Topline:
Radiologist Hong Pham has an unusual side hustle — cooking and selling Peking and roast ducks from his South Pasadena backyard.
The backstory: That Peking Duck Guy started out as a social media account documenting Pham's culinary journey to make the perfect duck. It then became a side hustle when strangers and neighbors offered to buy his birds.
Read on ... to learn about how Pham got started and how he cooks his ducks.
Got a taste for ducks cooked the Chinese way? Your quest may take you to a quiet suburban backyard in South Pasadena.
That's where That Peking Duck Guy cooks and sells his birds. His clients, he said, include Phil Rosenthal and Roy Choi.
The guy behind That Peking Duck Guy is Hong Pham, who started the social media account in late 2025 as a way to document his latest culinary obsession: making the perfect duck, be it Peking or Pipa (deboned and flattened into the shape of the namesake Chinese string instrument).
The intention was not to sell. "I have a day job," Pham said. A radiologist, to be precise.
"I was actually making so many that neighbors wanted to claim it and offered to buy it," he added. "So I'm like, 'OK, that makes it easier 'cause I don't have to eat it all.'"
Soon came DMs from strangers asking for the same thing.
These days, That Peking Duck Guy caters events and holds takeout pop-ups where people can purchase and pick up a duck (which comes with sides and duck soup) from his South Pasadena backyard — right where he cooks them.
Duck is not his first rodeo. Pham said he and his wife are foodies who've always been curious about delving into Vietnamese and other Asian culinary traditions. For Pham, that also means replicating some of these dishes at home, from scratch.
He'd gone on a tofu bender — making gallons of the stuff, as blocks, drinks and pudding — and also a bánh cuốn spree, or Vietnamese steamed rice rolls. He landed on duck as his latest subject only because he had wanted to make better heo quay, or Vietnamese roasted pork belly.
He researched how to get that extra crisp online and landed on an oven people in Asia use to make roast and Peking ducks.
Pham hosts takeout pop-ups from South Pasadena backyard. Follow That Peking Duck Guy's Instagram for updates.
Visit the official website for catering requests.
"It was called the Apollo oven 'cause it looks like an Apollo space capsule," he said.
He bought one and then another. In between, he experimented cooking different meats with the new oven to get a feel before turning to the waterfowl.
He even got advice from Top Chef winner Mei Lin, whom he messaged cold: "She's like, 'Keep it simple. Keep it basic. Keep it traditional.'"
Hundreds of ducks later, Pham said he still learns something new. That's one reason why his side hustle has stuck around.
"I didn't create like, you know, That Bánh Cuốn Man," he said. "Yeah, duck's gonna last."
Pham starts 7 to 10 days before cooking. Here's the preparation process:
When does he know they're done? "Well, you know the color, we're looking for that beautiful mahogany glistening skin, you know?" Pham said.
Conditions at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center have improved but serious concerns remain, according to Rep. Robert Garcia, who represents Long Beach, and other members of Congress who visited the facility Friday.
Remaining issues: At a news conference immediately following the visit, the representatives described unsanitary conditions in the showers and kitchen areas, food that looked inedible and inadequate access to medical care.
The visit was unannounced: Garcia, the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said officials at the facility kept the delegation waiting in the lobby for half an hour before starting the tour, despite a recent court order requiring the Trump administration to grant elected officials access to immigration detention facilities. “We should have been allowed to visit immediately,” Garcia said. “That is the law.”
Conditions at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center have improved, but serious concerns remain, according to Rep. Robert Garcia, who represents Long Beach, and other members of Congress who visited the facility Friday.
At a news conference immediately following the visit, the representatives described unsanitary conditions in the showers and kitchen areas, food that looked inedible and inadequate access to medical care.
Rep. Norma Torres of Pomona, who has visited Adelanto 25 times in an oversight capacity, said the only improvement she saw this time was that the facility installed water filtration systems in response to a July court order requiring ICE to ensure people held there have access to clean drinking water 24 hours a day.
Garcia told LAist he would leave it up to the independent monitors appointed by the court to determine if the facility was fully complying with the order. The monitor overseeing overall conditions at the facility released its first report, containing 12 recommendations for improvement, earlier this month. The federal government recently purchased the facility from the GEO Group Inc. for $950 million. GEO Group is still under contract to run day-to-day operations there.
Garcia, the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said officials at the facility kept the delegation waiting in the lobby for half an hour before starting the tour, despite a recent court order requiring the Trump administration to grant elected officials access to immigration detention facilities.
“We should have been allowed to visit immediately,” Garcia said. “That is the law.”
Garcia and other representatives said it appeared the facility had been cleaned just before the tour started. The representatives also said they were not allowed to speak with people detained at the facility because ICE officials said they were conducting a point-in-time count and people were confined to their cells.
The representatives said they will take recommendations back to the oversight committee and plan to continue unannounced visits to immigration detention centers, including Adelanto. Should Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in November, Garcia and other representatives said they will increase oversight of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement. Attorneys representing people held at Adelanto in a class-action lawsuit have asked the court to enforce the July order requiring improvements to the facility based on the independent monitor’s first report and reports from people detained there.
Topline:
Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia says his office issued a subpoena to Olympics organizing committee LA28 Friday, demanding it hand over documents detailing its finances, contracts and budgets for venue construction projects.
Why now: The move comes after LA28 failed to include a detailed list of its contracts in its recent budget report to the city, despite a contract requiring their disclosure.
Details on the deal: The Games Agreement between the city and LA28 requires the committee to submit the name, type, amount, term and purpose of each contract it has entered into worth more than $1 million. It also requires the organizing committee to give updates on venue improvements, including schedules and budgets.
Read on… for more about why this is a rare move from a city controller.
In a rare move, Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia on Friday said his office issued a subpoena to Olympics organizing committee LA28, demanding it hand over documents detailing its finances, contracts and budgets for venue construction projects.
The action comes after LA28 failed to include a detailed list of its contracts in its recent budget report to the city, despite a contract requiring their disclosure.
The Games Agreement between the city and LA28 requires the committee to submit the name, type, amount, term and purpose of each contract it has entered into worth more than $1 million. It also requires the organizing committee to give updates on venue improvements, including schedules and budgets.
The controller issued a request for those details in a letter to LA28 in August, but said he turned to legal action because the organization still hasn’t satisfied its obligations. The city of Los Angeles is the financial backstop for the Games, and will be on the hook for cost overruns if LA28 doesn’t turn a profit.
“The Controller’s Office completed a review of all LA28 documents within the City’s possession and determined that the financial documents requested are either incomplete or wholly absent,” Mejia’s office wrote in a news release issued Friday.
The controller's office told LAist Friday that it worked with the city attorney on the LA28 subpoena and that it "has the full support and backing of the City Attorney’s office."
LA28 did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
There is precedent for city controllers issuing subpoenas, but they’re not common.
Former City Controller Ron Galperin told LAist that he only issued a subpoena while he was in office one time.
“It’s a power that controllers don’t necessarily exercise a lot, but when it’s the right time, it’s an important tool,” he said.
City officials have seen some of the documents Mejia is demanding, but only in passing. Sharon Tso, Chief Legislative Analyst and a top Games negotiator for the city, told a city council committee last month that she had seen a list of LA28's contracts in a meeting, but that the city didn't have hard copies due to concerns that public disclosure could harm negotiations sponsor deals.
After city councilmembers demanded to see the contracts, Tso and City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo requested LA28 submit its contracts. Tso told LAist in an email Friday that they were still waiting on LA28's response.
LAist has reached out to the mayor’s office for comment.
Topline:
A brush fire near San Clemente spread to 250 acres Friday, prompting evacuation orders as flames threatened structures.
What we know so far: The Norte Fire broke out around 11:30 a.m. near Portico Del Norte and Eminencia Del Norte, San Clemente, and was 0% contained as of 1:30 p.m., according to Cal Fire. The fire was reportedly affecting homes in the area of Avenida Calita, Via La Mirada, and Via De Agua in San Juan Capistrano, with evacuations ordered for San Juan Zones 4, 5 and 10, and San Clemente Zones 12 and 13. Television news footage showed multiple homes on fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Read on ... for more on evacuations and weather conditions.
This is a developing story and will be updated. For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
Six homes burned in the Norte Fire, which broke out Friday in the San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano areas. The fire spread to more than 460 acres and forced evacuations, Orange County Fire Authority Chief T.J. McGovern said at a news briefing Friday evening.
The evacuated areas are San Juan Capistrano Zones 4, 5 and 10 and San Clemente Zones 12 and 13.
Shelters in the area — the San Juan Capistrano Community Center and the San Clemente Community Center (addresses below) — have space and will accept small pets, said Justin Chevalier, chief of police services for San Clemente.
Chevalier said police would maintain “high visibility” as a deterrent to anyone wanting “to take advantage of the situation.”
Due to weather and topography, this fire moved fast,” McGovern said. “It was a wind-driven event.”
The fire ignited around 11:30 a.m. near Portico Del Norte and Eminencia Del Norte in San Clemente, according to Cal Fire. The Orange County Fire Authority received a call at 11:33 a.m. and sent crews that were already on standby, McGovern said.
“When the call came in, we had a robust response already ready to go from the air and the ground, and I can tell you — that made a difference,” he said.
No residents were hurt, but two firefighters were injured and were being treated at a local hospital, McGovern said.
The fire, which was at 465 acres Friday night, was 0% contained as of 6:45 p.m. About 400 firefighters were working the fire, with 400 more on the way, and crews planned to stay on the fire line overnight, McGovern added.
Other fires have broken out across Southern California amid gusty winds and dry conditions, including the Bryson Fire in the Santa Monica Mountains above Malibu. Red flag warnings are in effect through Saturday, according to National Weather Service, with cooler weather and a chance of light rain expected over the next few days.
San Juan Capistrano Community Center
25925 Camino del Avion,
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
San Clemente Community Center
100 N Calle Seville
San Clemente, CA 92672
Check out LAist's wildfire recovery guide
If you have to evacuate:
Navigating fire conditions:
How to help yourself and others:
How to start the recovery process:
What to do for your kids:
Prepare for the next disaster:
Topline:
Boyle Heights Beat rounded up a list of mostly free events on L.A.’s Eastside and downtown to celebrate the cherished cultural holiday.
Why it matters: Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a time to honor the memory of loved ones who have died. The holiday’s most beloved traditions include building ofrendas at home or visiting cemeteries to decorate the graves of those who have departed.
What to expect: The celebration, widely observed in Mexico and other Latin American countries, also brings colorful, vibrant events to Los Angeles. On or before Nov. 1 and 2, cempasúchil-covered altars, intricately designed sugar calaveras and pan de muerto will spring up.
Read on... for your guide on events on the Eastside.
This story first appeared on The LA Local.
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a time to honor the memory of loved ones who have died. The holiday’s most beloved traditions include building ofrendas at home or visiting cemeteries to decorate the graves of those who have departed.
The celebration, widely observed in Mexico and other Latin American countries, also brings colorful, vibrant events to Los Angeles. On or before Nov. 1 and 2, cempasúchil-covered altars, intricately designed sugar calaveras and pan de muerto will spring up.
We’ve rounded up a list of mostly free events on L.A.’s Eastside and downtown to celebrate the cherished cultural holiday.
El Sereno Community Arts presents its 17th annual Día de los Muertos community celebration with a day full of activities for the whole family. The event will feature free arts and culture programming, community altars, live musical performances and food from local vendors. The festival will also feature artwork and handmade catrinas made from the arts center’s community workshops.
Cost: Free
When: 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17
Where: El Sereno Park, 4721 Klamath St., Los Angeles
More information: Check their Instagram page here.
Tonalli Studio will open its Día de los Muertos exhibition and ofrenda to showcase how land, home and family are threatened today. What We Carry tells the stories of resilience across generations from the communities of East L.A. to Palestine. Guests are invited to add names, prayers or written statements to this year’s “East L.A. to Palestine” ofrenda.
Cost: Free
When: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17
Where: Tonalli Studio, 4539 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave., Los Angeles
More information: Check their Instagram page here.
Join the beloved coffee spot for a morning decorating a miniature altar to add to your ofrenda at home. Each ticket will include your choice of a coffee or matcha, a paint set with a miniature ofrenda and a light brunch. Tickets are limited, so be sure to grab yours through their Instagram page.
Cost: $25
When: 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 18
Where: Cafe Niña, 3923 1/2 E. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles
More information: Check their Instagram here to purchase a ticket.
Benny Boy Brewing is hosting its 4th Annual Día de los Muertos Crafting Celebration, featuring sugar skull decorating sessions. There will be an assortment of crafting materials to choose from and additional items include a clear box to display your completed sugar skull, ribbon, cempasuchil flowers and a customized tealight candle. Guests can purchase a small or large skull and get free face-painting. Please note that the event is for guests 21 and over.
Cost: $13
When: 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18
Where: Benny Boy Brewing, 1821 Daly St., Los Angeles
More information: Visit their Instagram or purchase tickets here.
The Latino Equity Alliance will celebrate its annual Calavera LGBTQ+ Festival with an evening of drag and musical performances, dancing, community resource booths and an altar. In collaboration with the Get Out the Vote Initiative, the festival will also feature a free, nonpartisan, L.A. County Mobile Voting Center located outside the venue for the public to access.
Cost: Youth (under 18) $5 and adults $10
When: 5:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24
Where: Ace Mission Studios, 516 S Mission Rd., Los Angeles
More information: Visit their webpage to purchase tickets
Cost: Free
When: Opening ceremony: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. Noche De Muertos Closing Celebration: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. 10-day exhibition displays open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Where: Gloria Molina Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles
More information: Check their webpage here.
For an afternoon full of family-friendly activities and entertainment, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes welcomes attendees to participate in this year’s community celebration. Featuring three workshops that explore traditional practices, including painting skull masks, flower accessories and herb bundles. Food from Tamales Veracruz y Más and Sammy’s Elotes y Más will be available for purchase. This year’s celebration will feature a number of live entertainment acts, including Banda Filarmónica Los Alebrijes, Grupo Folklórico Princesa Donaji, and Los Elejidos de Asís de los Muertos. LA Plaza encourages guests to contribute to their Ofrenda Comunitaria.
Cost: Free
Date: Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25
Location: LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 N. Main St., Los Angeles
More information: Check their webpage here.
Cost: Free
When: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Las Fotos Project, 2210 E. Cesar Chavez Ave., Los Angeles
More information: Check their Instagram
Cost: Free
When: Oct. 27 to Nov. 2
Where: Supernova Thrift, 1852 E. 1st St. Los Angeles
More information: Check their Instagram page here.
Cost: Free
When: 5 to 10 p.m., Friday, Oct. 30
Where: Mariachi Plaza and along 1st Street, 1831 1st St., Los Angeles
More information: Visit their Instagram page here.
Join Plaza de la Raza’s annual outdoor community celebration, which will include hands-on workshops, musical entertainment, art and local vendors. Attendees can join a variety of crafting workshops, from calaca puppet making to papel picado, alebrije making, and flower making with altarista Ofelia Esparza and family. Attendees can also walk through a vendor marketplace and explore the artwork and altar installations that will feature over 25 participating artists. Live performances include members of Ozomatli, El Mariachi Manchester, Danza Divina de Los Angeles, Tiny Tots Folklorico, Plaza de La Raza Mariachi and Folklorico students, and Folkor Pasión Mexicana.
The Boathouse Gallery will also be open for its “El Velorio” exhibit, featuring original work from over 200 local artists and curated by Superchief Gallery, Irene Hernandez and Manny Martinez. The exhibit will be on display from Oct. 10 to Nov. 7.Cost: Free, including free parking at the DMV lot
When: 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1
Where: Plaza de la Raza, 3540 N. Mission Rd., Los Angeles
More information: Check their Instagram page here
Cost: $23 – $29, including special ticket prices for Boyle Heights residents, students/seniors, and group ticket purchases.
When: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8
Where: Casa 0101, 2102 1st St., Los Angeles
More information: Visit their webpage to purchase tickets.
Cost: $15
When: 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7
Where: Anhelo Coffee, 3609 1st St., Los Angeles
More information: Purchase tickets here.
Cost: Free
When: 3 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7
Where: Self Help Graphics & Art, 1300 1st St., Los Angeles
More information: To register and reserve your spot, visit the webpage here.
* Event will take place outside on the Anderson Street side
The Floricanto Center for Performing Arts and Danza Floricanto will host a Día de los Muertos-themed showcase for its 24th annual program. For one weekend only, the Center will be transformed into a cemetery, and a series of characters, including the show’s guide “La Catrina,” will lead audiences through an evening of storytelling and dance. The showcase will feature themes of love, death, mental illness, teen pregnancy and immigration. Show doors open 30 minutes before showtime.
Cost: General admission pre-sale: $15, $20 at the door
VIP seating presale only: Children ages 5 to 10 years old $10 *child tickets only sold at box office
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, and 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8
Where: Floricanto Center for the Performing Arts, 2900 Calle Pedro Infante, Los Angeles
More information: To purchase tickets, visit here or call (213)-466-2611
