Los Angeles' ban on gas stoves could spell the end for many Korean BBQ, Chinese restaurants

Los Angeles banned the use of residential and commercial gas appliances.

The Los Angeles County City Council voted last Friday to place a ban on most gas appliances to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. Los Angeles County wants to be carbon neutral by the year 2045 In California, more than 50 cities and counties have passed laws requiring the construction of new buildings to be natural gas-free or meet building codes.

The motion stated that zero-carbon buildings have better indoor air quality, lower construction costs, fewer safety risks, and lower climate emissions than equivalent mixed-fuel buildings.

This call to action may have cascading effects on the food industry in Los Angeles, where the quality of food relies on industrial woks, ovens and grills that require natural gas.

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Cantonese cuisine uses natural gas to breath of the wok. When cooking with electric appliances, the smoky flavors of the meat, seafood, and vegetables inside can't be duplicated, because the heat coats the wok from all sides. Chefs crank up the heat immediately to roaring temperatures that coat the wok from all sides, and allow the meat, seafood,

A Chinese restaurant owner told the Los Angeles Times that the wok is important to Asian cuisine. You are telling us we cannot use woks anymore by taking gas away. We are forced to adapt to American culture.

Restaurants need to swap their gas equipment for electric infrastructure to become carbon neutral. Gas bills may disappear completely, but electricity costs will go up. New cooking techniques and practices may be needed for the good of the planet.

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The California Restaurant Association filed a complaint against the City of Berkeley after they decided to phase out natural gas. Losing natural gas will slow down the process of cooking, reduce a chef's control over the amount and intensity of heat, and affect the way in which food is prepared.

There is still an investigation going on.

The future of Asian restaurants in Los Angeles could be changed by this motion if restaurants are unable to transition or train their employees.

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