My name is Duane Hatashita. I've been a chef for over 20 years. For the last decade, I've been working for Hyatt in Long Beach, California. My job at Hyatt is to feed large groups of people, sometimes over 1,000 people at one time. But that ended last week when COVID-19 came into our lives.

The hotel I work at is closed now, hoping to re-open in May. My co-workers and I don't know what to expect, probably much like you don't know what your future holds right now. I'm used to working 10+ hours a day, but now I have time at home, and I need to figure out what to do with myself.

I have access to ingredients, and I have a home kitchen stocked with chef-grade equipment. There are people in my neighborhood that need to eat and might be fearful of leaving home to shop or pick-up meals. I want to do something to help my community and bridge that gap. I plan to serve by cooking and delivering low-cost meals to friends and family during this difficult time.

Keep an eye on this blog for updates, or sign up here for email alerts. If you have any questions, contact me at (562) 209-9339, or my wife Jane Lapham at (562) 472-5810. Thanks in advance for your support in this difficult time. I hope my work can help to provide for others during this crisis.

Much love,
Duane