Supporting LA Restaurants and Food Non-Profits
Plus, a snack recipe from an LA institution cross-posted from Snacking Dinners.
Hi, Fellow Californians and California-philes—I have a comforting soup recipe all lined up to share with you, but I just haven’t been able to hit the Send button. While soup is nourishing in hard times, it feels too banal to send out a recipe on a newsletter dedicated life here in the Golden State while the fires are still burning in LA. The destruction is already almost inconceivable and endlessly heartbreaking, and I doubt any one of us has not been impacted in some way.
So, instead of a recipe today, I thought I’d gather some information for those living outside the affected area who are looking for ways to help. Distribution centers at major non-profits are already overwhelmed with donations of clothing, food, etc, (it’s wonderful to see how generous people have been as this tragedy unfolds!) but lots of small businesses are also doing heroic work helping feed first responders and those who have been displaced. I’ve created a list of those I know about below, along with ways you can help them, if you’re able. It’s not comprehensive, but I’ll try to keep the online version updated over the next few days and weeks.
And to those of you who are LA based, please know that I and all of us around the state are thinking of you. If you have other suggestions for ways people can help, please don’t hesitate to add a comment (there’s a button a little farther down) or message me.
Donate to Restaurants Feeding First Responders and the Displaced
A number of area restaurants have pivoted to providing food for first responders, those who have lost their homes, and families affected by the evacuations. In most cases they do this without compensation, but you can help by paying for one (or more) of these meals. Here’s a partial list of the ones that have easy links (or are collecting fund in other ways) to donate meals. Please comment below if you know of others I should add! And if you really want to support the businesses and thank them for this work, don’t just pay for a community meal—order takeout for yourself (or delivery for a friend in LA) while you’re at it.
Amiga Amore
Anajak Thai
AOC
Ayari Thai
Be U
Best Damn Breakfast Burrito (select “Community Meal” from their menu options)
Botanica
Bridgetown Roti
Cafecita Coffee (to send a carafe of coffee to first responders)
Haute Chefs
K&M Coffee
Kismet (select “Donate Meals” from their menu options)
LA Sorted’s (select “First Responder Pies” from their menu options)
La Pupusa Urban Eatery
Lady & Larder
Lasita
Little Fish
Little Nelly
Neighbors and Friends
Sierra Mexican Cafe
Sua Superette
True Food Kitchen
Uncle Paulie’s Deli
(Note: Most links to Venmo accounts above come from reporting by Khushbu Shah on her newsletter Tap is Fine. This week her newsletter had further reporting on the ways restaurants are affected that includes additional links. I encourage you to check it out if you’re not already subscribed.)
Other Ways to Help Small Restaurants Stay Afloat
Restaurants in LA, particularly those without a big corporate parent to lean on, are going to have huge economic losses following these fires, even if they’re not in the evacuation zones. Many also have staff and vendor who have been directly impacted by evacuations or losses. (If a restaurant is not in the list above, it’s likely because they cannot afford to be.) If there’s a spot you like or is special to you in some way, you should be eating there now, to help them stay afloat. Even better, buy a gift card for a future meal—this way they’ll have funds to help them keep the lights on during and after this disaster and to assist any of their staff who are affected. (Note: If you eat out in LA right now, don’t choose outdoor seating; you don’t want to force your waiter to breath smokey air any more than they absolutely have to!)
Quick Note: Now Serving, LA’s fantastic cookbook store, is also suffering. To support this small business, you can order books through their website. (If you wanted to, you could even pre-order Snacking Dinners with them so that they get the profits from those sales now. If you do order a copy, let me know and I’ll be happy to sign it!)
Other Ways to Support Efforts to Feed Angelenos
When it comes to non-profits feeding both first responders and people affected by the fire, the big player in town is, of course, the same organization that has been feeding people affected by wars and natural disasters all across the world for the past 15 years: World Central Kitchen. While other, smaller groups are also helping—including long-established non-profits like the LA Regional Food Bank—I’m supporting World Central Kitchen, as they have a tremendous amount of experience with disasters and know how to mobilize and make the funds you send go as far as possible.
Bonus Recipe: Musso & Frank-Style Stuffed Celery
Earlier this week on my other newsletter, Snacking Dinners, I sent out a missive about my family’s history in LA along with a fun, retro recipe from the Hollywood institution Musso & Frank. I thought you all might enjoy it as well:
