At the heart of our Food Hub commercial kitchen is our manager - Mikki Bunag, owner of ALAB SF - who originally joined us on his culinary journey as one of our kitchen renters! Today, Mikki is part mentor, part facilitator, and part problem-solver, whose purpose is to provide a nurturing environment where aspiring chefs, bakers, and food artisans can turn their passion into profit. Whether it's a fledgling bakery experimenting with new recipes or a burgeoning catering service preparing for their first big event, there is invaluable guidance and resources available to them every step of the way.
Chef Mikki has extensive knowledge, having started his culinary journey at Enderun Colleges, Alain Ducasse Institute Philippines. He has had the privilege to work in a two Michelin-star restaurant, Oustau de Baumaniere, and a one Michelin-star restaurant, La Cabro d’Or. At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, he became a Bay Area resident, and worked as Head Chef at The Cupboard. Tapping into the need for our community to have access to easy, healthy prepared meals at home, Chef Mikki worked within the Food Hub and turned his passion for food into a healthy delivery business, creating what is today - ALAB SF.
ALAB SF is an organic meal delivery service that provides family-style, nutritious, sustainable, and delicious meals in the Bay Area. ALAB is a Filipino word that describes a burning desire and passion for a purpose, so with Mikki's “ALAB” being to improve people’s lives through delicious, healthy, wholesome foods, he makes a great kitchen manager who empowers all of our renters on their unique culinary quests.
Securing commercial kitchen space can be a daunting and expensive endeavor, but we are working to fix that formula, by allowing entrepreneurs to use our facilities on a shared basis, breaking down barriers to entry, and making it possible for anyone with a culinary dream to pursue their passion on a budget.
Along with affordable access and equipment, our kitchen manager Mikki provides access to a wealth of knowledge and expertise. From navigating health and safety regulations to optimizing production processes, Mikki offers invaluable insights born from years of experience in the industry. Striking out on your own can be daunting, so we work together to empower entrepreneurs to sharpen their skills and overcome obstacles on their paths to success.
Now more than ever - with the worst of the pandemic behind us - our Food Hub kitchen also serves as a hub of collaboration and camaraderie. By bringing together like-minded individuals with a shared love for food, our space fosters a sense of belonging and mutual support. Whether it's sharing connections or offering words of encouragement during a challenging time, entrepreneurs know they're part of a larger community that has their back and wants them to succeed.
We have a deep-seated desire to see everyone succeed and be part of a community that rises together. We recognize that every milestone, no matter how small, is an important one for a small food business, and take pride in knowing that with every day that someone shows up and reaches their next goal, they are making progress in achieving their dreams. We work not only to help small businesses thrive, but also enrich the fabric of the community at large, where we can all savor a tasty and nutritious meal around the table together.
Thank you to Mikki for your passion and knowledge that you share with our community of kitchen renters!
For information about kitchen rental opportunities see our website at www.acdsal.org/kitchen-rentals.
Email Mikki at kitchen@digdeepfarms.com or call (510) 504-4066 to schedule a tour, and find out more about renting space in the kitchen to bring your food-based business dreams to life.
Funder Spotlight - Olympic Club Foundation
The Olympic Club Foundation has a passion for organized sports, competition and camaraderie, and the positive impact they can have.
OCF supports and encourages participation of Bay Area youth in amateur athletics, with a singular mission to financially support programs which share the belief that participation in organized athletics enriches young lives and develops future community leaders.
The organization has positively impacted the lives of more than 350,000 kids participating in 40+ different sports at over 200 nonprofit organizations in the Bay Area, of which we are proud to be one! Thank you OCF!
Partner Spotlight - Alameda County Community Food Bank
For over 35 years, the Alameda County Community Food Bank has stood by their unwavering belief that food is a basic human right. They partner with more than 420 food pantries, hot-meal programs, senior centers and non-profits to distribute millions of pounds of food every year, and are on the forefront of new approaches to ending hunger and poverty.
ACCFB's outreach team helps families and individuals enroll in CalFresh - a supplemental nutrition program that helps families stretch their food budgets and afford healthy food. CalFresh also drives money into our local economy. Each year, more than $20 million in economic stimulus goes directly to local grocers, farmers’ markets and retailers.
A partner of ALL-IN, ACCFB supports the Recipe4Health initiative, which creates intentional partnerships between healthcare clinics, health coaches, and farms to improve health outcomes in our community through a healthy diet. The produce prescribed and sold in CSA bags through the ALL IN Eats website is organically produced by Dig Deep Farms using sustainable and regenerative farming practices, with the goal of continuing to improve the health of our families and our ecosystem.
ACCFB is the main contributor and force behind our weekly Free Food Drives at the DDF Food Hub. Without them we wouldn't be able to feed as many food-insecure families as we do, and help to keep our community healthy, so we are endlessly grateful for their support!
Dig Deep Farms Update
Rain and cloudy weather has prevented a lot of field plant-outs and weeding, so during this wet winter season, the Dig Deep Farms Ardenwood team has been focusing on farmyard tasks like scattering planter boxes and placing smaller herbs and plants in them to attract more pollinators when they return!
The volunteer plants that carpet the fields - nettle, amaranth, mallow, plantain, and shepherd's purse, now act as a cover crop to protect the soil beneath from erosion and promote nutrient and water retention.
Plants in the green house are growing slowly due to the cold temperatures and limited sunlight but we continue to seed trays of green onions which will eventually be hardened off and transplanted into the fields once the weather is warmer and sunnier.
Muevete Participant Valentina Scott is DSAL’s Athlete of the Month
"Participating in this program has affected my life in a positive way. I have been in the DSAL Muevete class Monday through Friday for over 2 years. This class has helped my health thrive. By being in a positive environment and having our wonderful teacher who inspires us all, it has also impacted my mental health in a positive way too.
My favorite part is that I can show up and know that we all getting healthy together as a team, and that this is a free opportunity for all. I feel comfortable and that I am a part of something. Our instructor Angie is organized, dedicated, and teaches with her entire being. She truly wants to see everyone in her community active, healthier and well. I am so thankful for our class.
Our Muevete community has grown and so many of us are mothers, caregivers and workers, and this program allows us to have a safe haven to be able to take time for ourselves. Self care is so crucial, and this program provides that to all of us. It most definitely contributes to each of us being healthier, and having a safe environment to come to and work out.”
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