On January 17th, 2020, a vibrant cross-section of our community came together to celebrate a monumental achievement. DSAL staff, Sheriff’s Deputies, elected officials, reporters, and enthusiastic community members joined hands to mark the grand opening of DSAL’s 3,300-square-foot, certified commercial kitchen and small business incubator.
The facility brought new life to an abandoned county building and turned it into a beacon of hope and opportunity, filling an urgent need for local restaurant owners, caterers, food truck operators, and food entrepreneurs who needed affordable space to launch and grow their businesses.
During the height of the Covid pandemic, when food supply chains were impacted, the Community Kitchen (formerly known as the Food Hub) served as a hub for processing and redistributing healthy, uneaten food from schools and institutions, ensuring that Alameda County’s food-insecure residents could access fresh, nutritious meals.
At its heart, the Community Kitchen embodies DSAL’s vision of economic growth, community prosperity, and health equity. It has created jobs, fostered entrepreneurship, and improved public safety while supplying healthy, locally sourced food for unincorporated residents.
Today, just five years after its launch, over 200 entrepreneurs have found their footing within these walls, many moving on to open their own brick-and-mortar establishments or operate food trucks, building up the local culinary environment.
Through its innovative food recovery program, the kitchen has collected and redistributed a staggering 3,913,834 pounds of healthy food, delivering hope and sustenance to low-income and food-insecure families in need through a door-to-door delivery program and a weekly free food giveaway. This effort also supported the County’s Recipe4Health initiative, with over 68,000 fresh food prescriptions filled, helping residents combat chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
The community kitchen continues to serve as a vital resource for neighbors in need. Each week, it hosts a free food drive through, ensuring that individuals and families facing food insecurity have access to fresh, nutritious meals—a lifeline for those struggling to make ends meet, offering dignity, support, and hope. By providing healthy options, the kitchen empowers families to nourish their bodies and care for their loved ones without the added stress of limited resources. This ongoing effort not only addresses hunger but also strengthens community bonds, fostering a sense of compassion and shared responsibility for one another.
Today, the Community Kitchen’s Entrepreneurship program is thriving under the leadership of Mikki Bunag, DSAL’s commercial kitchen manager, and in-house small business expert. With more than 15 years of food industry experience, Mikki provides hands-on support and a wealth of knowledge and expertise. From navigating health and safety regulations to optimizing production processes, Mikki empowers entrepreneurs to unlock opportunities and bring their culinary dreams into reality.
Food vendors know that finding an affordable commercial kitchen to scale a business can be a massive challenge, but DSAL’s entrepreneurs praise the facility for helping them “take their business to the next level,” and “open doors to new opportunities,” by providing free knowledge that “helps novices get a little further ahead.”
For food vendors ready to scale their business, the kitchen provides an affordable, state-of-the-art facility that combines 24/7 access and a supportive community. You’ll also have the opportunity to join the DSAL Food Entrepreneur Collaborative, which helps food businesses scale up production through collaborative purchasing agreements with hospitals, universities, school districts, and other institutional food buyers.
Our shared love of food brings us closer together. To explore the opportunities that the Community Kitchen can offer you and your business, visit our website to learn more, take a tour of the facility, or email kitchen@acdsal.org to request a free consultation.
Available for single-use or monthly rentals.
Perfect for cooking, food production, packaging, events, and cooking demos or classes. We even have food truck for rent to make your business mobile, and parking for your truck if you have your own. Affordable rates start at $18/hour, or $160 for 10 hours per month.
Together, let’s cook up a brighter future for our community!
Goddess Noir Cakes LLC - A Celebration of Flavor, Nostalgia and Soulful Indulgence
As a Black American, founder Brittany Bland-Boyd grew up baking various desserts such as peach cobbler, sock it to me cake, pineapple coconut cake and sweet potato pie surrounded by soul food at family gatherings. Flavors such as these remind Brittany of her culture and home. Each bite is a celebration of flavor, nostalgia and soulful indulgence.
As a child she got her footing selling cake pops around the school to earn an allowance. Following that she has been involved in the cake decorating industry since 2009, with experience spanning from grocery store bakeries to culinary school, cake competitions to business partnerships with schools, and with all that experience under her belt, now she is running her bakery - Goddess Noir Cakes!
And all her hard work has paid off! On top of running a heartfelt and deliciously soulful business, Brittany was recently named the winner of The Knot's Best Of Weddings for 2025!
Last spring, at the San Francisco Wedding Fair, a bride's eyes filled with tears as she sampled Brittany's Sweet Potato Cake. The bride's mother had just passed, and used to bake a cake with similar warm, spiced flavors. That taste immediately brought back cherished memories of her mother’s love, gatherings they used to share, and how much she loved baking for them. At the wedding this coming spring, Brittany will honor the bride's late parents, by creating a dessert bar featuring sweets they used to enjoy and that remind the bride of her mother’s baking.
"It’s hard to put into words what it means to be part of something so deeply personal. This isn’t just about making desserts—it’s about carrying on a legacy, preserving memories, and celebrating love in all its forms. Being trusted to contribute to such a meaningful celebration is a privilege I will treasure forever."
Visit Goddess Noir Cakes to experience the soulful goodness for yourself at Goddessnoircakes.com, @goddessnoircakes on instagram, or @goddessnoircakes on FB.
Soccer Participant Matheo is DSAL’s Athlete of the Month
Matheo’s journey over the last six months, is a testament to the transformative power of our free sports programming. When he first joined the program, Matheo was shy and hesitant to participate.
But in just half a year, he has blossomed into a confident, engaged player, showcasing exceptional talent and teamwork on the soccer field. His connection with teammates and his coach has helped him improve his skills and fitness level, but even more importantly, he has broken out of his shell, becoming more social and connected to community.
For Matheo, the highlight of the program is simple yet profound: the joy of playing with other kids in a safe and supportive environment. This opportunity, made possible because our programming is free and accessible, removes the financial barriers that often keep youth from being able to participate in organized sports.
Beyond individual growth, we also see a ripple effect in our community. By providing structured, positive activities, we keep kids engaged and active. Instead of staying isolated at home, participants find a sense of belonging and purpose. As a result, the community becomes healthier, safer, and more connected, full of strong individuals with elevated spirits.
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