In the heart of San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood, a district known for its thriving Filipino community, the beloved Merkado is set to host a remarkable evening of culinary creativity and heartwarming connection. On Tuesday, March 26, talented Filipino-American Chef Jenna Medina and Mixologist Rebecca Pinnell will co-host an intimate 20-seat, four-course chef’s dinner titled “Stories from Home,” marking the inaugural event in a series dedicated to celebrating the city’s shared love for food, culture, and comforting nostalgia, while also powerfully closing out Women’s History Month.
“I want to keep that familiarity of what everyone in the Philippines eats in their own way and revamp it, making dishes super nostalgic, really tasty, yet served in an unexpected form,” Chef Jenna, co-founder of On Your Table SF, explains, highlighting her commitment to honoring heritage while embracing innovation.
Diners will savor innovative creations such as Arozz Caldo Arancini with Dipping Sauces, a playful twist on a Filipino staple, and Silog Anytime, a breakfast-inspired delight featuring homemade tocino and garlic coconut rice fried “cracker.” Complementing her creations, Mixologist Rebecca will concoct expertly paired cocktails with staple ingredients such as the Tequila Ocho with fried rice cordial and tomato water, and the BRANDYLAB California brandy with malunggay tea and calamansi seltzer.
Merkado is the ideal setting for this festivity, as both Chef Jenna and Mixologist Rebecca are deeply rooted in its SOMA neighborhood and regard the lively interior as a second home. “Merkado is my safe place: everyone I’ve met there has brought joy to my life,” Chef Jenna reflects. Fabien Santos, Merkado’s owner-operator, is also Filipino American, infusing more charming Filipino pride to the whole event.
As the evening unfolds, diners can expect more than just a culinary feast—they’ll embark on a journey of both local and international culinary and cultural discovery, exploring the rich tapestry of Filipino cuisine while forging community connections. We had the chance to interview both Chef Jenna and Fabien Santos on what “Stories from Home #1” means for them:
How important is this dinner in showcasing Filipino cuisine, particularly in the Bay Area?
Jenna Medina: It’s called Stories from Home. This dinner showcases Filipino recipes that are ingrained in us, as a culture – from Filipino style breakfast, popular stew reimagined, and the most fun, party food at Filipino family gatherings. From wedding celebrations to any social gathering – our food is a part of the celebration and remembrance. I’ve lived in the Bay area for 36 years and during that time I’ve gotten to taste so many other cuisines that we’re lucky to have access to here in SF. Having those experiences has really elevated my own cooking. We have so many wonderful authentic Filipino restaurants that get overlooked. There are a lot of “food fusions” in the Bay Area, where we have the most Filipinos outside of the Philippines.Fabien Santos: It’s very important to me. From the time I developed Stories from Home, I wanted to convey a simple message: We all have different backgrounds, stories and lives, but we still have one goal of being part of this awesome city we call San Francisco! Stories from Home started with showing the community how diverse we all are, and to showcase it to our guests. This dinner, we did it with a twist – Showing guests how we take pride in our home being in San Francisco, and how it’s changed our lives. I asked Chef Jenna and Rebecca Pinnell to be part of this project, because they’ve both lived in SF for years and they’ve shared their passion of creating recipes, cooking, and teaching others with the community. Chef Jenna with her catering business On Your Table, and Rebecca Pinnell hosts cocktail classes and bartends at MERKADO.
What inspiring feelings and thoughts on Filipino culture and cuisine do you hope your guests will leave with?
JM: I hope our guests leave feeling well fed and happy. The selection of courses were meant to bring each guest into my kitchen. The smells that bring back memories of my father’s Sunday breakfast, visiting my Ninang (Godmother in Tagalog) who made the best Palabok. Especially being at your Filipino friends dining table, feeling welcome and joyous. We are that kind of people – We celebrate everything with great food!
Why do you think nostalgia plays an important role in Filipino cooking with its ingredients, and in the preservation of generational stories?
JM: It plays a very important role. I still remember sitting next to my grandmother, rolling lumpias, and her telling me to never put meat in her lumpia. It wasn’t until 1998, and all her grandkids asking for it that she finally broke down after 40 years and added meat. Even now, my father reminds me of the story every time he catches me cooking in the kitchen. Passing down recipes with specific ingredients that are special to your family, that other Filipino families may not do. Recipes always come with a story.
FS: When I started MERKADO, I came from working with the old restaurant TRES. From watching and speaking with staff – along with hearing all their stories, it made me nostalgic for my family gatherings at home. I started to see a connection between both the Filipino and Mexican Cuisine – their souls on a plate. I want to continue this feeling of Stories from Home Dinner Series as we consider San Francisco being our “home”.
What is your hope for the future of Filipino cooking, both locally, and in the greater American zeitgeist?
JM: My hope is to spread great family recipes throughout the Bay Area. In this way, I honor my parents, my grandparents, and our family’s traditions; all while showing current American Culture how important and delicious Filipino Cuisine is.
FS: Going on what Jenna said, Filipino is not one note. With the numerous regions in the Philippines, there isn’t “one-way” to make a dish. There might be a staple ingredient, but flavor and cooking process might change from region to region. It still leads to the same goal: Sharing the stories of our lives. You can view the event details and purchase tickets here.