Chef Tolu ‘Eros’ Erogbogbo, Chef Jihee Kim, Chef Alex Garcia, Chef Diego Argoti and Doña Tenchita. Image: PBS SoCal
PBS SoCal is launching a new food documentary digital series dedicated to documenting global food culture that follows the chefs, cooks and entrepreneurs who are revolutionizing what it means to run a restaurant.
Called REBEL KITCHENS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, it follows Chef Tolu ‘Eros’ Erogbogbo, Korean transplant Chef Jihee Kim, punk rock Chefs Alex and Elvia Garcia, surrealist Chef Diego Argoti and backyard abuelita Doña Tenchita. The series produced in partnership with culinary publication Life & Thyme.
A special early release of all five episodes is streaming for free on the PBS app and PBSsocal.org starting today with new episodes each week on Thursdays at 10 a.m. on PBS SoCal’s YouTube Channel. The episodes will have weekly television broadcast premieres on PBS SoCal Plus starting on Tues., Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. PT.
REBEL KITCHENS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA episodes are as follows (subject to change):
“Poltergeist by Chef Diego Argoti”
Chef Argoti creates surreal fusion cuisine, marrying Mexican, Arab and Asian dishes at his restaurant, Poltergeist. Set in the beloved Echo Park barcade, Button Mash, it is a manic space that perfectly fits the chef’s hyper-visual and hyper-flavorful foods. Diego also operates his own pop-up series at Estrano, a ‘Street Pasta’ pop-up in LA and previously worked at acclaimed Los Angeles restaurants, including Bestia and Bavel.
“Evil Cooks by Chefs Alex and Elvia Garcia”
Chefs Alex and Elvia Garcia bring a touch of witchcraft to their El Sereno pop-up, Evil Cooks. Whether they are cooking in their home or at Smorgasburg LA, they have mastered the craft of street taquero and metal and punk music. Their unique menu offers tentacled tacos al pastor, monstrous mulitas, burritos, tortas and more.
“Perilla by Chef Jihee Kim”
At Perilla LA, Korean transplant ChefKim brings traditional preserved dishes from her homeland and infuses them with seasonal Southern California produce. Rethinking the Korean banchan shop into a deli-style eatery in the outskirts of Chinatown and Echo Park, Chef Jihee creates bold flavors with slow fermentation and patience.
“Comedor Tenchita by Doña Tenchita”
Doña Hortensia “Tenchita” Melchor hosts a thriving Mexican restaurant in her own Mid-City backyard, serving traditional Oaxacan food in Los Angeles. From her painstakingly and lovingly crafted Mole Negro to her savory breakfast higaditos, Doña Tenchita welcomes visitors into her mid-city home with rich, unique and earthy indigenous flavors.
“ILE by Chef Tolu ‘Eros’ Erogbogbo”
Chef Erogbogbo takes us on a culinary journey across West Africa, capturing the diverse and unique flavors of each country while telling folk tales for each dish. He hosts a private dining experience out of his home in Hollywood, reimagining fine dining with a contemporary and storytelling twist.