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This weekend, several Los Angeles chefs and restaurants are joining the international restaurant industry and culinary world movement to #CookForUkraine, a humanitarian aid initiative that initially began as a British UNICEF crowdfunding effort started by London-based chefs Olia Hercules and Alissa Timoshkina.
The pair, who are Ukrainian and Russian, respectively, told The Guardian their joint initiative is “really important” for the world to see. “In a way we are symbolizing the two sides of the war. For us, there is no conflict, just love, food and community,” Timoshkina said.
As with previous emergency and mutual aid efforts, several key players in L.A.’s food and restaurant sphere have taken to their kitchens to fundraise for much-needed donations and hopefully spark more mealtime conversations about the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and its accompanying refugee crisis.
Although this list is by no means exhaustive, here are four ways this weekend (with some that will continue beyond this Sunday) to participate in L.A. area #CookForUkraine initiatives. We’ve made sure to note exactly which nonprofits and emergency aid organizations your funds will be going towards, in case you’d like to further research where these dollars will finally end up.
Bar Ama + Orsa & Winston (Downtown): For all of Friday and Saturday, both of chef Josef Centeno’s Downtown restaurants will donate 100% of sales towards four charities (which we detail below). This includes takeout orders and gift cards, as well. While Orsa & Winston appears to be fully booked for this weekend, there are plenty of Bar Ama reservations available online.
All proceeds will go to the World Central Kitchen, the NGO founded by international chef José Andrés, which is currently serving meals on the ground to Ukrainian refugees in Poland, Romania, Moldova and Hungary; International Rescue Committee, an 89-year-old NGO that’s on the ground in Poland currently assisting Ukrainian refugees; Voices of Children, a psychological support organization for children in Ukraine impacted by the war; and CARE, an international humanitarian relief agency that’s delivering food, water and hygiene kits to Ukraine.
Now Serving’s #CookForUkraine Bake Sale (Chinatown): On Saturday, March 12th, from 11am to 2pm (or until sold out), this chef-oriented Chinatown cookbook shop will hold a bake sale on the second floor of Far East Plaza featuring over 30 different pastry chefs, restaurants and cottage bakers. All of the proceeds will go towards UNICEF UK’s emergency fund meant specifically for Ukrainian children and families.
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Found Coffee (Eagle Rock): From Thursday, March 10th to Thursday, March 24th, 100% of sales from all retail bags of specialty coffee at this Northeast L.A. coffee shop will be donated to the International Rescue Committee. Retail bags will have a yellow and blue sticker or label to indicate their association.
Ms Chi Cafe (Culver City): For "as long as needed," the kitchen team at chef Shirley Chung’s Culver City restaurant will be folding and selling dine-in and takeout orders of blue-and-yellow dumplings inspired by Ukrainian vareniki. Each flag-colored potsticker is filled with dill, chicken, mushrooms, cabbage and sunchokes (a type of sunflower root, in honor of Ukraine’s national flower) and is served with a side of horseradish sour cream. One order costs $12 and contains six blue-and-yellow Freedom Dumplings—and are also available nationwide in 20-packs via Goldbelly.
Freedom Dumpling proceeds will go to the following four organizations: UNICEF; World Central Kitchen; Come Back Alive—a Ukrainian NGO providing direct assistance to the country’s military; and Nova Poshta, a Ukrainian humanitarian aid organization distributing military and civilian supplies within the country from abroad.
March 11 update: Found Coffee's retail coffee sale for the International Rescue Committee has been extended by one week to Thursday, March 24. It was previously Thursday, March 17th.