Me, circa 1986 when my dream was to become a chef (note the Carnivore apron from Nairobi, Kenya). No clue what I am cooking, but it doesn’t look particularly appetizing.
From Jamie’s Desk:
It’s hard to believe today is the last day of July. In just a few short weeks, kids will head back to college, school will start up for us in LA, people will be back in their offices, film festival season will begin, and summer will be in the rearview.
Personally, although I got away for a few weeks earlier in the summer, I’m planning to spend the next stretch trying to take some time off—having meals with friends, making a quick trip to the Hamptons to see family, attempting to read a fiction book (not going well), and limiting my news consumption as much as possible.
Between accusing Obama of treason, proposing we rename the Kennedy Center, and now sending the Venezuelan little league team home, Trump’s latest tactics to deflect from the Epstein case are too much for me right now. I can never fully shut off the news, but I’m doing my best to turn the dial down and continue to highlight the voices I meet who truly care about creating change. One way I’ll be doing that is through my Meet the Candidates series, which kicked off this week with Michigan Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow. She’s running in the Democratic primary against Haley Stevens, who will also be joining us as a guest in the coming weeks.
While the heart of this newsletter is always about bringing you great restaurants from around the world (with a side of politics to keep dinner conversation interesting), I’m trying something new today: a few summer dishes to cook at home before the season is officially over. Luckily, members of the Jamie’s List community include some incredible professional and non-professional chefs, and I called in a few heavy hitters to share their tips and recipes. I hope they’re helpful, and that you get the chance to try them all before back-to-school / back-to-work takes over.
Special thank you to Dan Barber, Evan Funke, Jon Shook, Vinny Dotolo and Blair Rich for sharing theirs.
Discussed in this issue: Recipes you can make at home. Mallory McMorrow’s rapid fire answers. Nicole Richie’s reading list. Our next Lunch With Jamie guest: Kara Swisher.
Have a restaurant rec, cultural gem, can’t-miss event, or a hot sauce that changed your life? Send it my way: [email protected]
It’s Dine LA week through August 8th, so now’s the time to check out what’s happening at your favorite restaurants, or finally book a table at that spot you’ve been meaning to try.
For Lunch With Jamie members: on Thursday, August 7 at 1 PT / 4 ET I’ll be sitting down with Kara Swisher. In case you missed this week’s inaugural Meet the Candidates episode with Mallory McMorrow you can listen here.
Apply below to become a member of Jamie’s List
On the evening of Monday, August 18, my friend Billy Ray will have the privilege of interviewing Illinois Governor JB Pritzker at the Wilshire Ebell Theater. JB is one of the few leaders in government who's willing to challenge our party to be its best self. Click here to purchase your ticket.
Photo provided by BLADE
🚁 Make the most of summer’s better half with newly lowered BLADE Hamptons Pass pricing—now through Labor Day.
Whether you’re Montauk-bound or sticking to Southampton weekends, there’s only one way to get there: BLADE. Choose the pass that works best for you, lock in the lowest seat prices of the season, and fly while it’s hot.
Balsamic-Glazed Oven-Baked Ribs
Chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo are James Beard Award–winning chefs and the co-owners of Jon & Vinny’s and Cookbook Market. Widely credited with reshaping the Los Angeles dining landscape, the duo has built a reputation for innovative, influential cuisine.
“Ribs are a traditional summer dish. The balsamic barbecue adds a unique barbecue flavor. Don’t be scared to make it.” - Jon Shook
For the full recipe visit: https://www.jamieslist.com/balsamic-glazed-oven-baked-ribs-recipe-by-jon-and-vinny
Insalata Della Nonna
Chef Evan Funke is a two-time James Beard–nominated chef and the owner of Funke, Mother Wolf and Felix. Since 2022, he’s also been the official chef of the Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
You might’ve caught him on Chef’s Table, the docuseries Shape of Pasta, or in Tastemade’s feature-length documentary Funke, which chronicles the opening of Felix.
“In Italy, during the summer, no one wants to cook, it’s too f&@king hot and the tomatoes are perfect. Behold, the grandma salad.” - Evan Funke
Smashed Upstate Abundance Potatoes with Green Sauce
Chef Dan Barber is the executive chef and co-owner of Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, NY, and Family Meal at Blue Hill in Manhattan. He’s also the author of The Third Plate and co-founder of Row 7 Seed Company, all part of his mission to rethink how and what we eat.
You may have seen Dan on Season 1 of Chef’s Table.
“These potatoes are like a classic French potato galette—but without the fussiness of arranging it into a pie shape. Add the herby green sauce and you have the perfectly bright yet hearty summer dish.” - Dan Barber
For the full recipe visit: https://www.jamieslist.com/smashed-upstate-abundance-potatoes-with-green-sauce-recipe-by-dan-barber
Summer Farm Salad
Blair Rich is the Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer at Legendary Pictures, who is known for movies such as Minecraft and Dune. In her spare time she is a serious home chef, often casually cooking for 20 people or more.
“As we turn the corner to August there are three ingredients that are consistently amazing: nectarines, tomatoes, and basil. This is as simple as it gets but truly delicious, and you can taste the summer farm in every bite. I prefer nectarines for this over peaches because of the smooth skin and slightly more acidic flavor but peaches work as well. If you have leftover marinated nectarines they are amazing simply spooned over some vanilla ice cream or gelato (add a balsamic drizzle, it's so good on ice cream!) Happy summer, enjoy!” - Blair Rich
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Meet the Candidates: Getting to know Mallory McMorrow
Below is an excerpt from my most recent conversation with US Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow. You can listen to the full conversation on Youtube, or as a podcast on Apple, Spotify and Amazon.
JP: What's a skill that we'd be most surprised to know you have?
MM: I'm a pretty good karaoke singer. I was in a scream band growing up. We had a pretty gnarly underground punk and ska scene in rural New Jersey where there were shows every Friday at a restaurant called the King Buffet.
JP: What's your go-to karaoke song?
MM: Backstreet Boys. I Want It That Way.
JP: What news source do you read?
MM: An actual hard copy, physical newspaper. I think it is so easy to get caught up in social media for news or endlessly doom scroll if you read your news on your phone. We subscribe to the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Detroit Press, and The Royal Oak Tribune. I figure between all of that, I've got a pretty even mix of both sides.
JP: What would be your last meal?
MM: Jeni’s Blackout Chocolate Cake ice cream. That's it. I'm going out happy.
JP: Who do you consider your political role model?
MM: You know, this is gonna sound trite, but I was in college when Barack Obama got elected. And what I admire so much, and I think that this is just missing from so much of our politics right now, is when he spoke, you felt better about yourself and what you were capable of. And it wasn't about his accomplishments or his background. It was just inspiring, and it made us all want to do more.
JP: What is the most difficult part of campaigning that no one talks about?
MM: The hardest part, I think, is time. I love it. I love meeting people, I love traveling the state. And that is a choice that I'm making. I recognize that. But it means less time going out for dinner with my husband, and hanging out at home with my 4 year old. I have one day off a week and I've learned I have to really protect that time off so that I can be at my best the other six days.
JP: If we lived in a country where you could legally, with a stroke of a pen, institute a policy and Mallory McMorrow was President tomorrow, what’s the first thing you’d do?
MM: Universal paid leave. It is appalling that we are the only industrialized nation in the entire world with zero guaranteed paid leave. So when you hear people haranguing about the birth rate and asking why people aren’t starting families? It's too damn expensive. And we have to get to a place where we are supporting moms, women and families so that you don't have to choose between kids and your career.
🔥 Rapid Fire Round:
Coffee or Tea?
Coffee
Call or Text?
Text
Early Bird or Night Owl?
Early Bird
Sweet or Savory?
Sweet
Door Knocking or Phone Banking?
Door Knocking
Want to know more about how you can support Mallory? Click here.
Members can join our WhatsApp group where we discuss current events, recommendations, action plans, and vote on future guests and topics of conversation on Lunch With Jamie.
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Photo provided by Nicole Richie
📚 I asked Jamie’s List OG member, Nicole Richie, who always has the best book recs, to share what fiction should be on your nightstand (or in your carry-on). Her picks are a mix of classics, cult favorites, and buzzy new releases.
Pick them up at your local bookstore: Chevalier’s on Larchmont, BookHampton in East Hampton, or Parnassus in Nashville are a few of our favorites.
Nicole’s Book List:
📖 If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga
📖 Rebecca by Daphine du Maurier
📖 Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
📖 The Lover by Marguerite Duras
📖 God of the Woods by Liz Moore
📖 Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
📖 Didion and Babitz by Lili Anolik
“I’m also slowly reading East of Eden so I can take in the beauty of his prose. I’m nowhere near done but it’s incredible.” - Nicole Richie
🎂 Happy Birthday to Jamie Mizrahi, Ted Sarandos, Simon Kinberg and Matt Ogens!
Majordomo with Jordan Okun, Kevin Iwashina, and Aaron Michaelson; Met Him At a Bar with Riley; Perilla with Emily Wilson; San Vicente Bungalows with Micah Green; Cookbook Market with Haley Stevens, Matt Karatz, Gabrielle Carteris, Michaela Sullivan and Mathew Littman; Clark Street with Bert Deixler; and Seogwan by Yellowcow KBBQ with Ben Hundreds, David Nathanson, Adam Smith and Howard Altman.
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, Condé Nast Traveler, David Geffen, David Gelb, David Katzenberg, David Nathanson, Evan Funke, Eater, Eli Meyer, Food & Wine, Goop, Kristina O’Neill, Gwyneth Paltrow, 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, Lawrence Longo, Leonardo DiCaprio, 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, Sarah Meyer, Shu Chowdhury, Todd Steinman, The Hungry Tourist, The Infatuation, Vinny Dotolo.
Today’s email was brought to you by: Jamie Patricof, Michaela Sullivan and Lauren Malanga
