Menu Stories Podcast

A long-awaited episode features Rising Star chef Fernay McPherson of Minnie Bell's Soul Food. Listen to the episode and subscribe to the Menu Stories series on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Menu Stories celebrates this 50th episode with a very special guest: executive chef/owner Suzette Gresham of Acquerello, a beloved Italian restaurant in San Francisco’s Russian Hill neighborhood that boasts two Michelin stars. Listen to the episode and subscribe to the Menu Stories series on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Episode 49 features a live recording from a panel Menu Stories hosted last summer with Yelp at their beautiful headquarters in downtown San Francisco. The panel discussed the theme “Surviving and Thriving as Bay Area Restaurateurs” and included veteran chefs like Suzette Gresham (who you'll meet in episode 50), of the two Michelin starred Acquerello and newcomers like Fernay McPherson of Minnie Bell’s, who was named a Rising Star Chef by the San Francisco Chronicle last year. Listen to the episode and subscribe to the Menu Stories series on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

In Episode 48, we meet Matthew Dolan, executive chef and partner of Twenty Five Lusk. The upscale restaurant-lounge has taken sustainability seriously over recent years, taking steps to become a certified green business and focusing on sustainable seafood, which Dolan writes about in his new book, Simply Fish. Listen to the episode and subscribe to the Menu Stories series on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Episode 47 features chef/owner Jordan Keao and chef de cuisine Chris Yang of ‘āina, a refined Hawaiian enclave in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood. Listen to the episode and subscribe to the Menu Stories series on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

In Episode 45, we meet chef Sung Anh of Mosu, a Michelin-starred restaurant in San Francisco’s Fillmore District that offers a blend of refined Asian cuisine, with a focus on Korean menu elements. Listen to the episode and subscribe to the Menu Stories series on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Episode 44 introduces us to chef Jöne Pan of Jöne's Gelato. Chef Jöne figured out how to create delicious flavor in a gelato that's gluten free, cane sugar free, dairy free, and top-eight-allergen free. Listen to the episode and subscribe to the Menu Stories series on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Popson's Burgers owners, Alvin Garcia and chef Adam Rosenblum share their adventures in launching this fast-casual favorite in San Francisco's Tenderloin, which serves its famous version of the quintessential American comfort meal. Listen to the episode and subscribe to the Menu Stories series on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Episode 42 of Menu Stories is our last of the year! Since this story is coming out just days before Christmas and Hannukah, we’re naturally talking all about chocolate. Michael and Jacky Recchiuti, who hail from West Philadelphia and Hawaii, respectively, met in San Francisco in the 80s and have now been making chocolates for 20 years. The result is local favorite Recchiuti Confections. Listen to the episode and subscribe to the Menu Stories series on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

On the 41st episode of Menu Stories, we meet Larry Mindel and Executive Chef Benjamin Balesteri of Poggio in Sausalito, California. Listen to the episode and subscribe to the Menu Stories series on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

In the 40th episode of Menu Stories, we get ready for Thanksgiving with the 140 year old apple trees of Gowan Orchards. The family farm has long produced a variety of native California apples and has recently begun offering award-winning hard cider. Listen to the episode and subscribe to the Menu Stories series on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Episode 39 shares the story of long-time San Francisco heavyweight chef, Bruce Hill. Chef Bruce reveals how Mario Batali inspired his love for Italian food, why he loves the art of Japanese cooking, and what he finds most rewarding in his career. Subscribe to the Menu Stories series on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

In Episode 38, Menu Stories visits the renowned Dr. Andrew Weil at the newly opened Walnut Creek True Food Kitchen, his health-and-flavor-conscious restaurant concept. We got a rare interview with Dr. Weil about his upbringing, his inspiration for dedicating a lifetime to health and nutrition, and we learned why he decided to venture into the restaurant world. Subscribe to the Menu Stories series on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Episode 37 takes us to Cassava, a small Asian-inspired restaurant in San Francisco's Richmond District that puts community and a unique operational style at the forefront. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Episode 36 tells the story behind Head Brewer Chris Dunstan and Drake's Brewing Company, the first commercial craft brewery featured on the Menu Stories series. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

In Episode 35, we visit past (and a couple future!) Menu Stories guests at the Golden Gate Restaurant Association's annual Eat Drink SF festival. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Episode 34 features executive chef Wilson Chan of Tsubasa Sushi, Hayes Valley's newest sushi restaurant. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

In part two of our special two-part feature with AQ and Mercer Restaurant Group, Menu Stories heads to the farm in Cloverdale, California. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Episode 32 kicks off a special two-part feature, where we meet the team behind San Francisco's farm-to-table Mercer Restaurant Group and their flagship restaurant, AQ. Listen to the episode to hear the full story. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack has been a Mission/Bernal local favorite for over 15 years, which is a feat in the tumultuous San Francisco restaurant scene. But something even more impressive is the fact that Emmy Kaplan opened the restaurant at just twenty-four years old. Listen to our interview with Emmy to hear the full story. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Today's episode (E30) features Jay Bordeleau, Tim Hagney, and Chef Isaac Miller of Maven. The trio meet with Menu Stories host Rebecca Goberstein to discuss what music has to do with food, what wine has to do with cocktails, and why the Lower Haight was the perfect neighborhood for this polished restaurant-bar. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Episode 29 features the story behind the southwest-inspired West of Pecos restaurant on San Francisco's bustling Valencia Street. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

In Episode 28, we meet local legend and modern renaissance man, Angelo Garro, of Omnivore Salt. Garro and his right-hand woman, Veronica Ronchi, share the story behind this small-batch seasoning company and reveal the stories of the whimsical kitchen table at the Renaissance Forge, which has served food to Hollywood royalty and world renowned chefs. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Kyle Itani of Oakland's beloved Hopscotch just opened Itani Ramen and shares how his Japanese-American heritage influenced both restaurants. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

John Zirinsky, Ben Buchanan, Jimmy Simpson, and Chef Max Snyder meet with Menu Stories host Rebecca Goberstein to share how Old Bus Tavern in San Francisco's Bernal Heights neighborhood came to be from its inspirations of home-brewed beer, a love for excellent food in a casual atmosphere, and an old Volkswagen bus. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Episode 25 features executive chef/owner David Lawrence of 1300 on Fillmore and Black Bark BBQ. View the full episode and subscribe to our newsletter on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

To celebrate 25 episodes of Menu Stories, we're introducing a special two-part series, featuring sister restaurants 1300 on Fillmore and Black Bark BBQ. We start with episode 24, where we meet chef Jake Whitlock of 1300 on Fillmore. View the full episode and subscribe to our newsletter on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

In the twenty third episode of Menu Stories, Executive Chef Justin Simoneaux of Boxing Room shares his passion for the cuisine that belongs to his New Orleans roots and explains how important it is to stay true to your creative vision. View the full episode and subscribe to our newsletter on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

In the 22nd episode of the Menu Stories Podcast, we venture outside of San Francisco for the first time and arrive in Oakland, where we meet Dario Barbone and Renato Sardo, founders of Baia Pasta. Baia Pasta is an artisan pasta company that only sources its flour from organic grain farmers in the United States. Backed by their Italian heritage and expertise in both slow food and molecular biology, we're hard pressed to find a more reliable source for pasta. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Owners Umberto Gibin and chef Staffan Terje reflect on their ten years of success with the fine dining sister restaurants Perbacco and barbacco and share why they took a turn from Italian cuisine to open Volta, a Swedish and French ultra modern brasserie. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Episode 20 of the Menu Stories podcast features the husband-and-wife team behind Dosa, San Francisco's modern South Indian restaurant group that's celebrating 10 years. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Shawn Naputi and Shawn Camacho, who both grew up in Guam, opened Prubechu to create much more than just a restaurant. With Prubechu being the only place in San Francisco serving Guamanian food, they've aspired to create a home for city dwellers who are part of this close-knit island community. In this final episode of 2015, Prubechu chef Shawn Naputi teaches us the history of Guam, its many cultural influences, and how he and Camacho got their business off the ground. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Chef Trish Tracey of Myriad Gastro Pub in San Francisco's Mission District sits down with Menu Stories host Rebecca Goberstein to share what inspired her to put everything on the line to open her first restaurant. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Meet Jonathan Sutton and Tony Ferrari of Hillside Supper Club, the young chef/owners with old souls, on episode 17 of Menu Stories. Sutton and Ferrari discuss the importance of respecting the techniques and lessons of the chefs that came before them, quality ingredients, and the staffing crisis facing many San Francisco restaurants. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Executive chef/owner Gilbert Pilgram and head chef Rebecca Boice meet with Menu Stories host Rebecca Goberstein and share their personal stories, why your food shouldn't be anonymous, and reveal their favorite memories with the famed Judy Rodgers, who transformed Zuni into what continues to be San Francisco's quintessential modern restaurant. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

The fourteenth episode of Menu Stories features Tadich Grill, which originally opened during the California Gold Rush in 1849 by Croatian immigrants, making it the oldest restaurant in the state. General Manager David Hanna shares how the restaurant has continued to thrive over the years, through a number of owners, maintaining excellent seafood, straight shooting waiters, and perfect cocktails. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Chef Melissa Perfit of Bar Crudo shares how her background in cinematography influences her work as a chef and discusses how Bar Crudo is celebrating its 10th anniversary as one of San Francisco's favorite seafood getaways. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

We meet Steve Anderson, owner and manager of The Pig and Whistle, a long standing English-style pub in San Francisco. Anderson has roots in punk rock England and even worked with bands like The Police - listen to the episode to hear his journey from music in London to running a traditional English pub half a world away. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

The chefs and founders of Sataysfied, a beloved catering and food cart company in the San Francisco Bay Area, meet with Menu Stories to reveal how they started the business out of necessity. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Episode 11 features Chef Sara Hauman, a young chef already making waves in San Francisco at Huxley Restaurant in the Tenderloin. Huxley opened less than a year ago, but Chef Sara, who most recently came from Bar Agricole, has already been recognized by Eater and the San Francisco Chronicle as a stand-out. Listen to the episode to discover why this San Diego area native has a strong influence in Spanish cuisine and, at just 28 years old, has already worked at some of the world’s top rated restaurants. Subscribe to the Menu Stories podcast on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Welcome to episode 10 of Menu Stories! Today's episode is a great fit because this summer marks the 10th anniversary of the opening of Pizzeria Delfina, one of the Bay Area's most popular pizzerias and part of the Delfina Restaurant Group. We meet Executive Chef Anthony Strong, who now oversees all 6 restaurants in the group (4 Pizzeria Delfina locations, Locanda, and the original Delfina), under chef-proprietor team Chef Craig Stoll and Annie Stoll. Subscribe to Menu Stories on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Lisa Fetterman, co-founder and CEO of Nomiku, shares how she and her husband and co-founder, Abe Fetterman, put everything on the line to get Nomiku, a device that makes it easy to prepare food with the sous vide technique, off the ground. Listen to the episode and discover what Fetterman has to say about food and sex, what it's like to put everything on the line to get your product off the ground, and how imaginative people can be with Nomiku, creating everything from the expected sous vide proteins to tie dye clothing to cannabis infused foods. Subscribe on menustories.com for more episodes. Music by Ben Sound.

Chef Proprieter Brenda Buenviaje of Brenda's French Soul Food in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood meets with Menu Stories host and editor, Rebecca Goberstein, in the podcast's 8th episode. Chef Brenda is a native of New Orleans and, after training in classical cooking techniques and being invited to cook at the James Beard House, decided to open her own restaurant in her new home of San Francisco with the flavors and style of the city where she grew up. Subscribe on menustories.com for more episodes. Music by Ben Sound.

The 7th episode of Menu Stories features Caleb Zigas, Executive Director of La Cocina, an incubator kitchen that helps low income women get their start as food entrepreneurs. Part of what La Cocina, based in San Francisco's Mission District, strives to achieve is maintaining cultural diversity among the city's small business owners - something Zigas passionately feels makes cities stronger and better for all its residents. Subscribe on menustories.com for more episodes. Music by Ben Sound.

In the 6th episode of Menu Stories, we meet Executive Chef Adam Keough, a celebrated chef who was raised in South Boston, trained under Michael Mina, and was integral in cementing Absinthe as one of San Francisco's most loved and acclaimed restaurants. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Husband and wife team, Chef Tim Archuleta and Erin Archuleta of ICHI Sushi + Ni Bar, meet with us in their newest restaurant, ICHI Kakiya, which opened just over a month ago. Tim and Erin are full of energy and we cover everything from the origins of sushi in Japan and how to eat it properly, how Tim wooed Erin with oysters (and karaoke skills), and how they've kept up with the dramatic pace with which the neighborhood where they live and work, Bernal Heights, has shifted in just a couple of years. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Meet Miguel Jara, owner of the legendary La Taqueria in San Francisco’s Mission District, as he sits down with Menu Stories host, Rebecca Goberstein. La Taqueria has been a local Mission favorite for over 40 years, since Jara opened it in 1973, not just because of the food, but because of the warmth and humor that Jara embodies. The magic of La Taqueria extends beyond Jara to the delicious food his taqueria serves, which earned national acclaim when ESPN’s FiveThirtyEight named La Taqueria as makers of the best burrito in America in 2014. Despite the attention, Jara remains humble, with an unbridled sense of humor. Music provided by Ben Sound and the sounds of La Taqueria.

Michael Feno's family has owned Lucca Ravioli Company since 1925. Michael’s Great Uncle Francesco Stangalini came to San Francisco in the 1920s to look for work and eventually bought the existing ravioli company that produced pasta at this location in the Italian suburb that became the Mission District. Ever since, Lucca Ravioli has remained a family owned business and Michael started working at the shop in 1966, at the age of 11. We learn about Italian cuisine, how Lucca sources their ingredients and remains authentic to current Italian flavors, and hear Michael tell us how the Mission has changed over the decades.Music by Ben Sound.

Chef Gonzalo Guzman of Nopalito, one of San Francisco's most beloved Mexican restaurants, meets with Rebecca Goberstein on Nopalito on 9th's beautiful garden patio. The day was sunny, the kitchen was preparing for lunch, and the birds were kind enough to provide some background music. Raised in what he calls a 'box' of a house in Veracruz, Mexico, Guzman prepared his first meal, a pot of beans, at the age of six. As you listen to Guzman share his story, it'll be impossible to ignore his work ethic, his humility, and his total dedication to excellent food that reflects the Mexico that Guzman is proud to hail from. He was only a teenager when he made the difficult move away from his family in Mexico to work in the United States. And work, he did. Guzman constantly held multiple jobs at one time, starting out as a dishwasher at age 15. Because of the pride he takes in everything he does, even washing dishes, Guzman kept moving up the ranks of the kitchen, eventually impressing chef Laurence Jossel, owner of Nopa, a classic San Francisco restaurant in the Panhandle. If you’re thinking Nopa and Nopalito sound related, that's because they are. You’ll find out why in this interview. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Gwyneth Borden, Executive Director of San Francisco's Golden Gate Restaurant Association, sits down with Rebecca Goberstein for the first episode of Menu Stories to discuss the importance of the restaurant community to San Francisco's culture and economy, something that any city can identify with. Gwyneth, who comes to the GGRA from the tech industry, also shares what makes the SF restaurant scene unique, compared with other major food cities, why the restaurant industry is the quintessential opportunity for immigrants to get their start in a new country, how the tech boom is impacting the SF restaurant scene, and why you should get involved with events the GGRA brings to San Francisco, like SF Restaurant Week and Eat Drink SF. Music provided by Ben Sound.

Episode 46 introduces us to Wise Sons Deli co-founder Evan Bloom and chef Eduardo Hernández. We learn why Jewish food is so comforting, explore San Francisco's lack of Jewish delis, and hear about what's next for this blossoming enterprise. Listen to the episode and subscribe to the Menu Stories series on menustories.com. Music provided by Ben Sound.