Editor’s Letter: Summer 2020

“Food feeds our souls. It is the single great unifier across all cultures. The table offers a sanctuary and a place to come together for unity and understanding.” —Lidia Bastianich

What crazy times we are living in!

When we decided to go ahead with this Summer issue, albeit a month later than usual, I really thought that the trending topic of conversation would be the COVID-19 pandemic that has changed the face of business and food service all over the world. And certainly in Ventura County and surrounding areas, businesses (including Edible) and residents will be dealing with the repercussions of the disease and the shutdown for months to come.

In this issue, we touch on some of the incredible ways that our local restaurants have pivoted to stay viable and essential during the quarantine and beyond. In the past few months, we’ve seen things like toilet paper, yeast, uncooked rice, complete grocery and/or take-and-bake services and to-go cocktail kits offered on menus that previously contained just appetizers and entrees. More than 40 local businesses partnered with World Central Kitchen to feed first responders in the health care industry, senior citizens and families as a way to give back and stay in business. And as the restrictions lift, we have seen a new surge of innovation and creativity to ensure safe environments for guests to enjoy dining-in once again. Ventura County Strong, indeed!

The quarantine, perhaps due to the decided lack of entertainment options, also brought about a rise of self-sustainability. Gardens were revived or newly planted, sourdough exploded out of the commercial bread and yeast shortage, and home cooking—sourced from local farms—is suddenly the biggest food trend to hit social media.

We’ve been ahead of our time, dear reader. The world is finally catching up.

And then, with the horrifying murder of George Floyd, culturally systemic racial inequalities have been brought back into light in a way that couldn’t have occurred at another time in history. Thousands in our county marched in solidarity at peaceful protests and showed up in droves to support Black-owned businesses.

And yet, in a time when we need to lean into love, many get lost in the disunity of nuance. It seems there is still a need to come together at the proverbial table and share a culturally rich meal.

Part of what makes each person so valuable to the whole community is that we each experience life through our own particular lens. Often, this is also what makes it hard to understand, or even hear, the perspective of someone else, especially if it is outside of one’s experience.

The greatest act of humility, in my opinion, can sometimes be just listening with openness to another’s experience and taking it at face value. You might work a corporate job or own a small business; be a farmer or a restaurateur; be male or female or none of the above; be white or a person of color. Whatever boxes you tick, your experience is what makes you unique.

And each of us is essential to create the beautiful diversity that builds healthy communities. And as Nature so clearly teaches us—through soil, plants, animals, ecosystems and human food needs—diversity is what brings health to the planet that sustains us all.

Here at Edible we are committed to celebrating diversity in food and in people. We stand with our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) family, neighbors and friends and further commit to listen and learn as we go.

So please, pull up a chair and join us for some good eating and great company.