Latest news with #Meski
CBS News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
San Francisco's Meski, co-founded by Draymond Green, serves up culture and afro-fusion cuisine
A new restaurant in San Francisco's Lower Nob Hill neighborhood is serving more than just food. It's serving heritage. Meski, the latest addition to San Francisco's vibrant culinary scene, blends African and Caribbean traditions into a bold new Afro-fusion concept, led by Dominican executive chef Nelson German. "Whether it's the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, West Africa — any countries there — Nigeria and Ethiopia, we are all intertwined," said German. "It still showcases Black food, Black history, Black culture. So, to bring that here to San Francisco, to melt these flavors, that is still so new, but still familiar, means the world to me." Meski is the brainchild of German and co-founder Guma Fassili, an Ethiopian American restaurateur who grew up in Berkeley. The two have combined their cultural backgrounds — and their family recipes — to build a menu that bridges continents and generations. "When I see the dishes, I'm like, this is the way my grandma did it," said German. "But then this is the way Guma's mom did it too. It's so familiar, it's pretty awesome." For Fassili, Meski represents more than just a business venture — it's a deeply personal milestone. "It's been a full-circle moment," he said. "Growing up in Berkeley as a first-generation Ethiopian American and finally being able to put my culture — Ethiopian culture — on this platform, it's really an honor and privilege. To be able to share our cultures and package it in a certain elevated way that's never been to the masses — I don't take that lightly." Among the restaurant's backers is NBA champion and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, who is also a co-founder. Green said the opportunity to invest in Meski was about more than just food. "Oh, number one, I love the city of San Francisco," Green said. "Oftentimes in a restaurant, you may find a vibe, you may find good food, but it's usually hard to bring the two together. That's what we wanted — just to bring some life to this city." Green added that the city's ongoing recovery, led by Mayor Lurie, was part of what inspired him to join the Meski team. "I think the rebounding of this city has been great under Mayor Lurie," Green said. "And just want to try to continue to do things to help support and bring that life back." So far, the rhythm is returning, particularly during Sunday brunch, which has quickly become a hit with locals. The "million-dollar bacon" has become a fan favorite. German said Meski is part of a broader revitalization of the Lower Nob Hill area, and that food is helping bring people together across cultures. "With food, if somebody has a type of food of a different culture and they really fall in love with it, they're more open-minded to want to learn about the people," German said. "So we appreciate them and appreciate the culture. It's why I do it as a chef — to make people happy, right? And to tell stories, to keep generations of recipes flowing and really showcase history at its best." At Meski, food serves as a bridge, connecting the African diaspora, honoring ancestral traditions, and reflecting the cultural diversity that defines the Bay Area.
San Francisco Chronicle
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Celebrity chef's restaurant reopens in downtown — and more S.F. openings
April's new San Francisco restaurants brought in some unexpected flavors. Diners can now bite into a mix of Dominican and Ethiopian dishes at an NBA star's newest restaurant, or sample a fusion of Japanese and Thai influences from a team of notable Bay Area chefs. Restaurants focusing on classics like red sauce Italian fare and tried-and-true American dishes also opened. Celebrity chef relocates Wayfare Tavern, celebrity chef Tyler Florence's marquee San Francisco restaurant, has a new home in the heart of the city. They opened the doors to their new digs on April 28, a two-story space designed by Jon de la Cruz that captures the same old-school feel from the former Sacramento Street location. Expect a tried-and-true menu of hits including burgers and buttermilk fried chicken. 201 Pine St., San Francisco. There's a new neighborhood stop for no-frills doughnuts on the city's west side. The Ingleside Light reports North Bay Bagels and Donuts opened at the start of April, reactivating the vacant space that was formerly a burger restaurant. Owner Bory Sroy, a Cambodian immigrant who arrived in California 20 years ago, told the outlet she saw an opportunity as there are no other doughnut shops in the area. She and her husband also own All Star Donuts in the Richmond District. Afro Caribbean cuisine with star power Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green's buzzy new 'Ethiopian fusion' restaurant is now mending together influences from the Horn of Africa and the Caribbean in San Francisco. Named Meski, it offers dishes like sancocho with berbere spices and yucca flour sambusas stuffed with spiced beef or lentils. The project is a collaboration between Green alongside restaurateur Guma Fassil, who operates Meski's Kitchen & Garden in Berkeley, and is acting as general manager. Chef Nelson German of Oakland's Dominican restaurant Alamar is also a partner and executive chef. A revival in North Beach A Roman-style trattoria has opened at the former home of popular bistro Cassava. Steps of Rome, a revival of a previous North Beach favorite, offers cacio e pepe, made with tonnarelli tossed in Pecorino Romano and fresh cracked pepper, along with spicy rigatoni and silky carbonara made with bigoli noodles, a thick style of spaghetti. Pizza offerings include classic Margherita and four-cheese pies, along with a fried pizza topped with prosciutto cotto, pepper and basil. 401 Columbus Ave. San Francisco. A new Japanese and Thai bar downtown The hotly anticipated Bar Shoji is now shaking Japanese-inspired cocktails in SoMa. The latest from chef Ingi 'Shota' Son offers beverages such as the Myoga, a Moscow Mule-like cocktail made with a Japanese ginger bulb and the Kabosu, a mix of tequila kosho chili pepper and lemongrass brightened with its namesake Japanese citrus. There are, of course, high balls made with Japanese spirits, and a wide-spanning list of sake. The menu, from chef Intu-on Kornnawong, formerly of Jo's Modern Thai, features small bites with a Thai twist like oysters dressed with a beet-chili jam and a ceviche spiked with nam jim sauce. A luxe rice bowl and the sashimi of the day show off the premium seafood flown in from Tokyo's Toyosu fish market. New slices on Market Downtown San Francisco's IKEA-adjacent dining venue Saluhall has a new tenant. Cheezy's Artisan Pizza is now tossing dough that's topped with tried-and-true topping combinations like mozzarella and basil to more eclectic mixes like lamb merguez pickled Fresno peppers and a walnut muhammara sauce. Pies are available in neo-Neapolitan and square, Grandma-style variants. Chef-owner David Jacobson brings his experience at Bay Area pizza hotspots like Pizza My Heart, Pizzeria Delfina and Flour + Water Pizzeria to his latest venture. 945 Market St., Suite 102, San Francisco. Global flavors for the Marina Incoming cocktail bar and restaurant Indigo is now offering drinks inspired by flavors from around the world in the Marina District. The cocktails use diverse wines and spirits like umeshu, cachaca and tequila infused with Poblano peppers. Dishes have a similar international flair, such as kashmir chicken skewers with a yogurt marinade and pita. The al pastor tacos are made with steelhead trout topping a squid ink tortilla. Local chicken shop expands Proposition Chicken, a Bay Area grown chicken restaurant, launched its latest location in West Portal. Ordering is unfussy: Choose between fried chicken, roasted chicken or a vegan protein in a sandwich, salad or plate. Wings tossed in Buffalo sauce, honey mustard and barbecue sauce are also available. Proposition Chicken operates another San Francisco location and an Oakland location. It is also available through ghost kitchen service Local Kitchens in the South Bay, Peninsula and East Bay. New development lands pizza shop The newest Flour + Water Pizza Shop location arrived in the Mission Rock development in April. Like its sister location in North Beach, expect pies ranging from classic pepperoni to smoky eggplant or cacio e pepe. The newest location takes over a 1,800-square-foot space at the growing development that also includes the likes of croissant specialists Arsicault and a future project from the team behind popular cocktail bar Trick Dog. 1090 Dr. Maya Angelou Ln., Suite A, San Francisco Coffee shop takes over theater lobby The Emerald Lounge is now pouring coffee drinks inside the former movie theater building on Van Ness Avenue. Find a straightforward menu of beverages like lattes and pour over, along with bites like vegetable sandwiches. The brew bar makes drinks using top-tier beans from local roasters like Sightglass Coffee, Grand Coffee and Poorboy Coffee.
