Feast Your Way Across
the S.F. Bay
From Truffle Garlic Noodles to
the GOAT of Mac ānā Cheese
Episode Description
Get ready to drool: Dungeness crab rolls, sumac-spiced chicken, coconut bread puddingāand those are just the appetizers. In this episode, Chef Preeti Mistry, host of the James Beardānominated podcast Loading Dock Talks, dishes on what makes the San Francisco Bay Area the most exciting, flavor-packed, and deliciously diverse food scene in the country.Ā
Together, we dig into the Bayās secret sauce: unparalleled produce, deep immigrant roots, and chefs who blend it all into unforgettable meals. Never one to mince words, Preeti also slices into so-called āCalifornia cuisineā and shares their behind-the-scenes take on Top Chef hosts Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio. Come for the food, stay for the juicy storiesājust donāt forget to bring your appetite.
Bay Area bites youāll crave after this episode:
- Truffle garlic noodles at Gigiās
- Mac and cheese and fried chicken at Minnie Bellās Soul Movement
- Falafel and the Pali Cali (sumac-braised chicken) at Reemās California
- Al pastor tacos at Taqueria Cancun
- Porcini truffle ravioli at Bi-Rite Market
- Dungeness crab rolls, Mission District burritos, and more
Guest
Chef Preeti Mistry is a culinary force whoās not afraid to stir the pot. On their James Beardānominated podcast Loading Dock Talks, they chat with chefs about the true meaning behind our mealsāand, as they say, ādo a little [smack]-talking too.ā The Top Chef alum first gained acclaim for their beloved Oakland restaurant, Juhu Beach Club. The restaurantās California-Indian street foodāthink pork vindaloo sliders and dosa wafflesāearned them two James Beard nominations for best chef in the West and led to a cookbook praised by Anthony Bourdain. Influenced by both their Gujarati roots and American upbringing, Preeti once described their cooking as āOakland, Californiaā cuisineānot fusion, but something wholly personal.Ā
Preetiās thoughtful voice has been featured in Harperās Bazaar, Bon AppĆ©tit, Food & Wine, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and on Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. These days, they live with their wife, Ann Nadeau, on Apple Cheeks Orchard in Sebastopol, California, where they continue to cook up new projects, including collaborations with heirloom bean purveyor Rancho Gordo and the spice company Burlap & Barrel.
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