Although prospects had looked bleak for months, when four out of five of LAX’s wildly lucrative food and beverage contracts were finally handed out on Monday afternoon— an unexpected beneficiary of the decision is Homeboy Industries’ popular and unique Homegirl Cafe.
In a decision that seems to have been complicated by more than the usual number of lobbyists, personal agendas, and multiple conflicts of interest (see stories byDavid Zahniser and Gene Maddaus for some of those specifics), the special five-person LA City Council panel known as the Board of Referred Powers decided (in a 4-1 vote) to award four of the five of LAX’s wildly lucrative food and beverage contracts and, at the same time, to throw out the bid by the celebrity-packed group that was originally the front-runner in the contract contest.
The fifth contract will likely be rebid in the near future and it is hoped that the whole five contract food and beverage package. (plus three additional airport vendor contracts) will be up for approval by the full city council in about a month.
(For some of the finer details on the contract squabbles, and the tortured road to Monday’s contract awards see the LA Times story, the Daily Breeze coverage, and the article in the LA WAVE.)
The Homegirl Cafe—one of Homeboy’s six businesses— is among the vendors included in the bid put forth by Miami-based Areas USA, which was originally figured to be a dark horse. When Areas USA was selected, that meant that Homegirl Cafe was too—along with other food purveyors like downtown Los Angeles steakhouse Engine Co. 28 and Culver City-based gastropub Ford’s Filling Station.
Although it is known for the fact that it trains and employs young women recovering from gang life and/or incarceration, Homegirl Cafe is also an excellent and uniquely LA food purveyor in its own right. (Homegirl describes its fare as “Latina flavors with a contemporary twist.” ) Its fully organic menu features delicate-flavored dishes designed by Chef Patricia Zarate using vegetables and herbs from its own organic garden and other local farms.
Father Greg Boyle was also among those who spoke to the panel at the meeting that concluded late Monday afternoon. When I saw him later on Monday night (at an unrelated gathering), he was extremely pleased, as would be expected, but still seemed a bit stunned by what, for Homeboy, is a very happy turn of events—yet well deserved in terms of the quality of the cafe itself.
The fifth and final contract was not awarded Monday after a winning bid involving some of LA’s best known chefs (Nancy Silverton, Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken) was unexpectedly tossed out because of a possible conflict of interest that the LA city attorney’s office believed might trigger a court challenge and thus fatally delay the entire LAX project.
A clearly disappointed Silverton also spoke at the Monday’s meeting. “I want to warn you, If you don’t you’ll help us, the people of L.A. and the visitors to L.A. may be stuck with food choices and food quality that are currently available to them at every off-ramp on every freeway across America.”
(Well, not exactly. Nancy, we love you but you aren’t the only food game in town. Sorry.)
The group that includes Silverton et al, plus Boyle Heights’ la Serenata De Garibaldi and the local favorite Bertha’s Soul Food, is expected to rebid for the final contract.
(Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have Homegirl and some of our LA star chefs, La Serenata and Bertha’s Soul Food? )
In the meantime, it feels great to cheer Homegirl’s well-earned victory.
L.A. Youth, is sadly not one of the winners in the highly competitive selection of new concessions at LAX. L.A. Youth, the newspaper by and about teens, was approached by HDS Retail to be part of their concessionaire bidding package. We were enthusiastic about having our own media store with books, snacks, etc. and best of all our teen-written newspaper available to travelers. HDS also pledged a substantial annual donation to our non-profit organization from the store’s revenue. The politics behind the decision-making process for the concessions was an eye opener for us.
Nancy Silverton Susan Fenniger and Marry Sue Milliken may not be the only food game in town as stated by Celeste Fremon, but each of them has earned their world wide fame.
They clearly are the best quality, best known restaurant owner/chiefs on the list.
When the rebid is done for fifth contract LA and the worlds visitors would be in for a World Class treat if these proven food experts were the winners of the bid.
This last minute potential conflict of interest came out of nowhere and that’s where it belongs.
Sign me, Food Fan.
Drat, Donna, I had no idea. Wouldn’t that have been great! And about the politics—yes, quite something.
Food fan, of course, Nancy Silverton, Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken are deservedly superstars and we hope they’ll be in on the next bid. (As you’ll note if you read to the end of the post.)
also hope that package wins because of La Serenata, (which does wonderful work, for me preferable to the Border Grill, which I like as well) and Bertha’s Soul Food.
I simply objected to Silverton seeming, in that moment, to regulate all others to a generalized pile of mediocrity. In truth, I imagine the remark came out of the tension of the day.
Hate to be skeptical, but could this be an appeasement after cutting so much funding to Homeboy Industries’ headquarters? I’d rather have Homeboy Industries itself solvent and running to Father G’s standards than a sputtering overall program with a consolation prize consisting of a food concession at LAX. That being said, any opportunity is a good opportunity. Congratulations to the homegirls (and homeboys, I’m sure) involved with the Homegirl Cafe. This is an exciting opportunity and a great way to bring awareness to the overall program and its cause, considering all of the business people and even celebrities, world wide, who pass through LAX. Best of luck to all involved!
This is just theeeee best decision a City Council can make! Hallelujah! These blessings/miracles seem to help “Keep the Faith”. God Bless you Father Greg, Home Girl Cafe, and Home Boy Industries.