Officials will allow celebrity chef José Andrés to circumvent gas stove ban at his new restaurant

Celebrity chef José Andrés is allowed to use gas stoves in his new restaurant despite California’s ban. because otherwise he would have to recreate his menu.

The amendment to the California Building Code, which takes effect in January, has required all new buildings to be all-electric to reduce the state’s nitrous oxide emissions.

Lawyers from the real estate group that will house the restaurant threatened legal action if Andrés’ project Zaytina did not get a gas stove.

Anna Shimko, an attorney for The Simon Property Group, wrote in a letter threatening a lawsuit that Zaytinya relies on “traditional cooking methods that require gas appliances to achieve their signature, complex flavors.”

“Without gas hookups and appliances, Zaytinya would be forced to change its signature five-star menu, which it is unwilling to do,” she wrote to the city in April.

Famous chef José Andrés is allowed to use gas stoves in his new restaurant

Lawyers from the real estate group that will house the restaurant threatened legal action if José Andrés' project Zaytina did not get a gas stove

Lawyers from the real estate group that will house the restaurant threatened legal action if José Andrés’ project Zaytina did not get a gas stove

She pleaded for the exemption, claiming that the Stanford Shopping Center, where Zaytinya will be located, applied for the project in 2019 and received approval from the city’s Architectural Review Board, including for a gas line, to be installed in 2021.

“SPG is confident that the enforcement of the new Reach Code in this context is legally flawed and unconstitutional, and SPG is therefore prepared to take all necessary steps to enforce its legal rights to use gas facilities within Building EE.”

“The restaurant would likely move its location out of town if forced to compromise the caliber of its cuisine and reputation,” the lawyer said.

“This would be an unfortunate loss for the people of Palo Alto, as well as a compensable loss for which SPG would be forced to redress.”

Faced with the legal dispute, Palo Alto’s directors capitulated and allowed the restaurant to use natural gas.

The building is “in a unique situation, where parts of the project were being built or under construction when the city’s all-electric new construction rule came into effect” therefore “the city and the mall have agreed that this one project should be able to proceed with gas service in accordance with longstanding project plans,” city officials said in a statement on May 16.

It comes after the US recently considered banning all gas stoves over health and safety concerns.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced earlier this month that it plans to take action to address pollution emitted from gas stoves, which have been linked to more asthma cases.

Andrés threatened to remove his restaurant from the city if he couldn't keep a gas stove

Andrés threatened to remove his restaurant from the city if he couldn’t keep a gas stove

Zaytinya relies on

Zaytinya relies on “traditional cooking methods that require gas appliances to achieve his signature, complex flavors”

In a statement to Bloomberg NewsRichard Trumka Jr., a bureau commissioner, called gas stoves a “hidden danger.”

California plans to phase out new natural gas furnaces and heaters by 2030 after a California Air Resources Board (CARB) proposal passed, making it the first U.S. state to take such action.

The proposal, included in the 2022 State Implementation Plan (SIP) strategy, is to combat nitrous oxide pollution in the state — homes and buildings generate four times more ozone than all of California’s gas plants combined.

However, the plan will cost about $96.2 billion to enforce and new homeowners will have to pay for expensive electrical options going forward.

The report comes just a month after California announced a ban on the sale of gas-powered new cars.

CARB President Liane Randolph said in a statement, “While this strategy will clear the air for all Californians, it will also lead to reduced emissions in the many low-income and underprivileged communities experiencing more persistent air pollution.”

“But to truly meet the ozone standard, California needs more federal action to clean up harmful diesel pollution from mostly federally controlled sources, from locomotives and oceangoing vessels to airplanes, all of which are concentrated in communities that continue to bear the brunt of poor people.” . air quality.

“We simply cannot provide clean air to Californians without the federal government doing its part.”

The new ban is part of California Gov. Gavin Newson’s climate push and aims to adhere to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations to limit atmospheric ozone to 70 parts per billion – 21 million people living living in the state exceed this standard.