How This Food Access Nonprofit Is Continuing Cala’s Legacy With Chef-Led Dinners | Eater SF

"Walking into the Farming Hope space on Fell Street, where Gabriela Cámara’s Cala once took up residence, feels like a verdant dinner party: the organization stages chef‑led dinners to connect high‑end cuisine with its mission of combating San Francisco’s food‑access issues. At the third chef‑led dinner I attended, co‑executive director Andie Sobrepeña reminded guests that the six‑course menu was prepared root‑to‑stem as part of an effort to reduce waste, and culinary director Phil Saneski explained that these events raise attention and funds for the nonprofit’s broader programming. The space also functions as a hub for grocery pickups for housing‑ and food‑insecure families, and Farming Hope employs formerly incarcerated people to serve food at partner sites and grow produce in its community garden on Eddy and Divisadero Streets. The November 5 menu highlighted upcycled, largely vegetarian dishes—cacio e pepe with a parmesan‑rind broth and dehydrated Fruit Loops, cauliflower “ribs” with pickles, cauliflower crème brûlée, a vegan Caesar with grilled turnips, and breadsticks made with once‑discarded pecan shells—illustrating Saneski’s point that every course highlights things you’d see at home and shows how to reduce waste. The nonprofit also runs Wednesday‑night, three‑course meals (appetizer, entrée, dessert) for under‑resourced families so they can experience a fine‑dining atmosphere, has increased apprentices from 19 last year to 30 this year, has served 98,265 free meals since January 2022, and hosts visiting chefs (previous dinners featured Good Good Culture Club and David Thu; Flour + Water is next), with hopes to bring in more high‑profile chefs; Alice Waters and Michael Tusk have already visited." - Paolo Bicchieri