Discussed in this issue:
📝 From My Desk — The new must-have thing: community.
🎙️ The Conversation — Back in April, Tristan Harris and Jonathan Wang told me what Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon agree on about AI. It matters more now.
🍽️ Eating This Week — Two unassuming (but delicious) LA spots.
📋 The List — Your new favorite TV duo, a deeply moving play, and a documentary that will shock you.
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With crew members Jordan Okun & Ben Hundreds at the Jamie’s List HQ party
From Jamie’s Desk:
This past weekend, around 100 people walked from the Jamie’s List headquarters over to David Zwirner gallery for a private art tour. It was the highlight of our first official party – a pre-reception co-hosted with Cuff Studio during the Melrose Hill Block Party. The event was an incredible afternoon where conversations were had, restaurants were discovered, and community was built.
I know, I know. There are few words that are overused more than “community” right now, but maybe that’s because it’s exactly what we need. In the era of AI, social media, and political strife, utilizing third spaces and coming together in-person has never been more critical. Humans are social beings – and being part of groups is beneficial not only to our mental health but physical health as well. The loneliness epidemic is real, and the antidote is community.
In a literal sense, the word community has many meanings. But instead of wasting your time with Webster’s definitions, I’ll just give you mine. To me, community is simple. It’s people gathering together (preferably in person, but also virtually) with shared goals. That definition is a driving force behind Jamie’s List. We’ve curated a group of people who care about living an engaged life, doing good in the world, and seeking out great experiences in food, culture, and beyond.
Last week, I was able to experience an incredible feat of community building: the Boardroom Leadership Conference at Baha Mar. I had the opportunity to learn from some great panels, make new friends from different backgrounds, and have fun while doing it. It was an exercise in real-world relationship building – something that all too often falls by the wayside in this digital age.
Jay Williams, Rich Kleiman, Peyton Watson, me, and Connor Schell at Baha Mar
And last Saturday, I was blown away by how many members of the Jamie’s List community stopped by to see our new office, mingle with other like-minded folks, and enjoy some great bites from Chainsaw. The wine that Avaline generously donated certainly helped, as did the St. James Iced Tea. Also, thank you so much to the team at David Zwirner gallery – and if you didn’t make the tour and are in the Melrose Hill area, be sure to stop by. Don’t skip the listening room!
But last weekend wasn’t just about interacting with the existing community – it was about growing it. On top of our existing subscriber base, so many new faces came in and were inspired to join.
So to those new faces: welcome. This newsletter is the entry point for everything – from the Lunch With Jamie podcast to information about live events and our annual book. And of course, the reason many people save this newsletter: the food reviews. One thing I want all of you to know is that while curation is a big part of Jamie’s List – that goes both ways. I want all of you to reach out with restaurant recommendations, books you can’t put down, political candidates you’re inspired by, or anything else you want to share within the community.
I recognize that I said “community” a lot in this newsletter. But it’s something that needs to be emphasized in this age. So thank you to everyone who is a part of this one – and I encourage you to share Jamie’s List with people who you think might like what we’re doing here. Between the midterms, the holidays, and AI’s destruction of society – we as humans need each other more than ever.
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Six months ago, I sat down with Tristan Harris and Jonathan Wang when their film The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist came out. Since then, AI has grown exponentially, the public debate has caught up, and we have a president who doesn't want to regulate a potentially dangerous industry. But as Tristan and Jonathan told me, there are still things even Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon can agree on.
You should watch the documentary (now streaming on Netflix) and listen to the entire podcast episode to get the full picture, including the potential of AI, but Tristan laid out the very real risks in this conversation:
The upsides don't prevent the downsides, but the downsides can undermine the world that can receive and sustain the good side. So for example, if the same AI that knows immuno-oncology and our biological code so well that it can develop a new cancer medicine, it also knows immuno-oncology so well that it can develop new biological weapons and pathogens that we've never seen before. And you can't separate knowing one without knowing the other.
Above is a clip from the episode – be sure to watch the full thing and like, share, and rate if you’re enjoying the podcast!
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Photo Credit: The LA Times
📍Los Angeles: Asadero
Cuisine: Mexican
Crew: Ben Hundreds, Jordan Okun, Rachel Halilej, Eater, The Infatuation, The LA Times
Good For: Casual, No Reservations, Take Out
Pro Tip: Go early, as they sell out of the best items pretty quickly. Make sure to check their IG for updates, as they do a good job of keeping people informed of hours and what they have. If they don't have the ribeye or the flank steak, come back another time.
What to Order: Ribeye Gaonera with Sonora Wagyu Tallow Flour Tortilla, Arrachera Flank Steak Taco, Chile Relleno Quesillo, Cachetada
Notes: It is hard to explain Asadero to someone who’s never been there. Yes, it is a street taco stand. Yes, it is outside of the Pavilions at the corner of Melrose and Vine. And yes, you have to be ready for a bit of chaos. The lines can be long, and a bit unruly (although, I have been twice and haven't waited more than 10 mins). The ordering process is a bit confusing, but it is beyond worth it for the food. If you said the Gaonera Taco was the best taco in LA, you wouldn't hear an argument from me (or most people who know their LA food).
The thinly sliced piece of ribeye takes up the entire tortilla, and it’s unlike any taco you have had before. The meat is seasoned and cooked to perfection, and the spicy salsa that they have might be one of my favorites in the city (they have three options, so make sure to ask for the spicy one). The beef is cooked over mesquite, which adds a flavor unique to Asadero. The staff is friendly and lively, they are blasting music that the crew is dancing to as they are cooking. Not in a coordinated manner – it is just a bunch of people having fun making tacos. Asadero is a must for any Angeleno, and it’s the perfect place to impress out-of-towners with the city’s culinary prowess. You can even just go for a snack before dinner, after dinner, before a movie or anytime.
Hummingbird Ceviche House showing Dodgers pride
📍Los Angeles: The Hummingbird Ceviche House
Cuisine: Peruvian
Crew: Alex Tse, Eater, The Infatuation, The LA Times, Time Out
Good For: Date Night, Small Groups, Casual
Pro Tip: Don’t skip dessert. Also, they don’t have their liquor license — but their NA cocktail program is incredibly strong.
What to Order: Ceviches (Tuna was my favorite), Shrimp and Scallop Robata, Hand Rolls, Lomo Saltado, Scallop & Shrimp Aguachile
Notes: When you talk about unassuming restaurants in LA, Hummingbird just might win the prize. I had driven by it about 20 times, wanting to go, but honestly the location always intimidated me. It’s set on a busy corner on Alvarado Street in Echo Park, and something was keeping me from checking it out. I was a fan of Ricardo Zarate, from Rosaliné on Melrose and Picca on Pico, and was curious what his new spot was all about — but it took me a minute to get there.
When I finally went, I brought along my buddy D-Nice, who said "I broke my 15-minute rule for you" as we walked in. I get it — traveling for a meal is a lot to ask, especially with so many choices in most people's backyards. However, from the second you walk into Hummingbird, Ricardo transports you into another world. I can't say it is Peru — maybe more like the Lower East Side of NY, or a bit of La Esquina. Then the food hits and you realize that the atmosphere, plus the food, makes the drive worth it. So next time you are heading east, whether it’s for a Dodger game, or just visiting Glendale, Pasadena, Silver Lake, or anything in the area —this is a great spot to put on your radar. There truly is nothing else like it in the city. We are lucky to have Ricardo, so make sure to add this place to your list to try.
📺 Brothers, the hilarious new series starring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, and co-created by Jamie’s List member Lee Eisenberg, is now streaming on Apple TV.
🎭 If you are in NYC, run to see Pre-Existing Condition. I had the chance to see it while Lupita Nyong'o was starring, but Phillipa Soo just started her run, with Hari Nef, Edie Falco, and more stepping into the main role soon. And you can pair it with a dinner at Graciela.
🎥 Complicated, an eye-opening documentary about an unspoken epidemic in healthcare (and produced by Jamie’s List member Donna Sullivan), is now available to stream on Amazon Prime.
🎂 Happy birthday to Lloyd Sacks, Ola Shokunbi, Lyor Cohen, and Mo Koyfman!
Anything we should have on our radar? Just reply to this email with any upcoming releases, events, or something fun.
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Claud with Aaron Stern and Sebastiano Tomada Piccolomini; Graciela with Clark Gregg, Gus Ornstein, Jason Hirschhorn, and Amy Hatkoff; Wallflour Pizza with Ben Hundreds and Jordan Okun; San Vicente Bungalows with Alan Patricof; Hinoki & the Bird with Greg Siegel; Ho Kee Cafe with Mark Feuerstein, Jeff Berman, Chris Bender, and Kristi Bender; Anajak Thai with Alan Patricof, Barbara Guggenheim, and Erik Feig; Chainsaw and Belle’s Bagels with the Jamie’s List crew; and Little Fish with Jillian Share, Jen Gorton, and Rachel Halilej.
Aaron Michaelson, Aaron Stern, Adam Saper, Adam Smith, Alex Tse, Andy Wang, Anthony Jacobson, Ashley Sawyer, Ben Hundreds, Bobby Kim, Brian McGinn, Chad Colby, Chad Gutstein, Chris Camillo, Chris Rice, David Gelb, David Katzenberg, David Nathanson, Eli Meyer, Evan Funke, Iman Dakhil, James Ponsoldt, Jason Spivak, Jeremy Smith, Jerrold Son, Jerry Greenberg, Jessica Alba, Jon Buscemi, Jon Shook, Jordan Okun, Joseph Varet, Kate Burr, Katie McNeill, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Kevin Shivers, Kristina O'Neill, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lloyd Sacks, Marc Mezvinsky, Marc Rose, Martha Patricof, Matt Haimes, Matt Karatz, Max Chow, Max Shapiro, Max Winkler, Michael Albenberg, Michael Kives, Neal Moritz, Nick Grad, Nick Tran, Nicole Richie, Paul Zucker, Peter Goldwyn, Phil Ettinger, Phil Rosenthal, Rachel Halilej, Riley Patricof, Sawyer Patricof, Shu Chowdhury, The Hungry Tourist, Todd Steinman, Vinny Dotolo.
Today’s email was brought to you by: Jamie Patricof and Michaela Sullivan
