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Logmeh

Logmeh

Season 1 Episode 4
11:49
Banchan

Banchan

Season 1 Episode 5
11:20
The Migrant Kitchen

The Migrant Kitchen

Season 1 Episode 6
52:07
 Beet Pibil with Yellow Beet, Achiote, Pickled Onion and Bitter Greens. A dish from Ray Garcia's Broken Spanish | Courtesy of Life & Thyme

Alta California

Season 2 Episode 2
26:40
Chicken Tikka Poutine | Courtesy of Life & Thyme

Badmaash

Season 2 Episode 3
26:40
A dish from Wolfgang Puck using fresh fish from Seiichi | Courtesy of Life & Thyme

Omotenashi

Season 2 Episode 4
26:40
Cassia's pot au feu | Courtesy of Life & Thyme

Beyond Pho

Season 2 Episode 5
26:40
Pastrami sandwich at Wexler's | Courtesy of Antonio Diaz MKs3

The Jewish Deli

Season 3 Episode 1
26:40
Noriko Kamei | Still from "The Migrant Kitchen" Sequoia Sake MKs3

Sequoia Sake

Season 3 Episode 2
26:38
Pozole broth being poured tableside at restaurant El Jardin. | Still from "The Migrant Kitchen"

El Jardín

Season 3 Episode 3
26:40
Chef Brandon Jew | Antonio Diaz MKs3

Mister Jiu's Chinatown

Season 3 Episode 4
26:40
Back to Show
The Migrant Kitchen

Mercado

Season 1 Episode 3

On a bustling street corner in Downtown L.A., the tantalizing smell of freshly deep-fried chicharrón wafting in the air comes from a street vendor who is a master at the craft. Over at Grand Central Market, the family behind a long-standing shop has been dutifully providing Hispanic goods to the community for the last few decades.

In this episode, we get a glimpse into the lives of the two Mexican families behind these different business ventures, and explore what they have in common: hard work, dedication and hope.

At a time when an influx of immigrants fled from their countries for better labor opportunities in the United States, Celestino Lopez opened Chiles Secos, a stand in Grand Central Market that offered the community a familial sense of home. The late purveyor brought to L.A. imported Hispanic products, including mole pastes, dried chiles, spices, beans, and grains. The story of his entrepreneurial spirit and perseverance is told through his widow Antonia Lopez and granddaughter Claudia Armendariz. Armendariz now writes the next chapter in her family’s legacy, as she has taken it upon herself to keep Chiles Secos relevant as the Grand Central Market evolves into something different than what it was before.

On the other end of the spectrum, we learn about the life of the street vendor through Enrique Peralta, whose crispy pork rinds are among the best in the city. He works diligently to be a good role model to his children, and tries to positively contribute to society in any he can. While street vendors are working for their livelihood and to supplement their income, they also face painful hurdles due to pushback from police. Through their stories, both families show immigrants' ongoing struggle to make it in the land of opportunity.

Support Provided By
Season
Brooklyn: Korean Food
26:47
Brooklyn chefs Jenny Kwak and Sohui Kim carry on traditions of female-driven Korean food.
Houston: African American Foodways
26:47
Chefs Chris Williams and Jonny Rhodes uplift African American foodways in Houston, Texas.
Puerto Rico: Food Sovereignty
26:47
Puerto Rican chef José Enrique creates opportunities for a more self-sufficient island.
Portland: Russian Food
26:50
Chef Bonnie Morales celebrates her Russian roots, as well as the Pacific Northwest bounty.
Los Angeles: Taiwanese Food
26:48
In San Gabriel Valley, chef Jon Yao marries Taiwanese traditions with unique ingredients.
Lou Dogg's Crispy Chicken Skin from EP & LP | Antonio Diaz MKs3
26:29
Jazz Singsanong of Jitlada Thai and Louis Tikaram of E.P. & L.P. transport the palate around the world with the complex flavors of Thai cuisine.
Labneh from Dyafa | Jim Sullivan MKs3
26:40
Two extraordinary women of Palestinian descent, Reem Assil and Lamees Dahbour, use food to bring their misunderstood homeland closer to Western tolerance and acceptance.
Chef Brandon Jew | Antonio Diaz MKs3
26:40
With the rapid gentrification of the neighborhood, the face of the country’s oldest Chinatown is changing while a younger generation holds on to the traditions and flavors of the past.
Pozole broth being poured tableside at restaurant El Jardin. | Still from "The Migrant Kitchen"
26:40
Inspired by the traditions of generations of Mexican women and combining regional heirloom ingredients from across Mexico, Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins takes a huge risk to elevate the cuisine in her hometown.
Noriko Kamei | Still from "The Migrant Kitchen" Sequoia Sake MKs3
26:38
Rooted in the traditions of Japanese sake brewing, Sequoia Sake works to resurrect an heirloom rice in California and pioneer the young but growing craft sake movement in the U.S.
Pastrami sandwich at Wexler's | Courtesy of Antonio Diaz MKs3
26:40
The Jewish Delis of Los Angeles serve an important role for connecting heritage to food. Discover the delis that make up the fabric of Los Angeles life.
Cassia's pot au feu | Courtesy of Life & Thyme
26:40
Cassia in Santa Monica, Good Girl Dinette in Highland Park, Red Boat Fish Sauce, and Minh Phan of Porridge & Puffs are hoping to demonstrate that there’s so much more to Vietnamese culture than banh mi, spring rolls and pho.
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