Hello, friends. Whew, it has been a busy morning checking in on people after that horrible five-alarm fire in SoMa in SF this morning. Thank goodness everyone is safe, but there have definitely been some business losses, ugh. I have an update in the chatterbox below. Here’s hoping we can help these businesses get back on their feet soon.
More on the subject of resilience is the recent On the Fly podcast episode with Fernay McPherson of the beloved Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement (located in the Public Market Emeryville). I hope you can take some time to listen to her compelling story and journey as a Black female food entrepreneur and third-generation Fillmore native. You’ll want to pick up some of her trademark rosemary fried chicken and brown butter cornbread this weekend as soon as you listen in, plan accordingly.
Further inspiration! Don’t miss the recent series Street Food: Latin America on Netflix! I’m enjoying this show immensely—they’re mostly highlighting female chefs—such incredibly badass women who will put some fire in your belly to hustle and survive these arduous times. They will also make you cry—I have cried watching two of four episodes so far. (Good tears.) Such potent storytelling. And one more heartwarming show to watch is Mucho, Mucho Amor about the inimitable Walter Mercado! Pure delight. Besos!
More happiness: the extraordinary washoku bento box from chef David Yoshimura of pop-up Nisei, currently running out of the kitchen at Mister Jiu’s! It’s an incredible treasure box for $38 (available Fri-Sun). Order one for pickup this weekend, and be sure to peruse the takeout menu at Mister Jiu’s as well—you want to come home with the country ham and scallion milk bread with pork floss, trust me. (Their hot and sour soup will also give your body a healing boost.)
Since my last break was too damn short, and this city is too damn gray (kind of like my roots), I’m heading out of town with sis for an extended weekend in Lake Tahoe! I’ll be offline starting Friday, and won’t be writing tablehopper next Tuesday, FYI. I’ll keep posting news and updates on @tablehopper on Instagram and in my Stories…
Since I won’t be around to remind you, please save the date: next Friday August 7th is Dine for Democracy, a national campaign that brings local restaurants and diners together to raise money to ensure safe and fair elections. 100 percent of donations will be divided equally among a cohort of five grassroots voting rights groups, led by youth and communities of color working to get out the vote in battleground states. There are a number of Bay Area restaurants participating—please dine and donate (since we can’t lean on restaurants to make donations right now, we need them to survive!). The next Dine for Democracy events are on the first Friday of each month, now until the election.
This is also the last week to have your contribution matched to CUESA’s Feed Hospitality program by Hangar 1 Vodka! Your tax-deductible donation of $25 directly pays for one weeks’ worth of fresh, healthy produce for a hospitality worker and their family, while supporting local farms. Help us feed the people who feed us. Through Friday July 31st, Hangar 1 Vodka is matching all donations, up to $15,000! Win-win-win!
One last thing, since you won’t be hearing from me here for a couple weeks: two months ago, I was interviewed by Adam Peddicord of Customer Success by Design on how to speak with, build, and sustain your customer community from scratch with authenticity. It was an enjoyable exercise to look at my journey as an entrepreneur and writer, and how I honed my true voice by starting this media brand (14 years ago and counting!). Our interview was scheduled around the initial weeks of the George Floyd protests and I didn’t want to take up any bandwidth during that time, or the past couple months, to be perfectly honest, so I’m just telling you about it now. Thanks to Adam for interviewing me, and be sure to check his site for many other live events coming up.
Stay well, take care, be kind. XO ~Marcia
A recent Restaurant Nisei bento box—read all about what’s inside it on Instagram! Photo: © tablehopper.com.View tablehopper Newsletter from Tuesday, Jul 28 2020
