Los Angeles County resilience shines through culinary excellence
Courtney Payne
May 27, 2025
Just weeks after wildfires impacted parts of Los Angeles County, the region welcomed culinary influencer Michael Ligier (@michaelligier) for a press trip focused on recovery and local stories. Ligier, known for his creative food content and a combined social reach of over 4.3 million, visited Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Pasadena to highlight the area's strength, character and food scene.
While the trip included stops at acclaimed restaurants, the focus remained on people —chefs, business owners and workers — many of whom were affected by the fires and played a role in recovery efforts.
In Santa Monica, Ligier met with several hospitality leaders including Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger of Socalo, Michelin-starred chef José Andrés and staff from Shutters on the Beach and Hotel Casa del Mar. He also visited Le Great Outdoor, The Lobster, Huckleberry Café and Papille Gustative, all of which remained active in supporting their communities after the fires.
The next day, Ligier joined Santa Monica native Chef Josiah Citrin for a visit to the local farmers market. They explored seasonal ingredients from regional vendors before returning to Chef Citrin’s restaurant for a private cooking session. The evening wrapped with a meal crafted from the day’s ingredients.
Ligier created three short-form videos and one long-form feature during his visit to California:
After a stop at Bludso’s BBQ in Los Angeles, Ligier continued to Pasadena to meet Chef Dean Yasharian at Perle Restaurant. The meeting was especially meaningful, as Yasharian had recently lost his home in the fires. Their conversation touched on resilience, rebuilding, and the role food can play in healing. Ligier captured their exchange over a thoughtful meal.
To close out his time in the region, Ligier visited Tea Rose Garden and later dined at Mélisse, an exclusive 14-seat restaurant known for its multi-course tasting experience. His final meal featured 18 courses, each offering a reflection of Southern California’s diverse culinary talent.
