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Nyesha Arrington Gets Teary-Eyed Just Thinking About Her Venice Restaurant Leona

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Watch the Top Chef contestant talk about her love for the place.

Farley Elliott is the Senior Editor at Eater LA and the author of Los Angeles Street Food: A History From Tamaleros to Taco Trucks. He covers restaurants in every form, from breaking news to the culture, people, and history that surrounds LA's dining landscape.

It's easy to understand why a chef might get a bit emotional when discussing their beautiful new restaurant, what with all the hard work, endlessly long nights, and moving parts involved. Just ask Nyesha Arrington, the beloved chef behind Venice's Leona.

In this video from the Tastemade team, Arrington hits the usual benchmarks: plucking ingredients from the ground while talking to a farmer, hitting the Santa Monica farmers market to scout for produce, calling out orders as they come into the kitchen. But there's something happier happening in the video here, as the always-smiling chef works through her average week.

Arrington ultimately comes off as affable and kind, the sort of person who has been given the opportunity to open the place of their dreams. And it's a situation she clearly doesn't take lightly. Check out the video above.

Leona

123 Washington Blvd, Venice, CA 90292 (310) 822-5379 Visit Website