SoCal Restaurant Show December 6, 2025 Hour 1

In today’s unsettled restaurant universe the guests’ experience with the valet parker at the entrance can set the scene for the entire evening’s dining experience. It can be positive or, unfortunately, decidedly negative. Brad Saltzman of Dragonfly Parking is a hospitality veteran who operates one of the premiere, hospitality-oriented valet parking services in greater Los Angeles. He has overseen the valet parking service, for example, at Nancy Silverton’s acclaimed Osteria Mozza in Hollywood at the busy corner of Melrose Ave. and Highland Ave.since the beginning. (What more of an endorsement could you possibly ask for?) Brad joins us to discuss the valet parking experience at it’s absolute best.Our guest, Katie Chin, is a celebrity chef, award-winning cookbook author, spokesperson, food blogger and the Culinary Ambassador to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. We’re talking about National Cookie Day and Katie shares a recipe (Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread Cookies) which is one of Challenge Butter’s Signature Holiday Cookies. It’s cookies for a cause benefiting National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.Our guest, Tony Dang, is the Corporate Executive Chef for the 27 Gelson’s stores in Southern California. Every location has a Gelson’s Kitchen where shoppers can get everything from fresh coleslaw to full meals mostly prepared in the onsite kitchen. On offer are full Hanukkah and Christmas meals or all the components available separately. There are also a variety of chef-created meals to-go. Most stores even have an onsite sushi chef. Chef Tony personally conducts interactive cooking classes and demonstrations as well as cooks for in-store wine-paired dinners.