In Monday, Jan. 27th’s “Best of Laguna Beach” radio show (audio replay above) at Laguna’s only KXFM Radio 104.7, I had a trifecta winning ticket for you.
#1 – It was Chris Olsen, the well-loved Owner/Operator or Wine Gallery as well as the Co-Owner of Miki Sushi with Greg Washer.
#2 - Then, I introduced Celebrity Chef Mary Schoenlein, who created the renowned Mary’s Marvelous breakfast and lunch shops in Amagansett and East Hampton of Long Island, NY.
#3 – And throughout the show, we offered plenty of hints and tips to welcome Chinese New Year, The Year of the Wood Snake, which debuted yesterday (Wed, Jan. 29th). So many fun things you can do to bring in greater wealth, health and happiness!
Hear the radio show replay, above, and see the SHOW NOTE summary below:
SHOW NOTES
Part I: Chris Olsen’s Long Journey from Corona del Mar to Laguna Beach
Our radio interview included:
Chris Olsen talks about his early beginnings, first with Wine Gallery in Corona del Mar (CdM) and then here in Laguna Beach in 2012.
Where Chris Olsen would dine with his high school and college dates in Laguna Beach.
The class Chris took at UCSB that changed his career trajectory (well, before he tried this OTHER career).
Chris’ venture into making his own wine, Mile 216. (And why that name?)
How many selections of global and regional wine do you think Chris carries at Wine Gallery?
Chris explains the restaurant’s Wine Tasting events (usually every other Tuesday) and Wine and Bite Events on Thursdays.
The tale of Wine Gallery’s amazing Chef Josh and his endless culinary specials.
Wine Gallery, 1833 S. Coast Highway, #110 (right under the KXFM Radio Studio!) Closed Mondays, open at 4:30 initially for Happy Hour every other day of the week. Sign up for email info on special wine tasting events here:
Then, Chris and I talk about Miki Sushi & Saké (formerly 242 Sushi)
We talk about Chef Miki Izumisawa, the founder of Laguna Beach’s initial 242 Sushi (estd. 2000), and one of the first nationally recognized female chefs in the typically all-male sushi culture.
How the idea landed to re-open 242 Sushi in Miki’s honor.
242 Café Fusion Sushi’s chefs have returned en force in the same space, new name: Miki Sushi + Saké in honor of their founder. New Co-Owner Chris Olsen gathered the original sushi chefs – who were trained by and worked with Miki for years – in honor of the legacy chef. From left, Executive Chef Crystal Ryan with Ana Garcia, Sami Takahashi and Ako Sakaguchi. Chris explains the importance of bringing all the female sushi chefs back who had worked in the original “242 Sushi” family. We discuss original menu items from 242 along with now Miki Sushi Executive Chef Crystal’s additions and expansions to more fresh fish.
Miki Sushi & Saké, 242 N. Coast Highway (north of Starbucks). Closed Mondays, open at 4:30 Tuesday-Saturday. Tables are in high demand nightly, so be sure to book a reservation by calling (949) 494-2444.
Part 2: How to auspiciously celebrate Chinese New Year (Jan. 29th - Feb 12th)
I give a quick background on Chinese astrology and the astrological figures that make up the changing of the guard each year. We’ve moved from Year of the Dragon into Year of the Snake (officially Wed, Jan 29th). In this radio show replay, here’s how to properly dial in your greatest abundance and prosperity for the year ahead. To read even greater detail, see my previous blog entry here
Part 3: Celebrity Chef Mary Schoenlein talks all things Marvelous
Joining us from the famed Mary’s Marvelous of the Hamptons – the breakfast and lunch shop that had lines wrapped around the block – it’s Celebrity Chef Mary Schoenlein. Now a brick-and-mortar memory, Chef Mary is re-introducing great stories and recipes in her new blog, Mary’s Marvelous.
In the same radio interview:
We initially talk about the one food culprit that started the entire restaurant concept.
She walks through the storied highlights of Mary’s Marvelous.
I mention the five specific restaurants in Laguna Beach that are celebrating the Chinese New Year through the end of the Festival on Wed, Feb. 12th. We also talk about “red envelope give aways,” a great action that Mary actually adapted from a coaching class I taught a couple years ago. Awesome!
To close the show, Mary and I talk about the surprising similarities between The Hamptons and Laguna Beach as well as the odd little differences. Point of note: The Hamptons also disallow restaurant chains and franchises but have allowed high-end shopping such as Prada and Chanel to boost their retail sector.
Mary mentions that she found Laguna’s views to the horizon “fathomless.” She concludes that in her single day visit – and she quotes Chris Olsen’s great line – Laguna Beach has a heartbeat, which has been easily lost in other seaside towns.
“There’s something about just being able to sit in Laguna Beach and absorb that horizon - it just makes you feel like everything is possible … and what’s possible is endless.” - Chef Mary Schoenlein
Share this post