LA Family Housing and television host Matt Rogers will present the 2nd annual virtual fundraiser “Home Together” on Thursday, April 29 to raise awareness and needed funds for their work to end homelessness throughout Los Angeles County. 

The Home Together experience will offer special menus and drinks from restaurant partners Angelini Osteria, Big Sugar Bakeshop, Dulan’s on Crenshaw, Gasolina Cafe, Golden Rice Co., Hotville Chicken, Maker Wine, Nick + Stef’s Steakhouse, Oui! Cheese, Petrossian Restaurant & Boutique, Redbird and Socalo. Up to 50% of the proceeds from each purchase goes directly to LA Family Housing and the deadline to place a food order is April 25. The deadline for Maker Wine is April 12.

In addition to appearances by Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, and celebrity supporters including Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, Jordana Brewster, Melissa Joan Hart, event co-chairs Blair Rich, Karen Brodkin and Zeeda Daniele will present musical performances from Darius Rucker, Boney James, Ledisi and The Linda Lindas. For more info about LAFH and to RSVP for Home Together visit https://lafh.org/hometogether2021

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Lasagna Nonna Elvira from Angelini Osteria for Home Together (Courtesy LAFH)

AAPI chefs are rallying together on Wednesday, April 14 at Summer Social Club at Employees Only, featuring Chef Justin Pichetrungsi of Anajak Thai, Chef June Intrachat of OTUS Thai Kitchen & Coffee and Chef Dan Rabilwongse of Tartine Sycamore. 

For one night only, the three chefs will be teaming up with Employees Only at their pop up, Summer Social Club to celebrate Songkran (Thai New Year) and donate part of the proceeds towards AAPI nonprofits. Pichetrungsi will be making fresh papaya salad, Intrachat will be roasting tiger prawns, and Rabilwongse will be delivering pan-fried goods from the wok. Tom Sopit and his team at Employees Only are partnering with Pernod Ricard to create two Asian-inspired drinks with part of the proceeds going toward an Asian American and Pacific Islanders designated charity. White Bark Workwear will also be creating a limited-edition apron and t-shirt with proceeds also going toward the AAPI community (available to purchase on-site.)

For Earth Month, La Monarca Bakery is partnering with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles to spread the love (and some California Milkweed seeds) to save the Monarch Butterfly.  Through the month of April, La Monarca’s packaged products, like Café de Olla, Champurrado and Mexican Wedding Cookies will be sold in the museum’s gift shop as well as packages of California Milkweed seeds, a plant that can only be planted in California and provides food for the Monarch Butterfly.

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Champurrado set from La Monarca Bakery available at the L.A. Natural History Museum


Friday, April 9 is National Gin and Tonic Day and to celebrate, The Botanist Islay Dry Gin, in partnership with the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC), is launching an initiative to support local restaurants and bars in L.A. as they rebuild and navigate the impacts of COVID-19.

At participating locations in April and May, The Botanist will donate $5 for every Botanist & Tonic or Botanist & Tonic To-Go Carrier Kit purchased to the IRC up to $25,000. Donations will be doubled for all purchases made on National Gin & Tonic Day on April 9, as well as over Memorial Day Weekend, May 28-31. 

Participants include: AOC, Bacari Glendale, Bacari PDR, Bacari W 3rd, Bacari W Adams, Bavel, Big Bar, Chulita, Gabi James, Gigi’s, Glenmark Hotel, Here & Now, Hippo, Hudson House, Momed, Playa Provisions, R10 Social House, Riviera House, Seventy 7 Lounge, Socalo, Steak & Whisky, The Broken Shaker, The Griddle Café and The Ordinarie.

What’s Popping Up is a weekly column in the LA Weekly that explores all that’s new in food and drink

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