Celebrity Interviews

Hummus for Breakfast? Scrumptious!

Celebrity Interviews, Chefs, Cookbooks, Cooking, Melissa's, Produce, Recipes, Videos By July 7, 2023

After our interview, I tried cookbook author Mark Bittman’s recipe for Turkish Breakfast, a cinch-to-make hummus paired with sliced tomatoes, cucumber, olives and whole-wheat toast. I added a slab of watermelon and served it for a luscious eat-every-bite dinner. Better yet, I tried it for breakfast. Delicious. Much – so much – more flavor-packed than my lonely egg. Turkish BreakfastYield:…

Celebrity Chef Amar Santana’s Corn Pudding – The Best

Celebrity Interviews, Chefs, Cooking, Recipes, Restaurants By January 1, 2020

There is mischief in Amar Santana’s eyes as his exuberant laughter fills my kitchen with culinary joy. He is relaxed, his confidence driven by a passion for cooking and a well-proven skill sets. The celebrity chef joined me to share the secrets of his silky corn pudding, a versatile side dish that can accompany everything from steak to sweetbreads. Watch…

Celebrity OC Chef Amar Santana Opens The HALL Global Eatery

Celebrity Interviews, Chefs, Cocktails, Cooking, Recipes, Restaurants, Videos By December 31, 2019

Recognize the name? Chef Amar Santana dazzled viewers as a finalist on Bravo’s “Top Chef.” He competed on Korean Food Battle, and although he doesn’t speak Korean, almost won the competition. The HALL Global Eatery, SCP, Costa Mesa: Along with business partner Ahmed Labbate, Chef Santana has opened a extraordinary food hall at South Coast Plaza (it’s the spot where…

Fifi’s Best: OC chefs gather to create a luscious edible tribute to the late food writer, Fifi Chao

Celebrity Interviews, Chefs, Cooking, Restaurants By December 8, 2017

Fifi Chao, much respected and beloved food writer for the Orange County Business Journal for more than three decades, recently passed away. In the photo above, Fifi embraces her much-adored husband, Patrick. Some of Orange County’s best chefs gathered at Break of Dawn Restaurant in Laguna Hills to create a 10-course dinner in her honor. They dubbed it “Fifi’s Best.”…

Retired Ice Hockey Star- Restaurateur, Teemu Selanne Grills and Thrills At Home – Dinosaur Bones

Celebrity Interviews, Chefs, Recipes, Restaurants By May 27, 2015

The allure of grilling seems obvious, especially when it comes to meat cookery. The taming of flame and smoke has a primordial vibe, the welcome challenge of creating scrumptious flavor and texture while conquering flare-ups, cool downs or interruptions. For retired Anaheim Ducks superstar Teemu Selanne, the appeal runs even deeper. He likes the camaraderie that it fuels, the sociability…

The Big Night – Thank You

Celebrity Interviews, Chefs, Event By October 20, 2013

GOLDEN FOODIE AWARDS: Thank you so very much for voting me Best Food Writer in Orange County!  It was such fun to look our at the audience and an ocean of chefs and restaurateurs  who have shared their hearts and recipes with me over the last 25 years. ALAN GREELEY: This man is one of a kind. His culinary genius…