#AllCoopedUp with Kevin Meehan, Chef + Owner of Kali Restaurant
Kali Restaurant is one of our family’s favorite local restaurants. Sitting at the counter, watching chef Kevin Meehan create while he and my husband talk soccer, is a luxury I really miss. Kevin Meehan is the Chef and Co-Owner of Kali Restaurant in Larchmont Village. Born and raised in Long Island, New York, Meehan's initial foray in the industry was at a fried chicken joint when he was a teenager. While most would be turned off by working the fryer, Meehan was feeding an innate attraction to food, and, in the process, unearthing what would become a life-long love affair with the restaurant world. When Meehan is not in the kitchen, or finding inspiration from the stacks of books he collects, the Culver City resident and father can be found spending time with his wife and twin girls, and watching English Premier League football games. And, here’s the best news I’ve heard all week: You can NOW order from Kali Restaurant online here! -Jenna
What’s your profession, and what does your day-to-day work experience look like now?
I am a Michelin star chef of Kali Restaurant in Los Angeles. My day-to-day now consists of helping my wife with daycare for my five-year-old twin daughters and rebuilding my restaurant.
Are there objects or spaces in your house that you are newly appreciating? Or are there objects and spaces you have come to loathe?
I have always been an active gardener, however, this pandemic has caused me to be quite the homemaker in my time off. I recently purchased many tropical fruit trees and reshingled my roof—my backyard looks like the gardens for a wedding reception!
Describe your at-home quarantine uniform.
My at-home quarantine outfit has gone full hippie. I wear soccer shorts, baggy t-shirts, a Baja poncho (a.k.a. drug rug), sunglasses, a backwards baseball hat, and sneakers without socks (which causes my feet to smell, so I am forced to wash them off in the shower due to the fact I do not shower as often as I used to).
Who are you quarantining with? Do you feel the need to “get away”? How do you make it happen?
I am happily at home with my wife and twin daughters. I couldn’t ask for better company these days. I’m truly blessed.
What’s the last thing you purchased online? Regret or obsessed?
I am an avid drinking and priming consumer. The last thing I purchased was literally five minutes ago and it was a vintage Santa Cruz Skateboards long sleeve, turquoise shirt size extra large. Please keep in mind I did not grow up in Santa Cruz in the 80s or 90s, nor have ever skateboarded. I feel this will add to my pandemic Lebowski look.
Tell us the best shows, podcasts, or books you’re loving right now.
Sadly, I have been watching a lot of TV in this pandemic. I put my kids down every night, drink 2 to 3 humongous glasses of red wine, and watch a lot of TV. I am currently watching Dead to Me and enjoying it, however, I am sure to binge through this series soon only to dislike it.
Do you have any new quarantine activities or rituals?
My quarantine rituals would be being home with my daughters every day for the past 80 days, cooking and having dinner with my family every night, bathing my daughters, playing with Evan, and doing nightly walks around the neighborhood. Pretty cool.
What is your favorite quarantine snack? What restaurants are you ordering takeout from?
I have no favorite snack—I am over food.
What is the one item you’re glad you stocked up on? What do you wish you’d stocked up on?
I was pretty smart to take home all the flours from my restaurant Kali, which closed before the pandemic, so I was able to make breads and pastries while others failed to find flour. I miss having a full bar at the restaurant to access cocktails, etc.
What is your creative outlet and how are you making space for it?
My creative outlet has always been the kitchen, sourcing ingredients, and playing with them to present to guests. In the meantime, I’ve been beautifying my house and working on my garden, etc. It’s very positive and rewarding.
Describe your biggest quarantine indulgence.
My quarantine indulgence would be red wine.
If you have kids, how are you maintaining some kind of schedule for them?
I have five-year-old twin daughters. Our ritual is waking up right before preschool and scrambling to put their clothes on and do their hair, just so we can give them a quick breakfast and log into their Zoom class and act as if we are a normal early-waking family.
What are you doing for exercise?
I was super healthy the first three weeks of the quarantine. We would ride our bikes every day and do activities, however, that got old real quick.
Are you sharing recipes with friends?
I have been sharing recipes with friends and Instagram followers. I made a couple of videos with my children on Instagram, which are super cute, and we got a positive response from everybody. My daughters are quite the show stoppers.
What’s been the biggest challenge for you throughout this?
One of my biggest issues during this pandemic has been kind of a survivors guilt. I have been blessed to have two beautiful children, a wife, and a nice house in Culver City. I think of my large staff often and wonder if they are doing OK financially, as well as mental stability. Many of them are young and struggling financially. I think of them often, knowing I really can’t help them as much as I would like to.
When this is over I cannot wait to ___________.
When this is over I really can’t wait to get back to being normal again. My life is pretty good, and overall, I was very content with what I had. I look forward to going back to enjoying LA FC soccer games and Sunday parties with my daughters and their preschool friends.
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