Talkin' 'bout Food

Without a single minute of food‑truck experience, Paulie Quartieri basically said, “Step aside — I’m about to serve the best sausage‑and‑peppers sandwiches on the Grand Strand.” And in under a year, he’s made a strong case that he’s done exactly that.

Listen as Paulie, fueled by sheer drive and the lessons he picked up from his grandmother and backyard cookouts, explains how he built a thriving business from nothing more than a simple food trailer and a whole lot of grit.

From lobsters caught on his own boat in the North Atlantic, to shucking the lobster by hand, to racing the meat to South Carolina, Nick DeMeglio serves up one of the freshest, tastiest lobster rolls on The Grand Strand. "No middle man!" he exclaims. He wants you to be able to taste the ocean when you bite into one of his works of art.

Estaban Correa is the owner of Hawg Dawgs food truck and he eats, sleeps, and dreams about hot dogs. He even eats hot dogs on his day off. On any given day he'll invite the neighborhood over to his house for "R&D", as he calls it, to test some of his new creations. If that isn't passion, nothing is.

Named after his abuelo (grandfather) Nito's Empanadas food truck has been operating for the past year and a half by Damian Luis right here in The Grand Strand. Serving up authentic Empanadas from Uruguay, it has caught on like a wild fire even though some of the locals admit to never having heard of an empanada. Follow Damian's trek from culinary school in Uruguay to honoring his grandfather's recipes to finding a very unique social media approach. And, Damian discusses his brillianty App for food trucks, The Shortlist Pass. A digital 24/7 employee that works for your business!

From her humble begiinnings working the 4-H fairs in the midwest to owning two restaurants with her husband here in The Grand Strand, Jordan and Chris Alexander finally settled on a food truck. They have taken Lemons and Dough from an idea to one of the top food trucks here in The Grand Strand. Take a listen as they explain how their three young daughters were an integral part of devising the menu.

Bonus track: Off the wall customer hysterical questions.

The typical journey of someone in the food business often begins with a food truck. Tommy Festa, seems to have accomplished his success the opposite way. He is the chef/owner of The Clever Cleaver food truck and has quite a history in the food biz. Growing up working in his family's grocery store in upstate New York, to working as a chef in restaurants, to owning a restaurant and finally owning a food truck here in The Grand Strand.

The Grand Strand's top meteorologist Ed Piotrowski and his lovely wife Cindy, sit down with The Private Chef to the Stars to talk about Polish food, their favorite restaurants , and Cindy's capability in the kitchen.

Jason Black joins The Private Chef to the Stars in this episode. Jason has lived in The Grand Strand for over 30 years and has been a lover of the food scene since day one. He runs the pages JBlack Out and About, 411 in the 843, and Myrtle Beach Eats which has 53 thousand followers. He's a community advocate for the privately owned restaurants here in The Grand Strand.

Jack Gregory of Murrells Inlet Foodies and Entertainment is back in the studio and has a few choice words about the local "food influencers." Jack also speaks highly of McEisley's Tavern in Murrells Inlet and the goings on at Dead Dog Saloon.

This week on Talkin' 'bout Food, the spotlight shines on celebrated French culinary talent Vincent Pellat, a rising force in the gastronomic world. At just thirty-three years old, Chef Pellat has already built an impressive résumé, having honed his craft in some of the most prestigious hotels and restaurants in Paris. This week, Chef Pellat brought his expertise to the International Culinary Institute, where fortunate students experienced exclusive master classes in advanced culinary arts.

Sophia Edens, widely recognized as The Content Food Critic, stops by the Talkin' 'bout Food studio to share highlights from her recent Grand Strand Magazine award win, discuss standout restaurants worth visiting, and even chats about her latest kitchen obsession—a brand-new KitchenAid.

The Private Chef to the Stars welcomes back Lisa and Bennie Blackwell. They are the owners of Palm 33 and are in the studio to discuss their ups and downs (mostly ups) as they approach their first year in business.

Fresh off a trip to Rome, and a first-place win for his focaccia, Anthony Ludovici-DeBrigida of Anto’s Pizza Romana joins us in the Talkin’ ’bout Food studio. Chef Anthony talks competition, craft, and how he keeps up with the nightly rush at his Conway pizzeria. While some are celebrating wins, Chef Meredith Herman of the Gnosh Pit food truck has faced a tougher road. She talks about the many challenges she’s navigated over the last few months.

Christine Bonaparte, wife of acclaimed chef Joe Bonaparte, explains the ups and downs of being married to a chef. Jack Gregory, owner of Murrells Inlet Foodies and Entertainment talks about some of his favorite restaurant experiences throughout 2025 and one not so favorite.

Chef JK of Oak Prime in Carolina Forest talks about the lead up to being bestowed the restaurant "Recomendation Award" in the new Michelin Guide. The only restaurant in the entire Grand Strand to receive such an accolade. Also, Sundy Barth, a graduate from the culinary program at HGTC, explains the leap from culinary school to the real world of pastry.

Grant Turner, better known as Ricky Mokel, serves up a full plate of laughs as he journeys from the land of kale smoothies to the home of fried everything. Chef Joe Bonaparte talks about some amazing new equipment at the school including a rotisserie that can accomodate 40 chickens. Paul Grimshaw sits in and adds some of his twenty year wisdom of The Grand Strand food scene...along with his ever present witticism.

Liz Callaway, 94.5 morning talk show host, and her husband Javier Lopez join The Private Chef to the Stars in studio to discuss their favorite restaurants on The Grand Strand. After being turned away last week from Luvan's in Conway, chef Richard and Anthony Bonventre finally made it in and boy was it worth the wait! A cooking tip for the home cook.

The long night of trials and tribulations: A Quest for a Restaurant. Also, David Magaha (The Snack Guy) sits down with the Private Chef to the Stars to explain his constant hunt for a good snack around The Grand Strand.

Twenty year food writer, Paul Grimshaw sits down with The Private Chef to the Stars to discuss the many restaurants that made it into Grand Strand's magazine "Best-of-2025." They are joined by Sophia Edens, The Content Food Critic, to get her take on some of the restaurants that were chosen.

Congressman Russell Fry of district 7 chats with The Chef to the Stars about growing up on The Grand Strand, how the food scene has changed for the better, his mother's cooking, and his aunt's famous Cheez Whiz and Bugles appetizer...awesome. Shout-out to Amy Everhart and her new podcast, "Brought You a Bite, Babe."

The Private Chef to the Stars has a new private chef position and leans on the Ball and Que restaurant in Georgetown for some traditional ideas. The Pierogi House in Myrtle Beach launches a discussion as to why we believe each of our tradional home recipes are the best....or are they?

Chef Curtis Hillard, AKA Chef Bear, sits down with The Private Chef to the Stars to deconstruct his approach to proper plate composition and presentation. And, how he moved from executive chef in restaurants to entering the world of the personal chef. Laura Smith says she has lived three different lives...a mother, an IRS tax agent, and now a student at HGTC International culinary academy at age...68