Forever Neighbor Podcast

Send us Fan MailHello neighbors and happy holiday week!So excited to finally share my conversation with Rachael Strickler of the DELICIOUS Ovinloven - a Bay Area pop-up specializing in some of our favorite sweet + savory pies in California!Rachael was kind enough to open up about the good, the great, and the very real challenges associated with launching a pop-up concept in the Bay. I so appreciate her vulnerability and community-first values, and am grateful she's trusted Dolores Deluxe as a regular host location for her pop-up over the last two years!As luck would have it, Rachael will be dropping off Thanksgiving pies this Thursday at DD (preorders are closed, but follow @ovinloven on Instagram for updates)!We are so looking forward to getting back to a regular release schedule with the pod, too! DD is going through so many exciting changes and the growth has been a lot to manage (great problems + learning opportunities!) but know that this platform and community are near and dear to our hearts. So in honor of the holiday, WE THANK YOU for your love, support and patience. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHello neighbors!So excited to share my conversation with entrepreneur, neighbor, and talented food scientist Caroline Lafleur! Like many of my new friends and podcast guests, Caroline and I met in the middle of a transaction at DD, and I was immediately drawn to her positive energy and can-do spirit (indeed, she agreed to host a coffee pop up on the sidewalk after talking to me for only 15 minutes)!We get into her history as a food scientist in Canada and California, and how her intense on quality and consistency working for other brands offered the ultimate training ground that eventually led her to create her own product!Enter Bouquet infusions - the newest addition to our shelves at DD and one of the most balanced sugar syrups I've ever tasted! Come try some for yourself, and get to know Caroline before she and her company go stratospheric!Love you all and see you next week,RamziProduced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHi neighbors! So excited to share my chat with neighbor, designer, and fellow podcaster Tyson Fok!Tyson recently released the first few episodes of Mixtape Memories, a collection of conversations with creatives about the songs that have shaped their lives. Tyson even designed a cool card game featuring all the prompts on the show which we just merchandised at Dolores Deluxe!Tyson is such a kind and thoughtful soul - the kind of person that take genuine interest in others and cares about his community. I'm so grateful to have him in our neighborhood!Love you all!RamziProduced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailWelcome back to the Forever Neighbor Podcast - it sure feels like it's been FOREVER!I'm very excited to share my chat with Wyatt Fields, owner and pitmaster at Breakwater Barbecue in El Granada, California. Wyatt and I met on the second floor of the newly relocated Breakwater on Highway 1 - just a 3 minute walk from the beach and 10 minute drive from Half Moon Bay.I'm super inspired by Wyatt's journey, and the incredible momentum his venture's got going. We talk catering beginnings, Bay Area commissary kitchens (fun fact: he actually worked in the space that we are currently renting), starting a project during COVID, and the challenges of opening a restaurant in a community with a very small labor pool!Make sure to plan a road trip down the coast while the weather is nice, load up on some delicious barbecue, and don't sleep on those fish tacos!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailFam! We're alive! Sorry for the delay - life as a small business owner is NO JOKE!See ya next Tuesday + LOVE YOUUUU!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHiya neighbors! So excited to share our conversation with Nadia Wit + Mark Sethi, owners of the most charming restaurant on Divisadero - That’s My Jam (324 Divisadero St between Page and Oak)!Nadia + Mark have poured themselves into every inch of their space, from Mark’s incredible, labor-intensive menu, to the hand built dining room + parklet, to Nadia’s interior design flourishes, and so much more! It’s the kind of place that makes me love living in San Francisco - a space that is personal, inviting, and brimming with passion. You’re not gonna want to miss this story.Check them out every Friday - Sunday from 9AM to 3PM, and tell them the Forever Neighbor family sent you! Can’t wait to collaborate with them later this year!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailGood morning neighbors, and welcome to Season 3 of the Forever Neighbor Podcast!We are delighted to share our conversation with Reem Assil, founder of nationally-acclaimed Reem’s California (2901 Mission St @ 25th St), an Arab bakery and restaurant that builds community across cultures and experiences through the warmth of Arab bread and hospitality. Her team recently announced their next venture: a flagship bakery and cafe in Jack London Square in Oakland, CA. In keeping with her community oriented values, Reem has pioneered a decolonized funding model in partnership with WeFunder, inviting members of her community to invest as little as $100 to bring her new concept to life, and help reshape this historic Oakland neighborhood.Many people know Reem from her incredible restaurants, multiple James Beard award nominations, or her IACP award-winning cookbook Arabiyya: Recipes from the Life of an Arab in Diaspora (2022). Amidst all these achievements, what sticks out most to us is Reem’s humanity, warmth, humility, leadership, and vulnerability. The Bay Area is so lucky to have her, and we are so grateful she agreed to sit down with us.Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHey neighbors! You asked for it, so here it is! Our executive producer Daniel Blacktree sat down with Ramzi to talk about the milestones that got us here, and where we’re headed as a growing podcast community!Season 3 premieres NEXT WEEK and we have some INCREDIBLE guests lined up! Stay tuned and happy July!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailWe are so grateful for all the incredible entrepreneurs, creatives, and community members that brought our Season 2 Wrap Party to life! Special shoutout to the Square team for the financial + production support. To Dario + Mo for being the most amazing hosts, Emma + Justin for connecting us with the band and incredible flyer artist (not to mention their delicious oysters), to Eileen + Johnathan for the beautiful espresso cart, and to Sam + the Bi-Rite family for those AMAZING desserts.We love our community and CAN'T WAIT to host more events this year!Tune in next week for a State of the Store Update, followed by the premiere of Season 3 in the middle of July!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailI am struggling to put into words the excitement and awe I feel in reliving my conversation with Sam Mogannam, second-generation owner of Bi-Rite Market and founder of the Bi-Rite Family of Businesses.Sam embodies every value I want to live by (both personally and professionally), and has built a company that spreads love, integrity, and passion in every interaction. I'm only two and half years into my journey as an entrepreneur, and am very much in the thick of it, so it's hard to imagine a world in which I have the resources to show up for my community without fear or compromise. My conversation with Sam was a reminder that everything takes time - you just have to keep showing up!Many thanks to Sam, Sarah and the rest of the team at Bi-Rite for opening their stores to us and sharing so many incredible insights. We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank the team at Square for all the support this season. To Dario, Eileen, Emma + Justin for trusting us to share their stories. To Daniel Blacktree, editor extraordinaire and dear friend. To Kalea Vandeventer, our amazing photographer. And to each and every one of you for being a part of this project. We couldn't have done all this without your support.We'll be sharing a little update on the shop next week, and then we'll be back with Season 3 on July 8th, with new interviews planned out every week through the end of the year!Thanks again, and see you around the neighborhood.Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHappy Tuesday neighbors!You can't tell the story of community building in the Bay Area without highlighting the incredible pop-ups that bring so much creativity and accessibility to our food scene.Enter LO-FI OYSTER CO, founded by Dolores Deluxe alumnus Emma Thomas-Sand + her partner Justin Esposito. LO-FI OYSTER CO. is an entertainment based event at the intersection of Ambient & Straight Ahead Jazz, Natural Wine, and Oysters focusing on bridging the gap between experimental music, visual art, wine making, & culinary communities as well as providing a gateway for these networks to reach and embrace new audiences, friends, and patrons.Founded in 2023, LO-FI OYSTER CO. was a passion project centered around connecting with jazz, food, & wine communities in the Bay Area. What started as an Oyster Shuck at local bottle shops and grocery stores has quickly developed into a natural wine and improvised music destination around the Bay Area (and even New York City)! I am so proud of Emma + Justin, and am grateful to be able to share their incredible vision. They'll be shucking oysters at our wrap party on June 29th at Studio Aurora, so come say hi!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHappy Tuesday everyone, and welcome back to the Forever Neighbor Podcast - this season brought to you by Square! We are honored to welcome founder and CEO of Ritusl Coffee, Eileen Rinaldi, to the pod this week! Eileen and her team are celebrating 20 years of Ritual (!!!), a brand that pioneered third wave coffee in San Francisco, and started right here in the Mission at 1026 Valencia!I was amazed to hear about their incredible growth in the early years, their journey as a roasting business, and their recent expansion into San Francisco International Airport (the first and only quality latte I’ve had at any airport, by the way).Eileen’s passion for coffee and community is infectious, and reminded me to lean into what actually excites me about the work I’m doing at DD. I’m humbled to call her a mentor, and grateful to call her a neighbor.Thanks for listening! If you want to support the podcast, please subscribe/download your episodes, leave us a review, or share this post on social media. Love you and see you next week!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHello neighbors, and welcome back to the Forever Neighbor Podcast - this season brought to you by Square!Our first episode of the season features renowned chef + entrepreneur Dario Barbone - founder of Alimentari Aurora and the recently opened Studio Aurora (located at 302 Valencia St. + 14th in the Mission District of San Francisco). Studio Aurora has very quickly become my favorite new business in SF, thanks to Dario's impeccable taste in food, wine, art, and people. His partnership with Fault Radio, which broadcasts live from Studio's mezzanine, brings so much life to the vaulted space, making it the perfect environment to let your guard down and meet your neighbors.We are so lucky to have Dario in our backyard, and thank him and his team for bringing endless joy + creativity to the Mission. Make sure to pay him a visit, and share this podcast with fellow neighbors who want to learn more about the people behind this city's incredible businesses! Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailTime to let the cat out of the bag!We are thrilled to be working with Square to bring you Season 2 of the Forever Neighbor Podcast - with our first episode premiering TOMORROW, June 3rd at 7AM PST!We are so grateful for the opportunity to tell these stories, and are humbled to share the mic with a few of the small business owners that make San Francisco such a vibrant, exciting place to live.Learn more about this collaboration, and about Dolores Deluxe, at The Bottom Line (a publication by Square). More to come tomorrow, and every Tuesday in June!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHappy Monday neighbors!We are THRILLED to bring you our inspiring conversation with Amanda Flores, Senior Director of Operations at the Flour + Water Hospitality Group, and founder of the Bay Area Restaurant Collective.I first met Amanda when I worked at Flour + Water in the lead up to opening DD, and was immediately drawn to her warmth, passion, and compassionate leadership style.We dove into her strategies for building community, the importance of leading with values, and how her work with the Collective promotes a more collaborative future for the hospitality industry (needless to say, we covered A LOT of ground).We'll be taking a little break from the podcast next week, and will be ROARING back for Season 2 of the Forever Neighbor podcast in June (stay tuned for exciting updates). We couldn't dream of a better guest to close out our first season, and wish Amanda a happy (belated) birthday!Links to the episode in our bio. Love you all!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHey neighbors!It's a pleasure to bring you my chat with Prince Boucher, Mission resident and founder of Mission Athletic Club - a tennis community that hosts FREE OF CHARGE social tennis games throughout San Francisco. Prince is such a passionate guy who is genuinely interested in bringing people together, and his work is so inspiring to me and countless others! I wasn't even a tennis fan before this conversation, but Prince's enthusiasm is so infectious, I've already signed up for a volley!There's a little catch: you may have heard about a proposal floating around for the city to start charging an hourly fee for use of our public tennis and pickleball courts - a move that would dramatically cut court usage and make the work of the Mission Athletic Club financially unsustainable.If you're interested signing a petition against this proposal, click here, and for more info, see the Mission Local piece here. Thanks again to Prince and the community of volunteers at Mission Athletic Club for making movement and wellness more accessible and fun!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHey gang!We have been pushing so hard over the last few months, both at the store and with this podcast, and there are some EXCITING changes on the way!Make sure to stick around until the end of this episode for a cool podcast related announcement too! :)Love you so much,Ramzi + the DD TeamProduced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHappy Monday neighbors,I'm so stoked to finally have our friend and neighbor Nabeel Silmi on the podcast this week! Nabeel is the owner and founder of Grand Coffee, a neighborhood institution with roots in the Mission dating back to 2010. Since opening their first location, Nabeel and partners have expanded into a second, larger cafe space on Mission Street, plus a roastery in the East Bay. I've witnessed many local brands scale and lose that "by the neighborhood, for the neighborhood" feel, but what Nabeel and the team have built feels timeless and accessible to everyone.I'm so inspired by Nabeel's leadership - as a small business owner, political activist and neighbor - and congratulate him and his team on 15 years coming up this July. Thanks again for listening and see you soon!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHey neighbors - hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend!I'm thrilled to bring you my conversation with Mohit Kohli, managing director of Fault Radio and cofounder of the newly opened Studio Aurora on 14th & Valencia.Fault Radio is the ultimate cultural multi-hyphenate: online radio station. music archive, SF non-profit, and in person platform for up-and-coming local artists. Their mission is to provide their community with the tools and support needed to hone their craft, expand their networks, and elevate their presence in the Bay Area and beyond.I met Mo in person for the first time this weekend, but have been a huge fan of what he and Dario have built over at Studio Aurora. Like most creatives in the city, Mo's journey has been circuitous - riddled with bureaucratic challenges  - but his passion and drive have allowed him to bounce back and keep organically growing his platform.Check out Fault Radio's website for upcoming events and details on how to support/donate!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHappy Monday neighbors!I am so excited to share my conversation with Anand Upender, founder + operator of one of my favorite creative projects in the Bay Area, York Street Cafe!We recently hosted York Street at DD, and I was blown away by Anand's creative vitality, attention to detail, and commitment to building community. Every York Street activation is an opportunity to try something new and meet new people - two of my favorite activities in San Francisco. :)This was such a fun recording for so many reasons: Anand talked through the origins of his love for food + beverage, the opening and closing of his Vacant-to-Vibrant brick and mortar location, and shares what he's looking for in a new brick and mortar space.Sidenote: make sure to listen to the 40 minute mark, when Anand and I start sharing some of creative prompts - leading to some new sandwich + drink ideas (my first time capturing the creative process on the podcast)!Many thanks to Anand for his transparency + vulnerability. We'll be hosting another event with York Street in a few weeks so stay tuned!See you soon!RamziProduced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHappy Monday neighbors!So excited to share my conversation with Lisa Rowland: Dolores Heights resident, community member, mother, performer, improviser, teacher, and AMAZING HUMAN BEING!Lisa is involved in so many endeavors: from her work as Artistic Director and mainstage performer at BATS Improv, to her founding of the Improv Playhouse of San Francisco and Awkward Dinner Party, to her decade plus run as a touring improviser and teacher across the globe.I could talk to Lisa all day, and am so inspired by her unabashed love for people + community. Check out her website for more info on her amazing work, or if you're interested in catching one of her shows!Many thanks to Lisa, her partner Dave, and her daughter Ramona for their endless support of the shop and our neighborhood!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHappy Monday neighbors!I am so stoked to be sharing my conversation with the one and only Janelle Nelissen: SF resident, community member, day one Forever Neighbor supporter, and owner/operator of The Sage Creatives: a branding and digital marketing agency whose purpose is to support small businesses in bringing their visions to life.Janelle and I connected via this very Instagram page, and I knew from our first interaction that she would make an amazing interview subject. You can hear the passion and dedication in her voice, and her insights had me reflecting on what I could do to better support small businesses in our little city.Thanks as always for listening, and for believing in this project. ❤️ Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHey neighbors! Hope you've had a fantastic weekend.I wasn't planning on sharing another store update so soon, but a LOT has happened over the last two weeks and I wanted to take some time to capture the moment.There's still a lot to process, and we'll see how long this shift in business levels will last, but we are unbelievably excited for the future.See you all at the shop!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHello neighbors!So excited to bring you my conversation with Brooke Ley, Pittsburgh native, Dolores Heights resident, and self-proclaimed "Professional Fan" (of jazz, sandwiches, community, and more)!Brooke and I first connected over - you guessed it! - sandwiches, but our mutual love for music is what sparked our first collaboration: a live concert featuring her new band (in honor of our 3 year anniversary).Since then, Brooke has been kind enough to invest her time and resources to host a series of live jazz concerts on the DD patio! Follow @cornersessions.sf, or come by on the last Sunday of every month to support live music, local artists, and our tiny business in one fell swoop!Feeling so grateful for the overwhelming support at the shop this weekend, an always (more on that later)! Love you guys!Many thanks again to Daniel Blacktree for help with editing + production on this episodeProduced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHi neighbors!We're very excited to present our conversation with Bay Area native and fixture of the Mission, Katie Porter, owner + founder of Porter Vintage!Katie launched her brand in 2016, starting with a collection of vintage clothes she got from her legendary Aunt Lizzy that grew into a pop-up shop in her driveway just a few blocks away from Dolores Deluxe. From there. and with the help of her community, she's expanded + spread to a weekly pop-up at City Station, a collection on Haight St, and as of this year, her very own showroom!Katie's passion is absolutely infectious, and our conversation left me feeling excited + inspired to lean into the positive momentum we are beginning to feel in the Bay Area small business community.You can find Porter Vintage from Friday - Sunday at the City Station Community Parking lot @ 701 Valencia Street (18th & Valencia), at the 710 Collective 1644 Haight Street), or online at https://portervintage.com/Editing and production for this episode by the venerable Daniel Blacktree of Episode 12!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHey gang!We're taking a little break from our traditional interview format this week to update you all on the state of the store, and our small but growing sandwich business. Truth be told, I'm usually superstitious when it comes to celebrating positive financial news (for fear of jinxing our progress), but my team recently reminded me that celebrating our victories is just as, if not more, important than studying our failures.As we look towards this summer and the rest of the year, we'd love to hear from you about what you're loving about the podcast so far, what you'd like to see more (or less) of, what questions you want us to be asking, and which guests you'd like to hear stories from!We have BIG plans for 2025 (both at Dolores Deluxe and for the Forever Neighbor Podcast), and we can't wait to work with you all to make this platform, and the community it is amplifying, resonate with as many people as possible!Thanks as always for your care and support. It means the world to our little team.Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHey neighbors!Please welcome our friend, neighbor, and fellow entrepreneur, Byron Lee to the pod this week!Throughout his experience as an Industrial Designer, Byron has been fortunate enough to work alongside some of the industry's top designers, contributing to timeless design solutions for leading companies. We caught up with Byron less than a week after the official launch of his titanium bike + lifestyle brand - Slug Bicycles! What a treat to capture this once in a lifetime moment (for anyone who's gotten a new company off the ground, you know how significant + crazy it is that Byron made the time to talk to me at such a uniquely chaotic and stressful juncture).As a fellow third culture kid, I really appreciated Byron's perspective about the evolving value + importance of community. You can learn more about Byron's ventures and unique point of view at the links below:https://slugbicycles.com/https://www.strava.com/clubs/slug-corplinktr.ee/slugbicycleshttps://byronlee.design/Instagram:@slugbicycles@_____long_slow_days@beewronCome by the shop this week for our irresponsibly generous discounts on wine + spirits, and don't forget to pick up your eggs sold AT OUR COST (not kidding, btw). Love you all!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHappy Monday gang!I've come to appreciate so many things about this podcast and the community it is amplifying, but my favorite feature is the ability to go deeper with the wonderful human beings that make up my neighborhood. Enter Daniel Blacktree, a longtime resident of Dolores Heights who's going on 20 years in the Bay Area, and someone I am honored to consider a friend! As Dan pointed out during our recording, he isn't here to promote a specific project or business. Rather, I asked him on to "promote" and put into words the strong, community-oriented values he embodies every day.It is so vital for us to be talking about the behaviors that serve to connect us, especially at a time of great confusion, anger, and fear. Many many thanks to Dan for taking the time to talk us through how he views + shapes the city he loves so much.So many exciting updates ahead - stay tuned! 🤩Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHello hello everyone!This installment of the Forever Neighbor Podcast features an in-depth interview with our friend Jimmy Foti of Turtle Island, one of my favorite food pop ups in the Bay Area!Jimmy slings East Coast style breakfast sandos out of a built-out trailer, with his sandwiches featuring a soft, pillowy Kaiser roll, perfectly cooked runny eggs, American cheese, and other toppings including but not limited to the best lemon aioli in the breakfast game, crispy hashbrowns, insanely lacy bacon, and more!For our listeners in the Greater Bay Area, you can catch Jimmy cooking outside of Dolores Deluxe THIS SATURDAY from 9AM - 1PM, with a special collaborative menu item to be announced later this week (needless to say, we are pulling out all the stops for this one)!I'm so grateful to have met and connected with Jimmy - his thoughtful, intentional nature is really inspiring and will no doubt serve him as he continues to grow this delicious brand. As for y'all - thank you so much the love, listens, and downloads! If you haven't already, share these with your friends and give us a 5 star rating on your preferred podcasting platform. Lots of hugs and see you soon!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHappy Monday, everyone!So excited to welcome our friend and neighbor, Christopher Truitt, to the pod! Like all the guests we've had on our show, Chris wears many hats: father, husband, sommelier, wine rep, consultant, and host of one of my favorite locally produced podcasts, The Reluctant Somm! Chris was kind enough to have me on his podcast a few weeks ago, and I was really inspired by the beautiful environment, crisp production and open format of his show (it was my first time being interviewed for a long-form podcast and he could not have made me feel more comfortable).Subscribe to The Reluctant Somm Podcast wherever you like to listen, and watch out for new episodes dropping every Tuesday morning! Thanks again to Chris for being a consistent supporter of the store, and for lifting up the hard working hospitality professionals in the Bay Area with his awesome platform!Thanks as always for listening, and see you in the shop!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHappy Monday to all of you and thank you for the incredible support since the start of the year!We've got a pretty philosophical one for you today, courtesy of my friend and neighbor, Philip Wood. You might recognize the company Sound Made Public from a previous episode; indeed, I met Philip through his lovely wife Tania (fan favorite guest on Episode 3 of this very podcast)!True to his last name, Philip Wood started his first business as a craftsman, building and selling chests of drawers as a teenager, progressing from a small station in his garage to a massive workshop with dozens of employees! Since then, he's designed works for the likes of Uber, Cappellini, Cassina, Nicole Hollis, Levi’s, and other clients, extending his reach from branding and visual identity to space, furniture, and object design. He is also the founder of CITIZEN:Citizen, whose products are included in the permanent collections of whichever MoMA you prefer – New York or San Francisco.  If you attend a cultural event developed by Philip, he likely didn’t just create the strategy but also branded the initiative, re-architected the space, programmed the content, hosted the talk, and built the bench you sat on.I always walk away from my conversations with Philip carrying a constellation of fresh perspectives. I know you'll enjoy listening to his brilliant mind at work as much as I do!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHappy New Year neighbors!We are thrilled to welcome our dear friend and very first vendor-partner at Dolores Deluxe, Joshua Champarathy, to the podcast!Joshua is the creator and owner/operator of Sinwise Farms, a company producing hand-crafted chai and coffee beverages made with fresh, sustainably-grown ingredients from Joshua's family farm in Southern India. We talk at length about Joshua's beginnings, from liquor store ice-bagger to data scientist to entrepreneur. I've always admired Joshua's genuine curiosity and knack for GREAT questions, and while this was meant to be a traditional interview where the host does the questioning, he turned the tables on me and got me thinking about my journey from a completely different perspective (he truly broke my brain in the best way)! I really look forward to having him back next year!Come by Dolores Deluxe, or your local Bay Area grocery store for a taste of his delicious canned chai + coffee. Until then, thanks for listening and see you soon!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailGood afternoon neighbors! Hope you had a lovely holiday weekend and are gearing up for a festive end to 2024!Today's podcast features one of my favorite creators in the Bay Area: Chef Amelia Eudailey of the popular Swedish hot dog pop-up. Chef Hej Hej! It took recording this podcast for me to realize that Amelia actually debuted her concept at Dolores Deluxe - a genuine shock to me given how professional, beautiful and delicious her food was from day one! She's since been slinging hot dogs around the Bay Area, including a stint at Woods Outbound, and a forthcoming month-long residency at Smorgasburg in the Arts District in Los Angeles.I've always admired Amelia's creativity and can-do spirit, and those traits are definitely on display throughout our discussion. I am super excited to see how her venture continues to evolve in 2025, and can't wait to have her back at DD!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailGood morning neighbors, and happy holidays!We are honored to welcome renowned chefs C-Y Chia (they/them) & Shane Stanbridge (he/him), founders of the beloved Lion Dance Café, to the podcast this week! The shape and scope of Lion Dance Café has evolved many times since its inception in 2013 - from pop ups throughout the Bay Area, to their years operating out of a loft apartment, to a brick-and-mortar opened at the height of the pandemic - and all the way back around. Over their decade-plus in the Bay, they've built a huge following, in part because of their Michelin & James Beard recognition, but largely due to their perseverance, authenticity, and commitment to giving back to the food & beverage community. We recently hosted Lion Dance Café at Dolores Deluxe, and the turnout was a sight to behold! Watching them work through the line, I was taken aback by their professionalism, grace and generosity. I am so grateful for their time and insights, and look forward to having them back on our corner, if not for another episode, then at least for another pop up!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHey there, neighbors! We are so excited to share our interview with Amesia Doles, owner/operator of the STUNNING plant shop Botanic Panic on 18th & Valencia (located in the heart of the Mission District)!Amesia launched her venture at the height of the pandemic, using government loans to purchase and outfit a vintage van for use as a nomadic "brick and mortar." She recently transitioned into the side space within Fellow Barber, operating her nursery seven days a week.We talk about the impact that ONE sale can make on a tiny business, and what our hopes + fears are for the coming years in the Mission. Many thanks to Amesia for sharing her passion with us on the podcast, and for curating such a beautiful collection of plants for all of us to enjoy!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailHey gang! We are honored to welcome Ken Turner, owner of neighborhood staple and revered sandwich shop, Turner's Kitchen! A native Californian, Ken began his culinary career at the beloved Zuni Café, where he had the incredible opportunity to work with the talented Judy Rogers. He quickly blossomed from a young oyster shucker into the Chef de Cuisine, where he worked closely with both Chef Judy and the current owner, Gilbert Pilgram. Ken opened Turner's Kitchen in November of 2015. Over the last 9 years, Ken has grown Turner's into a destination for delicious, creative, and beautiful food.On a personal and professional note, as the owner of a neighboring sandwich business, I can't express how grateful I am to Ken for his time, transparency and insight. He so obviously embodies the value of community over competition, and our conversation gave me a sneak peek into what a potential future for my business could look like.Turner's Kitchen is located at 3505 17th St B (between Guerrero + Dolores). Pay them a visit in person, and check out their website for online ordering, private events, and catering!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailTania Ketenjian is the co-founder and editor in chief of SOUND MADE PUBLIC, a creative agency based in San Francisco that believes what we hear changes the way we see the world. SOUND MADE PUBLIC was founded in 2017 with Philip Wood and has since produced podcasts, sound installations and public art projects with MoMA, LACMA, USPS and many others. Tania’s passion lies in the art of the interview and she has interviewed a wide range of artists and thinkers from filmmaker Lena Dunham to spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama, believing that everyone has a story to share and, as the legendary David Isay has said, listening is an act of love.Tania and I met through Dolores Deluxe, but our connection spans multiple generations and countries. As you'll soon hear, Tania absolutely embodies and radiates love, and every conversation with her leaves me feeling inspired and ready to tackle life's next challenge.Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailCathay Bi is a chef, writer, musician, political activist, mother of 2, and one of the leading minds in the San Francisco small business community. Many of you may have met her during her chapter as the owner of Dumpling Club (a beloved restaurant just a few blocks down from Dolores Deluxe that closed in 2023). We recorded this episode on November 6th - the day after the general election - so the results were definitely front of mind. It made for a deeply genuine and vulnerable discussion - one that highlights just how important it is to pool our resources and help each other face an uncertain future.Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.

Send us Fan MailJoin us on the Dolores Deluxe patio for a conversation with Charles Chen, founder, CEO, and chef of Basuku Cheesecakes. We discuss how he got his start, how his company has grown over the last four years, and how the pandemic has impacted San Francisco's food & beverage community. Follow @basukucheesecakes on Instagram or visit www.basukucheesecakes.com for more information on his delicious products!Produced by Daniel Blacktree and Ramzi Budayr.