Menu Stories Podcast
by Menu Stories
Menu Stories is a multimedia collection of stories about the people and restaurants behind the food we love. Starting with the San Francisco restaurant community, Rebecca Goberstein gets the rare opportunity to interview the chefs, restaurateurs, deli shop owners, and food makers to learn more about who they are, their inspirations, and their motivations. Visit Menu Stories (http://menustories.com) to uncover the stories behind these culinary artists and small business owners who feed and nurture our communities.
Episodes
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Evan Bloom and chef Eduardo Hernández, Wise Sons
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...
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Chef/Owner Fernay McPherson, Minnie Bell's Soul Food
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.
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Executive Chef/Owner Suzette Gresham, Acquerello
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...
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Chefs Panel at Yelp HQ
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…
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Executive Chef/Partner Matthew Dolan, Twenty Five Lusk
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…
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Chef/Owner Jordan Keao and Chef de Cuisine Chris Yang, ‘āina
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.
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Chef Sung Anh, Mosu
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...
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Chef Jöne Pan, Jöne's Gelato
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...
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Alvin Garcia and Chef Adam Rosenblum, Popson's Burgers
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...
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Michael and Jacky Recchiuti, Recchiuti Confections
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...
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Larry Mindel and Executive Chef Benjamin Balesteri, Poggio Trattoria
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.
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The Gowan Family, Gowan Orchards
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...
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Executive Chef Bruce Hill, Zero Zero
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...
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Dr. Andrew Weil, True Food Kitchen
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…
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Chef Chris Toliao & Yuka Ioroi, Cassava
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.
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Head Brewer Chris Dunstan, Drake's Brewing Company
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.
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Eat Drink SF 2016
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.
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Chef Wilson Chan, Tsubasa
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.
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Matt Semmelhack & the Mercer Restaurant Group team, AQ Part II
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.
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Executive Chef Mark Liberman and Matt Semmelhack, AQ & Mercer Restaurant Group
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.
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Emmy Kaplan, Emmy's Spaghetti Shack
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…
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Jay Bordeleau, Tim Hagney, & Chef Isaac Miller, Maven
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...
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Tyler MacNiven & Chef August Schuchman, West of Pecos
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.
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Angelo Garro & Veronica Ronchi, Omnivore Salt
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…
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Chef/Owner Kyle Itani, Itani Ramen
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.
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John Zirinsky, Ben Buchanan, Jimmy Simpson, and Chef Max Snyder of Old Bus Tavern
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...
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Executive Chef David Lawrence, Black Bark BBQ
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.
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Chef Jake Whitlock, 1300 on Fillmore
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...
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Executive Chef Justin Simoneaux, Boxing Room
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...
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Dario Barbone & Renato Sardo, Baia Pasta
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...
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Chef Staffan Terje & Umberto Gibin, Perbacco/barbacco & Volta
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...
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Anjan and Emily Mitra, Dosa
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.
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Chef Shawn Naputi, Prubechu
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...
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Chef Trish Tracey, Myriad Gastro Pub
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.
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Chefs Jonathan Sutton & Tony Ferrari, Hillside Supper Club
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...
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Executive Chef Gilbert Pilgram & Head Chef Rebecca Boice, Zuni Café
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…
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David Hanna, Tadich Grill
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…
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Chef Melissa Perfit, Bar Crudo
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…
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Steve Anderson, The Pig and Whistle
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…
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Feldo Nartapura & Ruvi Dayao, Sataysfied
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.
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Chef Sara Hauman, Huxley
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...
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Executive Chef Anthony Strong, Delfina, Pizzeria Delfina, & Locanda
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…
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Lisa Fetterman, Nomiku
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...
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Chef Brenda Buenviaje, Brenda's French Soul Food
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...
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Caleb Zigas, Executive Director, La Cocina
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...
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Executive Chef Adam Keough, Absinthe Brasserie
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.
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Chef Tim Archuleta & Erin Archuleta, ICHI Kakiya
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...
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Miguel Jara, La Taqueria
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...
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Michael Feno, Lucca Ravioli Company
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...
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Chef Gonzalo Guzman, Nopalito
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...
About this show
Menu Stories is a multimedia collection of stories about the people and restaurants behind the food we love. Starting with the San Francisco restaurant community, Rebecca Goberstein gets the rare opportunity to interview the chefs, restaurateurs, deli shop owners, and food makers to learn more about who they are, their inspirations, and their motivations. Visit Menu Stories (http://menustories.com) to uncover the stories behind these culinary artists and small business owners who feed and nurture our communities.
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Menu Stories