PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — The former residence of chef Daniel Shemtob and his wife, which they envisioned as the perfect place to raise a family, has been reduced to a chaotic mix of debris and twisted metal. The beloved features of their home, including the gourmet kitchen and the nursery adorned with baby giraffe and elephant-themed wallpaper, along with cherished olive trees, have all vanished.
Despite the active threat of wildfires raging in the Los Angeles area, Shemtob has found solace in giving back to the community by providing complimentary, foil-wrapped breakfast burritos and tacos through his acclaimed food truck. He extends his services to first responders and local evacuees, finding purpose in their shared experience.
Rather than focus on the heartbreak of losing their home, which they had only moved into eight months prior with hopes of eventually purchasing, Shemtob maintains a positive attitude, cherishing the connections he has forged through his food distributions. One recipient expressed how a steak taco was the first thing to make him smile after losing his home, while another individual returned for a simple cheese quesadilla, bringing family members along to share.
Shemtob also had a moment of connection with a National Guardsman who listened to his story while enjoying a breakfast burrito. “He sat and wanted to hear my story while he ate,” Shemtob shared, reflecting on how healing that conversation felt.
The Palisades and Eaton fires ignited on January 7, displacing thousands and resulting in the tragic loss of at least 28 lives along with nearly 16,000 structures. These wildfires stand as some of the most devastating in California’s history, having obliterated entire communities.
Initially, Shemtob did not believe the fires would encroach upon his neighborhood. When he evacuated, he took only a laptop for work and some homemade meatballs and pasta. Shortly after leaving, he received a notification from a smoke detector at home that smoke had infiltrated the master bedroom, signaling the beginning of destruction with shattering windows.
A couple of days later, he returned to witness the aftermath of the destruction on foot, cycling back to see his neighborhood in shambles. Standing amidst the ruins, he recorded a heartbreaking video for his wife, pointing out what remained of their garage and basement, surrounded by residual smoke and embers.
The grief weighed heavily on him, but then inspiration struck as he recognized he still had something to offer. A few days after the evacuation, he decided to take his food truck, The Lime Truck, to a donation center in Pasadena. His long-standing passion for the personal nature of food-truck cooking compelled him to join forces with World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit that delivers meals to disaster sites, where he encountered fellow chef Tyler Florence cooking tacos alongside him.
At the donation center, despite the pervasive sadness, there were moments of community as people rallied together. Shemtob recalled a woman contributing homemade stew and sharing bowls with others. “People were coming there with whatever they had to give,” he noted.
Since that initial effort, Shemtob’s trucks have served thousands. He vividly remembers a past donation event in Pasadena where he cheered while distributing the last meals of the night, celebrating the team’s success after serving 750 meals and providing 200 pairs of nonslip shoes from his shoe company, Snibbs.
He opens up about his own personal loss when he believes it can be a source of strength for others. The fire claimed many possessions, including clothes he designed, cherished kitchen tools, culinary recognitions, and half of his late mother’s belongings that he had stored in their basement – the rest perished in another house fire at his brother’s home nearby.
The couple cherished their residence not only for its amenities but also for its proximity to family, including Shemtob’s brother, and Elyse’s family, who were building a nearby home for their grandchildren. Recently, Shemtob returned to the devastated neighborhood alongside a photographer, driving through the neighborhoods of flattened terrain until he reached what remained of their home.
Amidst the debris, he found remnants of their former life, such as a scorched muffin tin and a piece of a wedding gift platter. Currently, he and Elyse, who are expecting their first child in April, are staying with her aunt as they navigate life without homeowner’s insurance.
Shemtob has weathered setbacks before; he acquired two businesses just before the pandemic, which failed. “And then I decided to take my food truck out and feed frontline workers,” he recounted, realizing that taking action rejuvenated his spirit.