LOS ANGELES ā As the six-month anniversary of the Palisades and Eaton fires approaches, the owners of Now Serving, a cookbook store in downtown, are hoping to help fire victims replace part of their culinary libraries.
Michelle Mungcal and Ken Concepcion have launched an initiative called Friends of the Shop to help replace beloved cookbooks for those who have lost their homes.
Fire victims can sign up on their webpage and list up to 10 books they would love to replace. Meanwhile, people can visit their website and purchase selected titles, which will be shipped directly to the person who requested them.
So far, Mungcal and Concepcion said the initial response has been overwhelming, sitting at 400 sign-ups and counting.
Darin Bresnitz lost his home in the Eaton Fire and was among the first to sign up for the Now Serving list.
āEvery cookbook was a touchstone for a different time in my life or something I was cooking,ā Bresnitz explained. āWhen the shelves have been rebuilt and that hole in my cookbook collection has been replaced, then Iāll feel like Iām back home.ā
Mungcal and Concepcion said they know the process of rebuilding is long and arduous, and restoring their collections is the one thing they can take off their plates.
So the couple continues to gather cookbook titles and restore memories and moments for those who lost everything in the fires.