LA Chef Keeps Feeding People Despite Losing Home in the Palisades Fire | Eater LA
"As told to Eater Southern California/Southwest editor Rebecca Roland, chef Daniel Shemtob — who lost his home in the 2025 Pacific Palisades fire — evacuated to his in-laws' house and quickly mobilized his food truck in partnership with World Central Kitchen to feed those impacted by the fires and first responders. He also started a GoFundMe to support the truck in continuing to provide aid, help his family rebuild their lives, and provide support to first responders and those impacted by the fires. On January 7 at 11:06 a.m. he was on a call when his wife ran into the house and said, "You need to come outside." He grabbed a couple of valuables and work items, later noting, "I haven’t eaten all morning," and around 6 p.m. returned to find his neighborhood threatened; at about 11:45 p.m. he received a security alert that read, "Smoke in the master bedroom." The next day, January 8, he describes falling into deep depression — taking a bath every hour, watching the news, and being unable to focus — but by Friday night he resolved to act, recalling prior losses during COVID-19 and, after his in-laws asked, "How can we help you?", joined World Central Kitchen the following morning and called the experience "probably one of the best services I’ve ever had in my life." His first service with the relief effort was at a church in Pasadena alongside Tyler Florence; arriving without a knife roll or extra clothes he bought pants that morning, his team bought him knives, and Tyler gave him his personal knife roll. Shemtob asked Florence to sit "in the front of the truck to shake hands, kiss babies, and make people feel good," but when the line grew slammed Tyler got into the truck and they "crushed that line." Over the subsequent days they prepared roughly 500 to 1,500 meals a day for affected residents and firefighters, Shemtob worked two shifts daily, they began giving away shoes, and he emphasized the difference between donating and direct service: "I like the visceral experience of actually picking your hands up and helping people. That’s what cooking is all about." He pushed his team, saying, "Let's do as many of these events as we can." - Daniel Shemtob
