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From Jamie’s Desk:
If you are a regular reader of Jamie's List, you know that I am always talking about women's sports. There are a few obvious reasons for that: first is Riley's love of them, and second is Jon Patricof's Athletes Unlimited. But my deep respect and appreciation for women goes far beyond the world of sports. With International Women's Day this Sunday, I did a little self-reflection to find the root of my commitment to supporting women.
With a wife and two daughters, I am surrounded by women 24/7— and let's be honest, doing what is best for them drives everything I do. But as I think more deeply about it, the answer is actually very clear. My commitment to being an advocate for women starts with one person: my mother, Susan Patricof.
Two days ago, March 3rd, would have been her 83rd birthday. It is not a coincidence that International Women's Day falls within one week of the day she was born. In fact, it makes all the sense in the world.
My mother dedicated her life to giving back. That began with her work at the Northside Center for Child Development, where she served as president and chairwoman for more than 40 years. To this day, there is a Head Start Center in her name in Harlem, a permanent reminder of her impact. She didn't just sit in boardrooms, though. As part of her work with the International Rescue Committee, she traveled on aid missions to Haiti, Rwanda, Uganda, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and beyond. She showed up and did the work, every time.
Recently, I was at an event when a woman around my age came up to me and said: "I was just thinking of you the other day. Your mom was the biggest influence in my life. She showed me how to give back and how to make an impact, and I think about her all the time."
There is nothing that makes a son prouder to hear.
And then there is Kelly. The fact that I found a wife who was equally inspired by my mother — and went on to be the Co-CEO of Baby2Baby, an organization that has served over one million children in need across the country and has provided more than half a billion critical items — is exactly what my mother would have wanted. She would be so proud of Kelly and everything Baby2Baby has become. In her own way, Kelly carries on her legacy every single day.
I hope I am making her proud too.
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Discussed in this issue: Mojave desert eats, voting with your phone, and a new Harry Styles album.
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In honor of International Women's Day, we have specifically highlighted restaurants with female chefs. You should always frequent these places–but be sure to make an extra special trip this week. In addition, because it is Fashion week, we added a special Paris restaurant from our favorite Paris expert, Ben Hundreds.
Photo Credit: Mad Food World
📍Los Angeles: SQIRL (reviewed by Max Shapiro)
Cuisine: Bistro
Crew: Aaron Stern, Alex Tse, Brian McGinn, James Ponsoldt, Jason Spivak, Max Winkler, Rachel Halilej, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, Eater, Food & Wine, Michelin Guide
Good For: Business Dinner, Good Wine List, Cocktails, Large Groups, Date Night
Pro Tip: Two people isn’t enough to try everything–bring friends.
What to Order: Teajou (cocktail), Beef Tartare, Chicken Liver, Sqipms (Squid stuffed with shrimp chorizo), the Steak (A Denver), Pommes Aligot, the Pork, Yuzu Tart, and Sticky Toffee Madeleines
Notes: Jessica Koslow’s daytime institution quietly became one of LA’s most considered dinner destinations. Sqirl has been open for lunch only for around 14 years, so I’m treating this dinner expansion as a new opening. The menu is impressive, the vibe works well, and the food is very good. This is a well thought out, carefully sourced menu that clearly wasn’t thrown together overnight. This has been in development for a while and it shows, even in the soft opening stage. Jessica Koslow has done a really nice job, and the people she’s brought in have done the same. Congrats to Jessica and everyone who helped bring this together. We have another good one on our hands.
To see the rest of Max’s review, as well as other hot LA dining picks, subscribe to Mad Food World.
Photo Credit: Jason Spivak
📍Yucca Valley, CA: La Copine (reviewed by Jason Spivak)
Cuisine: American Eclectic
Crew: James Ponsoldt, Joseph Varet, Rachel Halilej, Bon Appétit, The Infatuation, The LA Times, The New York Times
Good For: Casual, Small Groups, Large Groups
Pro Tip: A limited number of reservations are available no more than 30 days in advance by text message only. A good number of tables are held for walk-ins daily, however crowds start forming at 10:30 for the 11:00 opening. We arrived on a Sunday at 10:45 and were seated by 11:40. Those arriving after 11:00 were quoted an hour and a half. So, arrive early! There is a covered waiting area with beverages available for purchase while you wait.
What to Order: Steak Sando, Black Tie Latke, Shrimp Roll, White Bean Escarole Soup, Chickpea Panisse
Notes: Appearing seemingly out of nowhere on a winding and hilly desert highway that evokes the iconic car chase in One Battle After Another–La Copine is exceptional. It is one of those rare restaurants that exists uniquely in its geography and operates uncompromisingly on its own terms, while remaining welcoming and warm in its execution. As such, La Copine has made its Mojave desert location a destination.
The restaurant is only open Thurs-Sun from 11-4, and seats are precious. Crowds start convening around 10:30. The congregation is very conspicuous on the side of the otherwise sleepy desert road. The menu is eclectic but coherent. Highlights of our meal were the steak sando with salted cabbage slaw and tonkotsu sauce; the "black tie latke" made from potatoes and sunchokes and topped with smoked salmon, fried capers, frisee and poached egg; a wonderful shrimp roll with pickled carrots, daikon and jalapenos; and chickpea panisse with saffron, roasted garlic aioli and pimenton. La Copine is an absolute must if you are in this part of California, and is also a worthy day trip for any food traveler up for the drive.
Photo Credit: Ben Hundreds
📍Paris: Mamiche (reviewed by Ben Hundreds)
Cuisine: Bakery
Crew: Eli Meyer, Kate Burr, Eater, Michelin Guide, The Infatuation
Good For: Casual, Take Out, No Reservations
Pro Tip: It’s around the corner from the best breakfast in Paris, Holybelly. Plus, it’s a short walk to Republique, so you can grab your food and eat at the plaza.
What to Order: Babka, Sourdough, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cinnamon Roll, Ham and Cheese Rolls
Notes: Mamiche is one of my favorite bakeries in Paris. Chances are there will be a line when you go, but I’m here to tell you that it’s worth the wait. There are plenty of great things to grab from their case, but the babka is some of the best you’ll ever have and cannot be missed!
Photo Credit: Chainsaw
📍Los Angeles: Chainsaw (reviewed by Ben Hundreds)
Cuisine: Venezuelan
Crew: Kate Burr, Jamie Patricof, Eater, The Infatuation, The LA Times
Good For: Casual, Take Out, No Reservations
Pro Tip: If you’re hungry for lunch, have the pork Milanesa and you won’t be disappointed.
What to Order: Seasonal Fruit Pie, Icebox Cakes, Pork Milanesa, Jamón y Queso Arepa
Notes: Across the street from Little Fish Melrose Hill lives one of the best desserts, and maybe the best pie, in Los Angeles. Chainsaw opened its first brick and mortar store on Melrose a few months ago and they’re cranking out some great dishes. Most people run for the icebox cakes but the real star is the Apple, Strawberry and Date Pie. The double crust is perfect and the filling is exactly what you want it to be…sweet, soft and thick enough.
We do everything on our phones: banking, healthcare, and business deals have become routine. The convenience is unmatched, and we’ve developed trust in the security provided by app developers. So it just makes sense that we also use our phones to vote.
This week, my guest is Bradley Tusk, founder of Tusk Strategies, Tusk Ventures, Solving Hunger, the Gotham Book Prize, and P&T Knitwear (a bookstore and podcast studio in NYC that you should all check out). He’s also host of the podcast FIREWALL, and writes a Substack.
But out of all of those things, the one I want to focus on the most is his most important project of the moment—the Mobile Voting Project. Since learning about this initiative last year, I was immediately intrigued.
Voter suppression is a massive problem in this country. Bradley explains that people in power aren’t going to make it easier for others to gain that power–so why would they make voting easier? Having access to a secure mobile ballot would increase voter turnout, and create change through true democracy. It would allow disabled and military voters to stay civically engaged, and make things convenient, which would in turn cause more people to vote.
For those of you who are skeptical about security, we of course covered that part. We also spoke about how mobile voting is already in place in Estonia (of all places) and has been successful.
I urge everyone to listen to this podcast and read his book, which is linked below in the list.
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Aaron Michaelson, Aaron Stern, Adam Saper, Adam Smith, Alex Tse, Andy Wang, Anthony Jacobson, Ashley Sawyer, Ben Hundreds, Blake Lively, Bobby Kim, Brian McGinn, Chad Colby, Chad Gutstein, Chris Rice, Condé Nast Traveler, David Gelb, David Katzenberg, David Nathanson, Evan Funke, Eater, Eli Meyer, Food & Wine, Goop, Kristina O’Neill, Iman Dakhil, Infatuation, James Beard Award, Jason Spivak, Jerry Greenberg, Jeremy Smith, Jerrold Son, Jessica Alba, Joe Varet, Jon Buscemi, Jon Alagem, Jon Shook, Jordan Okun, James Ponsoldt, Kate Burr, Katie McNeill, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, The LA Times, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lloyd Sacks, Marc Rose, Marc Mezvinsky, Martha Patricof, Matt Haimes, Matt Karatz, Max Chow, Max Shapiro, Max Winkler, Michael Kives, Michelin Guide, Nicole Richie, Neal Moritz, The NY Times, Paul Zucker, Peter Goldwyn, Phil Rosenthal, Phill Ettinger, Rachel Halilej, Riley Patricof, Sawyer Patricof, Shu Chowdhury, Todd Steinman, The Hungry Tourist, The Infatuation, Vinny Dotolo.
Today’s email was brought to you by: Jamie Patricof and Michaela Sullivan
