Team Building in the West, Best Coast Meets Up
A Delicious Start to the West Coast Connect
The 2025 West Coast Connect in Los Angeles, my first in person Food Fleet meet-up, boasted an itinerary filled with delicious food, a day of service, a party bus, and time to get to know fellow team members. Working fully remote on the marketing team, it was a fabulous opportunity to put faces to the names and email addresses I see and interact with daily.
Giving Back: Volunteering in Pasadena
On the first night, we mixed and mingled and threw axes between salacious bites of barbecue. The next morning, we drove to Pasadena to volunteer at Union Station Homeless Services, the community organization working to end homelessness and rebuild the lives of individuals in SoCal. Our team collaborated to process strawberries, avocados, potatoes, and other donated ingredients into nourishing meals. However, it was the actual meal service that our crew excelled at, transporting us back to time spent working in restaurant kitchens and running fronts of house, “yes, chef!” Afterwards, we delighted in some quintessential California fare at In-N-Out.
The Party Bus to Bollywood Bites
For the evening, a party bus whisked us off to dinner. Taking full advantage of the commute, we sipped on tequila and relished in lively conversations and good music. Upon arrival, we tumbled off the bus and into the warmly lit and very charming Bollywood Bites restaurant. Once seated, we are lovingly introduced to Sanjay by Carly and Melissa.
Chef Sanjay Patel of Bollywood Bites Los Angeles
A Culinary Experience with Sanjay Patel
Sanjay Patel is a longtime friend and collaborator who preceded Food Fleet. Bollywood Bites began in 2009 as a food truck. Sanjay is a hospitalitarian who is charming and eager to feed. The food is fresh, vibrant, and decadent, and the deep Indian spices are seductive. The plates are delivered one after the other in a seemingly never-ending edible parade. The samosa is flaky and brimming, the butter chicken melts in my mouth, the lamb coconut curry shreds, melts, and delights – is Sanjay some food wizard? His food touches my heart. The lentil soup is savory with perfectly cooked cubed veggies. The naan is warm and seasoned perfectly. This is an onslaught of flavor! Chana masala, be still my heart, and this is the best palak paneer I’ve ever had by a long shot.
““The samosa is flaky and brimming, the butter chicken melts in my mouth, the lamb coconut curry shreds, melts, and delights – is Sanjay some food wizard? His food touches my heart.””
Food, Connection, and Collective Effervescence
I am stuffed and have the hiccups, perhaps because Rose keeps filling my glass. I feel joyously buzzed from the wine, the food, and the collective effervescence at our long table. I look around and notice how obvious it is that every person here is dedicated to their job. A core value of Food Fleet is that food can create community, and I feel that in this moment. We board the party bus.
On to the next stop!