New PBS SoCal Food Documentary Digital Series REBEL KITCHENS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Explores Innovative New Culinary Experiences in LA
Press Contact
Allison Gray
AGray@pbssocal.org
747-201-5298
www.pbssocal.org/rebelkitchens
Select programming will also be available to stream on PBS.org and the free PBS App. Members of PBS SoCal get extended access with PBS Passport.
Los Angeles, Calif. – August 22, 2024 – PBS SoCal, Southern California’s flagship PBS station, announced today the launch of a new food documentary digital series REBEL KITCHENS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. The series produced in partnership with acclaimed culinary publication Life & Thyme, dedicated to documenting global food culture, follows the chefs, cooks and entrepreneurs who are revolutionizing what it means to run a restaurant. They are innovators experimenting with new culinary experiences from food pop-ups to backyard dining halls. Against the odds, these SoCal cooks are fusing flavors in unexpected ways. They include: Nigerian Chef Tolu ‘Eros’ Erogbogbo, Korean transplant Chef Jihee Kim, punk rock Chefs Alex and Elvia Garcia, surrealist Chef Diego Argoti and backyard abuelita Doña Tenchita. A special early release of all five episodes of REBEL KITCHENS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA will stream for free on the PBS app and PBSsocal.org starting today, Thurs., Aug 22 at 10 a.m. with new episodes dropping each week on Thursdays at 10 a.m. on PBS SoCal’s YouTube Channel. The episodes will have weekly television broadcast premieres on PBS SoCal Plus starting on Tues., Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. PT.
To celebrate the premiere of REBEL KITCHENS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Life & Thyme will host an event on Mon., Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. at NeueHouse Hollywood (6121 Sunset Boulevard) featuring food from the program followed by a panel conversation with the cast and Life & Thyme Founder & Director, Antonio Diaz. For more information and to RSVP, please visit: https://lifeandthyme.com/events/rebel-kitchens-screening/
REBEL KITCHENS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA episodes are as follows (subject to change):
“Poltergeist by Chef Diego Argoti”
Chef Diego Argoti creates surreal fusion cuisine, marrying Mexican, Arab and Asian dishes at his restaurant, Poltergeist. Set in the beloved Echo Park barcade, Button Mash, it is a manic space that perfectly fits the chef’s hyper-visual and hyper-flavorful foods. Diego also operates his own pop-up series at Estrano, a 'Street Pasta' pop-up in LA and previously worked at acclaimed Los Angeles restaurants, including Bestia and Bavel.
“Evil Cooks by Chefs Alex and Elvia Garcia”
Chefs Alex and Elvia Garcia bring a touch of witchcraft to their El Sereno pop-up, Evil Cooks. Whether they are cooking in their home or at Smorgasburg LA, they have mastered the craft of street taquero and metal and punk music. Their unique menu offers tentacled tacos al pastor, monstrous mulitas, burritos, tortas and more.
“Perilla by Chef Jihee Kim”
At Perilla LA, Korean transplant Chef Jihee Kim brings traditional preserved dishes from her homeland and infuses them with seasonal Southern California produce. Rethinking the Korean banchan shop into a deli-style eatery in the outskirts of Chinatown and Echo Park, Chef Jihee creates bold flavors with slow fermentation and patience.
“Comedor Tenchita by Doña Tenchita”
Doña Hortensia “Tenchita” Melchor hosts a thriving Mexican restaurant in her own Mid-City backyard, serving traditional Oaxacan food in Los Angeles. From her painstakingly and lovingly crafted Mole Negro to her savory breakfast higaditos, Doña Tenchita welcomes visitors into her mid-city home with rich, unique and earthy indigenous flavors.
“ILE by Chef Tolu ‘Eros’ Erogbogbo”
Nigerian Chef Tolu ‘Eros’ Erogbogbo takes us on a culinary journey across West Africa, capturing the diverse and unique flavors of each country while telling folk tales for each dish. He hosts a private dining experience out of his home in Hollywood, reimagining fine dining with a contemporary and storytelling twist.
REBEL KITCHENS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA will be available to stream on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS App, available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO.
For more information, follow us on social at @pbssocal.
About PBS SoCal
PBS SoCal uses the power of public media for good, strengthening the civic fabric of Southern California and providing our community with an essential connection to a wider world. As a local, donor/member-supported non-profit organization, PBS SoCal manages 7 channels — including 2 primary broadcast channels, PBS SoCal and PBS SoCal Plus as well as 5 digital subchannels. With a commitment to make content available anytime and anywhere for free, PBS SoCal is reaches nearly 19M viewers in the region with programming that reflects the diversity of Southern California and showcases the full schedule of beloved and trusted PBS content spanning Education, News, Environment and Arts & Culture. PBS SoCal programming is available to viewers over-the-air, on all key streaming platforms via the free PBS App and PBS KIDS App. PBS SoCal also sparks the sharing of ideas at in-person cultural events and community conversations as well as prepares children for kindergarten and beyond by bringing bilingual, hands-on learning experiences to the community for free.
About Life & Thyme
Life & Thyme is a global publication and Emmy award-winning production house dedicated to telling impactful stories through the lens of food. Over the past 12 years, Life & Thyme’s work has spanned the globe—telling stories from over 44 countries—in print, online, and through documentary films such as the award-winning show, The Migrant Kitchen. As an extension of their work, Life & Thyme also designs thoughtful events that offer connection, conversations, and immersive experiences for global citizens.