Hill Country Wine Academy, Texas, with Director of Education Kelsey Kramer

“Budonoki, located on the corner of Virgil and Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles is a friendly neighborhood izakaya offering drinking snacks and sushi alongside ice-cold beer, sake and serious cocktails.” “The creative pan-Asian izakaya comes from college friends and hospitality veterans Eric Bedroussian and Josh Hartley. It started out as a roving pop-up in 2021 after the duo met chef Dan Rabilwongse (an alum of Tsubaki and Hayato) via a mutual friend. Rabilwongse, who grew up in nearby Historic Filipinotown, put together the cuisine-melding menu, filled with signature dishes like pressed sushi, naem (a funky Thai fermented pork sausage), “budo-gnocchi” (Korean rice cakes with mushroom and black truffle), and charred Japanese sweet potatoes with miso butter.” Founders Eric Bedroussian and Josh Harley join us to unwrap all that is Budonoki.Landry Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery located in the rolling hills of West Monroe, Louisiana. Landry Vineyards produces 20 different wines including cultural fruit forward semi-sweet wines, clean crisp dry white wines, dry barrel aged wines and port style wines. Visitors can sample these wines, while enjoying the picturesque views from the beautiful tasting room. Founder and Winemaker Jeff Landry is our guest to uncork all that is Louisiana’s Landry Vineyards.

Landry Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery located in the rolling hills of West Monroe, Louisiana. Landry Vineyards produces 20 different wines including cultural fruit forward semi-sweet wines, clean crisp dry white wines, dry barrel aged wines and port style wines. Visitors can sample these wines, while enjoying the picturesque views from the beautiful tasting room. Founder and Winemaker Jeff Landry is our guest to uncork all that is Louisiana’s Landry Vineyards.The 2nd Annual Manhattan Beach Food & Wine festival in Manhattan Village took place on Friday, September 12th, 2025, and Saturday, September 13th, 2025. Both nights were sold out. Over the two-nights 46 All-Star Chefs prepared world-class cuisine served along with premier wines, top spirits, handcrafted cocktails, and craft beer pairing seamlessly with pulse-raising beats. Guests discovered a dynamic flow of music and flavor, spotlighting the unmistakable spirit of the South Bay. Lawrence Moore of Lawrence Moore and Associates joins us to provide a postscript on Manhattan Beach Food & Wine 2025 and looking ahead to 2026. She served as the very busy restaurant coordinator and public relations representative for MBF&W.Sommelier Kelsey Kramer, the Director of Education for the Hill Country Wine Academy near Fredericksburg, Texas, is a theater major turned wine professional and educator, currently navigating the WSET Diploma program with 13+ years of hospitality, restaurant, and wine experience under her belt. Kelsey earned her CMS Sommelier certification in 2017, and at the same time began teaching about wine at High Street Wine Co. in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas. She began class programming and beverage selection for various wine education programs before shifting to virtual education program models in the COVID-19 shutdown. In 2019 she started her journey with William Chris Vineyards interactive virtual education program, and wine education became her full-time pursuit at the Texas Hill Country-based William Chris Wine Co. With a colorful background, Kelsey's educational style is performative, engaging and positive. Kelsey's classes typically focus on hospitality, tasting technique, and looking at Texas wine through an international wine industry lens. Kelsey Kramer is our guest pulling the cork on all that is the Hill Country Wine AcademyOur own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (located in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries. Social Media can have an enormous impact on restaurants both on the upside as well as the unfortunate negative. Chef Andrew is skilled at managing and utilizing Social Media (for the good) to build his brand. He shares his informed insights.

“Budonoki, located on the corner of Virgil and Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles is a friendly neighborhood izakaya offering drinking snacks and sushi alongside ice-cold beer, sake and serious cocktails.” “The creative pan-Asian izakaya comes from college friends and hospitality veterans Eric Bedroussian and Josh Hartley. It started out as a roving pop-up in 2021 after the duo met chef Dan Rabilwongse (an alum of Tsubaki and Hayato) via a mutual friend. Rabilwongse, who grew up in nearby Historic Filipinotown, put together the cuisine-melding menu, filled with signature dishes like pressed sushi, naem (a funky Thai fermented pork sausage), “budo-gnocchi” (Korean rice cakes with mushroom and black truffle), and charred Japanese sweet potatoes with miso butter.” Founders Eric Bedroussian and Josh Harley join us to unwrap all that is Budonoki.Landry Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery located in the rolling hills of West Monroe, Louisiana. Landry Vineyards produces 20 different wines including cultural fruit forward semi-sweet wines, clean crisp dry white wines, dry barrel aged wines and port style wines. Visitors can sample these wines, while enjoying the picturesque views from the beautiful tasting room. Founder and Winemaker Jeff Landry is our guest to uncork all that is Louisiana’s Landry Vineyards.The 2nd Annual Manhattan Beach Food & Wine festival in Manhattan Village took place on Friday, September 12th, 2025, and Saturday, September 13th, 2025. Both nights were sold out. Over the two-nights 46 All-Star Chefs prepared world-class cuisine served along with premier wines, top spirits, handcrafted cocktails, and craft beer pairing seamlessly with pulse-raising beats. Guests discovered a dynamic flow of music and flavor, spotlighting the unmistakable spirit of the South Bay. Lawrence Moore of Lawrence Moore and Associates joins us to provide a postscript on Manhattan Beach Food & Wine 2025 and looking ahead to 2026. She served as the very busy restaurant coordinator and public relations representative for MBF&W.Sommelier Kelsey Kramer, the Director of Education for the Hill Country Wine Academy near Fredericksburg, Texas, is a theater major turned wine professional and educator, currently navigating the WSET Diploma program with 13+ years of hospitality, restaurant, and wine experience under her belt. Kelsey earned her CMS Sommelier certification in 2017, and at the same time began teaching about wine at High Street Wine Co. in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas. She began class programming and beverage selection for various wine education programs before shifting to virtual education program models in the COVID-19 shutdown. In 2019 she started her journey with William Chris Vineyards interactive virtual education program, and wine education became her full-time pursuit at the Texas Hill Country-based William Chris Wine Co. With a colorful background, Kelsey's educational style is performative, engaging and positive. Kelsey's classes typically focus on hospitality, tasting technique, and looking at Texas wine through an international wine industry lens. Kelsey Kramer is our guest pulling the cork on all that is the Hill Country Wine AcademyOur own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (located in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries. Social Media can have an enormous impact on restaurants both on the upside as well as the unfortunate negative. Chef Andrew is skilled at managing and utilizing Social Media (for the good) to build his brand. He shares his informed insights.All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s not-to-miss show!

“Budonoki, located on the corner of Virgil and Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles is a friendly neighborhood izakaya offering drinking snacks and sushi alongside ice-cold beer, sake and serious cocktails.”“The creative pan-Asian izakaya comes from college friends and hospitality veterans Eric Bedroussian and Josh Hartley. It started out as a roving pop-up in 2021 after the duo met chef Dan Rabilwongse (an alum of Tsubaki and Hayato) via a mutual friend. Rabilwongse, who grew up in nearby Historic Filipinotown, put together the cuisine-melding menu, filled with signature dishes like pressed sushi, naem (a funky Thai fermented pork sausage), “budo-gnocchi” (Korean rice cakes with mushroom and black truffle), and charred Japanese sweet potatoes with miso butter.” “The richly hued walnut interiors, accented by dark blue and burnt orange, create a cozy ambiance, transporting diners to a bustling izaksaya in Japan or Bangkok.Be sure to take a look at the artist series ceramic mug (an original) the Joshikai libation is served in.Founders Eric Bedroussian and Josh Harley join us to unwrap all that is Budonoki.

“Budonoki, located on the corner of Virgil and Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles is a friendly neighborhood izakaya offering drinking snacks and sushi alongside ice-cold beer, sake and serious cocktails.”“The creative pan-Asian izakaya comes from college friends and hospitality veterans Eric Bedroussian and Josh Hartley. It started out as a roving pop-up in 2021 after the duo met chef Dan Rabilwongse (an alum of Tsubaki and Hayato) via a mutual friend. Rabilwongse, who grew up in nearby Historic Filipinotown, put together the cuisine-melding menu, filled with signature dishes like pressed sushi, naem (a funky Thai fermented pork sausage), “budo-gnocchi” (Korean rice cakes with mushroom and black truffle), and charred Japanese sweet potatoes with miso butter.” “The richly hued walnut interiors, accented by dark blue and burnt orange, create a cozy ambiance, transporting diners to a bustling izaksaya in Japan or Bangkok.Be sure to take a look at the artist series ceramic mug (an original) the Joshikai libation is served in.Founders Eric Bedroussian and Josh Harley stay with us unwrapping all that is Budonoki.

“Landry Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery located in the rolling hills of West Monroe. Landry Vineyards produces 20 different wines including cultural fruit forward semi-sweet wines, clean crisp dry white wines, dry barrel aged wines and port style wines. Visitors can sample these wines, while enjoying the picturesque views from the beautiful tasting room.” “Their Outdoor Concert Series is not to be missed, with music ranging from country to jazz. Patrons bring picnic blankets and chairs and enjoy live music from the hillside along with food and dancing. Two harvest festivals are hosted each summer that offer visitors the chance to harvest grapes and participate in a grape stomp.” Tours are available by appointment and winemaker Jeff Landry typically personally conducts the Saturday afternoon tour. Also available onsite for guests are cottages, RV parking and disc golf.On the Landry Vineyards estate they grow Blanc du Bois, Lenoir/ Black Spanish and Muscadine grapes. Muscadine is the only wine grape actually native to Louisiana.Proprietor and Winemaker Jeff Landry is our guest to uncork all that is Louisiana’s Landry Vineyards.

Landry Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery located in the rolling hills of West Monroe. Landry Vineyards produces 20 different wines including cultural fruit forward semi-sweet wines, clean crisp dry white wines, dry barrel aged wines and port style wines. Visitors can sample these wines, while enjoying the picturesque views from the beautiful tasting room. “Their Outdoor Concert Series is not to be missed, with music ranging from country to jazz. Patrons bring picnic blankets and chairs and enjoy live music from the hillside along with food and dancing. Two harvest festivals are hosted each summer that offer visitors the chance to harvest grapes and participate in a grape stomp.” Tours are available by appointment and winemaker Jeff Landry typically personally conducts the Saturday afternoon tour. Also available onsite for guests are cottages, RV parking and disc golf.On the Landry Vineyards estate they grow Blanc du Bois, Lenoir/ Black Spanish and Muscadine grapes. Muscadine is the only wine grape native to Louisiana.Proprietor and Winemaker Jeff Landry stays with us uncorking all that is Louisiana’s Landry Vineyards.

Sommelier Kelsey Kramer, the Director of Education for the Hill Country Wine Academy near Fredericksburg, Texas, is a theater major turned wine professional and educator, currently navigating the WSET Diploma program with 13+ years of hospitality, restaurant, and wine experience under her belt. After earning a B.F.A. in Acting at Ball State University, she started studying wine full-time with Takashi's Japanese-Fusion restaurant in Chicago. Kelsey earned her CMS Sommelier certification in 2017, and at the same time began teaching about wine at High Street Wine Co. in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas. She began class programming and beverage selection for various wine education programs before shifting to virtual education program models in the COVID-19 shutdown. During this time of the COVID-19 shutdown, Kelsey decided to dedicate her efforts to the growing Texas wine industry, and to pursue her studies as a wine educator through the Wine & Spirits Education Trust. In 2019 she started her journey with William Chris Vineyards interactive virtual education program, and wine education became her full-time pursuit at the Texas Hill Country-based William Chris Wine Co. in 2022 she was promoted to the Director of Education there (now known as the Hill Country Wine Academy) and became a certified WSET educator. With a colorful background, Kelsey's educational style is performative, engaging and positive. Kelsey's classes typically focus on hospitality, tasting technique, and looking at Texas wine through an international wine industry lens.Kelsey Kramer is our guest pulling the cork on all that is the Hill Country Wine Academy.

The 2nd Annual Manhattan Beach Food & Wine in Manhattan Village took place on Friday, September 12th, 2025, and Saturday, September 13th, 2025. Based on the success of last year both nights were sold out.“Over the two-nights 46 All-Star Chefs prepared world-class cuisine along with premier wines, top spirits, handcrafted cocktails, and craft beer pairing seamlessly with pulse-raising beats. Guests discovered a dynamic flow of music and flavor, spotlighting the unmistakable spirit of the South Bay.”Lawrence Moore of Lawrence Moore and Associates joins us to provide a postscript on Manhattan Beach Food & Wine 2025 with a look into the return in 2026. She served as the very busy restaurant coordinator and public relations representative for MBF&W.

Social Media can have an enormous impact on restaurants both on the upside as well as the unfortunate negative. Chef Andrew is skilled at managing and utilizing Social Media (for the good) to build his brand. He shares his well-informed insights.