La Cocina

San Francisco’s Street Food Boom

Annie — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:47:47 +0000

February 25, 2010 — Sevilla Granger swerved her black Volvo station wagon into a parking lot near the San Francisco Design Center and ran over to Liba, a falafel truck. It was 1:57 p.m. Liba closes at 2. Read more

From Informal to Formal; A La Cocina Documentary

Celeste — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:34:21 +0000

S.F. Tastemakers: Caleb Zigas, Leticia Landa, Patricia Loya and Jason Rose

Celeste — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:29:26 +0000

Jan. 28, 2010 — While others harp on how unsustainable SF is for small businesses, La Cocina serves as a positive model for what’s possible. “We need to make opportunities for low-income entrepreneurs in the food industry,” says Caleb Zigas. “They’re good for our city.” Read more

Masa Madness: Tortillas, Gorditas and Pupusas: SOLD OUT!

Dana — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:50:41 +0000

March 24th, 2010; 6:30 PM — 9 PM, La Cocina Do you know masa like we know masa? Sure, there’s the fancy restaurant in New York and Vegas, but our version is the central component of the kind of food that we like to make. And we make it well. And why shouldn’t you? Learning to work with masa is like learning everything Julia Child had to teach if she had gone to Latin America instead of France. Join the chefs from Estrellita’s Snacks, Gorditas El Comal, and La Cocina for a class that will introduce you to the idea of masa and all of the amazing things that you can do with it. We’ll make delicious tortillas, gorditas, and papusas, (thick, corn flat breads that can be stuffed with cheese, meat and vegetables). Dinner and drinks of course included. Cost; $65/person Buy Your Tickets Here

Social Media For Your Food Business

caleb — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:50:18 +0000

*Click here for the PowerPoint presentation from the Social Media Workshop.*

Can you hear it? It’s the buzz of social media. And it’s everywhere.

It has become a necessary strategy for small businesses to have a presence on social media sites. Yet sorting through the sites and hype can be overwhelming and confusing. A big buzz kill.

Join us for a hands-on workshop that will help you understand the social media tools that will benefit your business and get started right away.

You’ll learn:

The key social media tools for small business marketing and how to use them - Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and blogs
How to utilize social media for offers and promotions
Tools to help maximize your small businesses efficiency
How to maintain a consistent brand image through social media to reach your customers

Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops or print outs of their current social media marketing efforts.

The workshop was held on February 16th at 6 PM at The Women’s Building on 18th St.

*Click here for the PowerPoint presentation from the Social Media Workshop.*

Moderator: Jennifer Benz is founder and chief strategist at Benz Communications, a boutique consulting firm that focuses on employee benefits communication. She is also a long-time La Cocina volunteer and helped develop La Cocina’s marketing curriculum. Her business is featured on Open Forum Pulse, an aggregation of small business leaders on Twitter - She will share her own experiences and insights from her time with both Benz Communications and La Cocina businesses.

Updated Soulfood Classics

Dana — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:49:23 +0000

April 14th, 2010 Scared to make fried chicken at home? Think collard greens are the weirdest vegetable ever? Do you make mac and cheese out of a box? Join chef Dionne Knox from Zella’s Soulful Kitchen as she walks us through the classics (but better) of Southern Cooking. It’s the kind of food that we all love to eat, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t hard to make it. And, even if it is hard, we’ve got the stuff to make it easier. Drinks (mint julep anyone?) and dinner included included in the price of the ticket. Cost; $65/person Buy Your Tickets Here:

3 Spoons

Cristina — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:48:16 +0000

Owner: Leslie Christensen

3 Spoons is a San Francisco catering company that offers deliciously healthy meals designed for busy lives. Whether you’re looking for a fresh alternative to traditional processed and flavorless diet food or low-mess low-stress dinners for your family, 3 Spoons delivers boxed meals in San Francisco and provides catering for corporate lunches, dinner parties, cocktail parties and more. 3 Spoons is committed to using organic produce from nearby farms because what’s good for your body should be good for the planet. By using local produce, organic ingredients, reusable and recyclable containers, 3 Spoons contributes to a healthier you and a healthier planet.

Leslie, the founder of 3 Spoons, was an elementary school art teacher in the San Francisco for five years and a self-taught chef/baker for ten. Her passion for food began at an early age and has since taken Leslie around the world in search of exciting flavors, inspiring ingredients, and time tested techniques. Upon arriving in San Francisco, her inspiration to cook was further fueled by the vibrant flavors and colors of the local farmer’s markets. 3 Spoons was born out of Leslie’s love of creating and sharing good food with good people. May it bring us together, making us happy and healthy!

Telephone: 1.888.776.3257

Email: leslie@3spoons.com

Website: www.3spoons.com

Market Fresh Healthy Foods

Dana — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:47:27 +0000

June 30th, 2010, 6:30 PM — 9 PM Join Leslie Christensen of 3 Spoons and La Cocina and learn how to cook fresh food for your family without blowing your budget. If you want to create healthier meals that don’t disappoint on flavor, this is the class for you. San Francisco’s farmer’s markets are full of amazing food, and often less expensive than your neighborhood supermarket, but it’s hard to know what to make. After this class, you’ll be a farmer’s market pro. Leslie Christensen started 3 Spoons out of a love and passion for food that began at an early age. She has long been inspired by the fresh flavors and ingredients available in San Francisco and is dedicated to sharing this appreciation with others. Cost; $65/person Buy Your Tickets Here

Simply Salsa

Dana — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:47:14 +0000

July 28th 2010, 6:30 — 9 PM, La Cocina Salsa. It’s crisp, it’s fresh and it can be made 17 million different ways. Come to this class and learn all 17 million of them! Join Chef Isabel Caudillo, owner of El Buen Comer, and build salsa from scratch, using whatever you find at your local farmers market. Guests will leave with at least 2 homemade salsas, and our Culinary Director will walk all participants through the basics of grilling to make the perfect summer meal. We’ll drink sangria and eat the fruits of our labor, but not before you learn how to throw the best barbecue your friends have ever seen. Cost: $65/person Buy your tickets here:

Day of the Dead: celebrate with traditional breads

Dana — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:46:50 +0000

October 27th, 2010; 6:30 — 9 PM, La Cocina The Day of the Dead will soon be upon us. Join Chef Luis Vazquez, owner of Chaac Mool as he shares how food lies at the heart of culture. We will focus on making traditional Day of the Dead breads like pan de muerto. Guests will leave with a sampling of breads and dinner and drinks are included. Cost; $65/person Buy your tickets here