We Are Where We Eat - How Restaurants Make A Neighborhood
- The Crawford, 474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
Restaurants are central to our lives—they’re where we laugh, where we celebrate, where we have serious conversations, where we share intimate secrets. Behind each of these special places are the people who dreamed them up and made them come to life.
We Are Where We Eat is a new live event series in partnership with The James Beard Foundation that will go behind the scenes of some of L.A.’s favorite restaurants with the city’s most-celebrated chefs and owners to find out more about how they’re making it all work.
First up, we’ll dig into how restaurants make a neighborhood. Independent restaurants have a unique impact on their neighborhoods, from the people they employ to the foods they source to the space they provide to the community. How is that expressed here in Los Angeles? Join LAist host Austin Cross (he/him) and special guests to hear how owners of vital neighborhood gathering spots have made their homes in communities around L.A.
We’ll have something tasty for everyone to try as well, from Bridgetown Roti and Little Fish.
SPECIAL GUESTS
- Andrew Muñoz (he/him) of Moo’s Craft Barbecue
- Gilberto Cetina (he/him) of Holbox
- Sandra Cordero (she/her) of Gasolina Cafe and Xuntos
This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit calhum.org.
This project is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture.
This event is part of Culinary Connections, a live event series focused on all the ways food connects us.
ABOUT THE JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION
The James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works to create a more equitable and sustainable future for the culinary industry and broader food system—what we call Good Food for Good®. For over 30 years, the Foundation has highlighted the centrality of food in our daily lives, celebrating and supporting the people behind America’s food culture through the annual James Beard Awards, industry and community-focused programs, advocacy initiatives, events across the country, and more. jamesbeard.org @beardfoundation
ABOUT GILBERTO CETINA
The 43 year old Mexican born Cetina draws his inspiration from the traditional flavors of Mexico with a clear inclination towards the southern states, in particular the Yucatan Peninsula where he was born. With no formal culinary training, he learned to cook at his family's restaurant Chichen Itza, working alongside his father for 10 years. He took over as chef of Chichen Itza in 2013 and in 2017 opened Holbox. Cetina's love of seafood began in his teen years spending the summers on the coast of Yucatan, diving for conch & octopus and spearing fish with his cousins. The flavors of ceviche prepared on the boat with the catch of the moment are what he aims to recreate at his new restaurant.
ABOUT AUSTIN CROSS
I pretty much grew up in front of a microphone. My dad was a radio guy. I suppose I developed a knack for it early.
As an L.A. native, I have a special appreciation for this land of dreams. Few people wind up here by accident. So I’ve spent all my career helping to tell and amplify the stories of the people trying to build a life in our imperfect paradise.
In my time at KPCC and LAist, I’ve dug up little-known details about our nation’s racial history, magnified the stories of child migrants coming to America, pontificated about being one of the only black males in a newsroom, and led on-air discussions about dealing with trauma in communities of color.
I became a dog dad over this past year. When I’m not wrangling the pups, you’ll probably find me in the kitchen cranking out fresh pasta while singing to Dean Martin.
ACCOMMODATIONS
LAist is committed to providing access and accommodation for individuals with disabilities at our events. To request accommodations, please email events@laist.com or call us at (626) 583-5222 at least 7 days in advance of the event.