When Justin Pichetrungsi took over his father’s Sherman Oaks Thai restaurant — the family’s casual approach to service and ambiance became a breeding ground for Justin’s creativity to push Thai food into new realms. And in 2022, Anajak Thai was named Best Restaurant by the Los Angeles Times and Justin made Food and Wine Magazine’s Best New Chef’s list. But this is still only the beginning. Let’s talk Thai food and wine pairings, growing up as a restaurant kid, and all the many careers Justin has had before his restaurant success.

Featured Wine:

Frantz Saumon, Un Saumon dans la loire, Le Chapitre Montlouis, Loire Valley, Chenin Blanc, 2019

Hosted and Executive Produced by Helen Johannesen.

Produced by Dear Media.

I don’t talk a lot about my personal life in my work but today, we are diving deep into building my career and how it harmonizes with my life as a mother. Let’s talk hospitality, marriage, divorce, parenting, and what it has meant to me to do it all.

Hosted and Executive Produced by Helen Johannesen.

Produced by Dear Media.

How did designer Jon Buscemi go from sneakers to sandwiches, to delicious wine collabs? Jon is a mental mentor for me and a dear friend. So when he collaborated with the iconic California Winemaker Chad Melville — I knew it was going to be great. 

Check out Helen's Wines' current red-burgundy offerings here.

Hosted and Executive Produced by Helen Johannesen.

Produced by Dear Media.

Orange wine is one of the latest wine trends — and with good reason! This skin-contact white wine is full of texture, flavor, and history. Let’s break down how it’s made, what the color means, and which varietals make the best orange wine. Oh, and word to the wise, let’s stop calling orange wine ‘funky.’

Head to helenswines.com to check out which orange wines we're recommending.

Hosted and Executive Produced by Helen Johannesen.

Produced by Dear Media.

Let's deep dive into a red wine grape that pairs perfectly with lamb, green olives, and gorgonzola — treat yourself to a crazy meal with all those things and a bottle of my favorite Cab Franc. We're going to break this vegetal varietal down to its origins and which regions make this wine really sing. 

Recommended Cab Francs: Arnaud Lambert, Roland Guiberteau, Mosse & Olga Raffualt. Visit Helenswines.com to see what we have in stock!

Hosted and Executive Produced by Helen Johannesen

Produced by Dear Media

Tasting wine is very subjective because not all palettes are created equal. Some people might catch every single flavor note and nuance in a bottle and some might just be able to know if it’s white or red — and that's fine too. There’s no wrong way to taste wine but let’s go over some of the fundamentals of what to look for and how to look for them so next time you order a bottle at dinner, you can tell your somm exactly what you think!

Hosted and Executive Produced by Helen Johannesen.

Produced by Dear Media.

Lauren 'LP' Paylor O’Brien’s first night behind the bar was a Friday night and everyone in the hospitality world knows — that’s sink or swim. FLASH FORWARD to 2022, LP is swimming her way to winning the Netflix competition show, “Drink Masters”. But her resume doesn’t end there and honestly, it’s too long and impressive to fully list here. But it was beyond a pleasure to chat with LP to talk about her parents' reaction to her leaving nursing for the hospitality industry, becoming a shareowner in the first B-Corp certified spirits-based canned cocktail company, Siponey Spritz Co, and building the perfect bar cart.

Hosted and Executive Produced by Helen Johannesen.

Produced by Dear Media.

Visiting a vineyard can be so much more than dropping into the tasting room for a wine flight & getting crunk. There is etiquette and a good vibe energy that you should bring to take it to the next level. There are cellars, grounds, and caves to explore — with the right winemaker. Some winemakers will open up their labs to wine enthusiasts for the ultimate walkthrough but there are a few things you need to know before you go.

Hosted and Executive Produced by Helen Johannesen.

Produced by Dear Media.

There is no Helen's Wines without Jon & Vinny's and vice versa! My business partners Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo join me to talk about the earliest days of their cooking careers, how we all met, and what they cook for their families at home. The trifecta is real: Jon, Vinny, and Helen unite!

Hosted and Executive Produced by Helen Johannesen.

Produced by Dear Media.