Meet the Inspiring People Reshaping L.A.’s Food Scene in ‘Broken Bread’

Olympia Auset of SÜPRMARKT| Still from "Broken Bread" — Olympia Ausset of SÜPRMARKT carries a box of organic produce. Ausset launched SÜPRMARKT in 2016 to eliminate food deserts in her community, South L.A. | Still from "Broken Bread"

September 29, 2021

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In "Broken Bread," restaurant entrepreneur and social activist Roy Choi takes viewers on a journey through L.A. to showcase the inspiring people who are working to fix broken food systems in their communities. Learn more about the individuals and organizations who are using food as a platform for activism and a catalyst for change.

Homeboy Industries

Founded in 1988 by Father Greg Boyle, Homeboy Industriesserves over 10,000 former gang-involved and previously incarcerated people, providing a wide variety of training and support from workforce development through their numerous social enterprises to tattoo removal and parenting classes. The first of Homeboy Industries’ social enterprises, the Bakery employs dozens of Homeboy Industry trainees and supplies products for Homeboy Farmers Markets, Homeboy Diner, Homegirl Catering and several restaurants and cafes around Los Angeles.

Learn more about the ways Homeboy Industries brings opportunities to the formerly incarcerated in this clip from "Broken Bread."

Stay up-to-date on the latest at Homeboy Industries. Visit the Homeboy Industries website and connect on social media:

@HomeboyIndustries on Instagram
@HomeboyInd on Twitter
@HomeboyIndustries on Facebook

Dough Girl Pizza

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Dough Girl Pizza was founded by Mar Diego, an ex-convict, chef and philanthropist, with a mission to create inspiration and rehabilitate troubled youth and adults. Located in Sylmar, the pizza shop offers unique menu options with original recipes like their animal style pizza, a traditional cheese pizza topped off with French fries and sea salt. Read more about Mar Diego's motivation behind launching Dough Girl Pizza.

Meet the youth working at Dough Girl Pizza and hear about how their time with Mar Diego has changed their lives in this clip from "Broken Bread."

Check out their eclectic menu. Visiting Dough Girl's website and connect on social media:

@DoughGirlPizza on Instagram
@DoughGirl818 on Twitter
@DoughGirlPizza on Facebook

Ron Finley

In 2010, Ron Finley set out to fix South L.A.’s food desert problem by planting vegetables in neglected dirt patches by sidewalks. He was swiftly met with a citation from the City of Los Angeles for gardening without a permit. But Finley, along with fellow green activists, fought back and won. Today, Finley continues his mission of providing gardening education to his community and transforming food deserts into food sanctuaries one block at a time. Read more about how Ron Finley built a gardening movement in his community.

1/7 Ron Finley, left, converses with "Broken Bread" host Roy Choi, right. | Still from "Broken Bread"

Ron Finley walks through his garden. | Still from "Broken Bread"

2/7 Ron Finley walks through his garden in South Central Los Angeles. | Still from "Broken Bread"

A peek into Ron Finley's garden. | Still from "Broken Bread"

3/7 A peek into Ron Finely's garden. | Still from "Broken Bread"

Ron Finley's garden | Still from "Broken Bread" Access

4/7 An overhead view of Ron Finley's garden. | Still from "Broken Bread"

Ron Finley gardening | Still from "Broken Bread" Access

5/7 Ron Finley tends to produce in his garden. | Still from "Broken Bread"

Ron Finley tending his garden at the parkway. | Still from "Broken Bread" Access

6/7 Ron Finley tends to his garden at the parkway. | Still from "Broken Bread"

Pots and plants in Ron Finley's garden. | Still from "Broken Bread"

7/7 Pots and plants in Ron Finley's garden hold various kinds of produce. | Still from "Broken Bread"

Stay up-to-date with Ron Finley's mission and find ways to get involved. Visit Ron Finley's website and connect on social media:

@RonFinleyHQ on Instagram
@RonFinleyHQ on Twitter
@RonFinleyProject on Facebook

SÜPRMARKT

SÜPRMARKT believes everyone deserves great food. On a mission to shatter long-standing barriers to health in low income communities, SÜPRMARKT supplies low cost organic produce to low income communities in L.A. Since its founding in 2016 by L.A. native Olympia Auset, SÜPRMARKT has provided over 70,000 pounds of organic produce and has plans to open South Central’s first organic grocery. Read more about how SÜPRMARKT is supplying South L.A. with organic produce.

Take a walk through South L.A. with SÜPRMRKT founder Olympia Ausset in this clip from "Broken Bread."

To find out how you can support SÜPRMARKT and their mission to end food deserts, visit SÜPRMARKT's website and connect on social media:

@supr.mrkt on Instagram
@suprmarkt on Facebook

Earle’s Hot Dogs

Earle’s Hot Dogs started as a hot dog cart peddled up and down Venice Beach by founders and brothers Cary and Duane Earle in 1984. In 1992, the humble cart upgraded to a brick and mortar. Two relocations and 31 years later, Earle’s is a restaurant and full-scale catering company located in Crenshaw Square. Earle’s menu has changed over the years, now with expansive plant-based offerings. But one thing stays the same: their commitment to “the empowerment of Black and brown people, supporting people from the Crenshaw Community and their hard work and dedication to quality food and superior service.” Read about Cary and Duane's journey as chefs and entrepreneurs.

Duane and Carey Earl | Still from "Broken Bread"

1/4 Duane and Cary Earle, co-founders and co-owners of Earle's, sit in their brick and mortar shop in Crenshaw Square. | Still from "Broken Bread"

A truck and hot dog cart outside of the most recent Earl's location on Crenshaw Boulevard. | Still from "Broken Bread"

2/4 A truck and hot dog cart outside the Earle's current location on Crenshaw Boulevard. | Still from "Broken Bread"

Duane Earl smiles as he works behind the counter at Earl's. | Still from "Broken Bread"

3/4 Duane Earle smiles as he works behind the counter at Earle's. | Still from "Broken Bread"

Fries and hot dogs served at Earl's. | Still from "Broken Bread"

4/4 Fries and hot dogs served at Earle's. | Still from "Broken Bread"

Check out Earle's expansive menu consisting of meat and plant-based options. Visit Earle's website and connect on social media:

@EarlesOnCrenshaw on Instagram
@EarlesOnCrenshaw on Facebook

Vegan Hooligans

Vegan Hooligans is a pop-up food truck in L.A.’s Eagle Rock, making classic American diner food out of plant-based ingredients. Launched by vegan Jose Meija, the plant-based eatery is well known for its riffs on comfort American diner food like milkshakes and patty melts as well as fast food hits like the Carl’s Jr. Western Burger. Read more about Jose Meija's journey into plant-based diets and launching The Vegan Hooligans.

1/4 Jose Mejia, founder of The Vegan Hooligans. | Still from "Broken Bread"

2/4 Jose Meija, right, and a The Vegan Hooligans staff member hang up a banner. | Still from "Broken Bread"

3/4 Plant-based burgers on the griddle at The Vegan Hooligans. | Still from "Broken Bread"

A sandwich prepared at Vegan Hooligans. | Still from "Broken Bread"

4/4 Sandwich melts prepared at The Vegan Hooligans. | Still from "Broken Bread"

Connect on social media to view Vegan Hooligan's mouth-watering vegan menu and stay up-to-date on their locations and hours:

@VeganHooligansLA on Instagram
@TheVeganHooligansLA on Facebook

Hank and Bean

Founded by experimental chefs Henry Fischer and Anna Rose Hopkins, Hank and Bean works with artists to create immersive dining experiences that challenge what people classify as food. Finding inspiration from non-traditional protein sources like crickets, jellyfish and mealworms, the duo specializes in transforming unusual foods into more appetizing dishes. Read about how Henry Fischer and Anna Rose Hopkins of Hank and Bean are challenging what we classify as food.

Watch Henry Fischer and Anna Rose Hopkins of Hank and Bean as they experiment with unusual ingredients and transforming them into familiar foods in this clip from "Broken Bread."

Discover Hank and Bean's variety of services from food research and development to event production. Visit the Hank and Bean website and connect on social media:

@HankandBeanLA on Instagram
@HankandBeanLA on Facebook

Pop Cultivate

PopCultivate is a culinary group specializing in infusing cannabis into cuisine. Founded by executive chef Chris Yang, PopCultivate is an intersection of his two passions — science and food. The chef-driven culinary group scientifically crafts unique fine dining menus infused with cannabis to provide diners with a controlled buzz.

Watch Chris Yang of PopCultivate as he walks you through how he designs a cannabis food experience in this clip from "Broken Bread."

Stay up-to-date on the latest at PopCultivate. Visit the PopCultivate website. Connect with PopCultivate and executive chef Chris Yang on social media:

@cheftofer on Instagram
@PopCultivate on Facebook

Virgil Grant (California Cannabis)

Virgil Grant, a formerly incarcerated weed dealer and owner of California Cannabis, was instrumental in the effort to pass Measure M in Los Angeles, which paved the way for legal, adult-use cannabis sales in the city. Grant continues to position himself at the forefront of the movement for social equity, ensuring that legalization of cannabis comes with justice for communities most impacted by its prohibition. Read more about Virgil Grant's story and how he paved the way for legal cannabis sales in L.A.

Watch Virgil Grant discuss the beginnings of his distribution network in Compton and his motivation behind advocating for equitable cannabis entrepreneurship and education in this clip from "Broken Bread."

Learn more about Virgil Grant's cannabis brand, California Cannabis. Visit the California Cannabis website and connect on social media:

@CaliforniaCannabisWC on Instagram
@CaliCannabisWC on Twitter
Cali Canna on Facebook

L.A. Kitchen

L.A. Kitchen, a Lincoln Heights-based non-profit founded by activist Robert Egger, has temporarily closed since the filming of "Broken Bread." When in operation, the non-profit recycled food waste into meals for the elderly and provided workforce training for individuals that were formerly incarcerated, homeless or aged out of foster care. L.A. Kitchen closed in 2018 due to financial troubles, but plans to open again one day. Read more about the work L.A. Kitchen did before its closure.

Watch the team at L.A. Kitchen prepare rejected food into meals for communities in need in this clip from "Broken Bread," filmed before the kitchen's closure.

To stay updated on updates regarding L.A. Kitchen, visit their website and connect on social media:

@LAKitchen on Instagram

Bracken’s Kitchen

Founded in 2013 by long-time chef Bill Bracken, Bracken’s Kitchen is a food truck and non-profit organization dedicated to community feeding, food recovery and culinary training. Partnered with a variety of food companies across L.A. and Orange County, the non-profit specializes in repurposing food waste to feed friends and neighbors in need. Read more about Bracken's Kitchen's mission.

Watch the team at Bracken's Kitchen repurpose food donations into tasty and nutritious meals for those in need in this clip from "Broken Bread."

Find out how you can get involved. Visit the Bracken's Kitchen website and connect on social media:

@BrackensKitchen on Instagram
@BrackensKitchen on Twitter
Bracken's Kitchen on Facebook

Alma Backyard Farms

Alma Backyard Farms provides opportunities for formerly incarcerated women and men to grow food in and for their communities as a means to give back. ALMA has urban farms located in East L.A., South L.A., West Compton and will soon open one in San Pedro . Their farm stands provide access to fresh, affordable food as well as gardening and cooking workshops.

Learn about all the ways you can support Alma Backyard Farms. Visit Alma Backyard Farms' website and connect on social media:

@AlmaBackyardFarms on Instagram
@AlmaBackyardFarmLA on Facebook

Aqeela Sherrills

Aqeela Sherrills is a Watts-based activist on a mission to cultivate peace in his community. Co-founder of the Amer-I-Can Program, an organization aiming to heal gang violence, Sherrills and his brother, Daude, successfully brought rival gangs, the Bloods and Crips, together to sign a peace agreement. After the passing of his oldest son, Sherrills started The Reverence Project and co-founded Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice has been integral to the fight for criminal justice reform and worked to pass Proposition 47 in California which changed certain low-level crimes from potential felonies to misdemeanors. Read more about Aqeela Sherrills' community work to build a more peaceful, prosperous Watts.

Meet Aqeela Sherrills and his mom, "Mama" Wajeha, as they prepare homecooked meals for those in need — a practice they've done since the 1960s.

Watts Coffee House

Initially opened in the aftermath of the 1965 Watts Uprising, Watts Coffee House is a community hub that serves classic American diner food from pancakes to Philly cheesesteaks. The coffee house is a frequent location for community events like high school fundraisers and training programs. Read more about the history of Watts Coffee House and the important role it plays in its community.