1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,040 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Hungary for History. We have a special 2 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:04,840 Speaker 1: episode today because I think, as many of you know, 3 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: Mike and I both live here in Los Angeles, so 4 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: we have been moving around, evacuated back in our home, volunteering. 5 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:16,319 Speaker 1: It's kind of been a crazy way to start a 6 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 1: new year, twenty twenty five totally, and so we have 7 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: a special episode. We wanted to talk once again about 8 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: Food for Good. We have a really great guest coming on, 9 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: but I just want to check in with you first. 10 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: Might they have what's what's been happening? How have you 11 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 1: been surviving this moment here in Los Angeles. 12 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 2: I feel extremely grateful that we're okay, but there's a 13 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 2: lot of grief mixed with the gratitude. So it's definitely 14 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 2: something that I've never quite experienced so intensely. So, you know, 15 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:48,199 Speaker 2: and it's like, Okay, what can we do? 16 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 3: What can I do? What can I do? What can 17 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 3: I do? 18 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:52,559 Speaker 2: You know, I don't have a lot to donate, you know, 19 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 2: but at a certain point it's like, Okay, I want 20 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 2: to donate my time. 21 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 3: I want to be boots on the ground. 22 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 2: So when I saw you volunteering, I was like, Eve, 23 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 2: I tell me where where do I go. It's like, 24 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:09,959 Speaker 2: you know, just to help, yeah, for the long for 25 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 2: the long game. 26 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: I mean I felt the same way, so grateful that 27 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 1: you know, my house didn't burn down, that my family 28 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 1: was safe, that you know, the fires were east of 29 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: US and west of US and north of us, like 30 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:25,319 Speaker 1: we were surrounded, but like it never jumped over the freeway, 31 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,119 Speaker 1: never came this way, and so super grateful, And then 32 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: a little survivor's guilt of like, okay, okay, okay, since 33 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: I'm one of the Lucuans, what can I do? And 34 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: you know, I donated money, I donated my time. I 35 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:40,679 Speaker 1: donated you know, a pot of chili to my fire station. 36 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,680 Speaker 1: Because I was just like you're in that moment of like, oh, 37 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: I cleaned up my closet, I cleaned out my fridge. 38 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: I cleaned up my fridge, I cleaned out my closet. 39 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: I was like, here's coats, here's I mean, it was 40 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 1: anything I could do. And then finally when we got 41 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: to volunteer at the Pasadena Job Center and physically cleaning 42 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: up the street, getting out, getting the debris out of 43 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 1: a dangerous position so that you know, the more fires 44 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: aren't started, and like you know, sweeping and cutting down 45 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: trees and filling up trash bags of leaves, Like it 46 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: felt so good to like you said, I don't know 47 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:17,399 Speaker 1: what to do. I have two hands. I can cook 48 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: a meal, I can pick up some trash. Uh you know, 49 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 1: do you want this jacket off my back? Like I 50 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: just felt that like helpless for a moment, and then 51 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:26,920 Speaker 1: you just kick into action. 52 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, And you were amazing, Eva, because you always step up, 53 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 2: you always bring it, You're always out there and you're 54 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:42,639 Speaker 2: you have this huge platform and you are really truly 55 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: honestly helping. 56 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 3: So I think I think it's very commendable. 57 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,079 Speaker 2: I'm proud to be friends with you and that you're 58 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 2: doing because it. 59 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: Really look look, I am that person. I'm that person 60 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: in everybody's life where if something's happening, I'm like, how 61 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:00,080 Speaker 1: do we fix it? What do we do? 62 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 4: We do? 63 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: What are we doing? Let's are we are we packing 64 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: a bag? Are we moving? 65 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 4: Do you know? 66 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: Do you need me to pick you up? Like that's 67 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: just my nature. So when something this this big and 68 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 1: traumatic happens, it requires a bigger response. And so I think, 69 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 1: you know, you and I always talk about food history 70 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: on this show, but We've talked about issues that but 71 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 1: bump against food, and so I'm so excited to talk 72 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 1: about food for good, like you know, making sure, no 73 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: matter what is happening in the world, people have a 74 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: hot meal. And so I'm really excited to talk with 75 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: our guest today. Yes, me too, So. 76 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 2: We're going to talk to Antonio Es. He's a good 77 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 2: friend of mine. He's an Emmy Award winning and James 78 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 2: Beard Award nominated filmmaker. He's a founder of Life and 79 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 2: Time publication that. 80 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 1: Highlights life and life and time or time. 81 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 2: It gets us time, and so they highlight food, culture 82 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 2: and social issues. 83 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 3: They're you know, amazing. 84 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 2: I've used to write for them, you know, for for 85 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 2: many many years I would write for Life and. 86 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: Time, Fine Time, Time. 87 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 2: And so he's also directed and produced a PBS documentary 88 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 2: shows such as Rebel Kitchens of Southern California, or he 89 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 2: focuses on really young chefs doing super cutting edge, unique things, 90 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 2: The Migrant Kitchen, which is with amazing chefs talking about 91 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 2: immigration through food. And also he did a series called 92 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 2: Broken Bread with Roy Choi. He's Mexican roots are for Mexico, 93 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 2: but he says that his true identity reflects the city 94 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 2: of La where he was born and raised. So super 95 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 2: excited to welcome Antonio. 96 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 1: My name is Evil Longoria and I am Myra, and 97 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 1: welcome to Hungry for History, a podcast that explores our 98 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 1: past and present through food. 99 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 2: On every episode, we'll talk about the history of some 100 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:10,039 Speaker 2: of our favorite dishes, ingredients, and beverages from our culture. 101 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:15,839 Speaker 1: So make yourself at home. When Nice to Meet. 102 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 4: You on Nice to Meet You, I have such a pleasure. 103 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:21,039 Speaker 1: You guys know each other. 104 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, we've known each other for a long time, 105 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 2: through life and time. 106 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 3: I feel like a decade. 107 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:30,920 Speaker 2: Probably it's been a while, it's been a minute. Antonio 108 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 2: is one of my favorite people, one of my favorite 109 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 2: people in La, one of my people in the world. 110 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 2: He's amazing, and so I'm so happy to connect the 111 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 2: two of you because you both of you are such 112 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:45,919 Speaker 2: community builders and connectors, and I've met so many amazing 113 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 2: people through both of you, and you do such good 114 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 2: in the world. 115 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,159 Speaker 3: So just seeing you both your little faces on this 116 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 3: little screen. 117 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 1: Makes me so happy. 118 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,599 Speaker 4: Might they put up the bat signal and I was like, 119 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:05,359 Speaker 4: I'm there. I canceled everything. I will do anything. I know. 120 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:10,039 Speaker 1: She's pretty awesome. I know, I'm so happy to finally 121 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: meet you and and know learn more about the work 122 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: you've been doing. You know, as we know we've all 123 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 1: been through the fires here in Los Angeles, and you 124 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 1: know I have followed you a bit. You kind of 125 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: have always been at the forefront of food journalism, and 126 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 1: as Mike and I've been doing this podcast, we've felt 127 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: that so many issues bump up against food. You know, 128 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: if we're talking about, oh, let's do a fun episode 129 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: about street food, you can't help but talk about undocumented workers. 130 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,160 Speaker 1: We were like, oh, let's talk about coffee, and we're like, oh, wait, 131 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 1: there's so much slavery in the world today that still 132 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:47,040 Speaker 1: you know, uh, farm this coffee. We're like, so it's 133 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:49,359 Speaker 1: like we always feel I feel, you know, Mike and 134 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: I have really branched out and when you talk about 135 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:57,839 Speaker 1: the history of food, you just it touches so many 136 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 1: other issues, and we wanted to talk to you. We 137 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: know you've been on the ground after these fires and 138 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,479 Speaker 1: you've been doing some incredible work. Tell me about it. 139 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 4: Tell me about how. 140 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: Like when this happened, what was your first thought about? 141 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: This is what I can do, This is how I 142 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: can help. 143 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 4: My circle of friends are mostly people that work in 144 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 4: and around the food industry, chefs, cooks, or creatives that 145 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 4: are creating content for food. So my little ecosystem. As 146 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 4: soon as I see anything happening online, I see their perspective. 147 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 4: And with nearly every single crisis that happens the food industry, 148 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 4: the restaurant community and chefs are always the first ones 149 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 4: to be there on the ground feeding people. You know, 150 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 4: we've seen that with Jose and this is World Central Kitchen, 151 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 4: but we're seeing it with all sorts of different independent 152 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 4: restaurants too. I've been running Life in Time for twelve years. 153 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 4: We built many relationships with the industry, so I could 154 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 4: start just texting, texting friends, texting chefs like hey, what 155 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 4: can we do? What can we do to help? And 156 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 4: we saw the need to get food to fire stations 157 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 4: and to shelters, and chefs and restaurants were willing to 158 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 4: support and donate as much food as they possibly can, 159 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 4: but there needed to be like a messenger, someone that 160 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 4: could connect them their meals. Because they're producing fifty to 161 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 4: hundreds of meals, they need someone to help them get 162 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 4: those meals to the right people. That's where you know, 163 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 4: I kind of mobilize and I hit up the Independent 164 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 4: Hospitality Coalition. So they're an incredible, incredible organization here in 165 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 4: Los Angeles that they help restaurants with food policy, with 166 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 4: issues with the city. They're advocating for change for restaurants 167 00:08:56,679 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 4: for the better, and they also mobilize the immediately feeding 168 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:05,560 Speaker 4: people on the ground. So I connected with them and 169 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 4: I told them like, listen, I have a network of 170 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 4: restaurants that are willing to support you have access to 171 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 4: shelters and fire stations. Let's work to together. And in 172 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 4: a span of a week and a half, we delivered 173 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 4: over fifteen hundred meals. I was running basically a Postmates 174 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 4: for a week and a half and still am. 175 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:31,439 Speaker 3: You know, I have your drivers. 176 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 4: Every single day. Yeah, Invite was one of my drivers. 177 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 4: Every single day we were delivering. We're making like anywhere 178 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:43,319 Speaker 4: between three to five food drops all around Los Angeles, 179 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 4: trying to support these shelters and fire stations. 180 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: Right, what was that like? 181 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:50,239 Speaker 3: Oh my gosh, it was it was really powerful. 182 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 2: I went Antonia was like, hey, can you pick up 183 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:55,959 Speaker 2: at three o'clock? Like yes, and then it's like, oh 184 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 2: three fifteen, I'm running late, Like always so I went 185 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 2: to the window and I said, I'm picking up for 186 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 2: stations twenty nine and thirty five, and they were like, 187 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:06,720 Speaker 2: hold on, they give me these bags of warm burgers, 188 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 2: and then I just got in my car. I've never 189 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:13,319 Speaker 2: been in a fire station before, and I was really nervous. 190 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 2: I was nervous that the burgers were going to get 191 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 2: cold because it was a really cold day. And they 192 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 2: opened the door and I've since delivered, you know, to 193 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 2: various fire it's always three firefighters that come out, and 194 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 2: they were just in awe. They were shocked and so 195 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 2: incredibly appreciative, and I I just couldn't believe it, Like 196 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 2: it's such a small gesture, right, but it's everything. It's 197 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 2: they're exhausted, they're stressed, they're they're just beyond right, and 198 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 2: then all of a sudden, they get some warm food. 199 00:10:57,320 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 1: Restaurants in general are like little families, but the restaurant 200 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: industry is close knit, like you know, Antonio, as you 201 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: were saying, like you've been part of this community for 202 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:11,359 Speaker 1: so long. They're usually the first to react in humanitarian crisis. 203 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 4: You know, it's ingrained in who they are as a 204 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 4: chef to feed people, like it's part of their DNA 205 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 4: that they have to feed people in times of celebration 206 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 4: or in times of crisis. And it's like, I love 207 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 4: this city so much because the restaurant community bands together. 208 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 4: And he gave me so much hope and inspiration for 209 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 4: the future of LA. Yeah, to see this community come 210 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 4: together and support each other, not just the chefs and 211 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 4: the restaurants, but even like Mida or so many of 212 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 4: my friends that were reaching out and asking, Okay, I 213 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 4: will deliver whatever meals you need. So there it became 214 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:02,040 Speaker 4: like a network of organizers working with shelters. I'm over 215 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 4: here running my postmate's spreadsheet, and then I had like 216 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 4: an army of drivers delivering these meals across LA And 217 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 4: then we had the restaurants in the chef So it 218 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 4: was this beautiful village just coming together just to feed 219 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:22,559 Speaker 4: and support one another. While these restaurants are also facing 220 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 4: a financial crisis in staying afloat staying open. It's ridiculously 221 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:35,119 Speaker 4: expensive to run a restaurant nowadays here in Los Angeles. 222 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 4: Yet they're donating and giving away so much, so much 223 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 4: product and their labor. They're trying to keep the doors open. 224 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 4: Yet they're still helping and they're still feeding people. 225 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:50,280 Speaker 2: They've already been impacted by the pandemic. Just starting to 226 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:50,959 Speaker 2: come out of that. 227 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,560 Speaker 1: And then and then this happened, not only you know, 228 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 1: in La specifically that obviously the pandemic really hurt the 229 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 1: restaurant industry. Then we were on a strike. We had 230 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: a huge writer strike which shut down the industry. And 231 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 1: we don't realize how many restaurant workers, food workers are 232 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:12,679 Speaker 1: impacted by Hollywood, all the caterers, all the restaurants, all 233 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 1: the ordering in, all the eating out, all the you know, 234 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: you know when you when you shoot a movie or 235 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 1: a show, I forget the financial impact, but it's those 236 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: small business owners. And so the strike happened. 237 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:24,960 Speaker 5: Uh. 238 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 1: And then we're coming out of COVID and the strikes 239 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 1: and the industry is trying to bounce back and no 240 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: more runaway productions outside of La and then this happened. 241 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:40,560 Speaker 4: Right there's I think there's a perception of La outside 242 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 4: of La that La is is a very rich It's 243 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 4: like we're everyone is rich. There are all celebrities, nothing 244 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 4: to worry about the there's money growing on trees. It's 245 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:58,079 Speaker 4: such a fragile city and it's becoming much more expensive 246 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 4: to live in it. You walk outside, it's already one 247 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 4: hundred bucks just to breathe the air. It's it's so 248 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 4: it's so expensive for anyone who's a working class citizen here, 249 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 4: and especially for restaurants, Like you said, they're interconnected with Hollywood, 250 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 4: the entertainment business. So if the entertainment business is suffering, 251 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 4: it kind of trickles down to all sorts of other 252 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 4: industries that get affected. And this city has not. We 253 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 4: haven't had a good break for the for the restaurant community. Yeah, COVID, Yes, 254 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 4: you know it was. It was a huge blow. The 255 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 4: strikes and now the fires. 256 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 1: No, and now now now risk of deportations. Yeah, right, 257 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 1: Like that's another obstacle that's about to come and hit us, 258 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: is that the restaurant industry, like construction, like landscaping, like housekeeping, 259 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 1: like nannies, like you know, so many industry lark farm 260 00:14:55,400 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 1: workers are completely dependent on undocumented labor. And so I 261 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: feel like, once we're going to get out of these fires, 262 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: it's going to be another hurdle of like what are 263 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 1: these undocumented workers going to face? You know, an additional 264 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 1: burden of fear and uncertainty, and these are your dishwashers, 265 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 1: your waiters, your cooks, your bussers, you know your you 266 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: know drivers. What what do you think is to come 267 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: and how does this new threat really affect what you're doing. 268 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 4: I mean, the best that we could at least we 269 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 4: could do Life and Time is to shed light on 270 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 4: these important stories and issues. You know, when it comes 271 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 4: to the restaurant community and the food industry, it operates 272 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 4: in the shadow industry. So many people don't realize the 273 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 4: economics that are at play in this industry. They operate 274 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 4: completely different than other industries. Like you said, many of 275 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 4: the people that work in it are undocumented, their immigrants. 276 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 4: They're either picking our fruit and vegetables from the fields, 277 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 4: or they're washing or dishes or cooking or food. The 278 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 4: pay wage is so much lower, yet the price of 279 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 4: what we're paying for food is not enough, Like we're 280 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 4: just not paying enough for our food. So there's so 281 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 4: many factors at play. So the best that we could 282 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 4: do is take a journalistic approach and shed light on 283 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 4: these issues, these important issues, and that's what that's been 284 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 4: the mission for Life and Time for the past twelve years. 285 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 4: Use the beauty of food as a trojan horse to 286 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 4: really dive into important topics about humanity, about social issues. 287 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 4: Nearly every issue that plagues humanity one way or another 288 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 4: that has a connection back to food. Whether it's the 289 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 4: climate crisis, immigration, whatever it is, there is a connection 290 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 4: back to food. And that is what we're trying to 291 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 4: do with our work, at least through telling stories, doing documentaries, 292 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 4: hosting events in person, getting the community to get together 293 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 4: to at least inform people about the value of the 294 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:15,119 Speaker 4: people that are making our food. 295 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 2: The undocumented workers are such a backbone of the city, 296 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:22,879 Speaker 2: right and also during pandemic, there were organizations like Know 297 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 2: Us Without You. I learned about them through You Antonio, 298 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 2: through life and time, and they were feeding undocumented workers 299 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:31,639 Speaker 2: that all of a sudden we're out of a job. 300 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 2: And it just makes me worried, and I wonder, like, 301 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,159 Speaker 2: how how you see the role of a restaurant in 302 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:38,960 Speaker 2: a community. 303 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 4: They're pivotal, you know, they're pivotal in a community, and 304 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:47,119 Speaker 4: they're the places where we go to celebrate. They're the 305 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:51,919 Speaker 4: place where we get to converse and where all forms 306 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:54,919 Speaker 4: of people could you know, kind of mingle and come together. 307 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 4: All people of all classes are clashing together into this 308 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:03,200 Speaker 4: this one space, and I think we sometimes take that 309 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:05,919 Speaker 4: for granted, We take we take it for granted for 310 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 4: the fact that we're not necessarily thinking about these people 311 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 4: and the lives that they that they have and how 312 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 4: fragile this industry really is. So I think the you know, 313 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:21,160 Speaker 4: the role of a restaurant in in a place like La. 314 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:25,639 Speaker 4: You're seeing it, uh, you're seeing it come to life 315 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 4: in the time of crisis. You're seeing it through these 316 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:31,119 Speaker 4: fires where they're coming and feeding people and doing whatever 317 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 4: it takes. But I also think that this is also 318 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 4: the the the restaurant industry here in La. It really 319 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 4: represents the cuisine of this of this state. You know, 320 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 4: we have so many beautiful uh produce and and and 321 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:54,399 Speaker 4: uh ingredients that are coming from the fields and and 322 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:59,680 Speaker 4: it's primarily Asian and Latino produce and ingredients, and it's 323 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:02,679 Speaker 4: contributing to the you know, to the cuisine of the 324 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 4: city and in the cuisine of this of the states. 325 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:08,159 Speaker 4: So I think, you know, it's it's to me like 326 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:11,959 Speaker 4: a restaurant and in this communities everything, it really represents 327 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:15,359 Speaker 4: all of our cultures. 328 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:18,400 Speaker 1: Right, it represents something bigger than just bigger than. 329 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:28,919 Speaker 5: Us, right, Yeah, food. 330 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 1: And security in general has been around for ever and 331 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:37,640 Speaker 1: obviously disproportionately affects Hispanic and Black communities. But I will 332 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: say food and cooking, Like when all this happened, I 333 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 1: was like, I'm gonna make a big pot of chili 334 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 1: and take it to the fire state. Like I feel 335 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:49,240 Speaker 1: like when you know how to cook, it's the I 336 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: want to use my hands, you know, it's like all 337 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 1: hands on deck. And I do think food is a 338 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:59,920 Speaker 1: specifically for Hispanic communities. Everybody is like I'll make my rosco, 339 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 1: I'm gonna make my tamales. I'm gonna take it down, 340 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:04,679 Speaker 1: you know, And that's that to me is probably one 341 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 1: of the most things about our community. 342 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:10,040 Speaker 4: You're so right. Yesterday we made we did a food 343 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 4: drop of ninety meals to the firefighting maintenance crew. They're 344 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 4: the ones that are fixing all the engines and all 345 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 4: the equipment that's getting damaged by the firefighters. And this 346 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 4: is like the from the hierarchy. They're the ones that 347 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 4: just like they're at the bottom just fixing things. And 348 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:38,159 Speaker 4: we've we sent ninety meals from Dunsmore, one of the 349 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 4: best restaurants here in Los Angeles. Yeah, so it made 350 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:44,199 Speaker 4: me what I love about the work that we've been 351 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 4: doing with these restaurants. These are the best restaurants in 352 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 4: Los Angeles feeding people. They're not like, you know, we're 353 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:55,719 Speaker 4: not getting meals from from fast food. We had a 354 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:59,200 Speaker 4: delivery drop from Cato, who is this is like one 355 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 4: they have a Mission Star. They're one of the best 356 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 4: restaurants in Los Angeles and we work with them to 357 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:07,440 Speaker 4: deliver one hundred and twenty or one hundred and thirty meals. 358 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 3: Wow. 359 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 4: And these chefs are creating like the most delicious, nourishing 360 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:19,680 Speaker 4: meals that you would find in a Michelin star restaurant, 361 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 4: but they're being made a mass scale to feed the 362 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:28,119 Speaker 4: people because they also deserve a quality meal that tastes incredible. 363 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:30,959 Speaker 4: And I just found it so beautiful that some of 364 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 4: the best chefs are making these meals for people. 365 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 3: That's wonderful. 366 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 2: You also talk about sponsoring a restaurant. How does that work? 367 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, because I was going to ask that my day. 368 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:48,119 Speaker 1: It's just also like what's next, because like you said, 369 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:51,000 Speaker 1: this is like this problem, We're going to be playing 370 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 1: whack a mole for a long time of like you know, 371 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 1: what's what crisis is next? So like, how can people 372 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 1: get involve, how do they continue to support and help? 373 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 4: You know, this amazing and I think, you know it 374 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 4: is like our current crisis. But I think this is 375 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:12,200 Speaker 4: gonna be when it comes to these wildfires, this is 376 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 4: such a long term problem. These people might not see 377 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 4: a house or a home for a very long time. 378 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:23,200 Speaker 4: So I think we're only at the very beginning of 379 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 4: helping these people. And there's gonna be people are gonna 380 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:31,200 Speaker 4: forget about the wildfires sooner or later, and they're gonna 381 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:33,280 Speaker 4: move on to the next thing that's happening in the news. 382 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 4: So I think it's very important to continue to help 383 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 4: these shelters and these places to feed people or at least, 384 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 4: you know, support to people in need. So one major 385 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 4: thing that we realized is that having restaurants and chefs 386 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 4: donate food is completely unsustainable. It works for a little bit, 387 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,280 Speaker 4: and it works for some of the best restaurants that 388 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:59,360 Speaker 4: are fine. They could maybe do it one or two, 389 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:02,280 Speaker 4: maybe three drops out of their own pocket, but after 390 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 4: that they just cannot support it. I mean a restaurant, 391 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:09,680 Speaker 4: even the best ones there were like one bad week 392 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:12,919 Speaker 4: from going out of business, Like that's how difficult it 393 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 4: is to run a restaurant. So the other thing that's 394 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:19,879 Speaker 4: happening right now is people not going out to eat. 395 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:23,119 Speaker 4: We almost we're almost like going back to COVID times, 396 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 4: Like people are just not going out and that's a 397 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 4: huge problem for a restaurant. So I encourage people to 398 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:33,919 Speaker 4: go out. You shouldn't feel guilty to go out and 399 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:36,400 Speaker 4: support these restaurants and have a meal. So that's number one, 400 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 4: Like you should really just support your local restaurants and 401 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 4: just make it an effort to at least go out 402 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:45,639 Speaker 4: every once in a while to support these restaurants and 403 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 4: eat or order take out from these independent restaurants. If 404 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:55,360 Speaker 4: you're willing and you have the means, you can also 405 00:23:55,480 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 4: sponsor a restaurant. So we've been working. We've been working 406 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 4: with a few different donors, incredible donors that are just 407 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 4: sending money that go straight to the restaurant to help 408 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:15,439 Speaker 4: them feed people at scale. And that's one way that 409 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:17,920 Speaker 4: you could support these restaurants for them to just continue 410 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:22,120 Speaker 4: to pump out meals. And there's different organizations you could 411 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:25,199 Speaker 4: you could donate to, or you could even just you know, 412 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:28,440 Speaker 4: donate to to Life and Time and we directly support 413 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 4: the restaurants. We've been doing that for a few different restaurants, 414 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 4: especially now that they're not able to donate so many 415 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 4: meals at this point. So there are ways to support 416 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 4: these restaurants in order to continue this type of work. 417 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:49,120 Speaker 1: So we will put Life in Time linked below. That way, 418 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:51,440 Speaker 1: if anybody needs more information, they know where to go. 419 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:55,440 Speaker 1: Thank you so much to Antonio for you know, chatting 420 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 1: with us, and thanks to you guys for listening. 421 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 3: Thank you for joining us, and see you all next week. 422 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 1: Hungary for History is a Hyphenit media production in partnership 423 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 1: with Iheart'smikopura podcast network. 424 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:11,360 Speaker 2: For more of your favorite shows, visit the iHeartRadio app, 425 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:13,120 Speaker 2: Apple Podcasts, or wherever 426 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:17,359 Speaker 5: You get your podcasts.