On this week’s episode of Coast to Coast, host Heather Dawson takes us behind the scenes in Burbank, California—a city known around the world for its blockbuster magic, but with local roots that go far deeper than the studio lights.
While Warner Brothers continues to dominate international box offices—thanks in no small part to a certain boy wizard—there’s much more to Burbank than movie sets and celebrity sightings.
Burbank: A City with Reel History
Long before it became the entertainment capital it is today, Burbank was a humble farming community. Lifelong resident Les Rosenberg recalls a time when the land was dotted with dairies, farmland, and three local canneries that processed produce grown right in the valley.
But everything changed in the 1920s with the arrival of First National Pictures, later known as Warner Brothers Studios. From there, the industry exploded—NBC, Disney, and other major studios followed, turning Burbank into a media powerhouse.
“There’s not a location on the planet that can’t be recreated right here in Burbank,” Dawson notes, reflecting on the city’s unmatched versatility for film and television production.
Where Stars Eat: Celebrity Cuisine in the Heart of Burbank
Burbank isn’t just a hub for film lovers—it’s also a destination for foodies, especially those craving a taste of home.
Joe Mantegna, the celebrated actor from The Godfather: Part III, Criminal Minds, and The Simpsons, stepped out of the spotlight to bring his Chicago roots to California. Alongside his wife Arlene, Mantegna opened a local eatery serving authentic Italian beef sandwiches and deep-dish pizza, giving homesick Midwesterners (and curious Californians) a taste of the Windy City.
“I’m a really good cook,” Arlene shared. “We couldn’t get a proper Italian beef sandwich out here—so we made it ourselves. One day it just clicked: ‘Why not share this?’”
Their goal wasn’t just to feed—it was to connect cultures through comfort food, knowing that California is home to so many people who’ve come from elsewhere.
And though there are no plans to expand—outside of maybe the customers’ waistbands—it’s clear that Taste Chicago has become a beloved local institution.
“I judge how good the food is by how many napkins I use,” joked one satisfied diner. “And I’ve only just begun.”
Visit Burbank
From its agricultural beginnings to its cinematic present, Burbank is a city full of transformation, talent, and taste. Whether you’re looking to tour a legendary studio or bite into a perfectly messy beef sandwich, this corner of Southern California is rich with stories waiting to be experienced.