addition to her restaurant work, Guarnaschelli inspires budding chefs as a Chef-Instructor at New York City’s Institute of Culinary Education.Chef Guarnaschelli has appeared on Food Network’s Iron Chef America as both a challenger and a judge, a reoccurring judge on the popular primetime series Chopped, along with her own shows, The Cooking Loft, as well as Alex’s Day Off.Executive Chef Stefano Cordova - Au Bon Pain
Au Bon Pain, the international café bakery and a leader in the fast casual restaurant category specializing in serving delicious foods with warm hospitality, announced today the introduction of 11 reinvented sandwiches that bring this American staple, and all of its layers, to a whole new level. After months of perfecting a new “Sandwich2.0 Method,” Au Bon Pain is now officially unveiling the newly crafted sandwich line, the creation of Executive Chef Stefano Cordova. “This is one of the biggest changes our menu has seen,” said Maria Feicht, Au Bon Pain’s Chief Branding Officer. “Chef Cordova has transformed our sandwich menu by combining ingredients to create distinctively delicious new flavors and by completely reinventing the way we construct our sandwiches.” The new Au Bon Pain sandwiches have been redesigned to reflect the role sandwiches often play in America: a complete meal. Au Bon Pain sandwiches have been reevaluated and rebuilt from scratch to ensure that each one has the traditional components of a main course, including delicious, fresh baked breads, fresh vegetables and quality proteins, like antibiotic-free turkey and black Angus roast beef, as well as bright and bold dressings. Designed for the last bite to be as scrumptious as the first, Cordova compares the new sandwich building method to architecture. “With each layer, we achieve the right balance of flavors and textures made from quality ingredients, turning the simple sandwich into a very satisfying meal,” said Chef Cordova. “Everything is factored in – the size and texture of the bread, the sharpness of the cheese, the density of the protein, the acidity of the spread and the crunch of the vegetable – to make every bite perfect. This ideal balance is what we’ve achieved with our new ‘Sandwich2.0 Method,’ and it’s the basis of how we carefully craft all of our new sandwiches.” Additional information about Au Bon Pain, headquartered in Boston, may be found at www.aubonpain.com.
Piano Phenomenon Alfredo Rodriguez – Playboy Jazz Festival
2012 PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL TO PRESENT WORLD CLASS LINEUP OF GRAMMY WINNERS, JAZZ ICONS, AND RISING STARS, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, JUNE 16TH & 17TH AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL
Headliners include Ramsey Lewis, Robin Thicke, Ozomatli,
Sheila E., Boney James and Christian McBride
Bringing an international flavor to the Festival are the Global Gumbo All-Stars. A creation of the legendary Quincy Jones, the group features acclaimed bassist Richard Bona, noted guitarist Lionel Loueke, drummer Francisco Mela, and young piano phenomenon Alfredo Rodriguez, in a rotating ensemble of top singers and musicians from around the world. Born in Cameroon, bassist Richard Bona has worked as the musical director for Harry Belafonte and toured with Pat Metheny as a percussionist and vocalist. A native of West Africa, Lionel Loueke has performed with Herbie Hancock, Angelique Kidjo, Wayne Shorter, Santana and Sting. Cuban drummer Francisco Mela is a favorite among such elite jazz musicians as Joe Lovano, John Scoffield and others. Since being discovered by Quincy Jones at the Montreux Jazz Festival, young pianist and Jones’ protégé, Alfredo Rodriguez has sky rocketed to success, performing with such legendary jazz artists as Herbie Hancock, and McCoy Tyner, playing many of the world’s top jazz Festivals, including the Playboy Jazz Festival in 2009.
STEVE EVANS - THE MOVIE GUY
Latest box office info and news from the world of movies and films. Steve talks about the good, the bad and the ugly. His extensive theatrical experience makes him the right guy to talk about movies and their affect on popular cultures