Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/426101
the crucial role food plays in a child's life and are passionate about making sure no child in this country struggles with hunger." Just ask husband-and-wife-team Brooke Williamson and Nick Roberts, who are longtime supporters of Share Our Strength. ey're co-executive chefs and co-owners of three Los Angeles restaurants—e Tripel (www. thetripel.com), Playa Provisions (www. playaprovisions.com) and Hudson House (www.hudsonhousebar.com), and are also parents of a young boy. "e idea of our 6-year-old not being able to find his next meal is horrifying to us," Williamson says. Williamson, who even found time to compete on Top Chef Season 10 (she cooked her way to second place), points out that plenty of people are willing to pay a premium for chef- driven experiences, so that money may as well go toward a good cause. Most recently, she donated a private dinner for eight at an auction for Walk With Sally (www.walkwithsally.org), a mentoring program for kids whose families have been affected by cancer. e package brought in a jaw-dropping $8,000, the highest bid of the evening. "We wouldn't have gotten into this business if we were looking to get rich," she says. "If we can use our skills to spread a bit of goodwill to others, we will." Roberts adds, "We always say we'll give anyone help with the power that we have." A kira Hirose, chef-owner of Maison Akira (www.maisonakira.net) in Pasadena, puts it very simply: "If you don't have money, you can give time. If you don't have time, you can donate money." e Kyoto-born chef is known for his French culinary pedigree (including a stint with Joel Robuchon) and describes his restaurant as "French cuisine with Japanese ingredients." Still deeply connected to his Japanese roots, Chef Hirose has been honored for his longtime support of the Little Tokyo Service Center (www.ltsc. org). More recently, he joined Chef Roy Yamaguchi and other celebrity chefs to raise money for the Go For Broke National Education Center (www.goforbroke.org), which raises awareness of WWII history from Japanese-American perspectives. As a longtime Pasadena resident, Chef Hirose is also a fixture at fundraising events for institutions such as the Huntington Garden and the Los Angeles Zoo. "In Los Angeles, you are not by yourself. You have a community that comes into your restaurant, and you have to give back to be a success," he says. C ommunity engagement is one of the main ingredients for success for La Casita Mexicana (www. casitamex.com). Chefs and co-owners Jaime Martin del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu, who both grew up in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, opened their restaurant in the city of Bell in 1999. e challenges back then were manifold. At the time, Bell wasn't terribly supportive of small business. Not to mention, the duo was among the first to introduce authentic, garden-to-table flavors of Mexico in a culinary environment still dominated by Tex-Mex restaurants. "One woman threw the enchiladas at my face and said, 'Where's the cheddar?'" recalls Arvizu. Over the years, the chefs became integrated into the community and outsiders began to recognize them as regulars on Univision's morning show, Despierta America, and on Telemundo's Top Chef Estrellas. Not only do they use their star power to drive business, but to spread the message about healthy cooking to the local community. ey offer cooking demos and frequently visit local schools, and in the summers, they offer free, weekly cooking classes for low- income children. eir newest venture, Mexicano in Baldwin Hills, is already making a name for itself within the community: the team has committed to hiring senior citizens from the local neighborhoods to work in the kitchen. "We turned 50 and realized we had to do something," laughs Arvizu. "e reality is, people don't hire you when you're over 50. But when it comes to food and cooking, most of them have an expertise in something and we thought it was beautiful." Alma's Ashleigh Parsons La Casita Mexicana's Jaime Martin del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu Brooke Williamson and Nick Roberts of The Tripel, Playa Provisions and Hudson House december/january 2014-'15 23 photo: Lauren Edward photo: Ryan Tanaka