SoCal Restaurant Show January 11, 2025 Hour 2

“Studio UNLTD, the designer of the reimagined Helms Bakery in Culver City, is an award-winning hospitality design firm offering comprehensive services in architecture, interior design, lighting, and furniture design. They believe in a collaborative approach that puts the client’s vision at the forefront. Their legacy of community-altering projects showcases their ability to design spaces that make a lasting impression. Founded in 2009, Studio UNLTD made its mark designing iconic adaptive reuse projects that helped put the Arts District in downtown Los Angeles on the map.  The firm, helmed by principals Greg Bleier and Terri Robison, established itself as the go-to interior design company for chefs and restaurateurs in Los Angeles and beyond looking for trusted creative partners to bring their vision to life.”  Founder Greg Bleier is our guest unraveling the mystery of successful restaurant design.“Canopy Wine Lounge in Downtown Palm Springs is the first upscale wine lounge in the Coachella Valley, catering to locals, domestic, and international tourists. With nearly 150 wines from around the world, amongst greats Lithology (St. Helena, CA), Waypoint (Napa, CA), Otronia (Patagonia, Argentina), and Alkina (Barossa Valley, South Australia), it promises an unforgettable experience where the world's finest wines meet Executive Chef Kristin Puttkamer’s gourmet culinary delights showcasing elevated seasonal California cuisine.Canopy Wine Lounge seamlessly blends the art of winemaking with a vibrant social hub and an elegant event space. Last year they proudly produced a signature wine, Desert Wren, crafted with care by Winemaker and Sommelier Josh Kelly.” It’s unusually aged in clay amphora. Chef Kristin Puttkamer and Sommelier Josh Kelly are our guests to uncork all that is Canopy Wine Lounge.Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries. When it comes to offering vitally needed assistance when a disaster strikes chefs and restaurateurs are always in the forefront of providing meaningful assistance. The devastating fires in Pacific Palisades and Pasadena / Altadena are the most recent examples. Chef Andrew explains what’s being done. He’s focusing on coordinating supply & product donations for L.A.’s Dream Center.