May 25, 2025, 5:00PM PDT
Online: Tracy Johnston - The Spanish Cook Without Equal: My Adventures in Translating Encarnación Pinedo’s 1898 Cookbook.
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Please join us, Sunday, May 25, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. PDT, for an online presentation by Tracy Johnston on The Spanish Cook Without Equal- My Adventures in Translating Encarnación Pinedo’s 1898 Cookbook.
In 1898, Encarnación Pinedo published a cookbook, written in Spanish, and compiled from recipes she had gathered throughout her life in the San Jose area. It was the first cookbook published in the United States written by a Latina, and it represented the California Rancho culture she grew up in and inherited from her Berryessa ancestors.
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It is not just a cookbook but a historical document, a record made during the transition of California from the Rancho period through the Gold Rush and beyond. Further, it was written from the point-of-view of a woman, in a way that society accepted from women.
Tracy Johnston, an avid foodie, food history buff, and long-time food blogger, translated all 900 of Miss Pinedo's recipes in parallel text format, making it simple to compare Pinedo's words directly with the translation; this includes recipes not found in Strehl's 2003 book. Also, Tracy has been redacting the recipes and reports them on her blog, The Spanish Cook Without Equal. Her talk shares the adventures she has had during this journey and highlights the questions and mysteries that remain.
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As always, it is super-helpful if you indicate your interest on the BACH Events page on Facebook in addition to registering on Eventbrite.
June 22, 2025, 5:00PM
In Person: Celia Sack - Food at the Fair: A Culinary History of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition​
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Please join us, Sunday, June 22, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., for an in-person presentation by Celia Sack speaking on Food at the Fair: A Culinary History of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. The talk will take place at Omnivore Books on Food, 3885A Cesar Chavez Street, San Francisco, CA
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The 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition took place over one glorious year in San Francisco's Marina District. It brought people together from all over the world, and of all the pavilions and displays, food was the greatest uniter. Noodles from Italy and China were served side-by-side, and the more comfortable customers became with Chinese food, the bolder they were about visiting Chinatown, helping bring it back to life after the conflagration. Flour, which had been so scarce after the 1906 earthquake that it was given away by the sackful to refugees in Golden Gate Park, was now abundant. And the stand selling strawberry shortcakes from England was so renowned, people would often spend their last dime on the treat and then walk all the home to the Sunset, having spent their tram fare. ​
Celia Sack, owner of Omnivore Books on Food, is a native San Franciscan whose fascination with the 1915 fair has sustained her for many decades. She is thrilled to make her debut talk about it to the Bay Area Culinary Historians.
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As always, it is super-helpful if you indicate your interest on the BACH Events page on Facebook in addition to registering on Eventbrite.
July 19, 2025, 9:00AM to 2:00PM
Les Dames d'Escoffier Rummage Sale​
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Save the date! Saturday, July 19, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., 300 Spear St., San Francisco, CA.​​
Details being cooked up to be served forth shortly.
July 27, 2025, 5:30PM PDT
Online: A Conversation with Joyce Goldstein​
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Save the date! Sunday, July 27, 2025, at 5:30p.m. PDT, for an online conversation with culinary luminary Joyce Goldstein. Please note that this presentation will begin ½ hour later than our usual 5:00p.m. meeting time.​​
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​We are extremely excited to have an opportunity to present a conversation with Joyce Goldstein and a celebration of her extraordinary life and career in the culinary world. Joyce Goldstein will be turning 90 years old in July and is honoring us with the opportunity to interview her live about her experiences as a chef and author, and her unique perspective on the history of modern California cuisine.
Joyce Goldstein is a distinguished chef, author, and culinary educator renowned for her pioneering work in Mediterranean and Jewish cuisines. She gained prominence as the chef-owner of Square One, a groundbreaking San Francisco restaurant operating from 1984 to 1996, celebrated for its innovative approach to Mediterranean flavors. Goldstein's culinary journey includes serving as executive chef at the Café at Chez Panisse and founding the California Street Cooking School, San Francisco's first international cooking school.
An accomplished author, she has penned over 25 books on food, including the award-winning The Mediterranean Kitchen and Inside the California Food Revolution, the latter chronicling the evolution of California cuisine. Her contributions to the culinary arts have been recognized with multiple James Beard Foundation Awards, including Best Chef California in 1994. Beyond her culinary endeavors, Goldstein has served as a consultant to the restaurant industry and taught kitchen design at the University of California.
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Check back for details and tickets!​
August 9, 2025, 6:00PM PDT
In-Person: Dinner at Trader Vics, Emeryville, CA and a talk about this iconic restaurant by George Geary, author of Made in California
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Save the date, August 9, 2025 at 6:00p.m., to enjoy a special dinner at Trader Vic's in Emeryville, CA, of items that Trader Vic's served in 1950.
After dinner George Geary, author of Made in California, will give us a talk on the history of Trader Vic's and its lasting impression on the dining landscape.
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Please note that this is not our usual meeting date and time. Cocktails will begin at 6:00p.m. with dinner to be served at 7:00p.m. George Geary's talk will accompany dessert.​​
Mai Tais, details, and tickets will be posted here shortly​
September 28, 2025, 2:00PM
In-Person: Sue Conley and Vivien Straus​​ - A History Cheesemaking and Dairying Along the California Cheese Trail with a Guided Cheese Tasting
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Save the date, September 28, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. for an extraordinary opportunity to hear Sue Conley, co-founder of Cowgirl Creamery, and Vivien Straus, creator of the California Cheese Trail map, speaking on the history of cheese in California. Note that this is our usual 4th Sunday meeting date, but at 2:00 p.m. rather than our normal 5:00 p.m.
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The presentation will take place at the historic Embarcadero Ferry Building in San Francisco, and will include a curated cheese tasting.
Cheesy details and tickets forthcoming! ​
October 26, 2025 5:00PM PDT
Online: Pat Saperstein - Lunching on the Lot: Remembering the Golden Age of Hollywood Commissaries
Stay tuned! Same bat-time, same bat-channel!
December 6, 2025
In Person: BACH Holiday Dinner
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As in prior years, BACH will have one event for November/December, which will be our annual holiday party. This will be an in-person potluck dinner at a private home, either in Oakland, CA or Moraga, CA on the evening of Saturday, December 6th.
Full details will be posted later in the year.
~~~ 2026 ~~~
We are very excited about our upcoming events for the 2026 season!
​Watch this space for upcoming events and details.
​​We just need to adjust the seasonings and add some frosting.
We will serve no event before its time.
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