Shi Gourmet is a Graduate of La Cocina’s business incubator program!

Owner: Ana Shi

Shi Gourmet was born out Ana’s concern for good health. She realized that there are many health benefits to eating less meat and wanted to create fresh vegetarian meals without sacrificing taste. Ana is a chef who is passionate about cooking and creating products that are truly delicious while also being good for you. Her mission is for you to experience my great tasting tofu. You can enjoy it as a healthy, protein-rich snack or take it home and incorporate it into your favorite recipes.

Shi Gourmet tofu spring rolls are sold at Whole Foods Markets throughout the Bay Area and her tofu is sold at Rainbow Grocery.

Phone: (415) 717-5163

Email: shisuisun@sbcglobal.net

Locations: Whole Foods Markets in the Bay Area and Rainbow Grocery.

Owner: Maria del Carmen Flores

Website: www.estrellitassnacks.com

Email: estrellitassnacks@hotmail.com

Phone: Maria: (415) 240-6305 (Español) // Jose: (415) 571-1771 (Español/English)

facebook: facebook.com/pages/Estrellitas-Snacks/289650157721060

Where to Find Us: La Cocina Kiosk in The Ferry Building, Alemany  Farmers Market.

Catering: Yes! Click here to learn more about the catering program of La Cocina.

About Estrellita’s: Maria del Carmen Flores is a natural-born entrepreneur. She began her culinary career on the streets of El Salvador, selling cut fruit and homemade chips at a bus stop with her mother in San Salvador. Maria moved from El Salvador to Mexico and proudly brought her food to her own restaurant in Oaxaca.

When she moved to San Francisco, Maria began by selling tostadas – hand cut plantain and yucca chips – from the streets of the Mission District. She began at La Cocina in 2006 and now does Salvadoran food catering, and has a booth at the Alemany Farmer’s Market where she makes classic Salvadoran foods. Hers are some of the best pupusas and tamales in town. She still sells her famous tostadas in markets throughout the Mission and Excelsior districts.

Kika’s Treats is a Graduate of La Cocina’s Business Incubator Program!

Owner: Cristina Besher

Website: www.kikastreats.com

Facebook: Kikastreats

Twitter: @kikastreats

Email: info@kikastreats.com

About Kika’s Treats: Kika’s Treats is a small artisan company that handcrafts chocolate-covered organic baked goods in San Francisco, California. Its premise (and compromise) is to use only the best LOCAL and ORGANIC ingredients, which are the sole reason why they are so delicious. Our products contain no artificial flavors, colorings, preservatives, no trans-fats, no GMOs nothing but 100% natural ingredients.

Cristina Besher (or ‘Kika’, her family nickname) is a lifelong baker and chocolate lover. Kika grew up in Brazil, one of the tropical lands of cacao, and moved to San Francisco in 1999 straight from Sao Paulo, Brazil. She was very fortunate to have the opportunity to work at many different wonderful eateries around the Bay Area, where she learned her craft from some of the finest chefs around. In 2006, she made a list of her favorite treats and decided that it was time to share them with the world.

When you buy a package of Kika’s Treats, not only are you treating yourself to something all natural and delicious, but you’re also supporting our American economy and helping the environment, since Kika’s Treats always sources locally, both ingredients and packaging, as much as possible. It’s a win-win for all!

Owner: Christine Doerr

Website: www.neococoa.com

Facebook: neococoa

Twitter: @christinedoerr

Email: christine@neococoa.com

Locations

About NEOCOCOA: While wondering what she’d be when she grew up, Christine Doerr found herself watching a lot of Julia Child. It was the late 1980s, and cooking shows were becoming popular. One day, Christine announced, “I think I’ll be a chef!” and promptly moved to San Francisco to attend the California Culinary Academy; After being turned off by a butchery class, she decided she liked sugar and flour more than raw meat, and her career as a pastry chef began!

Christine perfected her craft as a pastry chef during her more than 10 years of working in multiple establishments in the San Francisco Bay Area such as Palo Alto Baking Company, Draeger’s Market and Flea St. Café. She wanted to open her own business. “Wouldn’t chocolate truffles be yummy?” she asked herself. Rather, she stuffed her back pockets full of culinary knowledge and experience, and went back to school to study graphic design. But soon, her long-held dream of creating chocolate truffles using fresh, local, organic ingredients once again came knocking at the door. This time, Christine answered, and Neo Cocoa was born.