It’s been five years since the pandemic forced us to wipe down our groceries, binge Tiger King, and pick up hobbies like basket weaving or, in my case, eating 100 pizzas in 365 days.

Of course, COVID also notably sent shockwaves through the restaurant industry, and to this day, the labor market still hasn’t recovered. What’s behind the lag and what are industry pros doing about it? Father Sal is with us to discuss two excellent articles by Adam Reiner on this exact topic.

Also on the episode today, seven LA restaurants were added to the California Michelin Guide, which ones are we most excited to try? Listen to find out. Plus, a meal at the number 17 restaurant in the world, an LA food romantic drama unfolds on Instagram, a celebrity chef (Joshua Weissman) deems LA the best street food city in the world, and a couple of Chinese teenagers get a little frisky with a steaming bowl of hot pot.

Helpful links:

Join me at Family Meal on Monday March 24th! Use code “LACOUNTDOWN20” for a 20% discount on the $20 tickets https://www.tixtree.com/e/family-meal-how-to-make-help-helpful-9e559f3f393f

Adam Reiner on labor shortage for Eater https://www.eater.com/24385730/restaurant-job-market-covid-pandemic-effects

And Adam again for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/13/covid-pandemic-jobs-change

LA restaurants added to the Michelin Guide https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2025-03-12/michelin-adds-15-restaurants-california-guide-los-angeles

Support Bistro Blue https://www.instagram.com/share/_iQyQWS1r

Joshua Weissman and Memo Torres try street food https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1S05ZClQj4

Doggy bags on the way out https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/dining/restaurant-leftovers.html

Chinese hot pot-gate https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/03/13/travel/haidilao-china-urine-hotpot-broth-intl-hnk

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Go check out The Lonely Oyster in Echo Park! ⁠https://thelonelyoyster.com/⁠

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