“I am overwhelmed by the grace and persistence of my people.”
- Maya Angelou
Thank You Bay Area for a Wonderful Culinary Arts Festival!
The sf|noir Wine & Food Event returned for Black History Month on February 21-24, 2013 and it was a great 4-day journey celebrating the culinary arts through a distinctive African American and Southern-inspired cuisine perspective. The series of events featured wonderful culinary delights by premiere Bay Area soul-food chefs paired alongside a diverse variety of wines [...]
Meet the Chefs: Nigel Jones – Kingston 11
Nigel Jones is the chef and owner of Kingston 11, a popular pop-up Jamaican restaurant in Berkeley’s “Gourmet Ghetto” that went from packed Friday evenings at Guerilla Cafe to full houses on Saturdays, all in a little over a year. Nigel’s inspiration for opening the well-received venture was the feeling that even though there was [...]
The Marcus Shelby Trio @ The Oakland Jazz Brunch
February 24, 2013
12-2PM
Helping to cap off a full weekend of culinary happenings in fine fashion will be internationally renown jazz artist Marcus Shelby. An accomplished teacher, composer, arranger, bassist, and San Francisco resident, Shelby is the 1991 winner of the Charles Mingus Scholarship and studied with composer James Newton and legendary bassist Charlie Haden. From 1990-1996, Shelby [...]
Meet the Vintners: Esterlina Vineyards
The Sterling Family has been making wine for several generations. As California farmers with over 30 years of experience, we have carefully selected each of our vineyards. Our father believes wine making is all about the land and vineyard cultivation. Esterlina’s careful vineyard selection is the start of exceptional wines. Special attention is paid to [...]
Meet the Chefs: Michele Wilson – Gussie’s Chicken & Waffles
Michele Wilson is a self-taught chef who has owned and operated 3 restaurants serving creative, delicious southern favorites. She is the chef personality who brings Real Food for the Soul to life, a Radio One program featuring the best in modern and traditional African American cuisine. Michele has been featured in numerous TV, magazine and [...]
Meet the Chefs: Jon Reitz – Cedar Hill
Jon Reitz is the Executive Chef and co-owner of Cedar Hill. A Texas native, Jon has always been partial to Southern cuisine due to his upbringing in the region. Years of hunting and fishing at Cedar Hill Ranch, his family farm near Anderson, Texas, and summers in North Carolina further fueled his passion for BBQ [...]
Meet the Mixologists
Damon White was born in NYC and raised in Harlem during the 1970s. In 1985 Damon arrived at Middlesex Preparatory School, in Concord Mass. and he graduated very shortly afterwards from Middlebury College in 1989. In 1990 Damon enrolled in the William Esper Art Studio on the Lower West side of Manhattan where he would [...]
Meet the Chefs: Sarah Kirnon – Miss Ollie’s
Growing up on the island of Barbados, Sarah Kirnon learned about the meaning of community from the same woman who taught her how to cook: her grandmother, Miss Ollie. Today, Kirnon’s new restaurant, located at Swan’s Market in Old Oakland, deliciously serves up both Caribbean-style cooking and community. “It is not just a restaurant; it’s [...]
Meet the Vintners: J. Moss Wines
J. Moss Wines is a small family wine business established in 2000 by James and Janet Moss. James Moss moved to California in 1998 from Dallas, Texas where he first was introduced to fine wines working for a large Texas distributor. His work often brought him to the Napa Valley for further education, winery tours and [...]
Meet the Chefs: Sophina Uong – Picán
A native of Cambodia, Sophie Uong is a self-taught culinary master. With over 15 years of experience at some of the most notable restaurants in the Bay Area, Sophie has developed a well-rounded knowledge of the kitchen. With a background including positions as server, bartender, cook, owner and executive chef, Sophie has learned the operational [...]