On the Fly by tablehopper

On the Fly by tablehopper features a monthly interview addressing the monumental changes the food and beverage industry is experiencing in this age of the coronavirus pandemic. Your host is Marcia Gagliardi of tablehopper.com, speaking with San Francisco Bay Area chefs, restaurateurs, and other members of the hospitality industry—from the big names to the tiny neighborhood joints—as they struggle to adapt and survive. We'll listen to their stories: how are they pivoting, what’s working, and how we can help, along with inspiring stories of how the industry is trying to change, and rallying to feed many communities in need. Prospective guests for On the Fly can submit their story at bit.ly/ontheflyguest.

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On the Fly by tablehopper

Geetika Agrawal: La Cocina

April 24, 2020 • Geetika Agrawal, La Cocina Program Director • Season 1 • Episode 5

Today’s episode of On the Fly is with Geetika Agrawal, the program director of La Cocina, an incredible nonprofit business incubator dedicated to supporting working-class food entrepreneurs—primarily immigrant women and women of color—in building successful food businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area. Geetika works closely with La Cocina entrepreneurs to support their businesses and leads growth initiatives for the organization.

She talks about the dramatic impact the coronavirus has had on all their talented entrepreneurs, from their catering businesses to their brick-and-mortar locations, and some of the adaptations they’ve made, including the brilliant weekly La Cocina Food Box they recently launched. Geetika shares details with us about the much-needed financial aid the La Cocina Emergency Relief Fund is providing to 58 La Cocina businesses while federal relief remains elusive.

Please be sure to visit bit.ly/lovelacocina for a continually updated list of all the La Cocina businesses and what they’re serving for takeout and delivery, their hours, links to their gift cards, GoFundMes, and more. You can also find links to the relief fund and food boxes and more in the episode notes. These businesses have fought so hard to get to where they are, thank you for supporting them, and La Cocina, in any way you can.

Updated list and links to La Cocina businesses: bit.ly/lovelacocina

La Cocina Emergency Relief Fund (to provide their entrepreneurs with cash payments to cover basic expenses): https://lacocinasf.org/relief-fund

La Cocina Food Box (menu goes up on Saturdays!): https://lacocinasf.org/foodbox

Two-Top:

1. Hamano (SF): www.hamanosushi.com, @hamanosushi.

2. Miss Ollie’s (Oakland): www.realmissolliesoakland.com, @missolliesoakland.

If you’re a Bay Area business or individual and want to be featured in On the Fly, please fill out the form at bit.ly/ontheflyguest.

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