Yes, today is my anniversary of 31 years on Morning New TV. Here is my segment from today. Elegant Holiday Gifts from your Kitchen.
August 23rd, 2024 ~ Labor Day Party! /
Morning Show in San Diego! Labor Day Party! Here is the menu:
Menu:
Drinks: Watermelon Spritz or
Pink Lemon Aid Spritz
Salad: Heirloom Tomato and Stone Fruit Salad
Veggie: Roasted Herb Corn on the Cob:
Main: Surf and Turf Skewers (Shrimp/Chicken) (Scallops/Beef)
Dessert: Grilled Peaches with Mascarpone Cheese on Pound Cake
If you would like to watch the show, here is a link: LINK
Where are the recipes? Join my SubStack here: LINK
Have a great Labor Day Weekend..
A Sad Day for Los Angeles Steak Houses ~The Final Final /
Pacific Dining Car in 2009
The Pacific Dining Car opened in 1921, one of a handful of restaurants in Los Angeles that was open 24 hours a day. In 2020, a year short of the 100th anniversary, the family closed the final location (the Santa Monica location had previously closed). Neil and I spent Valentine's evening a month before they closed. It was said they would reopen. Then, the family held an auction and sold everything off, even those two black bulls that held up the sign. Today, I woke up reading the building had been destroyed by fire. The building sat empty, boarded up for four years. Gone. Below is the chapter I wrote about the Pacific Dining Car in my LA’s Landmark Restaurants book.
August 3rd, 2024, at a little after midnight, fire gutted the Pacific Dining Car.
1921 Pacific Dining Car
1921-2020; Building destroyed by fire August 2nd, 2024
Pacific Dining Car
1310 W. 6th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90017
☏213-483-6000
Founders: Fred and Grace “Lovey” Cook
SideBar: Ownership
1921-1947 Fred Cook & Grace Cook
1947--1970: Virginia (Cook) & Wes Idol
1970-1975: Virginia Idol (Cook)
1975-2019: Westly Idol II (Grandson of the Founder)
2019-2020: Westly Idol III (Great Grandson of the Founder)
Fred and Grace Cook came from New York City out west, landing in Los Angeles. At one time, Fred was a protégé of Metropolitan Oprah star Enrico Caruso, who decided that the future was in hospitality instead of the opera stage.
The dining car's first two years of operation were in a lot in the Westlake District on 7th and Westlake. The land was sold, so Fred and Grace Cook looked for another location to place their redesigned dining car. Finding a parcel of land 3/4th a mile closer to downtown was heaven-sent. The land was directly across from the newly built St. Regis Hotel on 6th.
Using the modified railroad dining car as the base of the building, over the years, the car expanded with additional rooms. The lot itself had a white picket fence surrounding it. The inside rooms were outfitted with period items such as old suitcases, chairs, and booths you would see during the time. A few wingback chairs enclosed the area for two to dine with privacy.
The dining car had six menus throughout the day: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea Menu, Late-Night Menu, and dessert menu. The Pacific Dining Car was known for its aged beef steaks cooked over live mesquite and then a broiler. All of the side dishes came on a cart.
Before the Depression, Fred built a curing box to age and hand-handle their beef at the restaurant. This meant he had complete control of the meat and what he served. It helped with profits during the Depression and kept the doors open.
The Pacific Dining Car is one of only two restaurants in the downtown area that serve food 24/7. A few of the Hollywood Elite would dine there. Like most steak restaurants, it was a favorite of Gangster Mickey Cohen. Bankers, Lawyers, stockbrokers, newspaper reporters, athletes, and visitors of the St. Regis Hotel next store.
Virginia Cook married Westly Idol, an electrical contractor. Her parents needed some temporary help in the kitchen, so they helped. Wes never thought he would go into the business. World War II started, and Wes joined the army and became a mess officer. The beef was difficult to procure, so they changed the menu to serve chicken.
Wes returned home from the service. In 1948, Fred passed away, leaving the restaurant responsibilities to his widow. She asked her daughter and son-in-law to take over the daily responsibilities.
In 1970, Wes Idol and Wes Jr. remodeled the restaurant with fresh paint and carpeting and installed air conditioning and a temperature-controlled wine storage room. Wes Jr. also started traveling to European countries known for their wines, learning as much as he could so we could introduce fine wines to the diners.
In Westly Idol II’s obituary, they stated that instead of flowers, treat some friends to a good meal and a nice bottle of wine. Five years later, Wes Jr. purchased the restaurant from his mother after his father died. He updated the menu to offer a wider variety of options.
When you first walk into the restaurant, you notice two things: a little bell rings to announce your arrival, and you will not hear any music, radio, or television in the dining room or bar. This is to create a natural and quiet ambiance in the Dining cars and to let social interaction drive the experience.
In 1979, they opened for 24 hours. Prior to this, they had closed at 2:00 a.m. and had reopened at 6 a.m. Wes wondered what four more hours were. From 10 pm to 6 am, the late-night menu was about half the price of the daytime one.
The Los Angeles Music Center and sports events play havoc on parking and driving close to those venues. The PDC offered shuttle buses to those who parked in their lot and dined.
In the 2001 film Training Day, Actors Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke filmed portions of the movie in the dining room. This led Westly Idol II to rename the baseball steak on its lunch menu the “Training Day” steak.
The Spring of 2020 was devastating to the restaurant industry. The COVID-19 pandemic and the closures of in-person dining closed many restaurants. In mid-June, the Santa Monica Dining Car on Wilshire announced through its Instagram page that it was auctioning off all its equipment and furnishings. The 30-year-old location held the auction online, and everything was gone in three days.
Less than 5 months later, Wes Idol announced that the original 99-year-old location would be auctioning everything so they could focus on mail orders of beef and rubs. The auction was completely online with everything to the last booth sold. I drove past recently, and the entire building looks abandoned and boarded up. I am so sorry it did not hit the century mark if they had only waited a few more months. Reports are that they are just “paused” for the time being, but time will tell
Pacific Dining Car in 1930
On The Road: Canonsburg, PA: Sarris Chocolate and Ice Cream Store /
I had been visiting friends in West Virginia heading north to Pittsburg when I see a sign for Ice Cream/Chocolate Factory. Sarris! It was wonderful! A full huge block long with parking across a street that is manned by a crossing guard. One half of the building is the ice cream parlor and second half is the chocolate factory. It woudl make any child’s head spin!
Outside everyone is eating ice cream on tables.
Looking through the candy, I came across Chocolate Blossoms. A could not resist, and after you make a batch of peanut butter cookies, you will not be able to. Here is the recipe
Sarris Chocolate Blossom Peanut Butter Cookies: Recipe
Here is the link for the chocolates : LINK
The Brown Derby is not forgotten 1926 /
About eight years ago, when I came up with the idea of writing about Los Angeles food History, the first place I thought of was The Brown Derby. The iconic place Lucy with her pals, the Mertz’s, went to find the herd of stars in one place. It was so many people’s first look into where the stars dined. Here is my story from my book LA’s Legendary Restaurants and a recipe served at the Derby. Since writing the book, I have found that I was missing two more Brown Derbys in the Los Angeles area. One in the Crenshaw district that only lasted four years before the second IHOP moved in is still the longest (64 years) running IHOP. And another location which housed more of a commissary on Bronson Ave (currently a Gelson’s Market)
The Orginal Brown Derby on Wilshire
The Original Brown Derby
3427 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles CA
Motto: “Eat in the Hat”
Opened November 17, 1926
Moved in 1937 to 3377 Wilshire Boulevard
Managed and co-owned by Restaurateur Herbert Sombom
Co-owned by Studio Head Jack Warner of Warner Brothers Studio
Co-owned by actress Gloria Swanson
Currently, The Equitable Life Building was built in 1969 with 34 floors.
Second location: The Brown Derby Plaza strip mall. Part of the original building was incorporated into the back corner of the mall.
Driving through Los Angeles in the 1920s and 1930s, you would find buildings in the shape of what they were selling or named after the shape of the establishment. A large Derby hat sprang up across the street from the famed Ambassador Hotel. At first, many thought it was a haberdashery.
The Wilshire Brown Derby opened to fanfare in the fall of 1926, one of six locations that dotted the southland. It was designed by Carl Jules Weyl, an art director for Warner Brothers Studios. He also designed Rick’s Cafe in the Academy Award-winning movie Casablanca. Every booth had a light fixture with a derby-shaped shade. On top of the neon sign, it said, “Eat in the Hat.” The gossip columnists Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper were standard fixtures at The Derby, holding “court” close to the Hollywood action, with informal gatherings of female newspaper reporters and magazine writers who covered Hollywood. They named themselves The Hollywood Women’s Press Club and met each Wednesday at noon.
The booths were low-sided for maximum visibility. They were the favorite spots of the stars to eat, and the north wall was reserved for the “A” list. Some of the most prominent customers who sat beneath their caricatures on the desirable north side were Jean Harlow, Joan Crawford, Katherine Hepburn, William Powell, and Eve Arden.
The early years of The Derby featured simple fare: liver and onions, burgers, and omelets. Besides the shape of the building, The Brown Derby was very unassuming inside. The interior featured simple dark wood tables and chairs, and only a few notches were visible above the coffee shop. Herbert Sombom and Robert (Bob) Cobb had a hit and didn’t think anything could improve. It also stayed open until 4:00 AM.
In the early 1930’s, the story goes that Sid Grauman of theatre fame came into the Derby late one night requesting something to eat. Bob Cobb put together leftovers from the refrigerator: a salad of diced turkey, bacon, blue cheese, a hard-boiled egg, sliced tomato, avocado, and mixed greens of lettuce, watercress, chicory, and romaine drenched in French dressing. The Cobb Salad was born. Today it can be found on many menus with variations of dressings and ingredients. In 1930, Bob tossed everything in one bowl. Today, many establishments place the ingredients in rows as a more elegant presentation and then mix tableside. This salad and Sid Grauman put The Brown Derby on the map.
Bob Cobb started having stars by the busload coming through. The front of The Derby, with the awning-covered entry, was packed daily with fans three deep, much like a Hollywood premiere. It was the only way to see a star on the big screen in person, unlike today, with so many news and media outlets. Everyone ate at The Derby.
A 1932 article in Star Gazer magazine reported that “The Brown Derby is more than a Hollywood institution. It is not only a place to meet and talk over contracts and plan divorces and further romance under the bronze derby-hatted lights, it is also a place to eat. It is famous as the spot where Jim Tully battled Jack Gilbert and where you can get Special Hamburgers brought sizzling to the table in copper frying pans. It is a place where the stars gather at lunch and after premieres to be seen - and to relish some caviar.”
While The Derby had locations in Hollywood at Sunset and Vine, at Los Feliz at Los Feliz and Hullhurst, and Beverly Hills at Wilshire and Rodeo, only the original location had the derby-shaped building. The menu changed with the specials of the day. Sunday was paprika chicken, Tuesday was declared meatless due to the war effort, and Wednesday was Beef Wellington. Cobb salad was always on the menu, with lobster thermidor and filet mignon becoming menu regulars. Tableside tossing of salads was the style of the day for The Derby’s chef’s salad, caliente salad, and about six others.
In 1945, The Derby was featured in the film Mildred Pierce. Joan Crawford tended the bar, famously claiming, “People must drink somewhere. Why not here?” Like Sardi’s in New York’s theatre district, the walls were lined with 8 x 10-inch framed simple caricature sketch drawings of the stars of the day. It has been said that a young man named “Vitch” made the first drawings in exchange for hot coffee and soup. Later, from 1947 to 1985, Jack Lane drew the sketches. It was an honor for your profile to be created for the walls of The Derby. Many stars would also personalize or autograph their black-and-white art. The 1955 episode of I Love Lucy, entitled “Hollywood at Last,” featured Lucy, Ethel, and Fred deciding to “rub elbows” with the stars at the famous eatery. Lucy pointed out Eve Arden’s sketch and Jimmy Durante’s double-framed sketch - one for his face and the other for his nose - to much laughter. Some of the original framed drawings can be seen in the Original Red Onion in Rolling Hills Estates’ first dining room since the owner, Jeff Earles, purchased many at an auction years back.
Before mobile phones, the Maitre d’ would announce that “so and so” had a phone call so that everyone would know which stars were there. The tourists would be excited and bright-eyed, waiting to see their favorite star come to the phone. The Derby was Clark Gable’s favorite restaurant; he proposed to Carole Lombard in booth #5 at the Hollywood location. In 1941, Carole Lombard threw him a surprise party for his 40th birthday at their ranch. It was catered by The Brown Derby and featured only his favorite items on the menu: corned beef hash, pot roast, baked beans and orange chiffon cake.
The Hollywood and Vine Street Derby was close to Paramount Studios, Sunset Gower Studios, General Service Studios (Hollywood Center Studios), and more. It was a close and convenient place for a celebrity to enjoy a hearty meal instead of the studio commissary or craft services. At lunchtime, it was not surprising to see Tyrone Power eating boiled brisket of beef, Janet Gaynor devouring her favorite Turkey Derby, Claudette Colbert savoring chicken hash, Eddie Cantor finishing off a hamburger steak, or Al Jolson eating chicken chow mien. Jack Benny and Mary Livingston broadcast their radio show close by at Sunset Las Palmas Studios, so it was not uncommon to see them enjoying ham for lunch. They collected a lot of “gags” around The Derby. They even wrote radio scripts there.
Everything was made fresh. In California, most fruits and vegetables were only a county away, so the dishes had that clean, freshly picked taste close to homemade flavors. Even the breads and cakes were made on-site.
Gloria Sombom Daly, daughter of legendary actress Gloria Swanson and restaurateur Herbert Sombom, inherited The Brown Derby, which had been held in trust until she reached age 30. Two years later, in 1952, she arranged with Brown Derby stockholders to relinquish her interest in the other restaurants to gain sole ownership of the original Brown Derby on Wilshire. Although the Hollywood glitterati gradually left the restaurant for other venues in the West, it flourished as an internationally known tourist attraction. Sadly, by the 1970s, the tourists had also stopped coming.
On September 19, 1980, managers on behalf of Daly paid off and dismissed the staff, telling them the domed hat would be razed the following weekend to make way for a high-rise building. Moving trucks quickly took away everything not nailed down, and all the remaining food was sent to the Los Angeles Rescue Mission. Two days later, on Sunday, the bulldozers arrived, but protesters from the Hollywood Heritage and Los Angeles Conservancy stopped the demolition. Daly agreed to sell the dome to a preservation group, and the property was sold to developers. Years later, the dome was hoisted into the center of the new Brown Derby Plaza.
The Brown Derby began a licensing program in 1987; an agreement was made with the Walt Disney Company for a replica of the original Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida. Since then, many others have made such agreements, including Euro Disney, MGM Las Vegas, but none have succeeded.
In 2008, auction house Bonhams & Butterfields sold many lots of Brown Derby history, such as dishes, wall decorations, napkins, coasters, ashtrays, matchbooks, and other items. Thus, ended an 85-year history of one of Hollywood’s most famous celebrated restaurants.
Sidebar
Brown Derby Locations:
1926-1980: Los Angeles, 3427 Wilshire Boulevard
1929-1989: Hollywood, 1628 No. Vine Street
1931-1981: Beverly Hills, 9537 Wilshire Boulevard
1940-1990’s: Los Feliz, 4500 Los Feliz Boulevard
1947-1952: Bronson Commissary,1910 N. Bronson
1956-1960: Crenshaw District, 3625 W. Stocker Street
1987 - date: Orlando, Florida, Disney Studios Florida
Well-known menu items:
Cobb Salad
Grapefruit Cake
Paprika Chicken
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Order a personalized book at : LINK
Recipe for The Brown Derby’s Paprika Chicken: LINK
Two Pineapple Recipes 🍍🍍 Pineapple Crumb Bars and Pineapple Upside Cake /
When I think of pineapples, my mind goes directly to the islands. I have been very fortunate to have visited many South Pacific and Indian Ocean Islands, from Guam to Reunion Island, Fiji to New Caledonia. It's all so beautiful. Here are two great recipes using pineapples.
Pineapple Crumble Bar Recipe
Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe
Here is the great pan that I used for the cake from NordicWare. Link from Amazon
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day /
My favorite chocolate chip cookie is the Quadruple Chocolate Chip Cookie, which initially was not used for cookie baking but as a prop for the 1980s show, It’s A Living as the stand-in for Ice Cream. Here is the recipe, which is also in my The Complete Baking Cookbook.
Quadruple Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Order The Complete Baking Cookbook Here
Orange Blossom Cake 🍊 /
Last weekend, I was out at the California State Citrus Park enjoying the aroma of the blossoms. I wanted to put together a beautiful cake, and here it is.
April 18th, FOX5 San Diego Cutting the Cost of Fast Food Prices. /
Food prices have skyrocketed. It is surprising to go through a drive-thru and spend $15 per person. You need to start making your fast-food favorites at home! In today’s segment, I created four “meals” from a few of the popular fast-food restaurants. Check out my recipe for the perfect Hamburger.
#7 Jersey Mikes: Turkey and Cheese Mini Recipe Breakdown
Jack in the Box Chicken Fajita Pita Meal Breakdown
Taco Bell Burrito Supreme Combo Meal Breakdown
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Meal Breakdown
The Perfect Hamburger Recipe
You can order personalized copies of my newest book, Made in California Volume 2. Here
March 29th, FOX5 San Diego Easter time! 🐣 /
Are you tired of all the dyed eggs the kids won’t eat? How many Peeps do you have left? And all of that chocolate.. In today’s segment, we look into the uses of your eggs, candy, and any Peeps you have around. First, an adult beverage. a Blood Orange Beliini.
Here is the link to the show LINK
March 15th, FOX5 San Diego St. Patricks Day ☘️ /
Today, on the Friday before St. Patrick's Day, I will be making on San Diego FOX5, an array of Irish dishes for you to try this weekend. Menu: Irish Coffee Milkshake Shooters, Irish Pub Cheese with Pretzels, Irish Soda Bread, Rich Irish Beef Stew, & Bailey’s Chocolate Pie. Here is the show if you would like to watch it. San Diego Fox March 15th, 2024 George Geary Show
Iced Molasses Cookies /
A simple cookie packed with flavor. I remember that our elementary school served cookies like these occasionally. Soft yet spicy!
Timeline: 1995 "Food for the Soul" Cream Cheese Pound Cake /
A few months back, I was searching for historical cookie recipes for an article about our mid-century home in Palm Springs. We wanted accurate recipes from the 1960s sitting on our table during the photoshoot. I came across Marguerette Allen from the south. Newspapers picked up a story called “Food for the Soul” featuring recipes from Black home cooks. This is her Cream Cheese Pound Cake.
It was rare for mainstream newspapers to write about any other food besides common foods that middle America would prepare or eat. This was a groundbreaking story with 10 recipes.
Marguerette Allen with her prized pound cake.
Kentucky Bourbon Trail: Where to stay, play and eat! /
When one says they are headed to Kentucky, being from California, you get the question, “Why???”. I have traveled to all 50 states and taught cooking classes in probably 40. I see each state as a beautiful place; it is not home to me, but every place has beauty. I hear what some people say. “How do you live in California with all the traffic and earthquakes?” Yes, we have a lot of traffic (you learn when and how to get from point A to point B with the least traffic). One day, I turned onto Highway 555 in Kentucky, and the sign said, “Congested area”. I think I traveled 5 miles before I came across another car.
Here is the diary of what we did from Friday's arrival to Monday’s departure.
Friday Night: We arrived at Lexington, KY Airport, the Bluegrass Airport. One of the surprises is when the luggage belt is about to deliver the bags; instead of a bell going off, a bugle, like a horse race, is about to start tooting away.
Rent an SUV. Some of the roads in and out of the distilleries are rock roads.
Bourbon Barrel Resort
We stayed at Bourbon Barrel Resort. Each barrel has a king-size bed, a roomy shower, a bathroom, a kitchenette with a table, two chairs, a microwave, dishes, a small couch, and a fridge. (Some rent with a hot tub).
The barrel was unique and fun. Bring an eye mask, as the bedroom has a beautiful window without shades. All restaurants are 30-40 miles away, so I suggest going to a nearby grocery store for breakfast items so you can enjoy the mornings.
Yes, one evening it snowed!
We try not to go to chain restaurants when traveling. We ate lunches in diners and dinners a little more upscale. Before you leave your home, you should book all the distilleries as they sell out; many are closed on Mondays. About 40 distilleries make up the trail, but there are many more to visit. Here is a handy map of the trail with information on each location.
https://kybourbontrail.com/map/
Here are the distilleries we visited:
Makers Mark
Makers Mark: A very well-known brand of Bourbon. It is a beautiful location full of art and bourbon. They have a few different tours to choose from. Sign up to be part of their Ambassador Club. It is free; you get your name on a barrel, and about 8-10 years later, your barrel matures. You are given a “Golden Ticket” to come back and purchase bottles from your barrel with your name on the labels. About 2-3 times a year, Makers Mark sends you gifts for being in the club. The gift store has a unique feature. Purchase a bottle of MM, and you get to dip it in the signature red wax. You will see the bottling and dipping process if you visit Monday through Friday.
Freshly Dipped Bottle
Buffalo Trace
Buffalo Trace Distillery: The oldest continuing distillery. They have many tours, and all are free with tastings. We went on a historical tour, which was interesting and full of history. It is one of the largest gift stores of all of the locations.
Log Still
Log Still Distillery: A newer family-owned distillery. The land housed a distillery, and you can see the former equipment. Tours have a fee, but you get samples of their bourbons. After your samples, they will make a full drink for you. They also have a B&B onsite with historical buildings.
Whiskey Thief
Whiskey Thief Distilling Co.: A small distillery that makes you bottle your bourbon. They do not sell their bourbons outside of their distillery. You get to sample five bourbons directly from the barrels. Tour/tasting has a fee.
We drove to one of my favorite candy/soda fountains:
Schimpff’s Candies: Since 1891. They are famous for making red hots, lemon drops, and other hard candies using antique machinery. They do daily demonstrations (Making red hots in heart shapes the day we visited). Half of the building is a candy museum; the other half is retail and kitchen. It is only one off-ramp outside of Louisville, KY, in Indiana.
Dinner Locations:
Vallozzi’s: In the cute 1890’s city of Versilles, KY. Italian with a great wine/bourbon list. The staff and service were perfect. The food, an array of appetizers to main dishes. After dinner, we walked next to the quant Amsden Bourbon Bar with only two dozen people compacity. If you have time, I suggest arriving an hour early and taking a walk down past all of the remarkable businesses and buildings over 100 years old.
http://vallozzis.com/versailles (Open Table for Reservations)
https://www.amsdenbourbonbar.com
Tony’s of Lexington: In a historical building. Old-time steak and fish restaurant. We had the crab cake appetizer that was as big as a baseball. The steaks are perfect, just like the service.
https://tonysoflexington.com (Open Table for Reservations)
Toogie’s Table: Opened in 1937, it is a local restaurant using local produce and foods. A menu is full of surprises. Pasta is made on the premises. The motor lodge (retro from the 50’s), part of the same complex, was recently purchased by a hospitality group, as was Toogie’s Table.
https://www.toogiestable.com (Open Table for Reservations)
I hope you enjoy this quick and fun weekend! Let me know if you have questions in the comments!
February 14th; FOX5 San Diego Happy Valentines Day /
Today’s Show. Sweetheart Dinner! Love is Love!
The Year of the Dragon! Chinese New Year. Almond Cookies /
Almond Cookies are simple to make and so flavorful. Just follow the directions and you will have better than the pink box cookies!
Rainy Day Cookies Oatmeal! /
California is in the middle of 4 days of rain. A storm that is dumping so much rain that our yards and streets have turned into rivers. When it rains, I think of warm cookies. This past weekend, I made oatmeal (the old-fashioned way) and thought about making a few dozen cookies today. Here are two recipes: one, and you add chips or raisins into the batter. Enjoy!
Peanut Blossom Cookies 1957 Pillsbury Bake-off /
If one thinks about the Pillsbury Bake-off the cookie that comes to mind is the 1957 entry from Mrs. Chester Smith the Peanut Blossom. And it didnt win the grand prize! Shocking. This recipe you find during the holidays on cookie platters. Here is the recipe!
1957 Pillsbury Peanut Blossom Recipe
December 14th: FOX5 San Diego 30th Anniversary on TV Holiday Appetizers /
December 1993: 30 years ago this week. I worked at Disneyland as the Pastry Chef and the company decided to close the department two weeks before Christmas. I was watching the KHJ-9 morning show with Cyndy Garvey and Steve Edwards. A guy was making a pie, using a ready-made crust and a can of pie filling. I knew I could do better. I called and got hired for six months. I did everything from a wedding cake to the main dishes. Then I booked Mike and Maty Show, a national show for three years.
Meanwhile, the Food Network started up, and I crisscrossed the country with Robin Leech and talked about a new station on cable. Since 1993, I have been on every network every local national show except The Today Show. Currently, my home station is FOX5 in San Diego, and I pretape WGN-Chicago and Tampa NBC. Here are the holiday show recipes.
30th Anniversary Holiday Show FOX5 San Diego
1993 KHJ-9 TV Morning Show. The first show
November 20th: FOX5 San Diego Thanksgiving 2023 Desserts /
Tired of that Pumpkin Pie or that same dessert? Here are some new desserts that are so fast and easy to make that you will wonder why you had not taken the desert to dinner before. And a drink to help you deal with the family! All from my annual Thanksgiving Morning Segment
With Raoul Martinez at FOX5 San Diego on the Set.
Thanksgiving Desserts for FOX5 San Diego. Recipes Below.
Berry Holiday Spritzer so can handle the family! Recipe
Bourbon Pecan Pound Cake Recipe
Fast and Easy Chocolate Raspberry Pots de Creme: Recipe
Kaluha Cream Cheese Brownies: Recipe
Fast and Easy ALL-IN-ONE-BOWL Pumpkin Pecan Cheese Pie: Recipe
Pumpkin Nutmeg Bread Pudding: Recipe
Here is the entire show from today on FOX5. If you do not live in the San Diego area watch it here : Nov 20th Broadcast