Squid Ink: So I hear you’ve become a vegetarian?
Roy Choi: Let’s go back to my post, because it was really just a diary entry. I didn’t realize that people cared that much. I’ve been doing Kogi for three years now and a lot of shit has blown up — but food has been my voice. And people have been responding to it. I’ve just been myself. Everything you eat is everything I say and everything I am. So I feel like I’ve been talking to the public for a long time, even though I haven’t been using words. I didn’t know that it was going to get picked up, or that people even cared that much. But if you look at the post, I never used the word “vegetarian.” And I never said I was quitting cooking. And those seem to have been the two focal points.
Read the whole, somewhat epic interview over on LA Weekly.
7 Comments
Duuuuuuude, whatever you decide and however you decide to do it, there are more of us out there that are “ride or die” on the Choi roller coaster than you realize. Growing up here, i’ve seen few things that have become LA institutions as quickly as Kogi. Would those of us dedicated to the truck (especially those of us living on the Eastside where it’s tougher to get to the restaurants) be bummed out if you pulled the plug? For sure! But we’re on board for whatever’s coming out of the kitchen…meat or not. I just wanna FEEL the flavor! Thanks for your contributions to the LA landscape.
Ok now I read the entire article…what kind of changes are you talking about trying to implement in the tough to reach neighborhoods? Awareness? Eating habits? Sustainable change??? You’ve improved the art of going to the people, mobilizing resources, and I think you have the influence in this city to create change. As an MPH student, a health teacher in Watts for years, and as someone who wants better for so many that have so little, I relate to that desire to reach those parts of our society who tend to be overlooked. There are tons of theories out there health educators use to try and implement behavior changes…the trick is finding the right one(s) to meet the needs of your population. Finally, there’s the eternal question: how do we help? How can we do more? And if we do, will it lead to lasting change??? This is what I struggle with everyday I walk in my classroom. So i’m down for the cause, what can I do?
Pioneer Papi’s out in the flavor wilderness . . .
And he’s gonna find us some new flavor frontiers !
Keep pushing, observing, challenging, changing, Papi.
Gotta break away from the trough of big meat / refined carbs.
Food supply changes according to what we the people demand.
Now’s the time to take back our right to eat real food !
Seanie Boy- come run with me. Thank you. Contact natashphan@gmail.com and let’s see when the time will be right to join forces.
And what I’m talking about is the neighborhoods. People don’t want to believe that the access is limited, but they would never know that because they don’t live it like we do!
Snowy- word.
Jamie Oliver: ‘We’re in Big Trouble’
The celeb chef is calling for mandatory health education as the first Food Revolution Day approaches.
Roy, I just attempted to send an email to that address and it is saying it doesn’t exist. I’m def interested…
i added an “a” in the middle of the address so either it worked or somebody got an email they wont understand!