kitchen

BUYING supermarket own brand can save you cash, with 64% of us recently switching to cheaper products to reduce grocery bills.

But one item many of us still pay top price for is the humble kitchen towel as many cheaper varieties just aren’t up to the job.

12

Plenty claims to be 50% more absorbent than rivals and boasts you only need one sheet.

But how do own brand rolls match up to the popular brand? Lynsey Hope finds out:

Sainsbury’s Super Absorbent Kitchen Towel

• £2.50 for 2 rolls
• £1.25 per 100 sheet roll

12

Lynsey says: “The Sainsbury’s rolls were my best buy.

“Not only were these paper towels strong but they were also super absorbent, managing to clear up lots of mess before I had to tear off a new sheet.

“They came off the roll well and remained pretty robust.

“They did get a bit flimsy when they got wet, as you’d expect, but I managed to use one sheet five or six times and it still remained intact.

“Top effort from Sainsbury’s. Great value option.”

Efficiency: 5/5

Value: 5/5

Overall score: 10/10

Tesco Kitchen Rolls 

• £2.50 for 2 rolls
• £1.25 per 100 sheet roll

12

Lynsey says: “Tesco has shrunk the size of the cardboard tubes in their rolls so you get the same number of sheets, but they are not as bulky to store.

“That’s quite a handy innovation if you are short on cupboard space.

“This towel did a great job of cleaning up food mess such as jam and peanut butter and it was reasonably durable though not as tough as some others in this test.

“It felt quite thin and flimsy and wasn’t great at absorbing liquids which is why I had to knock the score down.”

Efficiency: 3/5

Value: 3/5

Overall score: 6/10

Plenty Original Kitchen Roll

• £5 for 2 rolls
• £2.50 per 100 sheet roll

12

Lynsey says: “A really robust and absorbent kitchen towel.

“It easily wiped away spilt food and liquids, without any seeping through to hands.

“It absorbed lots of water and strength-wise, it fared really well never tearing during a test.

“Even though it’s only two-ply, it seemed tough, absorbent and the roll seemed to go a long way, lasting better than many of the own brands.

“Plenty claims ‘one sheet does plenty’ and I agree.

“The plastic packaging is made of 55% recycled plastic.

“The only downside is the price as you are paying double the price for this – but it will do the job and it will last longer.”

Efficiency: 5/5

Value: 4/5

Overall score: 9/10

Morrisons Ultra Towels

• £3 for 2 rolls
• £1.50 per 100 sheet roll

12

Lynsey says: “Reasonably tough towels from Morrisons which were triple layered and so one of the best when it came to strength.

“This made them a little difficult to tear off the roll but once you got one, it did a great job of absorbing liquids and tackling difficult food mess.

“The packaging is made of 50% recycled materials.

“More expensive than most, even Waitrose, but they lasted well so I thought the value for money was reasonable.”

Efficiency: 4/5

Value: 3/5

Overall score: 7/10

M&S Absorbent Kitchen Towels

• £2.70
• £1.35 per 100 sheet roll

12

Lynsey says: “When I opened these up, the towels felt thick, soft and durable, exactly as you’d hope from a high end supermarket.

“My hopes were high, as they also claim to be triple-layered for strength.

“Sadly though as I tried to mop up some spilled water, I found they were actually pretty useless.

“The water didn’t absorb, soaked through to my hands and my clothes.

“I ended up in more of a mess than I started in.

“They weren’t much better when it came to food stains, such as jam or peanut butter, either, simply tearing on the second wipe.

“Hard to get off the roll each time, too. Shame.”

Efficiency: 2/5

Value: 2/5

Total score: 4/10

Essential Waitrose Kitchen Rolls

• £2.70 for 2
• £1.35 per 100 sheet roll

12

Lynsey says: “A very strong towel that held up against a reasonable amount of force before finally ripping.

“It wasn’t as good as absorbing liquids though when it came to popping up liquid mess and when I used it to clean up some jam, it all soaked through on to my hands.

“Not a terrible price, but there are better budget options.”

Efficiency: 4/5

Value: 3/5

Total: 7/10

Aldi Saxon Ultra Kitchen Towels

• £2.55
• £1.28 per 100 sheets

12

Lynsey says: “Aldi’s kitchen roll was just as good as Plenty when it came to soaking up liquids and durability.

“It’s three-ply and it was probably the toughest we tried.

“If it absorbs a lot of liquid, you could wring it out and use it again without the risk of it ripping.

“It cleaned up food spills well, too, only leaving the odd smear behind.

“Only 30% of the packaging was made from recycled plastic, which was lower than most, but otherwise felt these were budget friendly and a solid buy.”

Efficiency: 4/5

Value: 5/5

Total: 9/10

Asda Shades Everyday Kitchen Rolls

• £2.54 for 2
• £1.27 per 100 sheet roll

12

Lynsey says: “Surprisingly strong for the price, this two-ply towel didn’t tear easily at all.

“But sadly, that’s about it for the positives.

“It wasn’t great at soaking up liquid or mopping up spills and I had to use quite a lot of it to clean up mess, so whilst it might appear reasonable value, you need to use quite a lot of it to get the job done.

“The packaging is made with 55% recycled plastic.”

Efficiency: 2/5

Value: 2/5

Total: 4/10

Ocado Kitchen Towel

• £2.50 for 2
• £1.25 per 100 sheet roll

12

Lynsey says: “Although these are a good price, I thought the paper felt quite thin and flimsy compared to other own brands.

“The mess tended to leak off them when I wiped it up too.

“The sheets also came up quite small so most of the time I had to use at least two of them to get the job done, so I’m not sure they are great value for money either.”

Efficiency: 2/5

Value: 3/5

Total: 5/10

Lidl Floralys Kitchen Towel

• £2.99 for 4 rolls
• 74p per 60 sheet roll or £1.23 per 100 sheets

12

Lynsey says: “Lidl’s rolls were small with just 60 sheets per roll but you do get four for a good price.

“Wet or dry they could handle an impressive amount of force before ripping and they did a great job of soaking up liquid.

“They were pretty decent at clearing up food mess too, though I did end up with some of it on my hands where it soaked through.

“Shame they come in plastic packaging as overall, these two-ply paper rolls were a great budget option.”

Efficiency: 4/5

Value: 5/5

Total: 9/10

Who Gives A Crap

• £2.65 for 1
• £2.65 per 120 sheet roll or £2.20 per 100 sheets

12

Lynsey says: “This kitchen roll did a good job of absorbing spilt liquids, but it wasn’t as good as either Aldi or Plenty – and they are mega expensive.

“Sadly they were also among the weaker rolls in our test, tearing easily when you tried to mop up food mess.

“While it is an environmentally-friendly option with recyclable packaging, I didn’t feel they were good value or as efficient as some of the other rolls we tried.

“For added points, 50% of the firm’s profits are donated to sanitation projects across the world.”

Efficiency: 3/5

Value: 3/5

Total: 6/10

SPRING is a great time to give your home a good clean.

But it can be infuriating when you splash out on a product that claims to work wonders and it just doesn’t deliver.

9

Supermarket shelves are lined with so many different bottles and sprays, it can be hard to know which will save you extra elbow grease without breaking the bank.

Lynsey Hope reviews a selection of kitchen sprays to find out which ones can really deliver:

Method Daily Kitchen Cleaner (828m) at Ocado

9

Lynsey says: “A lovely fresh clementine smell, which wasn’t at all overpowering.

“This cleaner is plant-based and made with biodegradable ingredients so a great eco choice.

“As the ingredients are gentle, this is suitable for use on worktops, tiles, stone, wood and glass so I liked how versatile it was.

“The bottle, minus the trigger, is also made with recycled plastic. In terms of cleaning, it was reasonably effective.

“It did a great job of getting rid of food stains such as jam and peanut butter and it was even pretty good at stubborn, burnt over mess on the hob.

“My only complaint is that it did leave smears, I think because it is made with coconut oil.”

Effectiveness: 4/5

Value: 2/5

Total score: 6/10

Aldi Power Force Kitchen Cleaner (750ml)

9

Lynsey says: “No surprise that Aldi’s cleaner is the best price per 100ml of liquid, but just how well does it work?

“You have to spray it on and leave for five minutes before scrubbing away so it took longer than some of the other products but actually, it did a good job.

“It was one of the best at cleaning up food spills and for cutting through grease I’d give it 10/10.

“There were no nasty smears after use. It doesn’t score many points for being eco-friendly due to the chemicals it contains.

“Was it as good as Flash? Perhaps not, but it is nearly £2 cheaper. Excellent product that won’t break the bank.”

Effectiveness: 5/5

Value: 5/5

Total score: 10/10

Mr Muscle Platinum Kitchen Cleaner (750ml) at Sainsbury’s

9

Lynsey says: “The Mr Muscle spray was great at cutting through grease but it didn’t do a great job with serious food mess.

“I had some stuck on Weetabix left on my kitchen table and I had to scrub quite hard to get it off with this spray.

“It’s not the best eco choice either. For the brand and price, I definitely expected more and was left disappointed.

“The trigger was one of the best and it did spray out of the bottle really well.”

Effectiveness: 3/5

Value: 2/5

Total score: 5/10

Astonish Kitchen Cleaner Zesty Lemon (750ml) at Morrisons

9

Lynsey says: “A great price and whilst I liked the scent of this spray, it wasn’t the best at getting rid of serious burnt on grime and food spills.

“It was fine for a cursory wipe over surfaces and had a lovely scent but I wouldn’t buy it again.

“The trigger wasn’t terribly effective either and it dribbled out over my fingers when I used it so some of the product was wasted.”

Effectiveness: 2/5

Value: 3/5

Total score: 5/10

M&S Kitchen Surface Cleaner Italian Lemon and Ginger (750ml)

9

Lynsey says: “Loved the delicate lemon and ginger scent of this M&S spray, it wasn’t overpowering at all and is made with plant-based biodegradable ingredients.

“You simply spray this on surfaces and then leave for a few moments before wiping clean with a dry or damp cloth.

“It did a great job on my kitchen surface and easily removed marks and finger prints from the hob.

“It wasn’t as efficient when it came to dried on grease and harder food stains such as butter but it’s good value, gentle and it didn’t irritate my skin or eyes during use.

“I’d buy it again.”

Effectiveness: 4/5

Total score: 8/10

Value: 4/5

Sainsbury’s Greencare Mandarin and Lime Kitchen Cleaner (750ml)

9

Lynsey says: “I was really impressed by this Sainsbury’s own brand spray.

“It’s gentle, made with natural ingredients and fragrances.

“It’s not as cheap as some of the own brands but it’s a great alternative if you usually a product like Method, as it’s £1.50 cheaper and did just as good a job.

“It’s not suitable for waxed, oiled or porous surfaces, textiles or aluminium surfaces.

“The spray trigger was effective and worked well, even when getting to the end of the bottle. Impressive for the price.”

Effectiveness: 4/5

Value: 4/5

Total score: 8/10

Flash Spray Wipe Done Kitchen (800ml) at Waitrose

9

Lynsey says: “Flash knows how to make cleaning products.

“It is much pricier than the own brands, but it got the job done with ease.

“Simply spray, wipe away, and even the toughest grease and grime was gone with little elbow grease.

“No rinsing, scrubbing or polishing required. It also left a fresh, clean smelling scent behind.

“It can be used on most surfaces except untreated or oiled wood and aluminium, copper or brass.

“The nozzle was easy to use and effective. The only downside is the high price tag.”

Effectiveness: 5/5

Value: 4/5

Total score: 9/10

Tesco Anti Bac Kitchen (750ml)

9

Lynsey says: “An incredibly efficient and affordable spray from Tesco.

“It made cleaning surfaces easy, tackling all sorts of dried on grease and grime.

“It was brilliant at cleaning up mess on a hob and it worked well on tough stains such as curry sauce.

“It is suitable for cooker tops, tiles, food preparation surfaces and sinks.

“Simply spray on, leave for five minutes before wiping way with a clean cloth.

“It’s not suitable for use on wood or marble.

“It contains bleach and a range of other chemicals so if you are sensitive to that you might find it irritates and it isn’t brilliant for sustainability.”

Effectiveness: 4/5

Value: 5/5

Total score: 9/10

Celebrity Big Brother fans made their feelings known about Mickey Rourke and his ‘disgusting’ kitchen habit, leaving Patsy Palmer shocked and viewers feeling sick

Celebrity Big Brother fans were left feeling sick after Mickey Rourke’s disgusting kitchen habit. The hit show returned to our screens this week, with Hollywood star and boxer Mickey the last star to enter the house.

During tonight’s episode of the ITV show’s spin-off Late and Live, host AJ Odudu showed some footage of Mickey in the kitchen. As the housemates got to know each other, fans were horrified to see Mickey’s habit.

One fan wrote: “Mickey brushing his teeth in the kitchen sink while Angelica Bell and Patsy Palmer look on in disgust… this series is going to DELIVER!! #CBBUK,” whilst another added: “JoJo Siwa trying to stop Mickey Rourke from brushing his teeth over the kitchen dishes as Patsy Palmer heaves in the background. #CBBUK.”

“Patsy’s reaction to Mickey brushing his teeth in the kitchen #CBBUK,” a third shared, with a fourth adding: “All the housemates when mickey brushed his teeth at the kitchen sink #CBBUK.” A fifth wrote: “Mickey brushing his teeth in the kitchen wtfff #CBBUK.”

Another shared: “Omg mickeys brushing his teeth in the kitchen sink #CBBuk,” as one wrote: “Mickey brushed his teeth in the kitchen sink #CBBUK.” Another penned: “and when jojo gives mickey that killer nomination for brushing his teeth in the kitchen OKAYYYY.”

On arriving in the house, Mickey was asked what values he wanted his fellow housemates to have. He said: “I do not like people who are disrespectful. Respect is earned. I will earn it. If they don’t, they will know about it. Just be respectful and that’s it. I’ll just do me. I don’t care about winning. It doesn’t mean anything to me. I want someone to win who really cares about winning and who earns it.”

Mickey insisted he has no expectations of his time of the show – but he loves British culture.

“I talked to a friend of mine who was on the show – Chuck Liddell – and he told me he got voted out real early. So that’ll probably happen to me. I have no expectations. I love coming over here,” he said.

“I haven’t been here in 8 years. Most of my good friends aren’t here anymore but I love British people and British culture so I’ll enjoy talking to them [the Housemates] but I have no expectations of them. We’ll just see.”

Mickey sparked controversy with his arrival yesterday when he came under fire for his behaviour towards host AJ Odudu. AJ even told the acting veteran “stop looking at me” as he looked intently at her catsuit.

“I feel bad for AJ with the way Mickey Rourke kept pulling out her,” one wrote, with another adding: “Scared for all the women in that house now with how Mickey was with AJ on live television mind you.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

Decision fatigue is a real issue when it comes to dining in Los Angeles. With so many fantastic restaurants to choose from, the first hurdle is simply deciding where to go for your next meal out. Once you’ve narrowed that down, you’re then faced with menus that can range from sparse to compendious, like the famous 300-item menu at Thai Town’s Jitlada.

But sometimes, one dish emerges as a house specialty. It takes the pressure off knowing that there’s a crowd-favorite item that never fails to delight.

“I love signature dishes and hate when restaurants run out of them,” says Cento Pasta Bar chef Avner Levi. The restaurant is known for its spicy pomodoro that’s topped with whipped ricotta and verdant basil oil. “Its popularity wasn’t something I expected; the dish just took on a life of its own.”

Even though the popularity of the dish can put pressure on the kitchen, Levi sees the signature dish as a sort of blessing because “it makes it easier for guests to come back and be more adventurous with seasonal dishes as they know the staple will always be there.”

There are tons of legendary foods in L.A. — take the chili cheese dog that customers line up for at Pink’s Hot Dogs or the plump xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung. Next time you want to take the guesswork out of ordering, try the signature dish at one of these 15 L.A. restaurants, from garlic chicken at a long-standing Cuban spot to a memorable salad in Pasadena.

Jessie Schiewe is a freelance journalist.

FAJITAS with chicken or halloumi, beef and aubergine burgers, cheesy lasagne, smoked tomato and lentil soup with homemade garlic bread… 

Is your mouth watering yet? 

2

These are just some of the easy, cheap and delicious recipes the kids, their parents and guardians at St Patrick’s Primary School in Glasgow have been rustling up after class.

Around 20 families, with children aged from 5 to 11, are enjoying learning budget-friendly cooking techniques with the help of a professional chef, and making some new friendships.

They meet for two hours on a Tuesday afternoon in a cookery club to prepare a tasty dish that doesn’t hang around for long – although the benefits do.

“The children love it. It’s an opportunity to apply learning from numeracy, literacy and health in a fun, collaborative way,” explains St Patrick’s headteacher Mary Moore. 

“Feedback from families has been extremely positive.” 

“They join their families at 2.30pm and we have a brilliant community chef. She does a demonstration and teaches them safe ways to cut vegetables – things like that.

“Then the kids go off to sports class with a coach for about 45 minutes. It’s another part they really look forward to. 

“So it’s all about a healthy lifestyle. They eat together and go home with a recipe card and any leftover ingredients.”

The cookery and coaching are made possible by the school’s Nourish programme to support healthy food and nutrition provision, which received Stronger Starts funding from Tesco. 

“We’re in an area of quite high deprivation,” says deputy head Tanya Stevenson, who helps implement the programme. 

“We also have families who are new to Glasgow for a variety of reasons – some have relocated for work or study, or to flee war or seek asylum. It’s very mixed.”

Parent Danielle Vella and her daughter Aria are loving the family cooking club.

“We’ve enjoyed every week so far – the cooking and meeting new families from the school. It has been a really nice experience with our community chef,” says Danielle.

“We are very grateful to Tesco for providing the ingredients each week and to the school for the opportunity to learn new skills and recipes.”

“We’ve also been able to buy new kitchen equipment,” adds Tanya. “Tesco has really gone above and beyond.”

Tesco Stronger Starts has awarded over £13 million to almost 12,000 community projects, with grant recipients chosen by more than 330 million customer votes using blue tokens in stores across the UK. Applications for Cooking for All grants close on May 30.

A Tesco Cooking for All grant supports children by providing food access and education on nutrition and cooking

To apply, visit tescostrongerstarts.org.uk/cookingfund

2

ALDI has slashed the price of a kitchen essential to just £13.

It’s over £100 cheaper than the luxury brand, Nespresso.

1

Aldi is flogging its Ambiano Coffee Pod Machine for just £12.99.

Fans say its Nespresso pod compatible.

It was previously £19.99 but this doesn’t scratch the surface of brand new Nespresso machines.

Marked down from £219 to £79 is Nespresso’s Vertuo Evoluo Coffee Machine.

Although not identical, the machines are similar in size.

However, some Nespresso machines could set you back a whopping £649, as detailed on its website.

We have one beedy-eyed bargain hunter to thank for sharing this deal.

The shopper posted a picture of the coffee machine to Facebook and wrote: “Aldi was £49.99 now £12.99.”

Although the £49.99 label isn’t visible in the photo, it does show a reduced price from £19.99 to £12.99.

The machine is Nespresso pod compatible and ideal for coffee lovers on a budget.

Fans in the comment section questioned its pod compatibility.

One person asked: “What pods do they use?”One person asked.”

To which another replied: “Looks like Nespresso style pods from the box.”

Another person confirmed: “Nespresso ones I got my boyfriend one for Xmas.”

Meanwhile a happy shopper commented: ” I might just have to do a shopping trip!”

It’s important to note that this item is one of Aldi’s famous specialbuys.

Specialbuys are unique products sold in the discounter’s middle aisle from Thursday to Sunday.

The items are usually sold at a low price and only available while stocks last.

If you are keen to pick up one of Aldi’s cut-price versions, you will have to act quickly, as they are a limited-edition item; once they are gone, they are gone.

It comes after launched a special deal on a home makeover essential that could spruce up your kitchen for just £5.99.

The product was applicable to worktops, table tops or any other upcycling project and instantly bring it to life.

Similarly, another Specialbuy item included a Handheld Spot Cleaner for £39.99.

The handheld device was designed to clean carpets, rugs, and spills.

Plus, it was very similar to more expensive products sold by the likes of Vax and Bisell.

A DISTRAUGHT mother has spoken out about a traumatising accident involving her child, saying she “still dreams about” the “worst day” of her life.

She urged others not to make the same mistake and told them never to put their baby’s seat “on any surface other than the floor.”

2

2

Mum-of-three Ashley posted the clip to her TikTok page, @messybunmommy1, captioning it the “most vulnerable” post she’s ever made.

Her video has racked up over 4.2 million views already, as grateful parents heed her advice.

Last June, Ashley was cooking with her partner in their kitchen.

Her nine-month-old baby was happily resting in her seat, which Ashley and her partner had placed on top of their kitchen counters.

Describing it as “convenient” and “easy,” they did so regularly, to allow their baby to see what they were doing.

And plenty of unknowing parents do the same thing everyday, unaware of the potential risk.

Horrifyingly, tragedy struck as Ashley said: “In the span of like five seconds my daughter kicked herself back and fell in the seat onto the floor.”

Rushing over to pick their baby up and check her for injury, the traumatised mum said initially her child seemed OK.

But as she held her closer, she felt her baby “tense up” and saw her “eyes roll back.”

Her daughter then began to have a “grand mal” seizure (which the NHS says is now known as a tonic-clonic seizure) and to her terror, stopped breathing.

Ashley had no idea what to do and called emergency services for help while her daughter seized for a full minute and a half.

Once her child’s seizures stopped, Ashley administered CPR until the emergency services arrived, who were initially concerned her tot could have a broken neck.

A CT scan at the hospital revealed her neck thankfully wasn’t broken, but the child had sustained a “skull fracture above her ear.”

Ashley said they were then let go as the hospital told them there was nothing more they could do to help, and that they were extremely lucky that their child hadn’t suffered a brain bleed.

She says: “Fast forward four months, she’s having seizures again, we don’t know what they’re from – I truly believe it’s from her fall.”

She said since the accident, seeing influencers and other people sit their kids on their counter tops has made her want to “scream from the roof tops.”

Struggling through tears, she told viewers: “I just want people to understand how dangerous it is, how truly your life can change in an instant from one decision – so please don’t let it be this decision.”

Grateful viewers react

Viewers in the comments were quick to praise her brave honesty, and thanked her for sharing her story.

“The bravest and most compassionate video I’ve ever seen. You’ve started a movement that will save lives,” said one person.

“We put our seven-month-old in seats like this all the time on our counter tops. THANK YOU for sharing. We will be making a change after hearing your story!” said another parent.

“As a paramedic and paediatric nurse, please tell your story again and again, because this happens a lot,” said someone else.

“As someone who works in an ER, THANK YOU for sharing this vulnerable post. It will save innocent babies lives. As a mother, I’m virtually hugging you to soothe your guilt. Prayers,” said somebody else.

“Watching this while feeding my nine-month-old in his up-seat on my kitchen island. Will never put him up there again,” commented another viewer.

How to baby-proof your house

IF you’ve got a baby coming very soon, here’s our top tips on how to get your home ready for their arrival…

Secure Furniture and Appliances: Use brackets or straps to anchor heavy furniture and TVs to the wall. Ensure that large appliances like fridges and ovens are stable and cannot tip over.

Install Safety Gates: Place gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Use gates to block off rooms that are not baby-proofed.

Cover Electrical Outlets: Use outlet covers or plates to prevent little fingers from poking into sockets. Ensure that electrical cords are out of reach or secured.

Lock Cabinets and Drawers: Install child-proof locks on cabinets and drawers, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. Store hazardous substances, sharp objects, and small items that can be swallowed out of reach.

Use Corner and Edge Protectors: Attach soft corner and edge protectors to furniture with sharp edges. Consider using them on low tables, countertops, and fireplace hearths.

Secure Windows and Doors: Install window guards or locks to prevent windows from opening more than a few inches. Use door knob covers and door stoppers to prevent pinched fingers.

Maintain a Safe Sleep Environment: Use a firm mattress and avoid placing pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals in the cot. Ensure the cot meets current safety standards.

Keep Small Items Out of Reach: Regularly check the floor for small objects that could be choking hazards. Be mindful of items like coins, buttons, and small toys.

Adjust Water Heater Temperature: Set your water heater to a maximum of 49°C (120°F) to prevent scalding. Always test bath water temperature before placing your baby in.

Use Baby Monitors: Place baby monitors in the nursery to keep an eye on your little one. Ensure the monitor cords are out of reach to avoid strangulation hazards.

By taking these steps, you can create a safer environment for your baby.

Los Angeles County has had a heavy start to the new year. In the first week of January, wildfires broke out across the Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Pasadena, Altadena, the Hollywood Hills, San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley, leaving thousands of homes, businesses and other structures damaged or destroyed, and claiming 29 lives.

Among this destruction were long-standing restaurants such as Reel Inn in Malibu, Rosenthal Wine Bar & Patio off Pacific Coast Highway and the Little Red Hen Coffee Shop and Pizza of Venice in Altadena. For weeks, local restaurants closed due to poor air and water quality, damaged facilities and to support staff who were displaced by the fires.

The forced temporary closures occurred during what is typically the slowest time of the year for restaurants, but that hasn’t dissuaded the local food industry from providing free meals and hosting an array of fundraisers to support first responders and wildfire victims.

In Echo Park, Little Fish owners Anna Sonenshein and Niki Vahle are using the restaurant kitchen to cook up comforting soups to those in need. In Chinatown, La Sorted’s owner Tommy Brockert created the L.A. Pizza Alliance alongside 25 of the city’s best pizza makers and 90 volunteers.

This month, we’re departing from our usual habit of sharing new restaurant openings to celebrate some of the treasured stalwarts stepping up for our communities.

A DIY enthusiast didn’t want to pay thousands of pounds for a new kitchen, so decided to give hers a makeover herself whilst on a budget.

Using cheap buys from Amazon and B&Q, Ellie Reid was able to turn her space from drab to fab, without breaking the bank.

4

4

4

4

So if you’re on a budget and are looking to add style to your space, then you’ve come to the right place and will need to listen up.

Thrilled with her kitchen transformation, Ellie took to social media to show others, leaving many open-mouthed. 

Posting on DIY On A Budget, a private Facebook group with 2.2 million members, Ellie uploaded before and after snaps of her DIY job and confessed: “We didn’t want to pay thousands for a brand new kitchen so we’ve made do with a DIY reno.”

Ellie then confirmed that to give her once very dark and dated kitchen a new lease of life, she used the B&Q cutting service to cut strips of MDF wood which she glued on with No More Nails.

She also used the Rustoelum kitchen cupboard paint in Half Light to give her cupboards a fresh feel.

As well as this, she removed the tired plastic backsplash and replaced it with tiles from Wickes, to make her kitchen that bit more modern.

Not only this, but Ellie also got new flooring, as well as a new sink and tap from Amazon.

And she even wrapped her worktops with D-C-Fix in Rebbeck Oak too, which you can buy from B&Q, The Range and Wilko.

To finish off the space, Ellie added a collection of framed, unique prints, which she ordered from Etsy from a seller named @PosterFoxx. 

As a result of the DIY renovations, Ellie was able to save a fortune, as she penned: “Cost around £500 and a lot of time, but not the thousands a new kitchen would have cost!” 

Ellie then told Fabulous: “We were renovating our home on a budget and our kitchen was so outdated but we simply couldn’t afford to spend thousands on a brand new kitchen as we are hoping to go travelling this year and want to put all our money into that. 

“We had old PVC panels which I ripped off and then we tiled the splash back with the help of my Uncle and Dad. 

Eight Easy DIY Tips & Tricks

The ultimate guide for homeowners and renters:

“Regarding the kitchen cupboards – I would have much preferred to have just painted them for ease, but the outdated engraved pattern left me no choice. 

“I was so nervous about doing the MDF as I had researched and researched online to see if anyone had done it previously but couldn’t find anything to give me some advice.”

Not only this, but Ellie also shared her top tip for using D-C-Fix self-adhesive vinyl, as she advised: “Use the D-C-Fix accessories pack that includes a scraper and a craft knife. Also a heat gun or hairdryer for best results.”

It just goes to show you don’t have to spend a fortune to spruce up your home. You just have to put the work in!

Ellie Reid

Reflecting on her DIY project, Ellie admitted: “It took me a lot of hard work and time, but I’m so glad we did it as it now means we can save for our travels rather than buy a new kitchen. 

“I couldn’t have done it without the help of my family but we all pulled together. 

“It just goes to show you don’t have to spend a fortune to spruce up your home. You just have to put the work in!”

DIY fans beam

Not only do we think that Ellie’s kitchen is now super chic and trendy, but it’s clear that Facebook users were left equally as stunned by Ellie’s kitchen overhaul, as many eagerly flocked to the comments to express this.

One person said: “This looks amazing.”

What an amazing transformation, looks lovely

Facebook user

Another added: “Looks like a kitchen in a showroom! Stunning, well done!”

A third commented: “Fabulous job.”

Whilst one DIY enthusiast chimed in: “What an amazing transformation, looks lovely.”

At the same time, someone else asked: “How easy was the wrapping of your worktops? I really want to do mine but I’m so worried I’ll mess it up.”

To this, Ellie replied: “Fairly easy just make sure your surfaces are super clean beforehand because any debris will make air bubbles. 

“Just take your time and if you mess it up it just rips back off again.”

A FAN-FAVOURITE Saturday Kitchen star choked back tears as he paid tribute to his late “best mate” and fellow chef live on air.

The emotional scenes played out on the BBC One series, prompting a sympathetic “awww” from host Matt Tebbutt, 51, and the rest of the guests.

6

6

6

Italian foodie Gennaro Contaldo‘s heartbreaking statement came after a light-hearted moment where he caused chaos on the Saturday Kitchen set.

Yet the humorous tone of the show quickly switched after he whipped up a dish with Matt and switched to a pre-recorded segment.

Matt introduced it and said: Gennaro, you are the star of this next film.

“Would you like to introduce it?”

Gennaro, 75, replied: “Yeah, here is me and my best friend Antonio Carluccio in my home town Amalfi, cooking up a Neapolitan ragu.

“Antonio loved it so much.”

Holding up his hands to the sky, Gennaro added: “And I miss him so much.”

Matt said: “Awww,” before placing a hand on his heart.

He then urged: “Have a look,” as the duo’s cooking segment from yesteryear played out.

Antonio, who was dubbed the godfather of Italian gastronomy, passed away aged 80 in 2017.

It came after he suffered a fall at his home.

At the time, a statement from the chef’s agent stated: “It is with great sadness that we announce that Commendatore Antonio Carluccio OBE sadly passed away this morning.”

A regular on TV shows like Saturday Morning Kitchen, the chef was the founder of Carluccio’s restaurant chain, working it into a £90million empire with 90 restaurants and more than 3,200 employees.

He also received the Commendatore, the equivalent of a British knighthood, from the Italian government in 1998 for services to Italy.

KITCHEN CHAOS

Earlier in the episode Gennaro, who was mentor to Brit chef Jamie Oliver, cause chaos as he criticised Matt’s cooking.

Things took an hilarious turn when host Matt was showing actress Emilia Fox how to cook a risotto.

It all started as the presenter ran through his ingredients and mentioned that the dish would have cream in it.

Already sensing this would annoy celebrity chef Gennaro, with a smile on his face Matt held up the dairy to show him.

This was too much for the Italian, who DID NOT agree cream should ever be used in risotto.

He could be heard exclaiming: “Mamma mia! Stop there!

“Why would you want to put cream inside your risotto?

“Tell me? Why?”

Gennaro then walked over to the cooking are and snatched the cream away leaving Matt and Emilia in stitches.

As he confiscated the ingredient, he shook his head and said: “I am sorry!”

Yet Matt vowed to get the item back, leaving Gennaro to utter “Mamma Mia,” in objection.

6

6

6

IF you’re struggling to clear your frosty windscreen on icy mornings, a simple 30p fruit could be the key to speeding up your de-icing routine.

An expert has revealed that the citric acid in lemons can break down ice on car windows in seconds.

3

3

All you need to do is squeeze half a lemon onto the icy surface, then rinse it away with a splash of tepid water.

The hack is part of a range of household tricks shared by motoring experts at LeaseLoco.com to tackle freezing winter mornings.

But lemons aren’t the only everyday item that can help tackle the winter chill.

A simple saltwater spray can also do the trick.

Mixing salt and water in a spray bottle creates a solution that generates heat and lowers the freezing point of water, melting the ice efficiently.

While de-icing salt works best, regular table salt can also work in a pinch.

To prevent ice from forming in the first place, onions or potatoes might be the unexpected heroes you need.

Rubbing half an onion or potato over your car windows the night before creates a barrier that stops ice from sticking.

Their natural compounds work wonders in freezing conditions, saving time and effort the following morning.

For a quick fix on frosty mornings, a viral TikTok hack suggests using a sandwich bag filled with lukewarm water.

Dragging the bag across your icy windows melts frost instantly without the mess of sprays or scrapers.

Similarly, vinegar can be used as a preventative measure.

Mixing vinegar and water in a spray bottle and applying it to your windows the night before helps stop ice from forming, thanks to the vinegar’s acidity lowering water’s freezing point.

If you’re willing to dig into your summer stash, beach towels can also come to the rescue.

Cover your windscreen with a towel at night, tucking the edges into the car doors.

By morning, the towel will have absorbed any frost, leaving your glass clear and ready to go.

Another handy tip involves a rubbing alcohol spray.

Combining two parts isopropyl alcohol with one part water and a dash of dish soap creates a powerful de-icing mixture.

Simply spray it onto your windscreen and scrape away any stubborn frost, but be cautious to avoid getting the mixture on your car’s paintwork.

John Wilmot, CEO of LeaseLoco, said: “De-icing your car can feel like a tedious task, especially when you’re in a rush.

“These hacks use items you probably already have at home to make life that little bit easier.”

As temperatures plummet this January, these quick and cost-effective solutions could save you precious time in the mornings—and spare you from frozen fingers.

So, if you’ve got a lemon rolling around in your kitchen, it might just be your new winter driving hero.

3

MANY of us dream of ways to glam up our houses, looking for inspiration on luxury features that elevate normal living spaces.

But it can be hard to bring these ideas to life in smaller spaces or while working on a tight budget.

3

3

And this can be especially true if you’re dreaming of building a drinks bar in your house.

That’s why fans of clever interior design have gone wild for one TikTokker’s incredible reveal of her friend’s secret bar – nestled away in the walls of her kitchen.

The jaw-dropping design was posted by TikTok user @nookandnovels, who captioned the video, ‘secret bar reveal’.

In the video, a striking monochrome framed print of Roger Moore downing a martini is shown hanging on a wall – seemingly just like any other house decor.

The clip is captioned ‘POV: your friend has a secret bar’.

The TikTokker gently slides the print away, and reveals the wall has an incredible in-built bar, tucked behind the frame.

The elegant feature has mirror backing and beautiful illuminating lights.

It’s stocked with suspended drinking flutes, glasses and, of course, a bottle of Taittinger champagne.

The bar is so well-disguised, you would never have known it was there.

Viewers were blown away by the reveal, with one commenting: “Everything about this is iconic.”

Another wrote: “Coolest friend ever! I need this in my next house!”

While someone else chimed in: “This is probably the coolest thing of 2024!”

A fan of the tasteful print wrote: “The picture is PERFECT for this!”

To which the original poster replied: “Isn’t it!”

And if you’re getting seriously envious, you’re not the only one – with another viewer writing: “This is going to be my 2025 project.”

3

So just how do you go about making your own secret bar?

Owner of the home bar @bittybucket said her boyfriend had created the bar using wardrobe tracks.

She wrote on her TikTok page: “He’s a very skilled man!”

And fans who are keen to get their hands on their own Roger Moore ‘Shaken Not Stirred’ print, can find it online from just £6.99.

Interior Design expert advice

World Central Kitchen, a charity feeding starving Palestinians in Gaza, has been forced to pause operations after three more of its employees were killed by Israeli attacks. Israel says one of them took part in the Oct 7 attack, but his family say that’s not true.

Opening with a quotation from Henry David Thoreau’s 1863 essay “Life Without Principle” including the lines “Let us consider the way in which we spend our lives / This world is a place of business / What an infinite bustle,” the film “La Cocina” sets out to fully examine those concepts, and how work can take over one’s life and sweep away all too many other concerns.

Directed by Mexican director Alonso Ruizpalacios, who adapted Arnold Wesker’s 1957 play “The Kitchen,” the film is a blast of furious energy that also knows when to let up, with a few moments of gentle lyricism as punctuation. This is Ruizpalacios’ fourth feature film in roughly a decade and feels like a big step forward, a move from being a promising talent to someone truly coming into their own as a storyteller. Even while what is depicted onscreen veers wildly out of control, there is a sense of surety to the filmmaking that makes this one of the freshest movies of the year.

“La Cocina” is set at a large restaurant in Manhattan known as the Grill,which pumps out food to tourists at an alarming volume. The story begins with young Estela (Anna Díaz) making her way through the side door sometime before opening to ever-so-slightly scam her way into a position as an assistant cook. From there things just keep happening, as one event unfolds into another in a headlong rush amid the incessant clatter of plates and pans and the machine spitting out endless order tickets.

Anna Díaz and Raúl Briones in the movie “La Cocina.”

(Willa)

The action soon pivots to Pedro (a remarkable Raúl Briones), a burnt-out chef who comes from the same small Mexican town as Estela and is the kitchen’s charismatic, chaotic center. He has been having a not totally secret affair with one of the waitresses, Julia (Rooney Mara), who has gotten pregnant and has an appointment for an abortion later in the day between shifts.

The employees represent a mini-United Nations, with some workers referring to each other by their nation of origin as nicknames. (One new waitress repeatedly corrects people that she is Dominican, not Mexican.) Their lives outside the restaurant are of little consequence, with a break in the alley out back the only time for meaningful connection.

There remains a strict sense of territory and hierarchy as the waitresses do their work and the chefs do theirs, all with an anxious intensity. The owner often dangles a never-fulfilled promise of helping his undocumented staffers get their papers as a way to keep them working. Management is anxious to recover the $800 missing from the night before, with staff members being interviewed to see if anyone stole it.

Far from a well-oiled machine, the kitchen is a zone of dysfunction rife with petty squabbles and minor fiefdoms; it feels like a minor miracle that anything gets served to anyone at all. A broken soda machine creates a near-apocalyptic flood. Eventually the discord in the kitchen spills out into the dining room and that is when everyone knows things have gone too far.

It says something about her talents that, even though Julia forms the emotional core of the story, Mara does not stand out as the Hollywood star among the rest of the cast. With her stringy, bleached-out hair and weary demeanor, she fits right in, while her antics such as a trick with a lighter or burping after chugging beer too fast are adorable and endearing but also mask something troubled and struggling underneath.

Rooney Mara in the movie “La Cocina.”

(Willa)

Working with cinematographer Juan Pablo Ramírez and editor Yibrán Asuad — and shooting in black-and-white with meaningful splashes of color — Ruizpalacios creates a visual style that continues to reinvent itself right up to the end, crafting an unpredictable feeling that matches the volatile plotting.

Comparisons to the hit television series “The Bear,” also about the behind-the-scenes goings-on at a restaurant, will be inevitable. But “La Cocina” has essentially no interest in the food itself — the only thing lovingly shot is a simple sandwich — because Ruizpalacios keeps the focus tightly on the infinite hustle of the work itself and the people just trying to make it to the end of the day so they can come back to do it all over again.

I spent 7 years working as a cashier (and as a cook when needed) at a fast-food establishment in Southeast Los Angeles before DACA allowed for other options. It was with a crew of mostly other undocumented people like myself that I shared frustrations and small triumphs alike one late night after another for minimum wage. Beholden to the ticket machine incessantly spitting out orders, we moved at superhuman speed.

The same mechanical monster taunts the staff at the Grill, the fictional Times Square restaurant at the center of Mexican writer-director Alonso Ruizpalacios’ “La Cocina,” a black-and-white reimagining of British author Arnold Wesker’s 1957 play “The Kitchen.”

Almost 70 years after its initial performances, the drama’s warning about prioritizing productivity above humanity remains dishearteningly relevant in our current vicious reality. In theaters Friday, “La Cocina” captures the superficial camaraderie forged in high-pressure jobs where people rely on each other to make it through the day, as well as the dynamics of power in an economic system that thrives on exploiting the most vulnerable — the unseen.

Set in an atemporal New York City (phone booths and old computers coexist alongside more modern references), Ruizpalacios’ adaptation turns the protagonist, Peter, a German in the post-WWII era, into Pedro (Raúl Briones), a rage-fueled Mexican immigrant from Puebla. His brash personality has earned him the respect and scorn of his co-workers in equal measures.

When money from the register goes missing, Pedro becomes a prime suspect. The amount curiously matches the exact cost of the abortion he reluctantly agrees to pay for when his waitress girlfriend Julia (Rooney Mara) reveals she is pregnant.

Rooney Mara and Raúl Briones in the movie “La Cocina.”

(Willa)

An investigation gets underway amid the daily catastrophes typical of any intense food-service environment (loss of tempers, crying in frustration). Here the strong abuse the weak. It’s a microcosm of the world and its vices, and not only because the sounds of several languages permeate the steamy premises.

Ruizpalacios first read “The Kitchen” while studying acting in London in the 2000s. At the time, he worked at the kitschy Rainforest Café in Piccadilly Circus — a now-defunct theme restaurant with animatronic animals — to help pay for his tuition. His fascination with kitchens and their rhythms came from that firsthand experience.

From those days, Ruizpalacios remembers a French Algerian co-worker named Samira, the only woman in the kitchen and a tough salt-of-the-earth motherly figure. A character directly inspired by Samira (and named after her) appears in “La Cocina.”

“She was very demanding and took no s—, but when s— hit the fan, she would be the only person to lend you a helping hand,” Ruizpalacios, 47, recalls on Zoom from his home in Mexico City. “She would always say, ‘Come on, Mexican, come on. Where are you?’”

With no connection to Rooney Mara but a conviction that she would be ideal for the role of Julia, a bold Ruizpalacios wrote her a letter detailing why she should take a risk and go down to Mexico City to make an indie movie with a group of mostly unknown actors.

“Pedro sees Julia as a sort of movie star,” says Ruizpalacios. “I knew casting someone like Rooney, who is well-known and has that movie-star aura, would add to the relationship.” It was the juxtaposition of Mara’s potent, sinewy turn in “The Girl with Dragon Tattoo” and the nuanced fragility she exuded in “Carol” that confirmed his admiration for her performances.

To his surprise, Mara responded positively to his “message in a bottle at sea.”

“I haven’t really done real theater as an adult, but it felt very close to that because we were doing these long, full takes and there was so much energy,” says Mara of Ruizpalacios’ working methods.

(Marcus Ubungen / Los Angeles Times)

“I’ve read quite a few of them and it’s always really nice to get a letter like that, but I wouldn’t say that they’re always necessarily very effective,” Mara, 39, tells me on a video call from her home in Los Angeles, dressed in a plain gray T-shirt with her hair tied up in a half-ponytail. “But there was something poetic about his letter that really touched me and made me very curious about him and about his script.”

Mara requested Ruizpalacios’ previous films (he sent her his two acclaimed Mexico City-set breakthroughs, 2014’s coming-of-age dramedy “Güeros” and 2018’s heist movie “Museo”), and soon after she agreed to star in “La Cocina.”

“My time is very precious now that I have kids,” Mara says. “To me now, the experience is so important. I’m like: Is this going to be a worthwhile experience? Is it something I can grow from? And everything about the way Alonso wanted to make the film to me was like, ‘Yes, this is an experience I’d like to have.’ It seemed different than anything I had done thus far.”

Back in 2010, Ruizpalacios directed a stage version of “The Kitchen.” Briones, then a student of Ruizpalacios’ acting courses, had a much smaller role as the immigrant restaurant owner demanding his missing funds, and later as a vagabond who wanders into the kitchen. “Pedro exists between these two archetypes: the immigrant who made it and the pariah,” the actor says on the phone from Mexico City. “He’s fighting to be the master of his own life.”

But despite having worked with Briones over the years, including in his previous film, 2021’s docufiction “A Cop Movie,” the director didn’t immediately cast the actor as Pedro. His hesitation came from knowing Briones didn’t speak English, a requirement for the part.

“One of his greatest qualities as an actor is his discipline,” Ruizpalacios says of Briones.

“Kitchens are very much like a pirate ship and the way we designed and conceived our kitchen was also like a submarine,” says Ruizpalacios.

(Marcus Ubungen / Los Angeles Times)

The actor learned the foreign tongue well enough to hold his own in multiple scenes with Mara in just three months. “I would challenge anyone to dominate another language in that time and feel comfortable enough to act in it,” Ruizpalacios says about his lead’s commitment.

For Briones, learning English — even in the movie’s limited capacity — had an empowering effect. In Mexico, those who grow up attending public schools, as was his case, don’t have access to a bilingual education. For a long time, Briones refused to speak or learn the language as a self-defense mechanism against the mockery he’d experience from others.

“Pedro has been a great teacher for me,” Briones says of his bilingual character who can advocate for himself. “Pedro’s obsession with speaking English has a survival reason, and my decision to not speak it did as well.” When presented with the opportunity to play the lead, Briones took a more technical approach to learning English with the help of fellow “La Cocina” actor María Fernanda Bosque, who served as his impromptu coach.

Exteriors for “La Cocina” were shot on location in New York City (around Times Square including Junior’s Restaurant & Bakery as the front of the Grill), but for the kitchen itself, Ruizpalacios wanted to play in his home turf. The director had long dreamed of working at Mexico City’s famed Estudios Churubusco, the soundstages where many classics from the national cinema’s Golden Age were made. This also allowed for more control over the design of the kitchen.

“Kitchens are very much like a pirate ship and the way we designed and conceived our kitchen was also like a submarine,” Ruizpalacios says. And since kitchens tend to be male-dominated spaces, the director hired a traditional all-male Welsh choir to sing the lyrics to the Mexican song “Un Puño de Tierra” (A Fistful of Dirt) translated into Welsh on top of music by composer Tomás Barreiro. The existentialist lyrics speak about the futility of material pursuits.

The track comes on during Pedro’s most emotionally charged moments: when he looks at the pictures of his family (they’re photos from Briones’ actual childhood) and when he calls his mother back home (the person who answers is Briones’ own mother).

“That song became the beating heart of the film,” says Ruizpalacios.

For the rehearsal process Ruizpalacios brought together his cast, with the exception of Mara, in Mexico City for a month. In the mornings they all took cooking classes and in the afternoons they participated in improvisation exercises to build a natural rapport. Though she regrets missing it, Mara believes that ultimately being absent from the in-person preparation aligned with her character’s position as an outsider.

“There are times where I’ve made decisions and done things that I probably shouldn’t have,” says Mara. “[There’s] a time in your life where you just want to work because you don’t want to be in your life. And then in the last six years I’ve barely worked at all.”

(Marcus Ubungen / Los Angeles Times)

“When you become a parent, there’s a carefree part of your life that no longer exists,” says Mara. “My character is a mom, and that’s the thing that separates her from her co-workers.”

Over time, prioritizing her children has made Mara herself increasingly selective. “There are times where I’ve made decisions and done things that I probably shouldn’t have,” Mara says. “[There’s] a time in your life where you just want to work because you don’t want to be in your life. And then in the last six years I’ve barely worked at all. I’ve done, like, two things.” (Those two things were Guillermo del Toro’s “Nightmare Alley” and Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking.” Mara knows how to pick them.)

“La Cocina” consistently proved to be an invigorating escape for her. One of the most technical astounding sequences takes place during a lunch rush. The kitchen turns into a madhouse with cooks working and waitresses fighting to get their orders out first, all while the floor is flooded with soda.

“We shot it over several days, and it was very much like a choreographed dance,” recalls Mara. “I haven’t really done real theater as an adult, but it felt very close to that because we were doing these long, full takes and there was so much energy.”

The sequence emerged from one of Ruizpalacios’ personal memories. On Christmas Eve in New York City 13 years ago, the director and his wife, actor Ilse Salas, visited a Times Square multiplex. When buying concessions, he realized the carpet was drenched. The liquid was coming from a broken Cherry Coke machine “spilling like an endless spring,” he recalls, as if coming from “the center of the Earth.”

“Nobody paid any attention to it,” he recalls. “It just kept pouring and flooding the whole place. And the people just kept working, ignoring it. I thought that was the perfect image of late-capitalism.” The couple watched “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” starring Mara. “I said to my wife, ‘One day I’m going to work with her,’ so this movie closed that circle.”

With the help of the Mexican Coalition, an organization that supports immigrant families, Ruizpalacios interviewed several undocumented kitchen workers in New York City about their daily experiences. Those interactions were essential to his research and writing process.“Listening to them you realize that no one has ever asked them about their story,” says Ruizpalacios.

“Mexicans are considered great workers around the world and that’s very positive, but it is also due to the fact that we are obedient and being obedient is very convenient to the system,” Briones says. “Pedro is not obedient. Disobedience is revolutionary.”

For the U.S. release of “La Cocina,” the distributor Willa partnered with One Fair Wage, a restaurant workers’ advocacy group, to present a series of screenings and events. Recently, a video presentation featuring clips from the film with documentary footage of NYC restaurant workers was shown on the enormous curved NASDAQ billboard in Times Square. Ruizpalacios always had this kind of visibility in mind for the men and women who sacrifice their physical and mental well-being to provide a service that most take for granted.

“In ‘La Cocina’ we don’t care about the customers,” he says. “This time they are the extras. That is the point of the film.”