The Overtime We All Needed

From Jamie’s Desk:

One of my favorite memories is when I was a student at Emory working for NBC during the 1996 Summer Olympics. I was 20 years old, working during the day and going to events at night–it was an incredible experience I didn’t think I could ever top. Until now–I’m back at the Olympics in Milan with an entirely different perspective on life than I had in my youth, checking off yet another thing off my bucket list. And being here with my daughter and brother Mark is a full circle moment. 

I’m writing this hours after Canada, my second homeland by marriage, won their hockey game in overtime versus the Czech Republic. To be honest, hockey has never been my number one sport. But lately, the NHL has been doing such a great job of marketing, from the wild success of the Four Nations tournament and the Winter Classics, to Riley’s fandom of the San Jose Sharks. Not to mention, that TV show that a few people are watching– Heated Rivalry. It’s safe to say that hockey has made more of a cultural impact lately.

So although I have been to a handful of games recently, I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one. Let me tell you, it’s hard to sum up the experience that I had last night, so you’ll just have to look at the picture above to try and understand (the expression goes that it’s worth a thousand words, and that has never been more true). 

The arena was packed. Canadian fans dominated as they were the favorite to win the gold–but the Czechia fans were loud and passionate. The game went back and forth, with a late Canada goal sending it into OT. The pressure was high for both sides, but the Canadians definitely had an edge as the favorites. When the final goal was scored and a winner was declared, the fans were rapturous. But the defining moment happened behind me, when two sets of opposing fans shared a deeply human moment. 

They had been rivals all game, but when it was all said and done, everyone could see how crushed the Czech fans were, so the Canadians did the only thing that was appropriate–they gave their opponents a hug. As you can see from the photo, one of the Czech fans had tears streaming down his face. All of the Canadian fans in the area then came over to comfort him, and the room was full of love. Then, as the Czech team skated around the ice one final time, the fans (both Canadian and Czech) gave them a standing ovation. 

During a time when tensions are high all across the world, the Olympics is just what we need. It’s a time when people can represent their countries proudly (but also speak out against them where they see fit). From Jesse Owens to Hunter Hess to Amber Glenn, the Olympics hold a special place in sports history.

Another amazing thing about the Olympics is that these athletes work their entire lives, and are committed to being the best in the world. The fact that their entire journeys live and die by one slip, one 1000th of a second, or by one stone is truly remarkable, and even more apparent when you are physically here, watching Amber Glenn in tears as she sees the Gold slip through her fingers. It was equally as powerful watching the South Koreans take home the Gold in Speed Skating, and seeing the tears of joy on their faces and the mutual respect and support from athletes representing different countries shows what the Olympics are all about.

Although I understand the conflicted emotions of rooting for the US today, I am beyond proud to be here. I also want to give a special shoutout to these amazing Olympians from all over the world:

Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, ​​Isabeau Levito, Corey Thiesse, Korey Dropkin, Macklin Celebrini, Jordan Binnington, Kaori Sakamoto, Mikaela Shiffrin, Hilary Knight, Caroline “KK” Harvey, Laila Edwards, Adeliia Petrosian, Ami Nakai, Jordan Stolz, Stefania Constantini, Steven Dubois, Lindsey Vonn, and so many others.

If you ever have the opportunity to attend the Olympics (which many of you in LA will in 2028), you really should go. And for those of you planning to leave Los Angeles during the games—you should reconsider. Don’t worry about traffic or crowds, it will be worth it to have an experience that you’ll never forget.

Discussed in this issue: Sushi in Santa Monica, J. Cole, and Rabbi Sharon Brous’ thoughts on the importance of community.

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

🎧 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!

The next guest on Lunch With Jamie is Jessica Tarlov, co-host of The Five and Raging Moderates podcast. She’ll be joining me on February 24th at 1 PT/4 ET. Paid subscribers can join live and send in your questions ahead of time by registering at the link below:

📍Milan: Latteria San Marco
Cuisine: Italian
Crew: Aaron Stern, Eater, Goop, The Infatuation
Good For: Solo Dining, Date Night, Business Dinner
Pro Tip: They’re only open on weekdays and don’t take reservations, so be ready to wait a bit.
What to Order: Spaghetti al Limone e Peperoncino, Puntarelle Con Salsa Acciuga, Insalata Cicoria Bianca Con Salsa Di Acciughe, Tagliatelle Ala Gricia, Zucchine Bollite Con Salsa Di Senape, Torta Della Casa, Ribeye (or the beef of the day), Testaroli Al Burro e Parmigiano
Notes: You will be hard pressed to find a more authentic restaurant in Milan (or anywhere in Italy) than Latteria San Marco. When this spot closed in 2023, it was a tragedy for locals and tourists alike, only for it to be revived a year later by a new owner (though original owners Maria and Arturo Maggi helped with the re-opening). It has the vibe of a great Parisian bistro, with about 12 tables and charming decor. Their most famous dish is the spaghetti al limone, which is a thin noodle with chopped pepperoncini–and is absolutely delicious. Their ribeye was flavorful and cooked to perfection. If you find yourself in Milan, it’s definitely worth trying to get a coveted table at Latteria.

📍Los Angeles: Shunji (reviewed by Max Shapiro)
Cuisine: Japanese
Crew: Jordan Okun, Jamie Patricof, Conde Nast Traveler, Eater, Michelin Guide, Time Out, The Infatuation, The LA Times
Good For: Date Night, Fine Dining, Business Dinner
Pro Tip: Make a reservation online.
What to Order: Omakase – let Shunji choose for you. You won’t be disappointed.
Notes: This is the most underrated sushi experience in LA. Helmed by Chef Shunji and his wife Yuko, the familial hospitality leaves you feeling cared for, not just served. From a technical standpoint, Shunji remains one of the very best sushi chefs in Los Angeles. This shouldn’t be controversial. It’s observable as you sit at his counter. The nigiri is precise, elegant, and proper. Nothing feels overworked. Nothing feels lazy. But what often gets overlooked in conversations about Shunji is that he’s not just a great sushi chef. He’s a great cook. The otsumami courses prove that. There’s depth there. Technique. Curiosity. Dishes that reflect a broader culinary intelligence beyond just slicing fish impeccably. He understands temperature, texture, and pacing. He understands how a meal should flow. So head down to Shunji in Santa Monica and watch him work. Eat the food. Feel the care from him and Yuko. You won’t regret it.

To read Max’s full Shunji review, along with other gems, check out Mad Food World.

This week, I’m sharing a conversation from February 2024 with Rabbi Sharon Brous, co-founder of IKAR and author of THE AMEN EFFECT. As the world is in what feels like constant chaos, I often find myself looking for ways to remain grounded and in touch with my community. Rabbi Brous’ sermons always guide me in that direction. 

In this conversation, we covered a lot–but the through line was community. The importance of fostering it, both in religious and social settings. She highlighted the loneliness epidemic, and how there are literal health impacts stemming from isolation. That’s why it’s so important to stay involved, and know your neighbors. 

We also speak candidly about grief, and how to support those going through it. She discusses the concept of “bearing withness”—not offering solutions or attempting to ease the suffering, but simply sitting with someone in their pain. 

This is a conversation that everyone should listen to. I’m going to have Rabbi Brous back on as a guest soon to do a follow-up and dive even deeper into everything.

You can listen to the full conversation on Youtube, or as a podcast on Apple, Spotify and Amazon.

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, Michaela Sullivan and Lauren Malanga