Between selling millions of records, mentoring future pop stars on American Idol, and preparing for motherhood, Katy Perry is crazy busy. Good thing she’s got Postmates in her pocket to make it all a bit easier.

In this latest edition of The Receipt, we dig into Katy Perry’s ordering habits — from pregnancy cravings to local plant-based restaurants she can’t get enough of.

And if learning about her top orders makes you smile, well, that’s intentional. Katy’s new album Smile comes out today and is full of positivity during a time we could all use a few more glass-half-full vibes.

On April 5, 2015, Katy Perry tried Postmates for the very first time — and she liked it. The inaugural mission? A medium-sized pizza with plenty of garlic sauce.

From there, she eased quite nicely into her new on-demand lifestyle. The Grammy-nominated singer has now ordered nearly 300 different times from 12 different cities all over the US.

Her top 5 most-ordered items are:

• Latte from King’s Road Cafe
• Original Chopped Salad from La Scala
• Happy Vegan Salad from Tender Greens
• To-Go Trust Me from SUGARFISH
• I Am Pure from Cafe Gratitude

True story: Before her pregnancy (announced March 5, 2020), Katy had quite the sushi tooth. Just five days into 2020, Katy kicked off the decade with a raw fish feast from Katsuya in Hollywood.

She ordered Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño, A4 Wagyu Fried Rice, Truffle Ponzu Ceviche, Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna, a Corn Crunch Roll, Miso Marinated Black Cod, Baked Crab Hand Rolls, Albacore Sashimi with Crispy Onion, some Miso Soup, Unagi, a Shrimp Tempura Roll, and a California Roll.

We have a feeling another big sushi order will be in Katy’s future. She told us that the first meal she wants post-baby is “All of the sashimi.”

Once they start, the pregnancy cravings are never really over. She’s placed almost 25 orders since March — 33% of which came with a salad, because health. And those lattes she was so fond of from King’s Road Cafe? Katy has let caffeine take a backseat so Strawberry Banana Smoothies could take their turn at the wheel.

We have a feeling that is easier said than done, because it’s quite clear that Katy likes her coffee–lattes are her most ordered item of all time. But coffee isn’t just how she starts her day, it’s how she starts her year, too.

Take New Year’s Day, 2016. After what we can only assume was a late night out, Katy was finally ready for breakfast at 1pm, when she ordered one large black coffee and an Everything Bagel from Noah’s New York Bagels.

Katy’s top pregnancy craving? Definitely Pinkberry. If you want to order froyo like your favorite California Gurl, here’s the secret recipe. A small Original with two servings of Fruity Pebbles and Milk Chocolate Crunch — because why decide between fruity and chocolatey when you can have both? After all, she is eating for two.

You’d have to be a real left shark to forget about Katy Perry’s epic halftime show at Super Bowl XLIX. When she’s not on stage during the biggest game of the year, Katy prefers to stay home and order Postmates. In 2017, she got The Original BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad from California Pizza Kitchen just in time for the game.

Katy knows that you can use Postmates for more than lunch from Veggie Grill (one of her favorites). She placed her first grocery delivery on June 4, 2015 from Ralphs in West Hollywood and it was pretty sweet — 1 roll of Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and 1 roll of Pillsbury Peanut Butter Cookie Dough.

But when you’re Katy Perry, it’s not always about food. Sometimes your pet needs special treatment too. Take her Petco order on November 25, 2015, for ‘a dog crate (pink)’ for Nugget, her micro teacup Poodle.

Is July 19 some sort of party day that we don’t know about? Because first thing the next morning in 2016, Parry ordered a bottle of Advil.

Sometimes, you just need a girls’ night. And for Katy, that happens to be while still hungover from the Met Gala. On May 3, 2016, her friends came over and she ordered 1 pack of Goddess Oracle Cards and 1 pack of Angel Oracle Cards (both by Doreen Virtue) from Namaste Bookshop. Sounds like the party got pretty spiritual.

Any time of day, Postmates has Katy’s back (and yours too). That’s why she’s known for ordering more than once a day — like on November 12, 2017 when she performed at the Staples Center in LA. She placed 3 orders within 9 hours. Here’s how it went down:

• 1:17 pm: Chicken Vegetable Soup from Greenblatt’s Delicatessen & Fine Wine Shop
• 5:11 pm: Meldman’s Honey Truffle chicken from Craig’s
• 10:46 pm: 1 personal pepperoni pizza

Katy definitely likes doing her part for her body and the planet by keeping it plant-based when possible. She also loves ordering in from local restaurants (click here for more).

That’s why it’s no surprise that her biggest order ever was an absolute vegan dream from one of her and Orlando Bloom’s favorite LA restaurants, Crossroads Kitchen. On May 20, 2019, she got Carbonara, Italian Sausage, Tagliatelle Bolognese, Crab Cakes, Little Gem, Impossible Cigars, Baby Artichokes, Asparagus, Oven Roasted Truffle Potatoes, Kale Caesar Salad, Meatball Skillet, and Parmesan Cauliflower.

So whether you’re at home relaxing, need a large coffee stat, or just realized that you can have sushi again, order in from your neighborhood restaurants like Katy.

To celebrate the launch of The Receipt, Katy Perry and Postmates teamed up with World Central Kitchen on August 27, 2020 to donate meals from Tender Greens to Good News Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

Visit Postmates.com or open the app to place an order from a local restaurant today.

The Receipt: Katy Perry was originally published in Postmates on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Last week, the one and only Miley Cyrus dropped her brand new single “Midnight Sky”. To celebrate the release, this weekend Miley is donating* $1 for every Postmates order placed using a special code to an organization close to Miley’s heart, My Friend’s Place.

My Friend’s Place is a nonprofit resource center that assists homeless youth, providing services to over 1,400 homeless aged 12–25 every year. Working out of their resource center located in Hollywood, My Friend’s Place offers programs that provide drop-in services including food and clothing, educational programs and employment readiness services, health and wellbeing services, crisis care, and more.

In addition to the donation, last night Miley and Postmates teamed up with Alfred Coffee to make a special midnight delivery to Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in LA, feeding hundreds of essential workers in the COVID-19 unit.

Do you have an essential worker in your life who deserves a little love? Head to Miley’s Instagram stories, her Facebook post, or her Tweet, and nominate a “Midnight Hero” in your life who you believe deserves a little Postmates pick-me-up in the form of Postmates credits.

If you’d like to contribute to the cause, all you have to do is enjoy your favorite foods. Order Postmates on Friday and stream “Midnight Sky” while you wait for your feel-good food to arrive.

**My Friend’s Place Donation: Friday, August 21 through Sunday, August 23, The Happy Hippie Foundation will donate $1 for every order made using a special code emailed to Postmates customers up to $10,000.

Miley Cyrus + Postmates Join Forces to Support My Friend’s Place was originally published in Postmates on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

At Postmates, we believe that everyone should have opportunities for career development and advancement — especially the essential delivery workers who’ve kept our communities safe and stocked up throughout the pandemic. Many of our fleet members use this flexible work as a bridge to get them through a rough patch or to bring in extra income while they look for the next step in their careers. So with the economy in such bad shape, helping our fleet gain the tools and support they need for a successful job search is more important than ever. That’s why we’re proud to announce that we’ve expanded the career development programs to Chicago, building a partnership with Career Transitions Center of Chicago (CTC).

In Chicago, we asked fleet members about their ideal job and what’s keeping them from getting it. Nearly three in four shared that they don’t yet have a job goal. They identified a lack of a degree, lack of a network, and work history as the top barriers to advancing their careers. We want to knock down some of those hurdles and provide support that can help our fleet take on the work they’re most interested in pursuing.

That’s why we’re partnering with the Career Transitions Center of Chicago (CTC) to help eligible Postmates put their best foot forward to discover, pursue, and land their dream job. This year, 50 of our Windy City Fleet will have free access to CTC’s private career coaching, networking groups, and professional development programming. Fleet members will have virtual access to all of these resources so they can continue to flexibly and safely pursue their career goals.

Anita Jenke, Executive Director of CTC, shared in a statement, “CTC is thrilled to be teaming up with Postmates to help fleet members find and enter their ideal career path. Especially in this difficult economy, it’s essential that every job seeker has the tools and support needed to put their best foot forward in finding meaningful work that provides family-supporting wages. It is to Postmates’ credit that it is committed to and investing in economic justice initiatives such as this.”

This new effort with CTC is just the latest local partnership we’ve secured, as we already offer a number of programs for our fleet across the country as well. Last year, we piloted TechSF Apprenticeship, a program that provides job training, education, and mentorship to young adults in San Francisco who are often marginalized or left behind. We’re currently wrapping up the second year of our work with JVS, whose career pathway and mentorship programs are currently offered to interested fleet members in San Francisco and Los Angeles. We’ve also partnered with edX.org so Postmates couriers across the country can have free access to online college courses and professional certifications.

We’re going to keep expanding these programs because we take great pride in supporting the people who contribute to the success of our platform every day. To us, success means investing in our workforce — on and off the platform — and helping every single member of the Postmates community grow and thrive.

Postmates Partners with the Career Transitions Center of Chicago was originally published in Postmates on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

As part of its ongoing advocacy for its communities and partners navigating COVID-19, we’re announcing our support for the RESTAURANTS Act, and urge Congress to pass this vital piece of legislation.

“Restaurants aren’t just the heart of communities across the country, they are vital to the strength of local economies. Postmates is passionate about supporting every aspect of our marketplace because we know that when one pillar of our community is harmed then the whole system is impacted. That’s why it is so important that Congress passes the RESTAURANTS Act and protects an industry that has been hit hard by the pandemic. Without congressional action, we may permanently compromise the entire foodservice economy — inaction isn’t an option,” said Bastian Lehmann, CEO of Postmates.

Postmates was founded as a solution for small and locally owned businesses to compete in the emergent on-demand economy. The company’s uniquely-designed platform gives businesses and restaurants the technical tools to offer delivery, pick-up, and marketing capabilities — as well as the flexibility they need to reach new and existing customers and allows businesses on the platform to set their own prices.

Throughout the pandemic, Postmates has provided an essential service to communities throughout the country, connecting individuals under stay at home orders to the food and resources they need. It also offered a source of revenue for restaurants struggling under public health restrictions.

We’ve also deployed several emergency measures to support its marketplace during the COVID-19 crisis, including family care and childcare subsidies for workers, instant payouts for businesses on the platform, and Postmates partnered with hundreds of platform users to help them gain access to federal loans.

The RESTAURANTS Act would help stabilize the restaurant industry and the supply chain companies that are often overlooked. The farmers, distributors, fishers, wine and beer producers, and distributors that are dependent on a thriving restaurant industry have fallen victim to the pandemic. This legislation would provide a lifeline to the entire restaurant industry and supply chain.

Postmates Joins the Public Support of RESTAURANTS Act was originally published in Postmates on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

We’ve teamed up with our favorite artists, actresses, and comedians to shine a light on their favorite Black-owned restaurants from their hometown.

Whether you crave wings and crab claws like T-Pain or savory Caribbean food like Swae Lee, check out the list below and order from our Black-Owned Restaurants collection to show some love to a local business near you.

Mel’s Fish Shack

When you’re craving fish filets, fries, and a whole bunch of jumbo shrimp, you’re going to love the food at Tiffany Haddish’s favorite Black-owned restaurant: Mel’s Fish Shack.

“I’ve been going to Mel’s since I was a baby. My siblings and I would play the PacMan table game they had. Everyone was so friendly and supportive of my comedy at the restaurant.” — Tiffany Haddish

Chef Rob’s Caribbean Cafe

If you’re in Atlanta — and listening to T-Pain’s new single ‘Get Up’ — then eat like the artist himself and try the fresh, Caribbean flavor at one of his favorites: Chef Rob’s.

“Chef Rob’s Caribbean Cafe in Atlanta is mega fire. If I’m trying to be healthy, then I go with the Atlantic Salmon and a Ceasar Salad. If I’m not, then give me some wings, Crab Claws, and some Mango Chicken. There is nothing like having your food while you’re in front of the TV watching one of your shows.” — T-Pain

My Two Cents

This staple serves southern soul food to the folks around Pico-Roberston and has forever earned its place in the heart of Gabrielle Union.

“We had My Two Cents cater our end-of-summer party and all everyone talked about was the food. Folks were going back two to three times with heaps of food on their plate. Only time I’ve thrown a party where people fell asleep because they were so stuffed. Now that’s some bomb ass food!” — Gabrielle Union

Hilltop Coffee Shop

If you’ve got a day ahead of you, for work or fun, Terrence J. wants you to know that the Hilltop should be your first stop.

“Hilltop is one of my favorite spots in the city. It’s so authentically South LA and owned by locals, including my dear friend Issa Rae. Ajay and Yonnie always take care of me and the Bangin’ Breakfast Sandwich really lives up to its name. A must visit!” — Terrence J.

Simply Wholesome

More than a restaurant, this long-time staple on Slauson seems more like a community center that brings people from all over LA. For Jhenè Aiko, it’s got as much nostalgia factor as it does delicious food.

“The house I grew up in was on the street right behind Simply Wholesome. In the 6th grade, my bus stop was right in front of their stairs on Slauson. I used to skip lunch some days and save my lunch money so that I could get a smoothie and a patty after school instead.” — Jhenè Aiko

Papa Turney’s Old Fashion BBQ

Papa Turney has been more than a restaurant owner and chef, he’s been a true community leader — especially for the kids. Don’t be bashful, order Papa Turney’s in Nashville.

“The owner, Papa Turney, is a great man. He’s a fishing master and so many of us look up to him as a father figure. He’s a staple in our area and we love his cooking.” — Jimmie Allen

JamaFo Jamaican Food Express

East Coast transplants and locals alike will love the authentic Jamaican food at JamaFo.

“It’s a Caribbean restaurant in LA. Close to my house, we order it almost every day! Go-to order is the oxtail box combo. Comes with oxtails, brown rice, and plantains. Hits the spot every time.” — Swae Lee

Greedi Vegan

There’s no law that says you can’t eat vegan food everyday if you’re not a vegan — which will be good news once you’ve had a bute of the soul food inspired, plant-based dishes at Greedi Vegan.

“I visit Greedi-Vegan a couple of times a week for lunch. I usually get the Greedi-Soul bowl with the fried Mushrooms or Spinach Avo Salad. I’ve grown to love Greedi-Vegan because it’s completely changed my view of Vegan cuisine. Food is our fuel, and I love that she dedicated to providing clean and healthy fuel for the community.” — Nigel Sylvester

Peppa Flame Restaurant and Lounge

If you haven’t tried Peppa Flame in Baltimore, Chino Braxton’s recommendation is going to change your life.

“ My go-to at Peppa Flame is the seafood rice. I found out about it through a friend who kept posting this rice with a bunch of seafood in it. I found it while in quarantine and it was, like, one of the only places open at the time so I kept ordering it a couple of times a week since then.” — Chino Braxton

Hammond’s Bakery

To the people of Ft. Lauderdale and North Miami, listen up! Hammond’s Bakery is a must-try spot if you love Jamaican food (you should, it’s delicious).

“I usually go with the Curry Chicken with rice and peas and extra plantains. You gotta ask for extra cause most Jamaican spots only give you one or two but the food there is really good.” — Denzel Curry

Slutty Vegan

Order Teyana Taylor’s favorites like wings and pizza from this Atlanta hot spot that’s making history, and herstory, with vibrant, plant-based soul food you’ll fall in love with.

Now it’s your turn.

Show your favorite local restaurants the love by letting us know on Twitter by tagging us with #OrderLocal and tell us what’s good to eat.

Artists Show Love for Black-Owned Restaurants was originally published in Postmates on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Sauce. You’re familiar, yes? To be clear, we aren’t talking about that thing that comes vacuum-sealed in a plastic cup with your chicken nuggets. We’re talking about SAUCE. Mother sauces. Hand-whisked sauces. Sauces made by professional sauciers (aka chefs that just make sauce. Cool, right?).

Mother sauces are pretty important — they’re the foundation on which other sauces and meals are built. The five mother sauces can be credited back to 1903 and French chef Marie-Antoine Carême (technically Auguste Escoffier added the fifth one but gotta give credit where credit’s due). They are bechamel, velouté, espagnole, tomato, and hollandaise. Okay, now stop right there. That’s the sauce that we’ve got a few questions about.

The only thing you know about hollandaise might be that it’s got a permanent spot on your usual brunch order. But why is hollandaise sauce always on top of Eggs Benedict? Is it because the richness always goes well with a big gulp of champagne? Can’t be. And Google didn’t have the answers, so we decided to find out.

“Back in the 1800s, sauce wasn’t for your pizza crusts — it was a treat for the wealthy.”

Back in the 1800s, sauce wasn’t for your pizza crusts — it was a treat for the wealthy. Mere peasants were sentenced to dry meats and bland vegetables. Years before the mother sauces were identified, Carême was a master chef for royals in 1816. And it’s widely assumed that if you were worthy, he’d class up your dish with a bit of hollandaise.

What’s in a sauce? Hollandaise is an emulsion of egg yolk, vinegar (these days, we use lemon juice), and plenty of butter. It was known as the perfect topper for meat, veggies, and…well, not Eggs Benedict. That dish wasn’t invented until 1894.

But then we run into a little bit of a problem. See, the story of who invented Eggs Benedict and how is kind of a mystery. Apparently there were lots of people in the 1890s that had both the last name Benedict and very specific egg orders.

No matter what story you believe, we know that someone named Lemuel Benedict entered the Waldorf Hotel in New York City one morning in 1894. As legend has it, Lemuel had a hangover and asked for “some buttered toast, crisp bacon, two poached eggs, and a hooker of hollandaise sauce.”

But why hollandaise? Why not ketchup (yes, it was already invented). Was butter just not going to cut it? A perfectly poached egg is already pretty saucy, so why, oh why, Mr. Benedict did you add that layer of hollandaise?

“Hollandaise was on tons of restaurant menus back in the day, but paired with non-egg dishes like veggies and fish.”

Well after some poking around, we noticed that hollandaise was on tons of restaurant menus back in the day, but paired with non-egg dishes like veggies and fish. We even dug up this Waldorf menu from 1897 that features something called ‘Saumon, Sauce Hollandaise’ (Is that how they used to spell ‘salmon’? No clue.).

So that’s it. The sauce was already on the menu. That’s the reason your boozy Sunday afternoons taste a little richer. That’s the reason it’s so hard to make true eggs benny at home (too much whisking). That’s the reason Eggs Benedict comes with hollandaise. Don’t overthink it — people in the 19th century needed hangover cures, too. Why yes, it is a little relatable.

Next time you’re deciding between that smoked salmon scramble or a classic eggs benny, think about your new friend Lemuel. He was kind of on to something.

Why is Hollandaise Sauce on Eggs Benedict? was originally published in Postmates on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Angelenos can now get a taste of the ballpark experience brought right to their doorstep exclusively on Potmates by ordering from Home Plates which will offer Dodger Dogs and stadium favorites.

Home Plates will serve Dodger Stadium fan-favorites like Dodger Dogs, micheladas, and garlic fries to go along with snacks, salads, bar, and dessert options. In addition to premium Dodger Dogs, items specially produced by Home Plates include individual thin-crust Brooklyn-style pizza, carne asada helmet nachos, and Dodgers’ blue gelato. Also, check out the family party pack and catering options.

Home Plates will initially launch in Los Angeles’ Hollywood and West Hollywood neighborhoods with plans to expand to additional neighborhoods throughout LA. Dodgers dishes are created and packaged by Home Team Kitchens’ restaurants. In keeping with the Dodgers’ standards, Home Team Kitchens employs technical innovations like healthier air frying rather than oil and uses moisture reducing packaging technology to ensure freshness.

With the Dodgers and Home Team Kitchens, we are thrilled to be able to extend the stadium experience to fans at home.

Postmates is Bringing Dodger Stadium Favorites from Home Plates to LA’s Doorsteps was originally published in Postmates on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Today — The U.S. House of Representatives passed the NO BAN Act, which would repeal the Trump administration’s Muslim ban and strengthen provisions in the Immigration and Nationality Act to prevent future discriminatory restrictions. Postmates released the following statement in support of the NO BAN Act’s passage in the House:

“Postmates applauds the House of Representatives for passing the NO BAN Act and sending a clear signal that America remains a nation of immigrants, committed to religious liberty and pluralism. In 2017 we partnered with the ACLU on legal strategies to challenge the ban; and in 2019, we were proud to work with Muslim Advocates and joined Airbnb in leading a coalition of companies advocating for an end to the ban. Together, we see the NO BAN Act as critical to advancing the interests of the business community and the country.

“Our platform brings together people from all walks of life, so we know first-hand that inclusivity and diversity strengthen the communities we serve and the businesses we support. These are the same values that make America a global leader in innovation and technology — something our elected representatives should protect and promote now more than ever. We thank those who voted in favor of the NO BAN Act, and we urge the Senate to take similar action to defend these values and ensure America’s diversity and dynamism for decades to come.”

Postmates and Congress Stand to End the Muslim Ban was originally published in Postmates on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Pride is in Postmates’ heart. This past July 4th, Postmates celebrated Pride with LGBTQ+ artists at The Savage Ranch with Impossible Foods, Get Global, and host Love Bailey.

Music, food, and fun mixed along with personal accounts from residents on what is happening in the LGBTQ+ community during the global pandemic, and their support for Black Lives Matter and marginalized artists everywhere.

This month, the Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits employee discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin also includes sexual orientation and gender identity. This decision marked progress to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people in the United States, giving an extra reason to celebrate this year’s Pride Month.

Practicing safety guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 has canceled much of this year’s Pride festivals and events, but it doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate at home. Pride is in our hearts every month of the year, and the work towards equality presses on.

If you want to support an organization advancing justice on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community please donate to Equality California, the largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the country working at all levels of government policy. Their programs support COVID-19 relief programs, safe and supportive schools for LGBTQ+ youth, and more.

The Savage Ranch is an artist residency community that provides visionaries, activists, and artists a place to create art, live, work, and explore their creative fantasies free from gender and sexual discrimination. This summer they are continuing to build out the property to improve and expand on the amenities and resources at the ranch to better support artists in residence.

Equality California brings the voices of LGBTQ+ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people. They advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating, and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve.

Pride Is In The Heart was originally published in Postmates on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

What is now a thriving restaurant in Los Angeles, Earle’s Restaurant sprouted from early childhood memories of eating delicious food in East Flatbush, Brooklyn New York.

Fast-forward to southern California during the year of 1984, co-owners and brothers Duane and Cary Earle sparked the idea to open up a cart, selling authentic New York-style hotdogs on Venice Beach. Not long after they began, crowds of people came to their cart, lining up to taste what the brothers had to offer.

Eight-years later in 1992, the demand for their signature dogs was great enough that they decided to open their very own brick-and-mortar restaurant during the throes of the LA Uprising.

Since 1992, the two have moved their business to the heart of the Crenshaw district in the South LA neighborhood of Leimert Park, and have expanded their menu to include options for every kind of dietary requirement or food preference. Today, they remain open, serving both locals, the elderly, and first-responders

We had the privilege of sitting down with co-owner Duane Earle to chat about Earle’s signature dishes, the ins and outs of running a successful Black-owned business, the 1992 LA Uprising, how COVID-19 has impacted his business, and how he and his brother give back to their community.

Tell us about how your restaurant got started.

My brother Cary and I went into business over 35-years ago. Cary moved from NY to LA when he was 19. He was on Venice Beach and saw some vendors selling hot dogs, and decided to build his own hot dog cart and start selling hot dogs on the boardwalk. I came to LA a few years later to help him. We would sell hot dogs on the beach, at local festivals, outside of what used to be the Crenshaw Swapmeet (which was burned down in the ’92 uprising), and outside of clubs at night. We built and opened our first brick and mortar in ’92 on Crenshaw Blvd. We’ve been a local institution since then and have also expanded into a large scale catering company.

What is your signature dish and what does it mean to you?

What separates us from other hot dog restaurants is the way we prepare our dogs. We split our dogs and links down the center, butterfly style, and charbroil them. Then, customers can choose from over 15 toppings, ranging from classics like ketchup and mustard to more unique toppings like NY cooked red onions and vegan chili. We were also pioneers in the “fast food” industry, including pescatarian and vegan options on our menu 25-years ago.

Tell us what the Black Lives Matter movement means to you and your business.

In 1992 during the LA Uprising, my older brother, Cary, slept in the restaurant for three nights to protect our business from physical damage and looting–the uprising started the day before his 29th birthday. The reasons for the protests today haven’t changed from the reasons 28-years ago, but now we’re seeing support and allyship from people of all races, on a global scale. We’re a family-owned and operated business–a Black family–serving a community that is historically Black. We’ve always known that Black Lives Matter and that we’re a race of rich, vibrant, and resilient people. But things feel different this time around, like we’re really on the precipice of much-needed systemic change.

Besides ordering, what’s another example of how your community has shown support for your restaurant?

Since COVID, we’ve been working with the city on the Great Plates Delivered program, cooking and delivering meals to elderly community members three times a week. Many of these deliveries are to people who live alone and have limited access to food due to community food deserts and safer at home guidelines. We’re serving a lot of long time supporters of our business, and it feels great to be able to help our community in this way during these unprecedented times.

Recently, we launched the Black-Owned Restaurants collection in over 130 cities and counting. Every order from this collection will have no delivery fee. Find these restaurants by searching “Black-Owned” in the Postmates app.

In addition, we’re working to add more Black-owned restaurants to our list. If you know a business in your area that you’d like to support, let us know at Black-owned@postmates.com.

We stand with the Black Lives Matter movement, our restaurant partners, our Postmates Fleet, and each of you across the country, but will continually ask ourselves what we can do to help, and build on our actions.

Black-Owned Restaurants | Earle’s Restaurant was originally published in Postmates on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.