News

December 22, 2018

A long-awaited story is told on today's episode, number 51, with chef Fernay McPherson of Minnie Bells Soul Movement. Listen to the episode on our website, iTunes, or the Soundcloud app. Get a taste by going behind the scenes:

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

After a hiatus, during which our host welcomed a new member to the family, we return with a dual-episode release and celebratory milestone — 50 episodes of Menu Stories! Episodes 49 features a live recording of an expert panel Menu Stories co-hosted with Yelp in the summer of 2017, while episode 50 dives into the story behind the legendary Acquerello and its inimitable executive chef/owner, Suzette Gresham. Listen to episode 49 and episode 50 on our website, iTunes, or the Soundcloud app. You can also watch these videos to go behind the scenes of both episodes:

Monday, November 27, 2017

The 48th episode of Menu Stories features Twenty Five Lusk Executive Chef/Partner Matthew Dolan. We learn about the story behind this large-scale restaurant-lounge, which once hosted President Barack Obama, and the importance of sustainable seafood, which Dolan also covers in his new cookbook, Simply Fish.

Listen to the episode and get a peek behind the scenes:

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Episode 47 features ‘āina chef/owner Jordan Keao and chef de cuisine Chris Yang, the duo behind this refined Hawaiian enclave in San Francisco’s Dogwatch neighborhood. Listen to the episode and get a behind the scenes peek of this episode:

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Episode 46 features Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen co-founder Evan Bloom and chef Eduardo Hernández. Listen to the episode and get a behind the scenes peek of this episode:

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

In episode 45, we meet chef Sung Anh of Mosu, an Asian inspired fine dining restaurant in San Francisco's Fillmore District. Listen to the episode and get a behind the scenes peek of this episode:

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Episode 44 introduces us to chef Jöne Pan of Jöne's Gelato, the gluten free, cane sugar free, dairy free, and top-eight-allergen free gelato beloved by a growing mass of health-conscious and nutrient-conscious consumers who don't want to sacrifice flavor when they want to enjoy their dessert. Get a behind the scenes peek of this episode:

Saturday, January 28, 2017

The 43rd episode of Menu Stories kicks off 2017 with the fun-loving duo behind Popson's Burgers and its precursor, Causwells. Listen to the episode with founders Alvin Garcia and chef Adam Rosenblum and get a behind the scenes peek of this episode:

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Episode 42 of Menu Stories, our last of 2016, introduces us to the dreamy world of artisanal chocolates. Michael and Jacky Recchiuti, the husband-and-wife team behind Recchiuti Confections, take us behind the scenes of their growing business in San Francisco's Dogpatch neighborhood. Listen to the episode and get a peek behind the episode:

Thursday, December 8, 2016

In the 41st episode of Menu Stories, we meet legendary restaurateur Larry Mindel and Executive Chef Benjamin Balesteri of Poggio, Sausalito's go-to Italian restaurant. Listen to the episode and get a peek behind the scenes:

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Today marks the 40th episode of Menu Stories. Just in time for Thanksgiving, we hear the story behind a 140-year-old family-run apple orchard. Gowan Orchards produces a range of apple varieties, including rare California-native apples, and have earned a number of awards for their fruit and for their cider. Get a peek behind the scenes:

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Episode 39 was released today, featuring executive chef Bruce Hill of Zero Zero in San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood. Chef Bruce has a storied career in the Bay Area and is behind many of the city's most notable eateries. Listen to the episode and get a peek behind the scenes:

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Episode 38 was released on October 27th, featuring the renowned Dr. Andrew Weil, co-owner of the health-and-flavor-conscious True Food Kitchen. Menu Stories came to visit Dr. Weil at the newly opened Walnut Creek location and got a rare interview 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. Listen to the episode and get a peek behind the scenes:

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Episode 37 launched today, featuring the husband-and-wife team behind Cassava, a small Asian-inspired restaurant in San Francisco's Richmond District. Visit Cassava next time you're in the neighborhood. Get a peek behind the scenes of our episode by watching this video:

Friday, September 30, 2016

Episode 36 aired today, introducing the first commercial craft brewery on the Menu Stories series: the East Bay's Drake's Brewing Company, one of the earliest craft brewers in California. Learn more about Drake's on their website: drinkdrakes.com.

Friday, September 16, 2016

The Menu Stories team visited Eat Drink SF in August and met with some of the guests that have appeared on Menu Stories so far. The event, put on by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, happens in August every year. Learn more on their website: eatdrink-sf.com.

Friday, September 2, 2016

Today, we meet chef Wilson Chan of Tsubasa Sushi. Listen to the episode and discover how this young chef applies his background in arts and animation to the craft of sushi at this new Hayes Valley eatery.

Friday, August 12, 2016

Part II of our special two-part series featuring AQ and Mercer Restaurant Group is here with episode 33. We travel nearly 100 miles north of San Francisco to visit Cloverdale, California, where Mercer is developing the ecosystem they told us about in last week's episode 32, which consists of Trading Post Bakery, Longview Ranch<, and farm plots in the Cloverdale Community Garden. Get a glimpse behind the scenes of this episode:

Friday, August 5, 2016

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. Watch the behind-the-scenes peek and listen to the full podcast episode.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Episode 31 is now live, with Emmy Kaplan, the founder of Mission/Bernal's favorite spaghetti spot: Emmy's Spaghetti Shack. Watch this behind-the-scenes preview and listen to the full podcast episode.

Friday, July 8, 2016

Today's episode, episode 30, features Jay Bordeleau, Tim Hagney, and Chef Isaac Miller of Maven. The three share 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. Get a peek behind the scenes in this preview video:

Friday, June 24, 2016

Episode 29 features the story behind the southwest-inspired West of Pecos on San Francisco's bustling Valencia Street. Meet Chef August Schuchman and owner Tyler MacNiven and get a peek behind the scenes:

Friday, June 10, 2016

In episode 28, we meet modern renaissance man Angelo Garro and Veronica Ronchi of Omnivore Salt, a small-batch organic salt and spice company. Garro reveals how growing up in Sicily, being a blacksmith, and cooking for everyone from family to world renowned chefs to Hollywood legends influenced the making of Omnivore. Get a peek behind the scenes:

Friday, May 27, 2016

In episode 27, chef Kyle Itani of Itani Ramen shares how his Japanese-American heritage influenced the concept behind this newest venture and his original Oakland restaurant, Hopscotch. Get a peek behind the scenes:

Friday, May 13, 2016

We are back from our sweepstakes celebration and mid-season break with an all new episode! In Episode 26, we meet the head chef and the founding trio behind Old Bus Tavern, a brewpub on the busy Bernal Heights side of Mission Street, which serves elevated cuisine along with small batch beer. The inspiration for the restaurant started when two college buddies began brewing beer together and then moved out west (one on an old Volkswagen bus, the restaurant's namesake) and the rest is casual fine dining history. Get a sneak peek:

Friday, April 8, 2016

To celebrate 25 episodes of Menu Stories, we're introducing a special two-part series, featuring sister restaurants 1300 Fillmore (episode 24) and Black Bark BBQ (episode 25). In honor of reaching our twenty-fifth episode, Menu Stories is hosting a #25MenuStories sweepstakes for all new subscribers to menustories.com. New subscribers must confirm their subscriptions by midnight on April 25th.

You can learn more about the restaurants featured in episodes 24 and 25 on their websites: 1300fillmore.com and blackbarkbbq.com — and watch these special behind-the-scenes videos of each episode:

Friday, March 18, 2016

Today, we launch Episode 23, where we meet with Executive Chef Justin Simoneaux of Boxing Room. Boxing Room, a part of San Francisco's formidable Absinthe Group, sits around the corner from the flagship restaurant, Absinthe, in the heart of Hayes Valley. Watch this behind-the-scenes peek for a taste of New Orleans in San Francisco:

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Episode 22 features Dario Barbone and Renato Sardo of Baia Pasta, our first story featuring food makers based outside of San Francisco. Baia Pasta, based in Oakland, is aptly named after the Bay by which the shop resides. Watch the behind-the-scenes video for a sneak peek and discover how two Italians are making the most American pasta you can buy:

Saturday, February 13, 2016

In Episode 21, we meet Umberto Gibin and chef Staffan Terje, the owners of the formidable fine dining sister restaurants, Perbacco and Barbacco, who recently opened their first non-Italian restaurant: Volta, a grand Swedish and French style brasserie. Watch the behind-the-scenes video for a sneak peek:

Friday, February 5, 2016

We are back with all new episodes in 2016, starting with a milestone episode: Episode 20, featuring Dosa, San Francisco's modern South Indian restaurant. Watch the behind-the-scenes video for a sneak peek:

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

The last episode of the year is here! Meet chef Shawn Naputi of Prubechu in Episode 19 of Menu Stories. Naputi and his co-owner, Shawn Camacho, opened Prubechu in spring of 2014 to introduce San Francisco to the flavors of Guam and create a gathering place for members of the close-knit island community living in the city. Get a glimpse behind the scenes:

Friday, December 11, 2015

Today we launched Episode 18 with chef Trish Tracey of Myriad Gastro Pub, which opened in summer 2015 and serves globally inspired, approachable fare. Watch the behind-the-scenes preview of the episode:

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Episode 17 launches today, featuring Hillside Supper Club in San Francisco's Bernal Heights neighborhood. Meet chefs Jonathan Sutton and Tony Ferrari as they discuss quality ingredients, the importance of respecting the techniques and lessons of the chefs that came before them, and the staffing crisis facing many San Francisco restaurants and small business owners.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday podcast listening weekend, Episode 16 comes today, featuring what might be San Francisco's most quintessential modern restaurant (though it's been thriving for 36 years so far): Zuni Café. Head chef Rebecca Boice and owner and executive chef Gilbert Pilgram met with Menu Stories to share their own personal stories, along with their fond memories working for and with Zuni's former and markedly influential chef, Judy Rodgers. Listen to the episode or get a glimpse of the interview with this preview:

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Today Menu Stories launches its first double episode! We meet Tadich Grill General Manager David Hanna in Episode 14 and Chef Melissa Perfit of Bar Crudo in Episode 15. We recorded our interview with Hanna in late Juy and we met with Perfit in late September. Both restaurants are celebrating milestones: Tadich Grill is expanding for the first time in over 160 years with a new location in Washington, DC, while Bar Crudo is celebrating its tenth anniversary.

We're also excited to share Menu Stories has added two new contributors: Siska Silitonga, editor, and Patrick Wong, videographer. Stay tuned for their bios and some more information about both Siska and Patrick! In the meantime, listen to the Bar Crudo episode to hear Siska's editing work and take a peek at the video from Patrick below:

Thursday, October 22, 2015

In episode 13 of Menu Stories, we meet Steve Anderson, owner and manager of The Pig and Whistle, one of San Francisco's best kept secret English pubs. Listen to the episode to learn how Anderson went from working the English punk rock scene to running an authentic English pub, half a world away from home.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

The twelfth episode of Menu Stories features Feldo Nartapura and Ruvi Dayao, the husband-and-wife duo behind Sataysfied, a beloved food cart and catering company. Sataysfied has been invited to cook for Outisde Lands attendees for five straight years in a row and feeds some of the world's most renowned technology companies. Listen to the episode and discover how Feldo and Ruvi started this now thriving business out of necessity.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Today we get to know Chef Sara Hauman of Huxley Restaurant, opened by Kristopher Esqueda, formerly of Saison and Sons & Daughters. Initially, Huxley began with Chef Brett Cooper at the helm and Hauman as his sous-chef, but with a delayed opening, Cooper departed to work on a different project. Hauman stood up to the challenge and has been thriving as chef. Listen to the episode and hear her story.

Friday, July 31, 2015

Episode 10 of Menu Stories features a fitting guest: Executive Chef Anthony Strong of the heavyweight Italian restaurants of Delfina Restaurant Group, opened by famed San Francisco restaurateurs, Chef Craig Stoll and Annie Stoll. The group includes Pizzeria Delfina, the original Delfina, and the newest addition, Locanda Osteria & Bar. Listen to the episode and hear Chef Anthony Strong share his love for tomatoes, Italian food, and the ingredients available to him in Northern California.

Saturday, July 25, 2015

The ninth episode of Menu Stories features Lisa Fetterman, co-founder and CEO of Nomiku, a San Francisco based startup that creates the Nomiku sous vide device. Started by Lisa Fetterman and her husband and co-founder, Abe Fetterman, Nomiku is making waves in the sous vide world — the device is used in the world's best restaurants (like Noma in Copenhagen, Saison in San Francisco, and Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa Valley), “foodie” home cooks, and even cannabis chefs. Listen to the episode and hear Lisa Fetterman, a ball of energy, talk food, sex, and sous vide on Menu Stories.

Friday, July 17, 2015

Today, we meet Chef Proprieter Brenda Buenviaje of Brenda's French Soul Food in San Francisco's Tenderloin. Buenviaje has since opened two new restaurants: a cafe a few doors down from Brenda's, called Libby Jane, and another southern style restaurant, Brenda's Meat and Three. Episode eight of Menu Stories gets interesting and a little raw — listener discretion is advised. Listen to the episode and discover what makes Buenviaje the perfect person to bring New Orleans style soul food to San Francisco.

Friday, July 11, 2015

Episode 7 launched today, featuring the story of Executive Director Caleb Zigas and his incubator kitchen, La Cocina. Listen to the episode and learn how you can support this organization, which enables low income women to become food entrepreneurs — and mark your calendar for August's SF Street Food Fest, where you can find many of La Cocina's program graduates.

Friday, July 3, 2015

Episode 6 aired just before the holiday weekend, with the talented Executive Chef Adam Keough of the San Francisco fine dining staple, Absinthe, and its casual sister cafe and bakery, Arlequin. Listen to the episode and learn how Keough, a Boston native, became a celebrated chef who stands out in the competitive Bay Area food scene. You'll also hear the story behind Hayes Valley, a neighborhood forged by community builders like Bill Russell-Shapiro, proprietor of the Absinthe Group, who took a bet on this struggling community in the late 1990s — a bet Shapiro is repeating with the restaurant group's upcoming venture at 888 Brannan in SoMa.

Friday, June 19, 2015

The fifth episode of Menu Stories launches today, with Chef Tim Archuleta and Erin Archuleta, the husband and wife team behind ICHI Dozo Restaurant Group. This Bernal Heights based team brought us the popular ICHI Sushi + Ni Bar and opened their newest restaurant, ICHI Kakiya, in April 2015, only a month before this interview was recorded. Listen to the episode and discover the dedicated art of Japanese cuisine.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Today we launched episode 4, where we get to meet Miguel Jara, owner of La Taqueria, a beloved casual Mexican spot in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco. Listen to the episode and stop by La Taqueria to find out for yourself — is this, in fact, America's best burrito? We think you'll be convinced.

Friday, June 5, 2015

The third episode of Menu Stories was released today, featuring Michael Feno of Lucca Ravioli Company, an authentic Italian delicatessen and ravioli producer in San Francisco's Mission District that's been operating since 1925. Listen to the episode and start planning your next home cooked Italian meal.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Episode 2 launched today, which also happens to showcase the first ever restaurant to appear on Menu Stories. Menu Stories editor Rebecca Goberstein sits down with chef Gonzalo Guzman of Nopalito, one of San Francisco's most celebrated Mexican dining experiences. Listen to the episode.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Today we launched our first episode of Menu Stories! We begin with the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, the San Francisco organization that runs major events like SF Restaurant Week and Eat Drink SF. Listen to the first episode.