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As we were preparing to lock in this week’s newsletter, the horrifying reports out of Minnesota appeared on our screens: an ICE officer murdered an unarmed American citizen. Donald Trump and Kristi Noem were quick to justify this situation: referring to the woman who was killed as a domestic terrorist, an agitator, and a threat to the officers’ safety.
Anyone who had the misfortune of watching the video can see that this wasn’t the self-defense the DHS claims it is. And normalizing this behavior puts all of us at risk. It’s not illegal to protest–especially against masked police who are ripping your neighbors out of their homes without cause.
My heart goes out to the family of Renee Nicole Good, who was a wife and mother. Regardless of political affiliation, we cannot let ourselves become desensitized to this sort of violence.
From Jamie’s Desk:
It’s officially 2026, and it has already been an eventful start to the year. I was very lucky to spend my holidays hanging with friends and family, recharging and getting ready for a great year ahead. Obviously hitting some of the best restaurants was a priority of the break, but as an Oscar voter, I also spent a decent amount of time locked away watching as many movies as possible. I saw so many amazing films this year, starting back at Sundance and all the way through last night as I keep watching. However, the one thing that always inspires me most is participating in the international short list voting, as that forces me to watch all 15 of the best movies from around the world.
And like every year since I started doing this, these films didn’t disappoint. From Sentimental Value to The Secret Agent to No Other Choice to Kukho, these films make you laugh, cry, squirm, and think–but the foreign film that stood out the most for me was Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident. Although Oscar voters have started catching onto international film hype, they still relegate some of the best foreign films to that category rather than best picture. And while Washington is pulling back when it comes to soft power, it is great to see the rest of the world is leaning in. The best way to learn about other cultures and people is through the stories they tell, whether in the form of books, movies, or music. For all the Academy voters out there, I implore you to watch all of these films before casting your votes. And for you non-voters, seek these films out, deal with the subtitles and just enjoy them. I promise you will be inspired.
This year, I’m also going to highlight a documentary from the short list. Not only because it’s a fantastic film, but also because it’s all about one of my favorite high school teachers from Fieldston: Dr. Reiko Hillyer. Classroom 4 follows Reiko as she teaches her course, the History of Crime and Punishment in the United States, to a class of both incarcerated individuals and local college students. This inside-out method is meant to lessen the divide between those in prison and the rest of society.
Directed by Eden Wurmfeld (also a Fieldston grad) and Executive Produced by Fieldston alums Tracey Bing and Zander Arkin, this film won Best Documentary at both the Aspen ShortsFest and LAShorts, was nominated for a Critics Choice Award and has been selected as part of PBS’s POV Shorts program. Executive producer Edward Norton says it best: "Classroom 4 is an incredibly powerful meditation on empathy and connection. It just has a wonderful humanizing power to it, which is what we make films for.”
Documentaries like Classroom 4 show us the importance of human connection, and that rehabilitation is possible and should be encouraged. It also reminds us of the power of film: to highlight stories that can change our minds, open our hearts, and make us better. Classroom 4 is available to stream now on PBS–I highly recommend you all take the time to watch.
Have a friend who’s into food, culture, and politics?
Discussed in this issue: The best tuna melt in LA, Anthony Scaramucci’s 2026 predictions, and awards season is underway.
Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]
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Photo Credit: Ben Hundreds
📍Los Angeles: Little Fish Melrose Hill (reviewed by Ben Hundreds, Owner of The Hundreds; Co-Owner of The Benjamin Hollywood and Bar Benjamin)
Cuisine: Seafood
Crew: Alex Tse, James Ponsoldt, Jamie Patricof, Kate Burr, Matt Karatz, Max Shapiro, Rachel Halilej, Eater, The Infatuation
Good For: Date Night, Dinner with Friends, Good Wine List
Pro Tip: It is great to pair this with a tour of the art galleries in Melrose Hill, you can start at Zwirner, but there are at least a dozen to check out.
What to Order: Beach Sandwich, Half Chicken, Chicories, Poached Steelhead, Stuffed Cabbage, French Fries, Tuna Melt, Fried Fish Sandwich
Notes: Little Fish has joined the Melrose Hill gang of restaurants and we’re all very happy about it. A great place for a date, order a few dishes and enjoy a bottle of wine. The room is beautiful. The food is good and will only get better. The Beach Sandwich was my favorite bite of the night, but don’t sleep on their Chicories, Half Chicken or the Poached Steelhead. They also may have the best tuna melt in Los Angeles, but it’s only available at lunch. We love Little Fish, and so will you.
Photo Credit: Biz New Orleans
📍New Orleans: Dakar
Cuisine: Senegalese
Crew: Alissa Kantrow, Alon Shaya, David Nathanson, Emily Shaya, Marc Rose, Ted Kantrow, Condé Nast Traveler, Eater, Michelin Guide, The Infatuation
Good For: Date Night, Dinner with Friends, Business Dinner, Special Occasion, Fine Dining
Pro Tip: Don’t be shy–see if Chef Seringe Mbaye is at the restaurant and make sure to chat him up. He has a great story and it adds something special to the night.
What to Order: It’s a tasting menu, so the whole damn thing!
Notes: I have been wanting to go to this place ever since it burst onto the NOLA dining scene over two years ago. However, eating Senegalese food in New Orleans doesn’t usually work with tourists visiting Crescent City who are excited to try Cajun cuisine. So when I finally had a free night I went with a local and got to experience the brilliance of Chef Serigne Mbaye and his partner Dr. Effie Richardson. What makes this place so special is that it exemplifies what makes NOLA so unique. It has great service without being fussy, and it’s casual while maintaining elegance. The food is traditional Senegalese food, but with a Cajun flair. And it has the best Jollof rice I have ever had (I also found out that Senegal is the actual birthplace of Jollof).
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2026 has already been a long year: from the invasion of Venezuela (and threats to annex Greenland) to Tim Walz ending his re-election campaign, to RFK’s overhaul of the childhood vaccine schedule.
When I had this conversation with former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci in December, none of that had happened yet. We were still making sense of the controversial Susie Wiles Vanity Fair article, and discussing the gerrymandering that has since become old news.
But the through line of maintaining our democracy and restoring sanity to politics was strong. As someone who once worked directly with Trump, he has a unique understanding of how his brain works. He discusses the difference between the first and current term, some of the candidates he likes for 2028–from Wes Moore to Gavin Newsom to Glenn Youngkin to Mitt Romney. We also talked about his favorite NYC restaurant, Rao’s, and he reflected on his own personal shortcomings that led to him being the shortest tenured press secretary in White House history.
We also got him to make some predictions for 2026– you won't want to miss his top stock pick for the year (you will have to listen for that one) and why he thinks comedies like Old School are coming back to Hollywood. I could’ve talked to Anthony for another several hours. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and be sure to keep track of Anthony’s predictions for 2026.
🌎 Air Jordan co-hosts (and Jamie’s List contributors) Jordan Okun and Max Shapiro have started a Substack: Mad Food World. Subscribe for restaurant reviews, city guides–and the occasional collab with someone you might recognize.
🏆 The 83rd Annual Golden Globes are this Sunday, January 11th. Good luck to all of the nominees!
🩺 The Pitt season 2 comes out today on HBO Max. Congrats to all involved!
🥩 Good news for those of you in the SGV, Cheesesteaks by Matū is opening their Pasadena location on January 14.
📕 The subject of Classroom 4 Reiko Hillyer, also wrote a book. A Wall is Just A Wall discusses the drastic changes that the American prison system has undergone. Sentences are getting longer, conditions are getting worse, and the isolation these incarcerated people are experiencing is vastly different from the penal system of last century. If you were intrigued by the documentary, this book is definitely worth checking out.
🎂 Happy birthday to Jon Patricof and Cash Warren!
🎈 This is also a special birthday issue as my 50th Birthday is January 14th—so happy birthday to me and all the other G’s who were born on that date. Jason Bateman, Jim Ornstein, Lisa Taback, Stephen Soderbergh, Lily Collias, Dupre Kelly aka “DoItAll” from Lords of the Underground, Mandy Stein, Dave Grohl, and LL Cool J.
Anything we should have on our radar? Just reply to this email with any upcoming releases, events, or something fun.
Holbox with Kelly, Jeremy Smith, Ashley Sawyer, Jordan Okun, Tony Sawyer, and Jon Shook; Sushi Sonagi with Kelly, Aaron & Sarah Michaelson, Jeremy Smith, Ashley Sawyer, and Jamie & Nico Mizrahi; Cat & The Fiddle with The Fam, and Willow, Michael & Leanne Citrone; Little Fish with Riley, Ben Hundreds, and Jordan Okun; Mama Lu's Dumpling with Rachel Halilej, Michaela Sullivan, and Stazy Mazo; Origin Korean BBQ with Sawyer and Nick, Carolyn, Lucas, and Georgia Grad; Mr. Chow with Barbara Guggenheim, Alan Patricof, Florence & Harry Sloan, Susan Estrich, Richard & Alison Ressler, and more.
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Shoutout to our crew for always co-signing and sharing their favorite restaurants!
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Today’s email was brought to you by: Jamie Patricof and Michaela Sullivan
