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Forbes •

America’s Biggest Food Festival Just Got Bigger: FoodieLand Acquires 626 Night Market

Neon lights flicker, woks sizzle, and the aroma of grilled skewers fills the air. What began as a Southern California phenomenon inspired by the vibrant street markets of Asia is now poised to go national.FoodieLand, America’s largest food festival producer, just got even bigger. The company has officially acquired 626 Night Market—the original and largest night market in the United States—uniting two cultural powerhouses that have shaped how the real foodies of America experience food, communit...
Forbes •

Farm to Table & Back: Saison’s Closed-Loop With Mill and Tucker Taylor

Every time I dine at Saison, I’m reminded why it’s one of San Francisco’s most remarkable restaurants. From Saison’s signature Welcome Tea — a delicate bundle of eight herbs and flowers that greets every guest—to the meticulous multi-course progression that unfolds with tableside presentations and impeccable attention to detail, dining here isn’t just a meal. It’s an experience that engages every sense.There’s a rare intimacy to the hearth-driven cooking, a reverence for ingredients that feels b...
Forbes •

How RokketMed Is Changing Healthcare in San Francisco Restaurants

In San Francisco, a city celebrated for its world-class restaurants and overall dining culture, the people behind the scenes often struggle to access things like basic healthcare. For a city where $20 cocktails and Michelin-starred tasting menus are the norm, it’s jarring that the very people making those experiences possible often struggle to access something as basic as healthcare.Cooks, servers, dishwashers, and bar staff—the backbone of the dining industry—are frequently left behind by tradi...
Forbes •

Introducing The Cult German Orange Cola That Pairs Just As Well With Cheese Boards As It Does With Jägermeister

For nearly five decades, Germany’s beloved orange cola—known as Spezi—has been a constant presence in restaurants, markets, festivals and households across the country. First developed by Munich’s Paulaner Brewery in 1974 as a non-alcoholic alternative for its Oktoberfest tents and beer halls, the soda quickly gained widespread popularity with its distinct blend of cola spices and citrus. But while generations of Germans grew up with it, Spezi remained virtually unknown in the United States—unti...
Forbes •

From Carbon Gases To Croissants: How Savor’s Animal-Free Butter Is Disrupting The Food Industry

As someone who truly loves butter, I found it almost impossible to wrap my head around what food tech company Savor was doing. Butter made without cows? It sounded unthinkable—at best, some kind of imitation "butter" I'd normally hard pass on.But after experiencing an entire meal built around it—inside one of the Mission District’s most iconic victorians, surrounded by esteemed guests in the food innovation space, and San Francisco’s top chefs, and bakers—I was sold.The lavish San Francisco laun...
Forbes •

AAPI Founders On The Best Advice They Got From Their Families

In the world of entrepreneurship, it’s crucial to have a strong support system. For Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) entrepreneurs who often face additional systemic challenges in the United States, family is a key pillar of this network. From generational wisdom to specific cultural values, family guidance can act as a compass to guide entrepreneurs through personal and professional challenges. As Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month comes to a close, we spoke wit...
Forbes •

Autism Awareness Month With Sonoma Hospitality And Sweetwater Spectrum

Unless you are close to someone with autism, or have it yourself, chances are you're not aware that it's a lifelong condition, one with varying degrees of severity. This month is Autism Awareness Month, which helps to increase both the understanding of the condition, and also highlights the need for continued research for treatment and therapies that will improve the lives of those with autism.According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 36 eight-year-old children in the U...
Forbes •

Dig Into San Francisco’s Food Scene With Newest Excursion From Dylan’s Tours

In a city that draws over 20 million visitors a year, setting yourself apart as a tour company in San Francisco, is tough. That said, with 5 star average reviews across Trip Advisor, Google, Yelp and more, it's safe to say that Dylan's Tours is doing something right. In 2003, Dylan — the man behind Dylan's Tours — was bartending at night to make ends meet. After failing to score a job as a bagger at Trader Joes, he decided to take a leap of faith. With just 25 cents in his pocket, he drove his 1...
Forbes •

Rebel With A Cause: Pioneering Diversity And Relationship Building With Demeine Estates’ President, Philana Bouvier

Those that know Demeine Estates powerhouse President Philana Bouvier, wouldn't be surprised that she has been honored with a coveted spot on Wine Enthusiast's 2023 Future 40 Tastemakers list. Among only a few Asian American female executives running a fine wine import company, Bouvier has pioneered a "Diversity is our DNA" approach to cultivate a team that embraces inclusivity, something that the wine industry has historically lacked.This prestigious award from Wine Enthusiast celebrates individ...
Forbes •

A Fusion Of Flavor And Heritage: An Inspiring Journey With Acclaimed Celebrity Chef, Entrepreneur And Restauranteur, Kathy Fang

As a celebrity Chef and restauranteur, mother of two, and star of the new Food Network Docuseries “Chef Dynasty: House of Fang,” Kathy Fang is a powerhouse in the culinary world.

Fang is a first generation Asian American who grew up in the kitchen of her family’s restaurant, House of Nanking, an iconic dining institution in San Francisco’s historic Chinatown. It’s at this famous hole-in-the-wall that Fang first discovered her own passion for cooking. From cleaning up and bussing tables to servi
Forbes •

Bringing Palestinian American Representation To Hummus With Rana Kamal Of Baba’s

With the rise of the hummus category, Arab American entrepreneurs have been largely left out of the conversation — until now. Enter: Baba’s, an award-winning Arab American/ Palestinian American owned brand founded by second-generation Palestinian American siblings Rana Kamal and Khalid Ansari.

Baba’s is named after their own father, or “baba,” who immigrated to the Twin Cities from Jerusalem in the ‘70s and opened one of Minnesota’s first-ever Middle Eastern restaurants — the longstanding Medit
Forbes •

Cheetah, A Technology-Driven, Foodservice Distributor App Wants To Be The Amazon Of Restaurant Supplies — Here’s Why It Will Succeed

If you're not in the restaurant industry, chances are you aren't aware of the systematic difficulties facing restauranteurs — particularly smaller, independent businesses — who deserve to buy quality ingredients at fair prices, regardless of their size or negotiating skills, in a transparent manner. Na’ama Moran, CEO & Co-Founder of Cheetah, a sustainability-focused technology-driven restaurant supply app that provides the easiest and most affordable way for restaurants to order and receive dail
Forbes •

Nonprofit Community Cooking School 18 Reasons Celebrates 15 Years In The San Francisco Bay Area

18 Reasons is a nonprofit community cooking school in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District whose goals include helping people learn how to buy, cook and eat quality food, as well as helping low-income families by addressing food inequity in the Bay Area and through educational programming.

“Our mission is to inspire our community with the confidence and creativity to buy, cook, and eat good food every day,” explains Sarah Nelson, Executive Director at 18 Reasons. “This mission drives o
Forbes •

Winery Owner And Cannabis Consultant Stephanie Honig On The Future Of Bud, Hospitality, Dining And More In Napa Valley

Imagine a Napa Valley wine region as known for its fine wine as its quality cannabis. For some, this may seem highly improbable. For others, it’s only a matter of time. Stephanie Honig, Partner at Napa Valley’s Honig Winery, and Co-founder of Yolo Brand Group, a branding and marketing cannabis agency, is in the latter group. Honig also serves as the President of the Napa Valley Cannabis Association and a founding board member of the Cannabis Media Council.

As someone who has been in the wine an
Forbes •

The Story Of Entrepreneur Vince Nguyen’s California-Based And Immigrant-Owned Vietnamese Coffee Company, Nam Coffee

If you’ve ever enjoyed a truly authentic Vietnamese coffee, also called ca phe sua, you know that it’s more than just a caffeine fix, but rather an experience. And if you haven’t, this Vietnamese specialty is a bold dripped coffee made with a creamy condensed milk. It’s a rich, sweet and intense coffee beverage commonly made with Robusta beans and a unique phin filter that’s distinct to Vietnamese coffee culture.
Forbes •

Celebrity Chef Curtis Stone Celebrates 10 Years And Over $225 Million In Sales With HSN

With what started as an introduction to cooking by Celebrity Chef Curtis Stone’s grandmother and earliest mentor, Maude, while making fudge at the age of four, is now a formidable career in the culinary world. From countless television experiences raging from his initial traveling cooking show, Surfing the Menu on ABC with Chef Ben O’Donoghue, to hosting international TLC hit, Take Home Chef, and PBS series, Field Trip; to a number of appearances on cooking competitions, including Top Chef Master.
Forbes •

This Savvy Serial Investor Has Dabbled In Everything From Food To Cannabis, Here’s What He’s Learned

“Taking risks was never a problem. Learning management took discipline,” explains serial investor, fund manager and well-known risk-taker, Andy DeFrancesco. Toronto native Andy DeFrancesco has been a successful investor for over 26 years. Specializing in private equity, he’s made a name for himself by taking risks that few would even consider and making controversial calls when it comes to his investment strategy.
Forbes •

Diving In To The World Of CBD With Calm By Wellness

When it comes to wellness, there are few products in higher demand than those infused with CBD. From gummies and tinctures to infused beverages and creams, it’s one of the biggest wellness trends right now. Thanks to its huge success in helping many with their ailments—whether mental issues like anxiety, insomnia or stress to physical ones like muscle pain—CBD products seem to offer just the right remedy for whatever is bothering you.
Forbes •

Oakland Pitmaster Matt Horn Named A Food & Wine Best New Chef 2021

The success of Horn Barbecue’s Matt Horn is largely attributed to his desire to bring happiness to others through his food. Since day one, Horn’s uncompromising passion for doing what fulfills him — bringing smiles to people’s faces and filling their stomachs with soul-satisfying barbecue — has steered him in the right direction. That said, Horn has had an unorthodox journey in the barbecue world, having only begun cooking in his twenties.
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