A Dispatch From North Carolina
Plus, hurricane relief efforts and turning out the vote!
First, I want to say my thoughts are with everyone currently feeling the effects of Hurricanes Milton and Helene. I am in the midst of making a movie in Charlotte, North Carolina, so I've been witnessing the fallout of Hurricane Helene firsthand. Seeing this state go through the most devastating event in its history has been an experience that's difficult for me to put into words. Some have lost loved ones, some have lost their homes, and some are still unable to contact their friends and family. The federal and state governments are focused on critical life saving efforts, and organizations on the ground are doing whatever they can to help those whose lives have been destroyed. Of course, Baby2Baby sprung into action immediately after the storm, and have already distributed over 2.5 million items to families affected by Hurricane Helene — and they’re still working to meet urgent needs. If you’re looking for a way to help, please consider donating here.
Talking about other things besides the storm at this moment seems trivial, but with 25 days until Nov. 5, we still must focus on the election. This past weekend I spent some free time canvassing for Kamala Harris, Josh Stein, and down ballot Democratic candidates — trying to stop some of the MAGA movement in the state. Witnessing the destruction of Hurricane Helene made it even clearer just how important it is that we defeat people like Trump and Mark Robinson. I can’t even imagine the chaos that would be unfolding if they were in power, and how those affected by the storm would be feeling with people like them holding the reins.
One woman I met while canvassing told me she had to vote for Trump and Robinson because of how the government was neglecting Western North Carolina and focusing on foreign aid instead. After speaking personally to some people on the ground, they confirmed this is false. Misinformation and disinformation like this is going to be what gets Donald Trump elected if the worst happens and he wins. Which is why now is the time to make calls, canvas, and educate those who aren’t taking the time to search for the actual facts.
Finally, as some of you may know, I’ve been hosting Phone Banking Fridays at 1 pm ET/4 pm PT. During these Zoom calls, you will receive training on how to make calls in battleground states and we will phone bank together on mute. It’s a great way to get involved, and you can register for tomorrow’s session at this link.
Los Angeles 🌅🎬
Bridgetown Roti
Cuisine: Caribbean
Crew: Ben Hundreds, Jordan Okun, Joseph Varet, James Ponsoldt, Paul Zucker
What to Order: Chicken Curry Roti, Spicy and Sweet Plantains, Cod Fish Cakes, Callaloo, Green Curry Shrimp Patty.
Notes: Chef Rashida Holmes is making authentic Caribbean food like no one else in LA. Her creation, Bridgetown Roti, has been making noise ever since its truck started popping up at food festivals around LA in 2019. But now, Bridgetown finally has its own brick and mortar spot in East Hollywood, which is a delightfully colorful dining experience.
The first time I tried Bridgetown was at Frieze a few years ago, and I loved every bite. Each dish is flavorful and innovative, blending Southern Indian and Caribbean cuisines.
Obviously, the Rotis are Bridgetown’s claim to fame — my favorite being the chicken curry — but everything is delicious. Chef Holmes brings a personal touch to her food that can’t be replicated.
Charlotte, North Carolina 🤠💙
Customshop
Cuisine: New American
Crew: Ben Ormand, Derek Cianfrance, Rachel Halilej, Eater, Infatuation
What to Order: NC Heirloom Tomatoes, Fingerlings, Local Lettuce, Burrata, Beets, Rohan Duck Breast, NY Strip, NC Sea Scallops, Saffron Bucatini, Basque Cheesecake, Flan.
Notes: This place is a great example of my belief that amazing food can be found in every city.
If you are in NY/LA/London/Hong Kong there are countless amazing meals to be had but when you are in a smaller city like Charlotte, while there aren’t nearly as many choices, there are still gems to be found.
And, so far I’ve been impressed by the food scene here. I have had a handful of delicious meals and Customshop is leading the charge. This is one of the few places where I can literally say that everything on the menu is delicious. It is casual, but also nice.
I actually showed up with some apples, honey, challah and a candle for a Rosh Hashanah dinner and although they were confused, they were happy to oblige. When we were leaving, the waiter even said “have a sweet new year”. It's going to be hard for any place to top this spot for me. If you are in Charlotte for any reason, put this high on your list.
Supperland
Cuisine: Southern Steakhouse
Crew: Rachel Halilej, Derek Cianfrance, Eater, Infatuation
What to Order: Wagyu Pot Roast, Miso Mac and Cheese, Broccoli Grilled with Bone Marrow, Salted Honey Pie, Baked Brie Bites, Onion Dip, Seafood Tower, Ribeye, Roast Chicken, Charred Carrots.
Notes: This place is one of the most famous spots in Charlotte, and for good reason. Brought to you by one of the biggest restaurant groups in the area, Jeff Tonidandel and Jamie Brown are a husband-wife team with six spots in the city, and counting. This is one of the best places to go to get a real sense of what Charlotte has to offer.
This isn't the ideal spot for a light meal, but then again almost nothing in the south is. It’s hearty, but it is delicious and the menu is so unique.
While the food is obviously Supperland’s main draw, the ambiance is also spectacular. It is located in one of the best areas in the city, Plaza Midwood, and lives in a restored mid-century church. The combination of food and vibes make this place a must.
Beef 'N Bottle Steakhouse with Derek Cianfrance, Mariela Comitini, and Inbal Weinberg; The Goodyear House with Tieya Bacon, and Freddie Freeman; Great Wall with Andrij Parekh and Derek Cianfrance; MaMou with Billy Bombrest and Yesim; Mosquito Supper Club with Alan Patricof, Barbara Guggenheim, and Zoe Marsh; Miss River with Alan Patricof, Barbara Guggenheim, Alon Shaya, Chris Robertson and Lee Ann Jarvis; Domilise's Po-Boy & Bar & Hansen’s Sno-Bliz with Alan Patricof and Barbara Guggenheim; Might As Well Bar & Grill with Riley and Dan Levy; Lexington BBQ and Hawkers Asian Street Food Solo; Son of A Gun with Ben Hundreds, Jordan Okun, Alex Tse, Eli Meyer, David Nathanson, Peter Goldwyn, Chris Bender, Neal Moritz, Brian Hermelin and Kate Burr; Sushi Park with Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Sawyer Patricof; Mario’s Peruvian & Seafood Solo.
Nova Festival Exhibition
In the wake of the one year anniversary of October 7th, I have been grappling with so many difficult feelings, and I know many of you are too. One thing I ask of everyone living in LA is to stop by the Nova Festival Exhibition before it closes on October 20th. This is one of the most heartbreaking and powerful exhibits I have ever been to. It made me think about the many amazing music festivals I have been to, and how this horrific attack happened somewhere that was meant to be such a joyous, communal event. The other aspect that really got to me was seeing the footage from the festival that was put on this summer, WE WILL DANCE AGAIN. The way people rallied together to commemorate this tragedy was so touching. I also want to give a special thank you to Scooter Braun for all of his hard work on bringing this exhibit to LA. Please, go and see this extraordinary and eye-opening exhibit while you can.
Our next Lunch With Jamie is set for October 15 at 1:00 PST and joining the conversation will be political analyst Van Jones. If you haven't done so already, apply for my members-only Zoom series, so you can hear thought leaders from diverse fields — from politics to entertainment — discuss the most pressing issues of our time.
As of today, we are 25 days away from the election. I wanted to take this time to highlight some voter education and mobilization organizations that are doing important work nationally 🇺🇸.
When We All Vote has a super helpful voting platform people can navigate to register to vote, check their registration, and obtain voter education resources.
Vote411 helps navigate people throughout the entire voting process, but they have an incredible “what’s on my ballot” platform. People can enter their address anywhere in the country and Vote411 provides detailed info on what races and ballot initiatives will appear on their ballots.
Students Learn Students Vote is a coalition that works with student associations/voting groups and nonprofits across the country. They are a great organization to reach the hyper-local efforts happening on campuses. They serve as a central hub for the groups, providing tools and resources to help turn out the student vote — filling in those key infrastructure needs that local orgs may need help with.
Aaron Michaelson, Aaron Stern, Adam Saper, Adam Smith, Alex Tse, Andy Wang, Anthony Jacobson, Ashley Sawyer, Ben Hundreds, Blake Lively, Bobby Kim, Chad Gutstein, David Geffen, David Gelb, David Katzenberg, David Nathanson, Eater, Eli Meyer, Food & Wine, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jamie Patricof, Jason Spivak, Jerry Greenberg, Jeremy Smith, Jerrold Son, Jessica Alba, Joe Varet, Jon Buscemi, Jon Shook, Jordan Okun, James Ponsoldt, Kate Burr, Katie McNeill, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Lawrence Longo, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Rosenthal, Marc Rose, Martha Patricof, Matt Haimes, Matt Karatz, Max Chow, Max Shapiro, Max Winkler, Neal Moritz, Paul Zucker, Peter Goldwyn, Phil Rosenthal, Rachel Halilej, Riley Patricof, Sawyer Patricof, Sarah Meyer, Shu Chowdhury, Todd Steinman, The Hungry Tourist, The Infatuation, Vinny Dotolo.
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Today's email was brought to you by Jamie Patricof and team, including Stazy Mazo and Michaela Sullivan.
Edited by Alana Hope Levinson of Top Down Studio & Juliet Bartz.