The Fierce Force Of LA Restaurants

 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.

A Non Partisan Haven

 It's no lie that this country is deeply divided politically.It's even worse in Washington D.C. Yet there is a haven where people can go and escape from this, It;s surprisingly called  Immigrant Food  a name that is surely could cause trouble .Yet it doesn't;t.

Regular contributor and chef and owner at Brown Sugar Kitchen  wrote about this interesting eatery in today's New York Times Food section.It is a go to in the nation's capitol as it offers not only tempting dishes but also an insight into the immigrant table.It may be one of the first of its' kind as it offers gastro-advocacy to support people who come to the US looking for a better life. Tea Ivanovic the COO and co-owner is adamant about this. She plans to continue with this, undaunted by the current administration. In many ways having a restaurant during Trump;s second term may be hard. She and other local DC restaurant owners are carefully monitoring the situations and proposals.Layoffs of government workers in the upcoming months along with mass deportations are going to affect the industry.There could be retribution from both sides in these politically charged times.

Yet Immigrant Food will charge on. Marcus Samuelssen will alo be on the bandwagon when he starts running a restaurant int he famed Morrow Hotel.  Another famed chef Nancy Silverton opened up a branch of her Osteria Mozza in Georgetown.Kevin MCNnally began a second Minetta Tavern in Union Market back in December. He has told Vanity Fair tat Mr Trump is welcomed at his eatery.Yet there have been a lot of push back from Brett Kavanaugh getting heckled to a manager at Beauchert's Saloon telling The Washingtonian magazine that she would never serve anyone in the Trump Administration .Immigrant Food ,it seems, will not tolerate this. They will try to remain non partisan. Their dishes are ,featuring  a wide array of recipes from Greece to Peru. There was even a dish honoring Kamala Harris' heritage - a turmeric rice and coconut chicken curry. These dishes could unite a fractious city.

Times are different now People need to stand with each other. They should adapt Immigrant Food;'s philosophy. It'll make for a better country.

Throw Anything Together

 There are days when you can;t go to the grocery and get everything you want. What to do when meal time rolls around? Use what you can to create a tasty meal.

In those times it;s good to rely on a semi stocked pantry  fridge or freezer. Beans can be used hot or cold in a variety of dishes.add them in a tomato sauce with garlic and chili powder and you have a quick chili. Any leftover onions can be chopped and add to it. A tasty hot dish is beans and rice,This makes for a good side or even a main course.In warmer weather a bean salad is always a nice side for a lunch or dinner. You could even make a cold beans and rice salad for a barbecue when the weather warms up. Serve it on toast for a British take.It makes for a quick lunch especially on a busy weekend. Another staple rice can be blended with anything. If you have leftover rotisserie chicken shred it and cook it with some butter and rosemary for a satisfying dinner. To jazz it up a bit add some saffron if you have it. If not try any spice from garam masala to adobo for more flavor. RIce can also be used to stuff peppers if you have them. Mix it with such chopped vegetables as cherry tomatoes, corm and even chickpeas.

Leftover are always great  for repurposing. Those left over burger patties can be broken up and stuffed into peppers or onions. mix them with breadcrumbs - which everyone has. Another ground beef dish -  leftover meat loaf can be sliced and made into hot sandwiches just by putting the slices on bread and then covered in gravy . If there's no gravy  you could use  barbecue sauce on it. Any leftover fowl can be mixed with noodles for a hardy dinner. Take turkey or chicken and chop. Add cooked egg noodles , mix and bake. Those slices of cheese? Shred them and use those as a topping.Can dessert be done this way? Yes!Mix in cereal with your ice cream for a fun twist. Add syrup for a sundae. Surprisingly melted ice cream can be used for milk in a cake. It will have a denser crumb than the average cake and a much more flavorful taste. It doesn't have to be vanilla, You could try chocolate .butter pecan or anything Dust with confectioners sugar if you have it.If you have milk then make a glaze to drizzle over it.

Ingredients can be put together to make a tasty and interesting meal or dessert. See what you have. Be creative . It'll make for a fun cook or bake.

Helping Each Other

 This is Martin Luther King Day, a day when we need to remember Dr King's words and actions. We will need this in the next four years and possibly beyond. Keep in mind people , family friends, neighbors will need our support.

Despite all the promises, food prices will not go down. Thankfully there are stores like Lidl and Aldi that offer good food at lower prices. Shop at them to save money. They, especially Lidl ,offer deep discounts on such expensive items as  eggs and milk. Wal.mart also has some good buys on various food stuffs and appliances too. Be judicious. Be smart. Another way is supporting small farms. These too will suffer in the upcoming years. Support them in the summer and fall when their harvests are ready to sell. Bring your family,friends and neighbors to shop and show them how they can save too if they haven't;t discovered these discount grocery stores.Another way to combat rising prices is start your own gardens. Start planning now for Spring planting. beginners should stick with easy veggies to grow. Think radishes and tomatoes along with carrots and peas. Fruit trees take a few years to mature and produce harvests. You can grow these if you;re patient enough. Remember to donate some fo your harvest to those who need it , whether family friends or neighbors. 

IN that same vein, some programs will most undoubtedly be cut.Veterans and the disabled will be needing help too. Again do what you can to donate to food pantries. If you own a restaurant, donate any overage to soup kitchen s .Another idea is do what rocker Jon Bon Jovi as done, His Soul Kitchens allow people to pay what they can or help out in the restaurants. This gives those struggling a chance for a night out which for some is a luxury.Also consider hiring these people too. They'll appreciate the job as well as whatever food they can bring home with them. Mentoring will also be important too. Any shop in the food industry or restaurant can do this, helping those who are struggling to get started with their own careers.Smaller shops like bakeries and meat markets can perhaps offer discounts on day old products and also offer discounts to students and veterans.These shops should also promote and sell small time artesans, those who make their own honey or baked goods along with kitchen items like towels and ceramics.

Today we honor Martin Luthr King. We should honor his principles and generosity too.It will make the next four years bearable. 

Hot And Heavy Dishes

 This is January and that means freezing temps depending where you are. This means hot , satisfying meals that are perfect on a Sunday or a less heavy one for the weekdays. There are so many different dishes that can warm you up while giving your eh best nutrition.

Many think of cabbage as a summer veggie, perfect for those barbecue slaws. yet this is a winter veggie, perfect for winter dishes. You can still have to in slaw form but think hot instead of cold. It's shredding the leaves and then sauteing them in a mix of olive oil and butter. add what you'd like to it . Some add apple cider and bacon to give it more zing and flavor. Garlic and hot pepper can also be added for a more Szechuan flavor. Another idea is turning that round head into thick steaks. It's just slicing it into one inch thick pieces and then drizzling with olive oil. season with salt and pepper and roast for forty-five minutes for 375 degrees Farenheit. Bean dishes are another good and hearty way to bulk up during these frigid times. Chili is the ultimate cold weather go to. It can be made meatless or with ground beef. You can even add pant substitute crumbles in a long with stewed tomatoes , chopped onions and peppers.If you want a five alarm then increase the spicing, namely the chili pepper. Some add a dollop of sour cream and guacamole in people's bowls. Add cornbread to round it out.

Casseroles are another cold weather must make. Lasagna and baked mac are two of the most famous and most beloved.lasagna can be made in advance and frozen, to be used later on in the week.Create a rich one by using ricotta and a good Italian sausage.Any pasta sauce will work with it You can vary it then with a mushroom or garlic sauce. Lasagna can also be made Piedmontese style.This is a white bechamel sauce that's subbed in for the ricotta. It's more of a French style casserole with a creamy sauce and veggies like carrots. You could add beef to this but shredded turkey or chicken would work better.Another pasta casserole is baked macaroni and cheese. THis is the perfect comfort food for frosty days. A basic recipe is one that involves cheddar along with two eggs and milk. par boiled elbow macaroni is cooked first , then put in a buttered casserole dish. The eggs milk cheese and butter are whisked together and then poured over the pasta. Cheese slices and bread crumbs can be place don top for a nice crunchy bite.  You can also add a layer of bacon or ham for not just more flavor but to make it more rib sticking. Gruyere cheese can be added for a different, more subtle taste.

It's January. The temps are frigid. You need a good, hearty meals to get through these Articitc days. Try cabbage steaks , chili or casseroles for  filling meal.

The Wooden Spoon Controversy

Wooden spoons are one of the key utensils in any chef;s arsenail. Yet there is a controversy with howto clean them?Is it just hot water? Do you use soap and what kind?What can you do to get those wooden gems sparkling.

Wooden spoons are a mut for any home chef who loves to cook sauces and soups. They're getting a lot fo usage right now thanks to home chefs cooking up a lot during thiese chilly days. Wood is a better medium than plastic which could melt or become deformed thanks to high heat. Cermaic spoons can cause chips.For millennia wooden spoons are the best. They absorb heat and don;t turn red hot like metal ones do.They are the workhorses of a modern kitchenand that means they can get dirty quickly. According to Maki Yazawa, a writer for The New York Times Wirecutter zine wooden spoons should be washed with unscented dish soap and warm water.  Use a sturdy sponge like Scotch Brite (which can be bought in four packs at any grocery)The next step is drying it with a towel or paper towel.Just pat gently and then let air dry preferably overnight or at least for a few hours.

There is an extra step if the wood looks dry. Use a splash of food grade mineral oil such as Thirteen Chef Mineral OIl or Howard Cutting Board OIl. Keep in mind since wood is porous it will absorb oil over time to hydrate it . Every now and then it does need extra oil.This will prevent it from cracking and splintering which could lead to bacterial build up. Add a few drops at a time  of the mineral oil and rub it on the surface using a paper towel. Don;t aggressively rub it in. The spoons just needs to be well coated. A bit of excess oil isn;t a big deal. This does require downtime for the oil to soak in. Do this before vacation or on a week where you won;t be needing the spoon.How do you know you;ve applied a sufficient amount of oil? Drip water on it and see if the droplets hold their shape.If they're absorbed into the would then more oil is needed. The wood is still "thirsty". You could also just gently wash the spoons as you would regular spoons and then let them air dry. This works for many including myself.

Wooden spoons are a big part of home cooking. Treat them well and they'll last a long time. Sometimes even the studiest tools need tender loving care.

Sturdy Seeds A Symbol for Altadena

 The California wildfires have created an unimaginable ,horrific hellscape.There has been so much destruction that even resident Jay Leno has likened it to Hiroshima. Yet there is hope among the ashes. It relies on plant seeds that could bring back wildlife and foods. 

LA resident and regular contributor Tejal Rao wrote about this miracle in yesterday's New York Times Wednesday Food section.It is in Altadena, an area where there was nothing but mass destruction.The town had seeds banks, small wooden structures similar to small curb side libraries where home chefs could takes seeds to cultivate or use in cooking.One, Nina Raj, a naturalist who live-in the city took her seed collection during an evacuation. She had to pack her Marilija poppy seeds, Engelmann oak acorns,California buckeye, sage and buckwheat seeds. Many of these had been n gathered around Easton Canyon where another detrimental fire, the Eaton Wildfire is still smoldering This was an area that attracted seed collectors as well a  shikers and cyclists, along with indigenous animals also ate these seeds and drank from ponds and pools..

Luckily Ms. Raj's home is still standing while many of her neighbors are now homeless. however the surround ground may or may not be good for regrowing seeds. As shocking as it sounds fire is part of the ecosystem of Southern California. Some native plants have learned to germinate or go to seed in the ashes while  others have been shown to clean scorched soil and prepare it for new growth    Ms Raj realizes this and on Monday worked with a local nursery to dole out protective ear and tools for homeowners. She also put out a call for seed donations too . Within days people were dropping off seed packets. One person even gave a California black walnut sapling.Other mailed in yarrow, mugwort sagebrush and lupine seeds.  All of these can be used in teas and soups. They are flavorful and can be considered a part of native Californian cuisine.In recent years many Altadenans have replaced their gardens with vegetable and seed patches.    Hopefully the land won;t be polluted with flame retardants, salt water and ash that were used to extinguish the flames.  Ms Raj is hopeful. The plants are resilient and will grow back - a symbol of the people of latadena themselves.

California will rebuild and grow. The plant life will come back. it will take a while but the seeds and plants that made it unique  will regrow and thrive.