The Culinary World Sends Help To California
Meals for first responders, shelter for residents, as wildfires continue to burn
Welcome to this week’s CulinaryWoman Newsletter. I’m happy to see our new subscribers and thanks to everyone who has returned.
Normally, I write about a business-related topic in the food world, but this week, I’m looking at how the food world has rallied to help California. The devastating wildfires have caused mind-boggling destruction of homes, businesses and terrain, and it will be years before areas around Los Angeles recover.
But, the fires also have brought forth a spirit of generosity, which is typical of the Americans respond to disasters.
A number of CulinaryWoman readers asked to hear about ways they could help. Here is a look at some of the aid efforts that are underway. I’m linking to places where you can donate if you choose.
Free meals for helpers and locals
World Central Kitchen, the charity found by Chef Jose Andres, was on the scene in Altadena and Pasadena, site of devastating fires. By mid-week, it set up two mobile food stations to feed firefighters, and those grew to four stations feeding the public by the end of the week. There is also a free farmer’s market planned on Sunday next to one station.
Shake Shake offered free burgers to first responders at any of its locations across Los Angeles County, through today. It also said any displaced residents were welcome to hang out in its restaurants, use wifi and recharge their devices.
KTLA compiled a long list of restaurants across L.A. that were offering meals and discounts to first responders and residents. They included places as diverse as Sizzler, In N Out Burger and Sushi Kisen, to Crustacean, an upscale seafood place in Beverly Hills (where I’ve eaten) which was offering everyone pho and garlic noodles. The Los Angeles Times is curating another list.
Thirteen taco shops joined forces to offer free tacos to first responders, while individual chefs and restaurants are posting offers of help on their social media. They include Andrew Gruel, the owner of the Slapfish restaurant chain. Some restaurants are even delivering meals directly to firefighters on the front lines.
Charitable efforts
The California Fire Foundation, which supports victims of fire damage, was working with local agencies to direct aid to those in need.
Charity Navigator has a list of organizations on its website that are providing relief to victims of the wildfires.
One particular place of interest to us is the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank which has been in business since 1973. It is providing emergency food assistance.
Help for restaurant people
Restaurants Care calls itself California’s restaurant non-profit. It has been around since 2017, and has helped more than 2,300 restaurant workers and 1,600 independent restaurants. On Tuesday, it will begin taking applications from restaurant staff who have been displaced by the wildfires. Those eligible will receive grants.
On GoFundMe, you’ll find the Wildfire Relief Fund 2025, a clearing house for different efforts to help people affected by the wildfires. Unlike a number of GoFundMes, this fund is tax deductible. As of Saturday, the fund had raised more than $1.2 million.
There are also individual GoFundMe fundraisers for restaurants destroyed by the wildfires, such as Side Pie in Altadena, and The Reel Inn of Malibu. You can read more information here.
Feel free to add links in Comments for any efforts that you are supporting.
I haven’t included big national organizations like the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Donations to those groups go into their general funds and are then allocated. But support them if you prefer.
Thank Jimmy Carter For The Craft Beer Industry
Thursday’s funeral for the late President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral was marked by laughter and tears. Few in the congregation expected to hear a food connection, however.
During his eulogy for his grandfather, Jason Carter mentioned that he was responsible for the evolution of the craft beer industry.
In 1978, President Carter signed H. R. 1337, which amended the Internal Revenue Code. The bill included an amendment from California Sen. Alan Cranston, which exempted home brewers from exise taxes.
The Cranston amendment allowed an adult to produce up to 200 gallons of beer for personal or family use without having to pay taxes. This set off a boom in hobby homebrewing. Many of those enthusiastic home brewers subsequently went on to create craft beer and microbrewery businesses.
According to WashingtonBeerBlog, there were 90 breweries in the U.S. when the amendment was approved. Today there are about 9,000. A zero alcohol craft beer industry is flourishing as well.
One of those craft brewing industries emerged in Michigan, the home state of Carter’s predecessor and good friend Gerald Ford. The state has more than 400 craft breweries, with many in Grand Rapids, Ford’s hometown, and Kalamazoo.
“You think about what Carter’s work did to open the door for where we are today,” Jason Spaulding, owner of Vivant and Broad Leaf Brewing company, told WZZM TV. “It’s an industry that means a lot to people. It’s pretty cool.”
Japan Kicks Off The Tuna Auction Season In A Big Way
The Japanese seafood industry traditionally begins the new year in Tokyo with a tuna auction. This year’s catch drew the second-highest price in the auction’s history.
According to the BBC, the Onodera Group paid $1.3 million for the prize tuna, which weighed in at 276 kilograms (608 pounds), or about the size of a small motorcycle. Owners said the tuna would be served at its Michelin-starred Ginza Onodera restaurants, as well as its Nadaman restaurants across the country.
The big tuna wasn’t the only sea creature in the spotlight. Sea urchins from Hokkaido fetched a record breaking $443,000, according to the Japan Times.
Wegman’s Is Opening A Sushi Restaurant
Speaking of seafood, if you’ve ever shopped at Wegman’s, the east coast grocery chain, you know that they sell delicious sushi. I’ve always considered it to be restaurant quality. And now, there is going to be a Wegman’s sushi restaurant in New York City.
Time Out New York says the restaurant will be called Next Door at Astor Place, which coincidentally is next door to its grocery store in Astor Place.
The news came in a job posting. “Next Door at Astor Place opens in early 2025!,” reads the listing. "Next Door at Astor Place is a true culinary adventure located at the Wegmans store in the East Village. Led by chef Oliver Lange and our exceptional team, you will help deliver delicious contemporary Japanese cuisine which draws inspiration from around the world."
No word of the specific dishes on the menu. But many Wegmans stores have sushi counters that offer rolls, nigiri sushi, poke bowls, seaweed salad and dumplings. Let me know if you get there.
Keeping Up With CulinaryWoman
I had a delightful time writing about zero alcohol bottle shops for Food & Wine. My story includes Killjoy in Nashville, 2048 in Chicago, and a conversation with the founder of Casamara Club beverages. (More on them in a future issue.)
My column about auto companies asking to keep electric vehicle standards ran in the Boston Globe. Texas Standard was kind enough to have me on to talk about it.
You are welcome to get in touch with me at culinarywoman (@) gmail dot com.
I will be back tomorrow for our paid subscribers with Red Beans & Advice, my weekly feature on something you might find interesting. I’ll look at a long-running Japanese food show that has become a motion picture.
Normally, I’d invite you to become a paid subscriber, which is how CulinaryWoman keeps going. But for now, I prefer that you support a California charity instead.
I’ll see everyone else next week. Please stay safe and keep the Golden State in your hearts.