Rebuilding, Community & World Central Kitchen with Daniel Shemtob

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with chef and restaurateur Daniel Shemtob, whose home burned down in the Palisades fire. He is also one of many local chefs teaming with José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen (WCK) to feed those displaced by the fires and first responders.   'It’s been crazy, dealing with the consequences of losing your home, losing all your stuff, dealing with insurance, finding a new place to live and [having] a pregnant wife who is stressed out,” Shemtob says. “[I’m also] a business owner, [wanting] to give back to the community; I think that that's the necessary step in rebuilding.”   Shemtob is the all-star winner of Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race” with The Lime Truck, as well as the chef behind Downtown LA’s Hatch Yakitori, co-founder of Snibbs footwear company and author of “Food Truck Mogul.”    Four days after evacuating from the Palisades fire, Shemtob returned to his food truck, where he was greeted by Tyler Florence, host of “The Great Food Truck Race.”   “Tyler's kind of the people's chef,” says Shemtob, who worked with Florences on the line, serving 500 people in 90 minutes that first day. “We were serving delicious food … and I just felt that good energy of taking care of others; that felt really nice.”     Because of WCK and the chef corp, setting up around Los Angeles, people are getting nourishment, but also engaging, talking and commiserating.    “We're laughing and we're crying; it's all the things that you go through when you go through a shared tragedy with others,” he says.    Daniel Shemtob shares his experience with the fires and how he was able to bounce back. He also talks about the role of food in healing, the good work World Central Kitchen and the chef’s core is doing, and how people can help those impacted.    “If you have the capital, donate; if you have the time, volunteer, and if you don't have either of those, just send a nice message to someone affected by the fires,” Shemtob says. “I have [received] so many messages… it's so nice to know that so many people are thinking about me or I'm in their thoughts and prayers; it feels like a warm hug, even from afar.”   For those who want to learn more - whether you need help, want to help or both - follow @wckitchen and @damiel.shemtob on Instagram. You can also email daniel@danielshemtob.com. Read more about Shemtob and WCK at JewishJournal.com/podcasts.   For more from Taste Buds, subscribe on iTunes and YouTube, and follow @TheDEBMethod on social media.