LA Chef Retains Feeding Folks Regardless of Dropping Dwelling within the Palisades Hearth

Daniel Shemtob, the chef behind the Lime Truck, Hatch, and chef-footwear model Snibbs misplaced his dwelling within the 2025 Pacific Palisades Hearth. Whereas evacuated to his in-law’s home, he jumped into motion with the Lime Truck, partnering with World Central Kitchen to feed these impacted by the fires and first responders.

This week, Shemtob additionally began a GoFundMe to assist the Lime Truck in persevering with to supply assist, assist his household rebuild their lives, and supply assist to first responders and people impacted by the fires.

As advised to Eater Southern California/Southwest editor Rebecca Roland.

It was 11:06 a.m. on January 7, and I used to be on a name with a Snibbs worker. My spouse runs into the home and she or he’s stated, “You could come exterior.” I ran down the steps and noticed that the hill was ablaze. I believed there can be no likelihood that it was going to return down right here. We appeared over and noticed that the neighbor was packing his automobile. My spouse advised me we have been leaving to go to her aunt’s home, and that we needed to depart rapidly. Nonetheless taking calls, I started packing, considering there was no likelihood something unhealthy would occur right here. I simply grabbed a few valuables and my workplace stuff as a result of I simply figured I’d be gone for the day, and I wanted to have the ability to work.

I went to the fridge, and I used to be like, “I haven’t eaten all morning.” It was midday at that time, so I grabbed some leftover rooster meatballs and turkey simply in case I received caught in site visitors and couldn’t order meals to the home.

Round 6 p.m. I noticed there was a extremely good likelihood that this fireplace was really going to hit my neighborhood. I used to be silly sufficient to assume I ought to drive again as a result of my spouse didn’t take as a lot as she wished. There was a giant automobile in entrance of me, a four-by-four, breaking by means of limitations, so I used to be simply following behind it to get into my neighborhood. Three doorways down from our dwelling, a home was on fireplace. I bumped into my home, which had not but caught fireplace, and grabbed a few of the issues I knew my spouse wished. The firemen have been exterior on my road yelling at me, telling me I wanted to go away instantly.

At round 11:45 p.m. that evening, I received a textual content from our distant safety system that stated, “Smoke in the main bedroom.” Our safety stored calling us, and I advised them that our home was on fireplace.

Daniel Shemtob

The following day, January 8, was simply pure melancholy. I used to be taking a shower each hour. I used to be watching the information; I simply sat there and watched it, attempting to be updated. I used to be simply tremendous depressed and couldn’t be alone. I couldn’t deal with something. My spouse was actually stressed and wished to see the home, so I rode my buddy’s bike in Brentwood into the Palisades. Our complete neighborhood was flat.

On Friday evening, one thing snapped in me. I keep in mind going by means of COVID-19, dropping my mother, dropping eating places and my catering enterprise. I’ve been by means of that, and the melancholy took 9 months to snap out of. It was all the identical emotions that I felt, so I acknowledged it inside myself. I made a decision that this wasn’t the way it was going to be this time. I noticed I might accomplish that a lot, and I’ve by no means had this sort of assist system earlier than. My spouse’s mother and father instantly requested, “How can we aid you?” I knew it was time to step into motion and provides again to the individuals. The following morning, I received to do an occasion with World Central Kitchen, which was most likely the most effective providers I’ve ever had in my life. It actually helped me.

The primary place we with the Lime Truck was a church in Pasadena with Tyler Florence. I had no garments, no knife roll, no something. I needed to go purchase pants within the morning earlier than my shift. I advised my group I didn’t have a knife roll, and my group purchased me knives. Then Tyler gave me his private knife roll, which was very overwhelming — Tyler is a celeb chef, and I don’t really feel like I’m on the identical degree. I advised him to sit down within the entrance of the truck to shake palms, kiss infants, and make individuals really feel good, as a result of the entire purpose we’re right here is to make individuals really feel good. He began doing that after which noticed how slammed we received. He received into the truck, and we crushed that line.

I keep in mind so vividly a household with three children that got here to the truck who had misplaced their dwelling. One of many relations, who was most likely in his late 40s, got here as much as me and stated that the meals was scrumptious and that the day had been so enjoyable. It was the primary time I smiled all week.

That day, I noticed the neighborhood band collectively. As misplaced and unhappy as everybody felt, there was heat. I really feel like this was the town that I fell in love with. Although I had an concept, I by no means knew precisely what World Central Kitchen actually did. However they’re actually about bringing communities collectively and nourishing them. It’s about good, nourishing meals, nevertheless it’s additionally about bringing communities collectively: If you prepare dinner, individuals will volunteer. Everyone begins serving to one another, and that’s precisely what occurred.

The following day, I advised my group, “Let’s do as many of those occasions as we are able to.”

It’s all the time wonderful to me how hospitality is the primary to reply to these pure disasters so far as neighborhood goes. When COVID was taking place, we have been all broke. I closed 4 eating places, however I nonetheless was freely giving free meals and free footwear from my meals truck, paying my workers, and paying for substances as a result of I knew that’s what you wanted to do. I’ve been watching that neighborhood step up.

Over the following few days, we began cooking anyplace from 500 to 1,500 meals a day for various teams that have been affected by the fires and the individuals who have been preventing the fires. On daily basis since then, I’ve been working two shifts, and we simply began freely giving footwear.

I’ve donated to World Central Kitchen previously, however being on the truck working to contribute to their effort is completely different. I don’t assume both is best than the opposite, however I just like the visceral expertise of really choosing your palms up and serving to individuals. That’s what cooking is all about.

This interview has been edited for readability.