The TV chef who lost his house to the Palisades fire — but not his food trucks

As the Eaton and Palisades wildfires destroyed countless businesses and homes, one industry that jumped into action was restaurants, feeding thousands of people in these fire-weary communities for free.

For Daniel Shemtob, founder of The Lime Truck, an award-winning food truck that serves California-inspired tacos, quesadillas and sides, it’s particularly personal.

What happened to his home — and what he did next

Shemtob and his wife, Elyse Colen, who is pregnant with their first child, are among the many who lost their home in the Palisades fire. But his fleet of food trucks parked at their commercial kitchen remained unscathed. So he had the food. He had a crew of workers ready to hustle and help out. And then he did the only thing that made sense.

Food Network chef and TV host Tyler Florence and Daniel Shemtob partnered with the World Central Kitchen to provide L.A. wildfire relief.

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Courtesy Daniel Shemtob

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What's left of Daniel Shemtob’s home in Pacific Palisades.

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Courtesy Daniel Shemtob

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"I really wanted to give back, and I just felt really grateful for what I had left,” Shemtob told me on a recent evening. He had just pulled in to the Fraternal Order of Eagles parking lot in Altadena, where he and his staff would spend the next few hours handing out free tacos, and clothing, and slip resistant shoes. (More on those below.)

Does he look familiar?

If you're a fan of Food Network TV, you might have seen Shemtob "race" away with victory in Season 2 of "The Great Food Truck Race," and come back to trounce the competition again in the All-Stars round.

A food- and donated-goods-distribution site in Altadena for victims of the Eaton Fire at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Hall on Woodbury Drive.

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Brian Feinzimer

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LAist

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Tacos from the Lime Food Truck at a distribution site for victims of the Eaton Fire in Altadena.

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Brian Feinzimer

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LAist

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"It’s been a rollercoaster,” said Shemtob of the range of emotions he’s felt since he realized his home was gone, and the grief that followed. “It started in disbelief and anger with how it went down, and then it was depression and solitude. I couldn't even do anything. I just felt crippled."

But after a few days, he realized he could be of use, and his emotions evolved to “wanting to give back and feeling grateful and blessed."

The Lime Truck usually caters weddings and corporate events in the L.A. and O.C. Since the fires, though, Shemtob spent many nights at different parking lots across Los Angeles, offering whatever he could to help: “ I feel like we're creating this culture or this community through food and nourishment, clothing and shoes, and it binds us together."

Why it's more than a free taco

He recalls a moment when he was serving a man and his family who'd lost their home. The man returned later to say that after eating the tacos, it was the first time he’d managed a smile in days.

So about those shoes: Besides The Lime Truck, Shemtob owns Snibbs, a slip-resistant work shoe he designed for restaurant and food service workers (after he experienced a slip-and-fall of his own while working).

Daniel Shemtob, at left in yellow, helps distribute shoes from his brand Snibbs at a food and donated goods distribution site in Altadena. His food truck is visible in the background.

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Brian Feinzimer

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LAist

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How you can help

The Lime Truck has partnered with World Central Kitchen, the nonprofit organization founded by Spanish chef José Andrés, known for providing food relief in disaster and war zones. You can follow where the kitchen's next pop-up will be on their website, updated daily.

In L.A., it has organized multiple locations, which change frequently, where food trucks and other volunteers can serve free food. It also helps with the overhead cost of food, although businesses pay much out of pocket.

Shemtob admits he’s not thinking about costs right now. He is taking a much-needed "babymoon" in Colorado, far from the flames. His trucks, though, are still serving.

“I tell my team we'll figure that out. We're a business, but it's about reacting positively right now, and I think things will follow. And so far, I've been right.”