There is one place a person can turn to in the middle of any disaster -a restaurant. Los Angeles restaurants have been the backbone for feeding the victims and helpers of the massive and destructive fires. Yet they can also be a problem to many of their workers.They can open and they can close.
Regular contributor and Los Angeleno herself, Tejal Rao wrote about this in yesterday's New York Times Wednesday Food section. Restaurants, such as her favorite LASorted has stepped up and turned their restaurant into a staging area where food is made and delivered. They bring unique skills in making dozens of pies and other dishes for hungry evacuees and firefighters. They were able to mobilize and get several drivers via Instagram . These drivers go out and delivers carloads of pizza across the ravaged city. Restaurants have a greater sense of urgency about cooking for people and caring for them despite the logistical nightmares that may be involved. ON a daily basis it runs smoothly. Add in a disaster and two hundred or more spread across five locations will receive a hot dinner.There are so many restaurants involved that the LA TImes has actually plotted them on a map.Writer Emily WIlson has also tracked the various resources they provided along with their fund raisers and calls for volunteers and donations.
Yet there is a flip side. Many restaurants ,due to either their proximity to the flames and air quality are closing.The dining rooms have been empty, due to the lack of customers.Ms Rao figures that people are grieving and do not want to enjoy a meal out.However she and her colleague needed a night out. There is something about having a drink with friends and heading to an eatery to share food and conversation with friends. Enjoying a dinner - or any meal out - brings about a sense of community and also safety and resilience.People and restaurant owners should realize this .Silver Lake's Ruby Fruit closed - at least -temporarily - because of what's going on. Hopefully this poplar wine bar with diner food will open, much to the delight of their fans. Restaurants closing affect not just their followers but their workers. Bills have to be paid, their families have to be fed. Even if they're open three or four days out of the week ,it would be helpful and buoy up a damaged community.
LA and its' restuarants are a powerful force. They are and should provide sustenance to evacuees and fire fighters. Their food is what keeps the city and its' people going.
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