Palestinian chef Mona Leena Michael went from heading up Oakland’s Middle Eastern restaurant, Dyafa, to putting up a Mana’eesh pop-up once the coronavirus pandemic struck. Michael talks about how <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/article/One-of-the-Bay-Area-s-pandemic-born-food-pop-ups-15541332.php">the Alameda County health department shut her operation down</a> due to an anonymous complaint — even during a global health crisis that has <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/restaurants/article/Please-don-t-call-the-cops-on-pop-ups-15560722.php">rendered many food industry workers like her unemployable</a>.Plus: Michael shocks co-host Soleil Ho by saying that she’s “elevating” Palestinian cuisine.<a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/article/A-Palestinian-food-pop-up-was-shut-down-for-15558018.php">Read a transcript of the conversation with Mona Leena Michael</a>, and send us your questions about food, life and everything you’re obsessed with at <a href="http://sfchronicle.com/spicy">sfchronicle.com/spicy</a>. | Get full Chronicle access: <a href="http://sfchronicle.com/pod">sfchronicle.com/pod</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Comfort Food for Your Pandemic Hunger

Join host Soleil Ho as they attempt to decipher the bizarro happenings of the food world alongside a mix of fascinating folks. They dismantle diet culture and angry chefs, cover the restaurant apocalypse and pandemic pivots, and dish out advice you didn't know you needed. Extra Spicy will stimulate your mind and your appetite.