Picala Spanish Kitchen, Cumulus District, L.A. with Executive Chef Luis Sierra Part 2

“At Bianca Sicilian Trattoria (located in a quieter area of the Arts District of DTLA) , Chef Michele Galifi’s philosophy is rooted in the timeless traditions of Sicily - where food is memory, hospitality is instinct, and every meal is an occasion. They believe true refinement comes not from complexity, but from respect: respect for ingredients, for technique, and for the rhythm of a proper Sicilian table. Chef Michele’s cuisine highlights handmade pastas, pristine seafood, seasonal produce, and the vibrant balance of citrus, herbs, and Mediterranean depth that define Sicilian cooking. Indulge in his hand-crafted unique Sicilian Street Style Appetizers, Sicilian Pastas, Pizza, and Italian Seafood.” Chef Michele takes a brief pause from his busy prep to join us.A little earlier than usual (10:45 a.m. PT) our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (located in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) joins us with another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries. It’s Summer Grilling Season and Chef Andrew resumes his timely and practical series from American Gravy of “Grilling Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Cookout.”

“At Bianca Sicilian Trattoria (located in a quieter area of the Arts District of DTLA) , Chef Michele Galifi’s philosophy is rooted in the timeless traditions of Sicily - where food is memory, hospitality is instinct, and every meal is an occasion.”

“They believe true refinement comes not from complexity, but from respect: respect for ingredients, for technique, and for the rhythm of a proper Sicilian table. Chef Michele’s cuisine highlights handmade pastas, pristine seafood, seasonal produce, and the vibrant balance of citrus, herbs, and Mediterranean depth that define Sicilian cooking. Indulge in his hand-crafted unique Sicilian Street Style Appetizers, Sicilian Pastas, Pizza, and Italian Seafood.”



“Each dish is thoughtfully composed to honor tradition while embracing a modern elegance. They encourage guests to experience the meal as it was intended - progressively, unhurried, and shared.”At Bianca, cooking is not simply craft; it is heritage, discipline, and devotion brought to the table with grace.” “Covered Patio Garden with Twinkle lights will transport you to a Piazza in Italy.” Also does off-site catering with a mobile wood-burning pizza oven.
Chef Michele takes a brief pause from prep to join us.

“At Bianca Sicilian Trattoria (located in a quieter area of the Arts District of DTLA) , Chef Michele Galifi’s philosophy is rooted in the timeless traditions of Sicily - where food is memory, hospitality is instinct, and every meal is an occasion. They believe true refinement comes not from complexity, but from respect: respect for ingredients, for technique, and for the rhythm of a proper Sicilian table. Chef Michele’s cuisine highlights handmade pastas, pristine seafood, seasonal produce, and the vibrant balance of citrus, herbs, and Mediterranean depth that define Sicilian cooking. Indulge in his hand-crafted unique Sicilian Street Style Appetizers, Sicilian Pastas, Pizza, and Italian Seafood.” Chef Michele takes a brief pause from his busy prep to join us.A little earlier than usual (10:45 a.m. PT) our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (located in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) joins us with another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries. It’s Summer Grilling Season and Chef Andrew resumes his timely and practical series from American Gravy of “Grilling Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Cookout.”“The Garagiste Festival returns to Los Angeles for the eleventh Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure on Saturday, June 20th, featuring 30+ of the best micro-production wineries from nearly every California AVA, pouring over 150 exceptional and under the radar wines. Angelenos can taste wines from Paso Robles, Santa Barbara County, Sonoma County, Napa Valley, Malibu, San Diego, and almost everywhere in between, all under one roof on one day, and for less than the average cost of two wine tastings in California wine country. Garagiste Festival Co-founder Doug Minnick joins us to uncork all that is The Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure.“Acme Hospitality, renowned for its distinctive independent restaurants and boutique hotels across California, has launched its latest endeavor, Picala. Positioned as a landmark dining destination, Picala anchors the innovative Cumulus District, located in the West Adams neighborhood at the crossroads of where Culver City, South Los Angeles, and West Los Angeles come together. Rooted in the Spanish tradition of sharing food in community, it’s a restaurant designed for connection where dinner, drinks, and good times naturally come together. Guests can stop by the bar for a quick tapa and cocktail, linger with friends on the patio, or settle into the dining room for a complete live-fired feast. At the culinary helm is Chef Luis Sierra, who brings a deep respect for culinary tradition to Picala, shaped by a career rooted in curiosity, craft, and place. His journey began not in a kitchen, but under the ground in archaeology, studying ancient hearths across the American Southwest. There, early cooking practices and regional ingredients sparked a fascination with how people cook and gather, a thread that would follow him into kitchens around the world.” Chef Luis Sierra takes a short break from his busy kitchen to join us.“Smorgasburg operates the largest open air food markets in the country, with locations in New York, Los Angeles, Jersey City, Sao Paulo, and most recently Miami and Toronto. Smorgasburg L.A., celebrating it’s 10 Anniversary on June 21st, provides a platform for nearly 100 small businesses curated from the next wave of SoCal’s food, beverage and shopping scene. With a family friendly beer garden and more it is the perfect place to spend a day with friends, family, or colleagues.” Plenty of on-site parking at The ROW DTLA. Founding Manager, Zach Brooks, joins us with all the details.All of this and heaping helpings of extra deliciousness on this week’s not-to-miss show!

“The Garagiste Festival returns to Los Angeles for the eleventh Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure on Saturday, June 20th, featuring 30+ of the best micro-production wineries from nearly every California AVA, pouring over 150 exceptional and under the radar wines. Angelenos can taste wines from Paso Robles, Santa Barbara County, Sonoma County, Napa Valley, Malibu, San Diego, and almost everywhere in between, all under one roof on one day, and for less than the average cost of two wine tastings in California wine country. Garagiste Festival Co-founder Doug Minnick joins us to uncork all that is The Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure.“Acme Hospitality, renowned for its distinctive independent restaurants and boutique hotels across California, has launched its latest endeavor, Picala. Positioned as a landmark dining destination, Picala anchors the innovative Cumulus District, located in the West Adams neighborhood at the crossroads of where Culver City, South Los Angeles, and West Los Angeles come together. Rooted in the Spanish tradition of sharing food in community, it’s a restaurant designed for connection where dinner, drinks, and good times naturally come together. Guests can stop by the bar for a quick tapa and cocktail, linger with friends on the patio, or settle into the dining room for a complete live-fired feast. At the culinary helm is Chef Luis Sierra, who brings a deep respect for culinary tradition to Picala, shaped by a career rooted in curiosity, craft, and place. His journey began not in a kitchen, but under the ground in archaeology, studying ancient hearths across the American Southwest. There, early cooking practices and regional ingredients sparked a fascination with how people cook and gather, a thread that would follow him into kitchens around the world.” Chef Luis Sierra takes a short break from his busy kitchen to join us.“Smorgasburg operates the largest open air food markets in the country, with locations in New York, Los Angeles, Jersey City, Sao Paulo, and most recently Miami and Toronto. Smorgasburg L.A., celebrating it’s 10 Anniversary on June 21st, provides a platform for nearly 100 small businesses curated from the next wave of SoCal’s food, beverage and shopping scene. With a family friendly beer garden and more it is the perfect place to spend a day with friends, family, or colleagues.” Plenty of on-site parking at The ROW DTLA. Founding Manager, Zach Brooks, joins us with all the details.

“Acme Hospitality, renowned for its distinctive independent restaurants and boutique hotels across California, has launched its latest endeavor, Picala. Positioned as a landmark dining destination, Picala anchors the innovative Cumulus District, located in the West Adams neighborhood at the crossroads of where Culver City, South Los Angeles, and West Los Angeles come together. “Rooted in the Spanish tradition of sharing food in community, it’s a restaurant designed for connection where dinner, drinks, and conversation naturally come together. Guests can stop by the bar for a quick tapa and cocktail, linger with friends on the patio, or settle into the dining room for a complete live-fired feast. Ingredient-driven, fresh, and welcoming, Picala aspires to be where West L.A. comes to eat, drink, and belong.”“At the culinary helm is Chef Luis Sierra, who brings a deep respect for culinary tradition to Picala, shaped by a career rooted in curiosity, craft, and place. His journey began not in a kitchen, but under the ground in archaeology, studying ancient hearths across the American Southwest. There, early cooking practices and regional ingredients sparked a fascination with how people cook and gather, a thread that would follow him into kitchens around the world.” Chef Luis takes a short break from his busy kitchen to join us.“Before joining Picala, Sierra served as Chef de Cuisine at Lulu in Los Angeles’s Hammer Museum, founded by Alice Waters and David Tanis. At Picala, he channels that range into a seasonal live-fired menu of soulful, shareable dishes inspired by Spain and shaped by California, where every dish celebrates the beauty of cooking simply, eating communally, and gathering often.”

It’s Summer Grilling Season and Chef Andrew continues recapping his newly published series from American Gravy of “Grilling Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Cookout.” Sound advice for Father’s Day.

“The Garagiste Festival returns to Los Angeles for the eleventh Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure on Saturday, June 20th, featuring 30+ of the best micro-production wineries from nearly every California AVA, pouring over 150 exceptional and under the radar wines. Angelenos can taste wines from Paso Robles, Santa Barbara County, Sonoma County, Napa Valley, Malibu, San Diego, and almost everywhere in between, all under one roof on one day, and for less than the average cost of two wine tastings in California wine country.”“The Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure affords (pun intended) LA wine lovers the opportunity to taste small production wines from almost every wine region in California, made with an awe-inspiring diversity of grapes, without leaving town,” said Douglas Minnick, co-founder of the Garagiste Festival. “Whether attendees are savoring a bold Trousseau Gris from Sonoma, a funky Carignan from Mendocino, or a sparkling Picpoul Blanc from Paso Robles, the winemaker will be there to talk about the grape, the wine and how it is made, something that is rarely ‘afforded’ to wine enthusiasts in wine country.”“Among the winemakers pouring this year in LA are Rúakh Wines from Paso Robles, 10 Ninths from Santa Barbara County, Maylena Wines from Sonoma, Greyscale Wines from Napa Valley, Grá from SLO, Malibu Wine Company from Malibu, Hoi Polloi from Newhall, Effenberger Vineyards from San Diego, and more! In addition, for the first time, the festival will showcase a selection of wines from New Zealand small-production wineries.”“The Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure includes a Rare and Reserve Tasting, Grand Tasting, and a Silent Auction, all taking place at LA County’s Glendale Civic Auditorium.”Co-founder Doug Minnick joins us to uncork all that is The Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure.

Acme Hospitality, renowned for its distinctive independent restaurants and boutique hotels across California, has launched its latest endeavor, Picala. Positioned as a landmark dining destination, Picala anchors the innovative Cumulus District, located in the West Adams neighborhood at the crossroads of where Culver City, South Los Angeles, and West Los Angeles come together. “Rooted in the Spanish tradition of sharing food in community, it’s a restaurant designed for connection where dinner, drinks, and conversation naturally come together. Guests can stop by the bar for a quick tapa and cocktail, linger with friends on the patio, or settle into the dining room for a complete live-fired feast. Ingredient-driven, fresh, and welcoming, Picala aspires to be where West L.A. comes to eat, drink, and belong.”“At the culinary helm is Chef Luis Sierra, who brings a deep respect for culinary tradition to Picala, shaped by a career rooted in curiosity, craft, and place. His journey began not in a kitchen, but under the ground in archaeology, studying ancient hearths across the American Southwest. There, early cooking practices and regional ingredients sparked a fascination with how people cook and gather, a thread that would follow him into kitchens around the world.” Chef Luis takes another brief break from prep in his busy kitchen to stay with us. “At Picala, he channels that range into a seasonal live-fired menu of soulful, shareable dishes inspired by Spain and shaped by California, where every dish celebrates the beauty of cooking simply, eating communally, and gathering often.”

“At Bianca Sicilian Trattoria (located in the Arts District of DTLA) , Chef Michele Galifi’s philosophy is rooted in the timeless traditions of Sicily - where food is memory, hospitality is instinct, and every meal is an occasion.”

“They believe true refinement comes not from complexity, but from respect: respect for ingredients, for technique, and for the rhythm of a proper Sicilian table. Chef Michele’s cuisine highlights handmade pastas, pristine seafood, seasonal produce, and the vibrant balance of citrus, herbs, and Mediterranean depth that define Sicilian cooking. Indulge in his hand-crafted unique Sicilian Street Style Appetizers, Sicilian Pastas, Pizza, and Italian Seafood.”

“At Bianca, cooking is not simply craft; it is heritage, discipline, and devotion brought to the table with grace. Covered Patio Garden with Twinkle lights will transport you to a Piazza in Italy.”Also does elevated, off-site catering with a mobile wood-burning pizza oven.

Chef Michele takes a 2nd brief pause from prep to stay with us.

“Smorgasburg operates the largest open air food markets in the country, with locations in New York, Los Angeles, Jersey City, Sao Paulo, and most recently Miami and Toronto.” “Smorgasburg L.A., celebrating it’s 10th Anniversary on June 21st, provides a platform for nearly 100 small businesses curated from the next wave of SoCal’s food, beverage and shopping scene. With a family friendly beer garden and more it is the perfect place to spend a day with friends, family, or colleagues.” Plenty of on-site parking at The ROW DTLA. Founding Manager, Zach Brooks, joins us with all the details.The anniversary merits serious attention since Smorgasburg has served as a coveted incubator for L.A. restaurants with some of the city's favorite spots starting as vendors. Examples include - Moo’s Craft BBQ, Bridgetown Roti, Tacos 1986, Bub & Grandma’s, Nicole Rucker, Evil Cooks, Miya Miya, Holy Basil, Broad St. Oyster, Little Fish, Burritos La Palma, Wanderlust and more!