SoFi, Soft Serve, and Democracy (Not a Spectator Sport)

From Jamie’s Desk:

We are officially one third of the way through the 2026-2027 NFL season – which seems unreal. The season is going by so quickly, and I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to see the Rams play. So this week, my nephew Jack and I made the trek to SoFi to see their game against the Buffalo Bills. On top of the stadium being incredible (the views from every seat, the high-quality screens, and the perfect temperature – just to name a few things), being there gave me such a sense of community and shared experience with those around me. And being at SoFi really made me pumped up for the Jay-Z concerts there next week (yes, I’m going both nights). 

But this week’s newsletter is about sports. Monday night’s game against the Bills just reminded me that no matter which movie I watch or prestige television drama I binge – sports is the greatest story, and the script is being written in real time. For those of you who didn’t watch the game, it involved a back and forth of scoring, fumbles, interceptions, overtime, missed field goals, and sad Rams fans. However, what was happening off the field is just as exciting for people who attend the games live. 

There are people cheering as if their lives depend on the outcome of each snap – the ups and downs are palpable throughout the stadium. You have people cursing each other out, hugging, high-fiving – and literally screaming as if they were right in the game or something. It’s always interesting to people watch, and on this night, there was one family I kept going back to. 

The father (a Rams fan) was from Scotland, and the mother was from Buffalo, but they had both moved to LA and met there. They had a 10-year-old son who, alongside the mother, was a die-hard Bills fan. Seriously. He had the Bills logo shaved into his head, was carrying an Andre Reed signed football, and had on Bills Mafia attire from top to bottom. I honestly could’ve watched them just as much as what was down on the field. The story of the game unfolded on their faces – and in a game with ups-and-downs, their intensity was so fun to experience live.

When the Rams went up to kick a potentially game-winning field goal, the look of despair on this 10 year old’s face made me almost root for them to miss it. Almost. When that kick was blocked, the immediate joy of mother and son (and devastation of father) was awesome. I am not exactly sure what the car ride home was like, but what appeared to be the best part of that dynamic was that although there was real pain on that dad’s face when the final kick was made by the Bills, it also appeared that they realized this was just a game.

Fandom is one of the most unexplainable, unique, irrational parts of life. Part of me is very jealous that I don’t really have that deep, all-consuming passion for any team right now (maybe UNC Field Hockey), but I also see the real pain and agony it causes in some people’s lives which just breaks my heart – and honestly, makes me scratch my head sometimes.

So as we continue embracing sports and the community it brings us, I wish those of you die-hard fans luck for the rest of the season. For me, I just hope my fantasy team (which I share with Gus Ornstein) pulls off a long overdue championship — and that the Rams win the Super Bowl.

Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]

🎙️ Next week, my guest on Lunch With Jamie is Mitch Landrieu, who previously served as Mayor of New Orleans, Lt. Gov. of Louisiana, and was a senior advisor to President Biden. We’ll cover his political career, his Working Class Project, and what the future looks like for him. Mark your calendars for 10/21 at 8 am PT/11 am ET.

When I got my California ballot in the mail this week, I found myself staring at it with wide eyes. So many judicial seats, county measures, state propositions – and wtf does the Board of Equalization even do? 

I had two options: I could take on the part-time job of decoding the ballot, learning about each candidate and measure. Or, I could call in a team of people who are more knowledgeable on this subject than I am – and have them join me on the podcast to decode the ballot. And you might be surprised to learn the trap found within the state measures.

This week, my guests were Matt Hamilton and Julia Wick from LA Material, and Neil Chase from CalMatters. We went through my ballot, line by line, and they helped decipher what to consider, how to research, and when it’s okay to sit a race out. 

Democracy is not a spectator sport. I encourage all of you who are voting in California (or even other states – as you can learn something from our complex system) to listen to this episode and utilize the tools from LA Material and CalMatters. 

November 3rd is coming up quickly. It’s time to practice the sacred right to vote – we owe it to those who fought so hard for us to have it. We’ll scream ourselves hoarse over a 45-yard field goal. Your ballot deserves at least that much attention.

📍Los Angeles: EZPZ
Cuisine: Pizza
Crew: Rachel Halilej, Marc Rose, The Infatuation
Good For: Large Groups, Casual, Take Out, No Reservations
Pro Tip: Go before or after anything at SoFi or the Forum. And make sure to save room for dessert.
What to Order: The Notorious FIG, The Pep, EZ Test Kitchen Pie, Sherry’s BestiEZ
Notes: The pizza world continues to explode. Gone are the days of just walking into Ray's Pizza on the UES and grabbing a slice. Now, from L'Industrie to Jon & Vinny's to Sonny's to Joe's, pizza is everywhere and there are so many different types. Bar. Tavern. Deep Dish. Neapolitan. It’s a lot! EZPZ is the brain child of my buddy Beau Flynn, his wife Marley, and Chef Scott Tremonti. The goal was to just have a simple place where you could grab a slice (sounds simple, but so many of the best pizza places today are full pies only), bring the family, be in a casual environment and have some amazing soft serve for dessert – which is harder than you think to find. They have a bunch of different options of slices — but their real secret ingredient is their 48-hour organic dough, which took months to perfect.

They just started in El Segundo, and there is already more demand than they can keep up with. They are set to open their next location in Studio City (at Coldwater and Ventura) in Q1 of 2027, which you know will be packed with every family in the Valley as soon as it opens. One other really cool thing, similar to Pop Up Bagels, every week they have a rotating EZ test kitchen pie. That was where my favorite, the Notorious FIG, came from. The week I was there they had the Wise Guy – which had spicy pomodoro, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and fresh burrata. I pray they keep it on. If you are near El Segundo, check this place out, however I won't be surprised if they keep growing and take over the entire country at some point!

📍London: Oudh 1722 (guest reviewed by Chris Rice)
Cuisine: Indian
Crew: The Infatuation, Time Out
Good For: Date Night, Fine Dining, Small Groups, Good Cocktails
Pro Tip: There are multiple rooms each with a slightly different vibe - it's a historic listed building that was used by hat-makers. Ask for a table in the room with the kitchen, as that has the most energy (personally I always like a view onto the pass!)
What to Order: Go for the tasting menu - it hits many of the important dishes. But otherwise don't miss the Lamb Tartare with Broth, the Lamb Brain, the Paneer, the King Prawn with Fermented Mango, the Monkfish, and the Oxtail Biryani
Notes: Gymkhana has finally got some serious competition for best elevated Indian food in London! Oudh 1722, near Borough, is the new spot from the UK’s 2 Michelin Star Indian chef Aktar Islam, (who has his stars from his Birmingham restaurant Opheem) and it honestly blew me away. By far the best Indian meal I have had outside of India in a long time. The menu takes inspiration on the royal feasting of Lucknow - known as Awadhi cuisine - and it's definitely fit for a King. Now don’t be scared, but one of the must try dishes is the lamb brain curry. I realize that is probably not on your bingo card for a meal, but I promise you won’t regret it. Heavily spiced, it is like a foie gras meets light scrambled egg that you could keep eating forever - rich but strangely somehow light(ish) - incredible and intense flavors from the curry/sauce with a lovely flatbread to scoop it all up. The paneer (which I usually find a little dull) was made with buffalo milk and brushed with the faintest fig and date to sweeten – just stunning texture and taste. The king prawn with pickled mango, spicy, funky and sweet. The meat is beautiful (however, not to keep comparing, but Gymkhana's reign as king of the Lamb chop is not at risk), especially the chicken and the beautifully rich oxtail biryani. Run, don’t walk - although with the generosity and deliciousness of the meal you will definitely want a brisk walk after to help you digest!

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Today’s email was brought to you by: Jamie Patricof and Michaela Sullivan

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