What's in a name?
NA (= after) LA (= Los Angeles), was born in the city that makes me feel alive out of a desire to live, work and think differently. But now, that same city is hurting big time.
Should I even be here, am I taking someone's place? How can I help? - these questions were going through my mind in the days after the LA wildfires started.
I had it all planned out. My next piece of writing would tell you where NALA got its name and where my food story began. How my career (and life) shifted from photography to culinary arts.
LA - the city that made me fall in love with vegetable-forward cuisine, farmers markets, and a rhythm closer to nature. The city that gave me a new creative voice in cooking, telling food stories and creating food experiences. But now, that same city is hurting big time.
It feels surreal, like we've landed on the set of a Hollywood apocalypse movie. Except this is reality. The destruction looks like a war zone - within minutes, so many lives changed forever, leaving countless people with only the clothes on their backs. The sheer magnitude of these fires, driven by relentless winds, created a force of devastation that's hard to comprehend. It was a firestorm.
To give an idea of how strong these winds were, on the freeway we saw several big trucks flipped on their sides like toy cars.
Even being here, and knowing the city well, it’s hard to grasp the magnitude of what is lost. From an outsider perspective this place is very hard to understand. I always tell people LA isn't really a city - it's a bunch of villages connected by freeways.
Antwerp 51,488 acres = 204.5 km2
LA fires 40,697 acres burned = 165 km2 (https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/)My hometown where I grew up, Brasschaat, is 38.58 km2, so multiply that by 4.3 and that's what's lost. It's also close to a national park that suffers wildfires now and then. For Belgians to understand the devastation of these LA wildfires, let me paint you a picture. Imagine a wildfire breaks out in the Kalmthoutse Heide (a 37.5 km2 National Park), hurricane-style winds creating a firestorm with embers flying everywhere, and in no time Kalmthout, Kapellen and Brasschaat are burned to the ground, threatening to reach the center of Antwerp. That is basically what happened on January 7th. I suggest you google how big your city or town is - it will give you a better idea of the magnitude of this.
When I see headlines focusing on celebrities losing their (one of) many houses, it makes me angry. It's only a very small part of the story. Reporting on prices of $3 million homes - well, this is a very expensive place to live. Those prices get you a small house, believe it or not.
Palisades or any other neighborhoods are not only a place for the rich and famous but hard working creatives who have to hustle every day to stay afloat in this city.
As a matter of fact it doesn’t matter if you have millions of Dollars or not, think about what makes your house a home - the family history, the memories, …
In places like Altadena, a vibrant community of diversity and artists, there are multigenerational family homes - places where people could only afford to live because their grandparents bought the house decades ago. When these homes burn, it's not just property lost - it's the anchor that kept families in their community.
So many - including countless friends of friends - lost not just houses, but homes - years of collected memories turned to ashes.
No amount of money can replace certain things - the children's artwork on walls, family photos, handwritten recipes passed down through generations.
This disaster affects everyone as it ripples through every layer of society.
Think about the gardeners, housekeepers, maintenance workers, grocery store cashiers, and local restaurant employees - all suddenly without work. Farmers facing toxic soil. Insurance rates will climb, pushing rents even higher.
True Hospitality
As heartbreaking as it is, there is also a positive note I want to highlight. It's more than inspiring to see the outpouring of generosity and sense of community. True hospitality at its best.
As I said this city is made up of it's a bunch of villages connected by freeways. Now, watching these communities come together is both heartbreaking and heartwarming.
Restaurants stepping up are offering free meals, cooking for the first responders on the ground, clothing brands opening their warehouses to give people clothes, people are opening their homes to displaced families, donations to GoFundMe pages.
The rebuilding starts now, not with buildings but everyday life.
This country's social system is built on community, not government social security like we know in Europe. It's incredible to see this city, that is hurting, come together to help in every way possible.
Food offers comfort and brings people together.
This heartfelt episode of Snacky Tunes does a much better job than I ever can to give you a glimpse on how the culinary community in offering true hospitality. Host Darin Bresnitz is one of the victims, losing his house in Altadena.
Meet Jasper, Vjera, James and Isla Watts
The Watts family bought their house about 6 years ago, putting their heart and soul into creating a home. Renovation had only just been completed.
Jasper got into landscaping during the pandemic, creating a sanctuary where they could grow vegetables, herbs, and get together with friends.
Teaching their kids, James and Isla, about where food comes from and advocating for a food system away from processed food. He describes Altadena and the community as the best place to live.
When the Eaton fire started a little after 6pm January 7th, he wasn't worried.
No way this would ever reach their neighborhood. Vjera, his wife, wasn't convinced and said it was time to leave. Not taking anything, the family and their dog left.
Driving his family to a safer place, Jasper realized how quickly this fire was growing but still thought no way this would burn down their house - it was far enough away. Just to be on the safe side, he drove back to get some clothes and valuables. By that time the fire had reached their street, and it went from "no way this will reach our house" to no way of getting to the house.
During the night he made - looking back on it stupid, he says - several attempts, but when he finally drove up to the house at 7am, everything was gone. Their house and home, the only thing left standing is a 180-year-old Oak tree - the family named Bernard - in their beloved garden. A symbol of resilience
Meet Chris Martinez
I met Chris at the same fermentation residency with Sandor Katz in Nashville that I talked about in my previous post.
Living with nature's systems is what Chris is all about. From the moment I met Chris, I've admired his simple way of living, connecting all aspects of true sustainability.
He posted a video on his Instagram stories showing embers flying into their yard, making me realize this was no ordinary bushfire. The next story was the photo you see below.
Despite losing everything, Chris is stepping up to educate his community on natural and fire-resistant building materials. He wants to rebuild in a way that sets an example on how we can do things differently, with nature not against it. An opportunity to do better as he puts it.
How can I help?
The city and my friends that make me feel alive are hurting. But their spirit, the reason I keep coming back - for reset, reflection, inspiration, and my growing LA family of wonderful humans and dogs - that spirit is stronger than ever and remains unbreakable. But they need help. Not just today but long term, because it's going to be a long road.
While I question whether sharing this is the right thing to do, I believe it's one of the few ways I can have an immediate impact - share stories and raise funds to help people rebuild their lives.
I've created a website selling limited edition - numbered and signed - fine art prints. A series shot over the years and all over California. As they are limited editions, I've decided to start with a selection of 12 photos and hopefully update the shop with new ones when they sell out.
To make it easier there are 4 sizes to choose from, but other sizes are available on request.
The prints will be printed in LA or Belgium on the same museum quality paper depending on where in the world you are. I will do my best to get the prints out to you in a couple weeks either by post or in person pick up.
The proceeds will go directly to the Watts family, Martinez family, and others to help them rebuild their lives in a safe way.
This is also a warm welcome to other photographers and artists to join in. Let's show the power of art and creativity.
If you have any questions reach out, get in touch, and let’s connect.
Love,
An