MediterraneanGrocery Wholesalers in Long Beach, CA

By Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson

As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “the good neighbor looks beyond the external accidents and discerns those inner qualities that make all men human and, therefore, brothers.”

Long Beach is a public health city, focused on improving quality of life by promoting a safe and healthy community. We have a responsibility to care for the mental health and wellness of every resident, especially our most vulnerable.

Over the past year, Long Beach has expanded our services, shelter, and outreach capacity to move our unhoused neighbors permanently off of public streets and into safe and stable housing. However, in order to meet the parallel mental health crisis impacting our communities, we need to build mental health treatment facilities for those with mental health and substance use challenges.

Last year, I joined a bipartisan coalition of mayors from California’s 13 largest cities in urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to advance reforms to the California Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) – reforms that would generate millions in state funding for cities and counties to provide new housing and services for people experiencing chronic and often untreated mental health conditions.

I want to thank Gov. Newsom for putting Proposition 1 — “Treatment not Tents” — in front of the California voters that will fix our broken mental health system and move people permanently off the streets, out of tents, and into treatment.

Proposition 1 funding will triple the amount of state dollars going towards mental health services, with a particular focus on expanding the number of recuperative care and step down treatment beds available – one of the most significant resource gaps identified by the City of Long Beach that must be filled to ensure a more coordinated and effective local mental health services ecosystem.

Proposition 1 will create thousands of new beds, build more housing, and expand services for those with serious mental health issues, including veterans with PTSD. It also includes dedicated funding to local governments, including cities, for additional mental health facilities.

The measure also reprioritizes dollars to focus on full-service partnerships and meaningful housing support for some of our most vulnerable populations, particularly youth and older adults living with serious mental illness.

As Mayor of the City of Long Beach, I can speak to the impact that additional resources and capacity in the hands of our own Health Department will have. This allocation would give us the tools and resources to broaden access to more localized mental health care services. We can be more nimble and design solutions specific to our city and neighborhoods.

Proposition 1 represents a bold and comprehensive approach to mental health service delivery that commits to the proven housing first model, understands substance use disorders as a treatable mental health condition, and focuses on addressing the root causes of the mental health and homelessness challenges impacting Long Beach and cities across California.

In one month on March 6, we will all have the chance to support mental health infrastructure in our city and the provision of critical services across our state. Supporting Proposition 1 will make our communities safer, stronger, and more resilient for future generations.

By Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor with Baraka Noel, Contributor

Qiana Williams-Mafnas was reluctant to take on the task of organizing Long Beach’s 3rd annual Black Restaurant Week. But, she knew how much the promotional event helped her own business when she took part in Axiom Kitchen’s first year running.

“We participated last year as a restaurant” and “while we were on the news” the impact was instantaneous, Qiana explained. “Our business phone was blowing up. It was ringing off the hook. And then the next week; we had all these people coming to us, saying they saw us on Channel 11. And they support us. We still have regular customers coming to us from that. So, I saw how much they helped our business … this is an important thing.”

The statuesque marketing guru sat at an uneven metal table, upon a chair of weather-worn rusted ore in Long Beach on Jan. 28; buoyed by the most recent success of her efforts, as Black Restaurant Week began to wind down. The week’s closing event was gracious, passionate, and personable amidst the bustle of multicultural revelry.

Several local chefs joined Axiom Kitchen in serving their food at Long Beach Rescue in anticipation of the weeklong celebration; including Chef Ronnie Woods from the Northtown Bistro pop-up, Nika Shoemaker-Machado of Georgia’s Restaurant and Chef Quianna Bradley with Pinch of Salt Catering.

Qiana and Ian opened Axiom Kitchen in May of 2022.

Recalling how their partnership in love and business began, Qiana recounted the day Ian had her taste some of his smoked brisket and became her pitmaster.

“So, he smokes this brisket for me and I eat it and I’m like —what are you doing? Why aren’t you selling this … people will love this,” Qiana recounted.

For his part, Ian gave her six months.

“If people don’t like it — if nobody comes and gets it in six months: that’s it. We’re not doing it anymore,” he told Qiana.

Within six months, they were featured in Eater LA.

Ian preps and smokes all the meats. Qiana prepares all the sauces, sides, and marketing for their restaurant.

“My husband is so serious about his food. I’m telling you this guy … is so serious about his meat,” Qiana gushes.

Axiom Kitchen is a true family business. Their children are actively involved. One assists Ian in cutting the meats. A daughter who takes the orders, and another who packages everything.As Axiom’s pitmaster, one of Ian’s goals is to change the narrative of West Coast barbecue.

“If you go anywhere else and you tell them that we have good barbecue on the West Coast — they’ll laugh at you,” Ian explained. “And it’s offensive to me.”

Ian explained that his style of barbecue is defined by its dry rub modality. The sauce is for the side.

“That’s just how we get down,” Ian said. “It’s about quality ingredients and sticking to the process. That’s where we get our name — Axiom. Axioms are things that are taken as evident, or true. And all of our processes are axioms.”

Axiom’s dry rubs are proprietary trade secrets. But Ian would argue that even if someone stole those secrets, they wouldn’t be able to do as he can.

“The thing that separates Axiom Kitchen from everything else: it’s an exclusive experience due to our in-house dry rub, paired with our in-house herb oil.” And the quality meat. “We use mainly Brandt beef (a company “known for their jerky).”

Axiom’s head chef beamed at Qiana.

“Dino ribs and brisket is what we’re known for.” Ian reached for his wife. “Here comes Qiana with her wonderful sauces and herbal.”

The signature flavor is a blend of “both my cultures of Chamorro and Greek.” It’s clear that love goes into their food.

“It’s always been about how I can improve a meal to take it to that next level. How I can take something that’s already great, and make it even better,” Ian said.

Axiom Kitchen

4137 Norse Way, Long Beach

Details: 562-966-9292, https://axiomkitchenbbq.com/

The long awaited fifth season of “PINS,” an interactive burlesque experience, is set to grace the Long Beach Playhouse Theater this weekend, Friday, Feb. 9 and Saturday, Feb. 10.

“PINS,” organized by The CRayProject — a movement aimed at providing an artistic platform for artists of color — promises to celebrate the beauty of “being unapologetically Black,” according to a recent news release.

In fact, the show more specifically bills itself as an ‘extravaganza,’ promising to be an unforgettable celebration of Black beauty.

PINS, like other productions put on by The CRayProject, hopes to journey into the Black experience. Specifically, it’s an immersive journey into Black sensuality and empowerment.

By rejecting societal taboos and embracing provocative performance styles, this year’s event hopes to live up to its theme: “Royal Renaissance.”

Tickets for PINS this weekend are available now.

Early bird pricing starts at $25, with tickets priced at $35 at the door. Student discounts are available for $20.

Secure your seats today through the Long Beach Playhouse website, lbplayhouse.org.

Loiter Galleries

Loiter Galleries in Long Beach invites you to the unveiling of a new exhibit dubbed “Power of Five: The Women Who Sparked the Civil Rights Movement,” on Saturday, Feb 17.

This striking series, featuring sculptures by artist Larry Stokes, promises to be a powerful addition to Black History Month celebrations and commemorations.

Stokes, through carefully-crafted sculptures, hopes to shed light on the roles played not just by Rosa Parks during the struggle for civil rights in the mid-1950s — but four other remarkable women.

You may recognize Stokes as the sculptor of “I Have a Dream,” a bust of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which is on display at his eponymous park in Long Beach.

The gallery doors for this exhibition open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday. Mark your calendars for this powerful and thoughtful showcase, which runs through March 23.

For more information, visit loitergalleries.com.

International City Theatre

On Valentine’s Day, dive into a true story about the complex relationship between a Long Beach resident, his mother — and two renowned actresses.

Critically acclaimed playwright Luke Yankee, a Long Beach native, brings his personal insights to the stage in “Marilyn, Mom, & Me,” presented by International City Theatre.

Drawing from his book “Just Outside the Spotlight: Growing up with Eileen Heckart,” — which has been lauded as an impactful showbiz memoir — the play offers a glimpse into Marilyn Monroe’s pursuit of friendship with fellow actress Eileen Heckart when they starred in the1956 film “Bus Stop” together.

The concepts of fame, friendship, and family dynamics are fruitful topics of artistic exploration — especially when there’s a completely true story behind it all.

Tickets for previews to the world premiere of “Marilyn, Mom, & Me” start at $37, with regular performances starting next Wednesday, February 14.

Be sure to join the post-show talkback with the cast on Feb. 25, before the show closes on March 3.

This week, I was lucky enough to attend the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am — a stop on the PGA Tour — where Long Beach native Patrick Cantlay did us all proud and finished in 11th place.

But aside from taking in the wonders of golf while on the Monterey Peninsula, I also had the delightful opportunity to check out the fine dining scene in Carmel.

The city is home to Chez Noir, a semi-finalist in the 2024 James Beard Awards in the “Best New Restaurant” category.

The husband-wife duo behind the restaurant, Jonny and Monique Black, opened the eatery in the fall of 2022 – and live upstairs.

In July of 2023, the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star, a prestigious designation that our very-own Long Beach is also home to.

Our local Michelin-starred spot, Heritage Restaurant, is run by a brother-sister team. Chef Philip Pretty runs the kitchen and Lauren Pretty takes charge of the front of house.

“We try to give our guests the best experience possible, every night,” Lauren wrote in a text. “In the front of the house, that means extreme attention to detail — nothing goes unnoticed.”

Heritage Restaurant is located in a converted craftsman house in the historic Rose Park neighborhood at 2032 E. 7th St.

The eatery has earned both a Michelin star for high quality cooking — and a green star for their sustainability efforts.

Those are the kind of accolades restaurants only get with a keen eye for every detail.

At Heritage Restaurant, each piece of flatware is polished twice before its set on the table, Lauren said, and each napkin is folded with care before being placed exactly half an inch from the bottom of the table.

“And these details run throughout the whole experience, down to how we communicate with our guests,” Lauren said. “Chef Phil and I are constantly watching and training our staff — we have meetings weekly and daily with our staff to discuss how we can make the guest experience better.”

Long Beach’s prestigious dining doesn’t end with Heritage Restaurant, though.

In January, Gusto Bread was named as a semifinalist for “outstanding bakery” by the James Beard Foundation.

Partners Arturo Enciso and Ana Belen Salatino are behind the bakery that specializes in wild fermented bread, pastries and pan dulce made with masa madre, or sourdough.

Colossus Long Beach, another popular local bakery, is preparing for a day of sweet treats on Feb. 13, when the bakery will serve semlor – colloquially known as traditional Swedish Fat Tuesday buns – from 7 a.m. to noon.

The special pop-up event will feature Long Beach native pastry chef Cecilia Tolone, who started her career working in bakeries and restaurants in the Bay Area, before moving to Sweden in 2016.

She eventually worked her way up to pastry chef at Frantzén — Sweden’s first and only three Michelin star restaurant.

Adding to the list of local accolades: Chef Dima Habibeh of Ammatoli; along with chefs Stefano and Michael Procaccini of La Parolaccia; were recently named James Beard semifinalists in the best chef in California category.

Here’s a look at other Long Beach eateries that have the attention-to-detail spirit common among award winners.

Chez Bacchus, at 743 E. 4th St., gives diners a custom-designed box with a treat, like chocolate chip cookies, at the end of a meal that is selected by its pastry chef.

A sampling of afternoon tea offerings at Chez Bacchus in Long Beach. (Photo by Jo Murray).

John Hansen, owner and sommelier at Chez Bacchus, said the tables are carefully set, with glasses polished and plates placed in perfect position.

Their old-school table-side presentation of desert – like cherries jubilee or banana foster – sets them apart.

Rasselbock, at 4020 Atlantic Ave., has a focus on German and Belgian beers — and they serve beers in specific glassware to ensure that the customer has the best experience.

“With some of the smaller breweries that means to sometimes order the special glassware directly from Europe (which can be challenging),” Bjoern Risse, managing partner at Rasselbock, wrote.

Wood & Salt Tavern, at 4262 Atlantic Ave, switches the wood that it burns in its wood-fired grill depending on the season and the meats, fish and seafood that it has on its menu, according to Risse, who is also a managing partner there.

“We also stay away from big spirit brands and prefer to highlight small batch and family owned distilleries,” he wrote.

Fuego, at 700 Queensway Dr., allows guests to purchase a s’mores kit and roast their s’mores at the restaurant’s fire pit while enjoying a specialty drink on the waterfront patio or at one of the six other fire pits on property, a restaurant representative wrote.

Wellness Sanctuary

Human Aeon, an integrated health and wellness sanctuary, recently opened in the Belmont Shore area.

The Human Aeon Sanctuary is designed to nurture mind, body and consciousness through a harmonious blend of ancient practices and modern techniques.

Amenities there include an ice bath, steam sauna, infrared sauna, treatment room, meditation room, tea lounge and movement space.

Founded by Long Beach native Reed Wasser, a dedicated practitioner with over 25 years of experience, Human Aeon is a testament to his commitment to the community.

“Human Aeon is a sanctuary for our community to have a place to heal and learn ancient and modern methods that have been scientifically verified to reset the nervous system, eliminate inflammation, and ultimately elevate consciousness,” Wasser said in a statement.

This season, special rates are available with drop-ins at $40 and discounted unlimited monthly memberships at $200 per month.

As Long Beach bids farewell to its waste-burning facility, the city is facing a new reality that could bring higher trash rates to customers while it works to comply with a new state recycling law.

Long Beach had been paying about $60 per ton to dispose of its trash at the Southeast Resource Recovery Facility in the Port of Long Beach, where trash was regularly burned instead of buried at a landfill.

But under a new contract approved by the City Council Tuesday night, the city will pay an average of about $90 per ton to have its trash trucked out to landfills, and eventually, organic recycling processing centers.

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The effect on customers’ monthly bills is not yet known, but they’re expected to increase.

“Currently right now, we’re projecting it’s going to go up,” said Josh Hickman, the deputy director of Public Works. “We just don’t know how much.”

For decades, Long Beach had sent hundreds of tons of trash to SERRF every day where it was burned and converted to energy instead of being stored in a landfill, where emissions like methane can leak into the air.

However, changes in state law that gave tax credits to cities like Long Beach that burned their trash at the facility have ended. The change prompted SERRF’s current operator to notify the city earlier this year that it was no longer financially viable to keep the facility running.

Long Beach officials said that it would have cost millions in repairs and investments to keep the site open for just a few more years, but that route could also end up costing the city an additional $100 million, due in part to a lack of revenue being generated by the site.

“That really is the X factor,” City Manager Tom Modica said Tuesday, noting the unknown regulatory and financial obstacles the city could face if SERRF were kept open.

The site will begin to have hazards removed and systems de-energized in advance of demolition, which could happen by the end of the year.

The city is looking to replace SERRF with its own organic recycling center, something that there is a shortage of in Southern California, which has led to a time crunch for cities trying to comply with Senate Bill 1383.

On Tuesday, the council approved an exclusive negotiating window with Bioenergy Devco in hopes of striking a deal that could bring an organic recycling facility to the city.

Bob Dowell, the city’s director of Energy Resources, said the facility could serve other cities in the region like SERRF did, helping provide a solution to the lack of recycling centers.

Dowell said an agreement could be reached in about six to eight months, but it could be three to five years before a new facility would be completed. In the interim, Long Beach will have to ship its organic waste to another facility.

The city has already begun collecting commercial organic waste from restaurants and other businesses, but it’s not expecting to roll out its residential program until later this year or early 2025.

The new law mandates that cities send things like yard clippings, food scraps and other organic material to separate facilities to be processed into things like mulch and fuel. It’s aimed at reducing the amount of methane produced by landfills by 75%.

The gas, which is produced by the decomposition of organic material is credited with being 28 times more potent at trapping heat than carbon dioxide.

But the new legislation didn’t offer funding solutions for things like new trucks, collection bins and facilities that will be needed to make the law work.

Erin Rowland, the city’s general superintendent of recycling and waste reduction, said that the city plans to ask for another extension to comply with the law, which went into effect in 2022. Other cities including Long Beach have been able to qualify for extensions if they’re making progress toward implementing the law but the city could ask for another before the March deadline.

The city could also seek a change to the amount of mulch, compost, biofuel or electricity it’s required to purchase under the law. Long Beach could be required to purchase tens of thousands of tons of those materials, but Rowland said the city will work toward a legislative change that is more attainable.

“We’re not even sure if we had all that mulch we’d have somewhere to put it,” she said.

A hearing required under state law before a city raises rates on trash service is expected to be held by the council later this year when the city begins to phase in its residential collection program.