Los Angeles County lost roughly 38,600 acres to the Palisades and Eaton fires that ripped through the coastal and inland hillsides last week. Entire neighborhoods — and livelihoods — were destroyed in an instant. It’s been brutal watching this disaster unfold from afar, but if you’re wondering if there’s anything you can do to help here in the Bay Area, there is: go out to eat.
Amid the heartbreak Californians are collectively feeling this month, many East Bay establishments have pledged to donate a portion of their proceeds to help Los Angeles residents, firefighters and mutual aid organizations. If you’d like to pitch in (and get a tasty treat or a bottle of wine while doing so), check out this list of participating East Bay establishments. Nosh will update this list as more events and benefits are announced.
Aguita Dinner Club
Chef Abel Vista, who has worked at L.A. institutions like Damian and All Day Baby, is hosting a benefit dinner party at Oakland’s Safariii Camp (755 E 10th St.) on Jan. 27 through his multi-hyphenate pop-up, Aguita Dinner Club. The proceeds will be donated directly to Vista’s LA-based peers affected by the fires.
Akka’s Supper Club x Purity Wine
Purity Wine in Richmond is teaming up with Akka’s Supper Club for a special dinner with natural wine pairings with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Displaced Black Families of Altadena Fires mutual aid fundraisers. The dinner will be Saturday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $200 per person. Seating is limited, and you can message Purity Wine on Instagram @puritywine or email purity.wine@gmail.com to reserve a spot.
Downtown Berkeley Pizza Lovers Month
February is Pizza Lovers Month in Downtown Berkeley, and a variety of events and promotions are planned. In response to the devastating wild fires in Southern California. The Downtown Berkeley Association has partnered with Slice Out Hunger and their Pizza Relief: L.A. Wildfire program to contribute to fundraising for fire victims. Participating pizzerias will donate 15% of purchases to support L.A. wildfire relief efforts. Restaurants signed up for Pizza Lovers Month include Arinell Pizza, Bobby G’s Pizzeria, Gather, Heroic Italian, Jupiter, North Beach Pizza, Lucia’s Berkeley, Pizza da Laura, Red Tomato Pizza House, Revival Bar & Kitchen, Rose Pizzeria, and Sasha Coffee.
Friends & Family
Iconic queer institution Friends & Family has always made a point of showing up for community, and that isn’t stopping anytime soon. From now until the end of January, all funds from their “daily affirmation” shots (which normally go directly to folks seeking gender affirmation surgery) will go towards L.A. fire relief efforts.
Friends & Family: 468 25th St, Oakland, open 5-11 p.m. Monday through Saturday; friendsandfamilybar.com
Monterey Fish Market
Today and tomorrow, Jan. 18, Berkeley-based Monterey Fish Market is selling fresh crab rolls and donating the proceeds to World Central Kitchen to provide meals to folks in LA.
Monterey Fish Market: 1582 Hopkins St., Berkeley; open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday and Monday; montereyfish.com
Polaris Cafe
Polaris Cafe in Emeryville, serving breakfast, coffee, pastries, boba drinks and more, will donate all proceeds from sales on Jan. 18, 8 a.m. to noon, to World Central Kitchen to aid fire victims relief efforts.
Polaris Cafe: 5858 Horton St., #151, Emeryville; thepolariscafe.com
Popoca
Popoca, Old Oakland’s acclaimed Salvadoran restaurant, announced on Instagram that all proceeds from lorocco pupusa sales will be donated to mutual aid funds for LA fire victims through Jan. 19.
Popoca: 906 Washington St., Oakland, open 5:15-9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 5:15-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; popocaoakland.com
Of All Places
For the rest of January, Berkeley’s buzziest neighborhood market is donating 10% of wine sales to help LA’s essential and domestic workers who lost jobs and resources in the fires.
Of All Places: 1841 Solano Ave, Berkeley; open noon to 6 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday; ofallplacesmarket.com
Rose Pizzeria
Rose Pizzeria is donating the proceeds from a special pizza to Slice Out Hunger, an organization, until Feb. 5. The special is a white sauce pizza topped with pork sausage, green cabbage, green onions, mozzarella and a drizzle of Queens Universe chojang, a gochujang-based vinaigrette made with lacto-fermented hot pepper, rice vinegar, maesil and roasted sesame seeds.
Rose Pizzeria: 1960 University Ave., Berkeley; open noon to 9 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday; rosepizzeria.com
Tay Ho
Through the end of January, downtown Oakland Vietnamese restaurant Tay Ho will donate $2 to a fire victims fund for every bowl of pho and banh mi sold.
Tay Ho: 344 12th St., Oakland; open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5:30-9 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday; tayhooakland.com
Third Culture Bakery
Third Culture Bakery, home of the mochi muffin, will donate $1 for every chili crisp mochi muffin sold to the California Fire Foundation through the month of January. Third Culture has locations in Berkeley and Walnut Creek.
Third Culture Bakery: 2701 8th St., Berkeley; open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; thirdculturebakery.com
