🍽 Friend of Camber: Austin Tedesco
What he's gatekeeping, where he's a regular, & a dish he can't stop thinking about
Mads here! Say hey to Friend of Camber, our new series where the people we adore share the LA spots they can’t shut up about.
This week’s feature is Substack’s own . I met Austin when the Camber newsletter was making the switch to Substack. Aside from getting us situated on the platform, we got to talking about all things food & LA (of which he is an expert). I was giddy to get his most treasured recs and share them with all of you!
Austin is the Head of Business Development at Substack, helping push the platform into new markets while making the app a thriving home for creators to run and grow subscription businesses. He’s a former line cook at Cool World who writes the lightly judgmental, bi-coastal food blog . Last year, he decamped from New York to LA but still splits time between both cities. Silver Springs is the only thing that ever gets him to willingly go west of La Brea. His favorite thing about LA is that life here is easy and there’s very little to do. His favorite thing about New York is running himself into the ground.
Let’s get to know his LA!
What’s your “I don’t want to gatekeep, but I kind of do” rec?
If I had to pick one chef to represent LA in a global battle royale cookoff, it would be Kato’s Jon Yao. The full tasting menu at Kato runs $325 per person. There’s a smaller bar option for $185. They’re both worth it. Jon is a genius. But my favorite little hack in LA is that Kato holds two seats at the bar for cocktails and à la carte snacks. You typically get a crudo, their heavenly milk bread with butter, a ham & uni donut and the boniato yam dessert from their original location that is just mind blowing. I don’t drink much in California — I save that for New York — but the cocktail program is good enough to cajole me into browning out every time I visit. I’m loath to potentially see these seats start getting snatched up on OpenTable, but I guess that’s just how much I love y’all.
Where do you go when you want to feel like a regular?
LA Homefarm, my perfect little neighborhood grocery store. Owner Lauri Kranz put together a beautiful flower arrangement for a Substack event last week. She’s a gem.
What restaurant nails the “lowkey but serious about food” vibe?
I like how much Mina Park and Kwang Uh make Baroo feel like a warm, inviting neighborhood restaurant … until the food hits the table. It’s astounding to me how many food-obsessed friends still haven’t been to the Arts District location.
What’s the one place that proves LA really is a food city?
The Substack team was in town last week and I needed a knockout spot for a big group dinner. Bavel was the first place I thought of for these poor people who regularly have to eat in San Francisco. LA is an incredible food city and mostly a shruggable restaurant city at the moment. Seven years into its run, Bavel is the exceptional showstopper, nailing service, vibe and basically every dish.
What’s the dish you still think about days later—and maybe went back for twice in one week?
I had a brain-rewiring meal at Baby Bistro during their opening week, and then went back right away mostly to eat this squid, cucumbers and yuzu kosho creation from Miles Thompson. This place makes me so happy.
Find Austin on Substack and Instagram.
See ya around,
Mads
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