We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Menache and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Everyone knows food is a labor of love, but I don’t know if people beyond the industry really understand the extent to which this industry sacrifices for the love of the game. Working in pop-ups and events, I’ve witnessed so many people hop on board for things and commit time and resources way beyond the payout. Of course there’s so much more to gain, and that’s the beauty of it all— it’s an industry built on passion, collaboration, and sharing. Sometimes I wish patrons were more aware of that walking into an independently owned bar or restaurant. It’s not as glamorous as it’s made out to be!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Examples of recent projects: – LA3C throws a food festival in DTLA, who are the vendors that best represent food culture across the city?
– How can Summit better design their dinner experiences so that solo diners at a conference feel a sense of belonging among new friends?
– The Country of Japan wants to promote wagyu beef in the US, which Chefs and restaurants should they partner with?
– Powder Mountain is building out a snack program for the members at the ski resort, what products should they offer?
– What kind of out-of-the-box food experiences should Biite Club host as part of their weekly event calendar?

As a Mexican Jew born in the US with roots all over the world, I love the point in food culture where stories collide— be it different cuisines, new interpretations of longstanding rituals, high / low culture and intergenerational connections. All roads lead to food, which makes it a really fun medium to engage curiosities about pretty much anything.

Lately I’ve been exploring new ways of hosting that feel the most connective and wholesome. Could be a backgammon club, intergenerational dinners, potlucks for women in food. My intention is to steer away from exclusivity for the sake of “hype culture” and instead creating spaces that attr

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Keeping it hyper local for this one or else I’ll be here forever:

The LA Breakfast Club on a Wednesday morning: a speaker series at the Friendship Auditorium in Los Feliz that’s been around for 99 years. I’d follow with a Silverlake Reservoir walk and coffee at Botanica, Broome St. or Nido. I also have a hard time not taking visitors to Sqirl.

A visit to the farmers market – Wednesdays in Santa Monica or Sundays in Hollywood. I end up going to Atwater most weekends since it’s closest to my house and next to Proof Bakery.

A bike ride or walk along the LA River, sandos at Waxpaper, a coffee at La Colombe. The incline leading down to the river is perfect for laying with a good book.

A Hojicha Latte or “The Cloudy” at Kumquat. The latter’s more like a dessert. A stroll down the shops on York and maybe even hop to Figueroa. There’s a lotta good vintage out there, Worship’s one of my favorites.

Sunset on my balcony in Glassell Park, inquire within 😉

A perfect eve in the neighborhood: movie at the new Vidiots in Eagle Rock, burgers and backgammon at the Dunsmoor back bar, a cocktail at The Grant, a beer and a shot at Verdugo Bar, pinball and an Underberg at Waltz, a frozen Negroni at Capri Club. Night cap at Footsies if you’ve got it in you.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Too many to count…

Joey Rubin – My mentor since day one. Showed me the ropes with the utmost creativity, ingenuity, expansiveness and vision for the industry.

Ground Zero Performance Cafe – the cafe / coop I worked for in college that gave me a real personal experience of building a cafe and community side by side and showing me what it’s like to fall in love with a physical space.

Kinfolk Cafe – the social enterprise cafe I volunteered for in Melbourne, Australia that expanded my capacity to imagine new and equitable structures within the industry.

Summit Series – where I found my community as an adult and grew into myself socially, professionally and spiritually. My first job out of college and so much more than that.

David Wilcox – Chef, former restaurant owner, mentor and prime example of living in integrity and in service of community and the land without sacrificing individuality and autonomy.

Women Who Run With The Wolves – the bible ! Highly recommended to any woman (or person period) on the path to becoming more fully expressed.

(to name a few.)

Instagram: @alexmenache

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexmenache/

Other: https://alexmenache.medium.com/

Image Credits
Ira Edelman, Joseph Duarte, Jakob Lyman, Casey Eiland

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