La Cocina - Nonprofit Kitchen Incubator

I’m a Chef first—my culinary training has opened every door I’ve stepped through. Small restaurants are the heartbeat of the city, but without affordable spaces, mom-and-pop spots are getting pushed out of San Francisco. And let’s be real—cities don’t thrive without us. It’s time to change that. Let’s build a future where independent food businesses have the space to grow and succeed ?? P.S. Boug Cali made the hot sauce bar famous xoxo ???

Grab your La Cocina passport and travel to six destinations via a global culinary journey at our Pop-up Night Market on March 27! Immerse yourself in the sights, smells, and flavors of the talented chefs from six La Cocina businesses. ???????? A $75 ticket gets you a passport to experience diverse cuisines from these talented entrepreneurs: ???Adelita's Antojitos?with Mexican and Salvadoran snacks and street food ???Bar Tanuki?with homestyle Japanese fare ???Cali Sweet Cakes?with nostalgic Southern-style dessert ???The Geez Freeze?with delectable frozen treats ?? Sisters Catering with Afghani cuisine ???Xula with homestyle Guatemalan cooking A big thank you to CIBC US and California Food Service Instant Rebates for sponsoring this event and supporting La Cocina businesses! Tickets are available now! Grab them here: https://lnkd.in/g-4Jzjft

We're thrilled to have collaborated with ICA Fund this past week on a day filled with inspiring stories, delicious food, and thoughtful discussion as a part of the Confluence Philanthropy's 2025 Annual Conference. Following an insightful panel on how strategic investment in small businesses can drive meaningful impact and a delicious lunch by La Cocina graduate and ICA Fund Investee, Onigilly Japanese Kitchen, attendees had the opportunity to visit additional ICA Fund investees. Hearing stories from Onigilly, Rize Up Bakery, and Peaches Patties and witnessing firsthand the tangible impact of investment in small businesses was truly inspiring. These entrepreneurs are not just creating delicious food; they're building thriving businesses, building community, creating jobs, and strengthening our local economy. We're grateful to panelists Dan Gould of Marguerite Casey Foundation, Koji Kanematsu of Onigilly, Shivani Garg Patel of Skoll Foundation, our very own Leticia Landa, and ICA Fund for the thoughtful conversation, partnership, and commitment to investing in small food businesses. ?#SFSmallBusinesses #InclusivePhilanthropy #EquitableEconomies #CommunityImpact?#BayAreaFood #SocialImpact #WeAreLaCocina

Justice and opportunity go hand in hand. East Bay Community Law Center has been fighting for justice for 35+ years, ensuring those most impacted have the legal support they need. At La Cocina, we know equitable access—whether to legal resources or economic opportunity—builds a just future. Take five to watch their powerful story. #WhoWeStandWith

Attending my second Latina Meet Up at La Cocina was inspiring! Huge thanks to Stephanie De La Cruz for organizing these monthly gatherings—creating a space for Latina and women entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and support each other. Honored to meet more incredible women and learn from organizations like Mandela Partners and La Cocina - Nonprofit Kitchen Incubator , both doing amazing work for food businesses. If you're a Latina and women entrepreneur looking for community, DM me for details ??

Excited to have Elizabeth A. join us at La Cocina! Grateful for the energy and expertise they’re bringing to support our incredible community of #entrepreneurs. Looking forward to all the good work ahead and delicious meals we'll share!

Behind every small food business, there’s a dream—and often, a struggle. Nationwide, 60% of new restaurants close within their first year, and 80% within five years. Opening a food business is tough, especially for immigrant women and entrepreneurs of color who face added barriers to success. At La Cocina, we’re here to change the story. Through mentorship, affordable kitchen space, and access to sales, we support food entrepreneurs in navigating that critical startup phase and building sustainable businesses. In fact, 81% of La Cocina graduate businesses launched between 2005 to 2019 remain active. This holiday season, let’s invest in a stronger, more equitable food industry. Consider donating here: https://lnkd.in/gAsG3GqX. Your support fuels opportunities for the next wave of iconic Bay Area spots.?? Thanks for the love, San Francisco Chronicle!

In early November, during a heavy week for many, our staff and entrepreneurs came together for a powerful Zingtrain session on servant leadership and visioning for La Cocina entrepreneurs and our organization. The day underscored how La Cocina entrepreneurs do more than run businesses — they bring people together with nourishing food that fosters joy, support families, create jobs, and inspire the next generation. They are building a more vibrant, equitable, and delicious future for all. Thank you to Ari Weinzweig, co-founder of Zingerman's Community of Businesses, for his wisdom, and thank you to U.S. Bank for sponsoring this meaningful learning experience. ?????? If you're interested in aligning your brand with La Cocina and having the unique opportunity to support our program and entrepreneurs, learn more about our sponsorship opportunities for the following year below: ?? https://lnkd.in/gBcsnc5n

We’re thrilled to announce La Cocina Consulting! ?? Over the past decade, interest in our food business incubation model has grown, with organizations worldwide seeking guidance to support their local communities. Inspired by this shared passion, we’ve formalized our work to share the lessons we’ve learned over 20 years and support others in creating meaningful impact. Last week, we joined?The Food Corridor's Shared Kitchen Summit to share “Lessons from La Cocina” and connect with incredible leaders exploring, building, or running incubators. Seeing the passion for supporting small food businesses nationally filled us with hope for the future of this movement, and we’re honored to be part of it. Visit lacocinasf.org/consulting to learn more and get in touch!

At La Cocina, we see dreams born in our kitchen grow into thriving food businesses led by women, immigrants, and people of color. For nearly two decades—through recessions, political transitions, a global pandemic, and more—La Cocina has broken barriers for these entrepreneurs in the Bay Area. Today, we remain steadfast in our mission to uplift livelihoods. We can’t do this alone. Join us in creating a future where every entrepreneur has a seat at the table. ?? Hear directly from our community about how La Cocina's support transforms culinary dreams into reality and donate to our year-end campaign today ?? DONATE: https://lnkd.in/gRbftbSm Gratitude to Silent Victory Films for helping our team produce a lovely video storytelling piece about La Cocina! ?? https://lnkd.in/gPnyQ-ZA