Page 8 - 2121 Installation Book Final

encino sTrong:
a chef on The food
fronTline of covid
lusY gradzhYan

chef and oWner
lusY’s mediTerranean café

upply shortages, empty shelves and lines for food aren’t new for restaurant
owner and chef Lusy Gradzhyan. After a 6.8 earthquake hit her home in
SArmenia in 1988, her community was destroyed. She learned from her
family how to lend a hand to neighbors in need. So, when the coronavirus crisis began
in LA, Lusy knew she could use her kitchen to help.
The COVID pandemic resulted in thousands of low-income senior citizens becoming
shut-ins, unable to grocery shop or obtain meals. The Mayor’s office and the
Department of Aging selected 32 restaurants from across Los Angeles to help based
on their qualifications, nutritional standards and past community service in their
neighborhoods. Lusy’ s was one of those chosen.

Within weeks, she was coordinating up to 1,500 meals a week that were delivered to
seniors by cab drivers enlisted by the city. Every menu was carefully planned. Every
Tuesday and Friday, senior recipients got a special thermally wrapped and chilled box
on their doorstep containing five nutritious meals with a fruit or a dessert.
Seniors began calling the city to praise how delicious the food was.
“I can’t overstate how important this program is to my wife and me. And how
amazing the food is from this stellar restaurant.”
“Thank you so much for providing this food for us in this difficult time.”
“You do a wonderful service! Thank you, thank you.”
“I can’t believe the quality of the food. It’s amazing.”
“You have no idea how grateful I am. I’ve been stuck in this room and can’t go out.”
“This makes such a huge difference for my parents.”
“We had run out of food. It came in the nick of time.”
“I bless the hands that made this food.”
“Everybody needs to eat. But food is not just nourishment. It can be a way of showing
support, relieve isolation or provide comfort. It’s basic - food can bring families and
communities together,” says Gradzhyan.
Lusy and her team prepare the food in a space less than 1,500 square feet. But
they make every inch count. Seniors dine on food that has won five stars from LA
Daily News, Westways Magazine, Encino News, Yelp!, and GrubHub. To date, Lusy
has served more than 60,000 meals. That’s made her a local hero not only to Valley
seniors but to all of us as well.

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