Thai Town, Team USA, and the Knicks are Champions

Discussed in this issue: Big sports wins, boat-to-table dining, and member Eli Meyer’s new avocado oil line.

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

From Jamie’s Desk:

What a difference a win makes. I know, I know – with the amount of sports going on right now, that could mean so many things. 

UNC Baseball is in Omaha seeking their first College World Series title in 19 years. 

The Carolina Hurricanes won their 2nd Stanley Cup, 20 years after their first victory. 

Serena Williams won her first doubles in her first pro match in 6 years. Next up: she’ll be playing with her sister Venus at Wimbledon. 

Cape Verde tied Spain in the World Cup. I realize that isn't a win, but we gotta give it up to these guys – and the new star of the tournament, 40 year-old goalie Josimar Dias, aka Vozinha (which means “little granny” in Portuguese!)

Yes, there were many wins this week, but I am actually talking about two different wins in particular. First, the one we should all be celebrating: Team USA’s 4-1 victory against Paraguay.

I realize that last week I wrote all about the World Cup and made the claim that people don’t care about soccer in the U.S. — for which I can happily say I was wrong. We showed up for our team (~16 million people tuned in on TV, the most watched game ever), and they did not disappoint. We can’t get ahead of ourselves, because we still have weeks to go in the tournament, but our team crushed our first World Cup game on U.S. soil since 1994. The whole country was in awe, and the game itself was packed with familiar faces. Where else can you find Tom Cruise, Leo DiCaprio, Bill Gates, Paris Hilton, and George Lucas all under the same roof, cheering for the same team? 

This is what the World Cup does: it brings countries together. No matter how divided we feel right now, we can all take a moment and root for a common goal. So tomorrow (Friday June 19th at 12 PT), close your laptops, and head to a bar or restaurant or friend’s house. Get ready to root on OUR team on our quest for a second victory. 

Of course, there’s another win I want to celebrate: the 2026 NBA Champions, the New York Knicks. Most of you know that I was born and raised in NYC, and grew up a die-hard Knicks fan. However, after being gone for over 20 years, having kids, and many other reasons (which I’m working through with my therapist) I have lost my love for the team.

Growing up, I went to the games, I had season tickets, and even flew to Houston for the 1994 finals. John Stark’s autographed game-worn sneaker that he gave me was my prized possession. I could call Herb Williams a friend and Jeff Van Gundy even gave me the Knicks strength workout in ‘93 for my high school basketball season. With that all being said, no matter how great this group of the Knicks are (and let’s be honest, they’re pretty awesome), I found it hard to catch Knick fever again. 

But now that the dust has settled, I'm so glad they won the Championship. They held the record for the 5th longest streak without a series win, which is not a fun record to have. To watch Jalen Brunson, OG, Josh Hart, and the rest of the team bring this title home was beyond special. Watching the embrace between Patrick Ewing and KAT after the win does little to remove the sting of his 1995 Game 7 missed finger roll (IYKYK) but you could see how excited he was – which made me happy. 

Finally, it was amazing to see the joy of the fans who have dedicated their lives to this team. 53 years is a lifetime (crazy, I wasn’t even alive the last time they won). As someone who has jumped teams for multiple reasons throughout the years (back to the therapist), I can’t even be mad at the people who just claimed their Knicks fandom in Game 5 (you know who you are). But the people who I’m happiest for are the loyalists who have been there since day one, constantly donning blue and orange and cheering them on. First and foremost: Spike Lee. There’s no more iconic Knicks fan in the world. So congratulations to him, and to every fan who has gotten their hopes up every season for decades just to be heartbroken year after year. I saw a tweet before the Championship began that is even more relevant after the win: 

So honestly, although I feel a bit of a fraud because I have just been saying thank you to the texts I’ve been getting – I actually appreciate them now in retrospect. 13 year-old me is smiling deep down inside. No, I’m not trying to reclaim the Knicks – but this win would’ve meant a lot to me as a kid. So I guess I’m reclaiming some of my greatest childhood memories involving the team. I’ll cherish those forever, and for that I say: thank you, New York Knickerbockers. And congratulations!

I also want to give a special shoutout to some of the Jamie’s List subscribers who have been ride or die Knicks fans since day one: Spike Lee, Ben Lyons, Adam Stein, Seth Stein, Russ Axelrod, Aaron Stern, Jeremy Kleiner, Jonathan Levine, Marc Rose, Mark Ronson, Samantha Ronson, Jane Biondi, Cristo Brown and Billy Rudin. I’m sure there are many more, too. Enjoy every moment! 

🎧 Lunch With Jamie is available as a podcast—perfect for easy, on-the-go listening. Follow along on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, share, and comment. We want to hear from you!

In honor of the World Cup, my crew and I are highlighting spots in some of the host cities across North America.

📍Los Angeles: Jitlada
Cuisine: Thai
Crew: Aaron Stern, Alex Tse, Andy Wang, Ben Hundreds, Chris Rice, David Nathanson, Eli Meyer, James Ponsoldt, Marc Rose, Martha Patricof, Rachel Halilej, Bon Appetit, Condé Nast Traveler, Eater, Goop, The Infatuation, The LA Times, Time Out
Good For: Dinner with Friends, Date Night, No Reservations
Pro Tip: Remember, Thai food is always spicy so if you are someone who can't handle spice, make sure you let them know – they'll happily accommodate anything.
What to Order: Crying Tiger Beef or Pork, Mussels with Curry (or broth), Crispy Morning Glory Salad, Turmeric Wings, Pad Thai, Spicy Crispy Pork Noodles, Southern Curry, Crispy Catfish Salad, Jungle Curry with Pork, Plaa Pear (a MUST)
Notes: As far as OG restaurants go in LA, Jitlada has to be in the hall of fame. Jazz has been leading the charge and setting the standard in the Thai food scene for a very long time. Opened in the late 1970s, it was one of Jonathan Gold's favorite Thai places, which I'm sure is how I and most people first discovered it. Set in the heart of Thai Town, it has something for everybody. It has a menu that's even bigger than your average New York City Greek diner, serving cuisines and specialties from both northern and southern Thailand. Jazz is also up there with one of the greatest hosts in the city. She greets you with a warm smile (and a big hug if you're one of her regulars). Obviously those of us who are regulars know that a few years ago, Jazz lost her husband who was the main chef.  Although the restaurant lost a big part of its heart, Jazz has kept the food quality as strong as ever. There's still a wait at prime times, however, it's well worth it. Whatever you can do, don't miss the fried fish. You can't call yourself Angeleno if you haven't been to Jitlada.

📍Seattle: Matt’s in the Market (reviewed by David Nathanson)
Cuisine: Boat to Table
Crew: Jamie Patricof, Jerrold Son, Marc Rose, Goop, The Infatuation, Eater, The LA Times, Time Out
Good For: Date Night, Business Dinner, Dinner with Friends
Pro Tip: Explore Pike's Place Market for pre or post meal treats...Piroshky Piroshky, Churkar Cherries and Storyville Coffee (don't miss out on the cinnamon roll or house made granola regardless of the hour)!
What to Order: For lunch: porkstrami sandwich, piled high with house-made pork pastrami, sauerkraut, bread-and-butter pickled jalapeños, stone-ground mustard aioli, swiss cheese, and served on a bui bun. The fishwich, featuring fresh market fish, bacon, shaved onion, iceberg lettuce, tartar sauce, and a brioche bun, is equally outstanding. At dinner: start with oysters on the half shell and the house-made charcuterie before moving on to standout entrées like the King Salmon with couscous, sunchoke, Kalamata olive, Calabrian chili, and caper citronette, or the rich confit pork shank with bok choy, Asian pear, celery, miso, and chili oil. Most importantly, ask about the daily specials, which showcase the freshest ingredients arriving from the market each day.
Notes: Perched above the iconic Pike Place Market, Matt's in the Market delivers one of Seattle's most memorable dining experiences, pairing stunning views with market-driven cuisine.

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