A James Beard-recognized pastry chef makes a quiet comeback in the Dogpatch Vince Bugtong earned national attention for his Asian American desserts. Now he’s back in action in the basement kitchen at Piccino.

New article --and first time writing for @sfstandard.com! 🥐 sfstandard.com/2026/04/16/v...

Cinnaholic returns to its roots with new Berkeley location In an ironic twist, the Bay Area was left with zero locations of the franchise when the original Oxford Street shop shuttered in 2023. Now, the vegan treats are back in the Bay.

Cinnaholic and vegan cinnamon rolls are back in #Berkeley, where it all started. oaklandside.org/2026/04/02/c...

After controversial 2022 closure, culinary and literary stars align for César team's comeback The new restaurant, opening in Westbrae, is named Mesón and will be modeled after the cherished tapas bar that closed in 2022.

The new restaurant, opening in Westbrae, is named Mesón and will be modeled after the cherished tapas bar that closed in 2022.

The César team is staging a comeback, with help from author Michael Lewis The new restaurant, opening in Westbrae, is named Mesón and will be modeled after the cherished tapas bar that closed in 2022.

New-but-old beloved restaurant concept coming back to Berkeley -- the team behind César is opening Mesón (including with author Michael Lewis as an investor): oaklandside.org/2026/03/30/c...

Another Alysa Liu mural in Oakland — this one with Kristi Yamaguchi Muralist Julie Engelmann began work on the mural last week at Oakland Ice Center to celebrate the East Bay's two Asian American gold medalists.

Muralist Julie Engelmann began work on the mural last week at Oakland Ice Center to celebrate the East Bay's two Asian American gold medalists.

Another Alysa Liu mural in Oakland — this one with Kristi Yamaguchi Muralist Julie Engelmann began work on the mural last week at Oakland Ice Center to celebrate the East Bay's two Asian American gold medalists.

Another #AlysaLiu mural is going up -- this one outside of the ice skating rink where she learned to skate. Next to her is Kristi Yamaguchi. oaklandside.org/2026/03/27/a... @oaklandside.org

‘She is our hero’: Oakland celebrates Alysa Liu after Olympics triumph After earning gold in Milan, local figure-skating icon accepts a key to the city at a celebration of local artists

“What’s up, Oakland!” Liu said to cheers from the crowd. “This is for y’all,” she added, holding the gold medals around her neck.

Sweet article and photos recapping Oakland's celebration of Alysa Liu this week by @momo-chang.bsky.social ❤️‍🔥🫶🌳

www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/m...

Request for Applications: Food Systems and Public Health Fellowship for Journalists 2026-2027 Cohort Recruitment The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) is pleased to announce its Request for Applications (RFA) for the 2026-2027 cohort of the Food Systems and Public Health Fellowship for Journalists....

Opportunity for early- and mid-career journalists on the food system beat—and those who aspire to be. Applications open for the 2026 Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future Food System Fellowship is now open. Please apply and/or share! clf.jhsph.edu/about-us/new...

Get a first look at the massive Tokyo Central opening in Emeryville Everything you need to know about the grand opening for the 44,000 square-foot grocery and restaurant on Saturday, Jan. 31.

Everything you need to know about the grand opening for the 44,000 square-foot grocery and restaurant on Saturday, Jan. 31.

What the ‘Asian Market Boom’ is Missing: An Ode to Pacific East Mall As shiny, new Asian grocery stores are hailed as retail "saviors," the decades-old Pacific East Mall in Richmond shows how immigrant cultural spaces matter beyond their economic benefits.

The Bay Area is experiencing an 'Asian Market Boom.' But what does it mean when immigrant cultural spaces become economic solutions?

Read @cecilialei.bsky.social's personal essay on Richmond’s Pacific East Mall, the "retail savior" narrative, and why she’s craving a different story.

A screenshot of text that reads: Over the course of a year, selected fellows will: Participate in workshops and other events held at the annual Environmental Journalism (April 2026), Health Journalism (late May 2026) and ScienceWriters (Fall 2026) conferences. Learn from custom webinars scheduled throughout the year for additional opportunities to gain skills, connections and resources to inform their reporting. Be matched with a professional mentor. Receive prepaid memberships in the National Association of Science Writers, SEJ and AHCJ. Participate in peer-to-peer networking platforms. Receive project support stipends if they are an independent journalist.

Deadline extension alert! You now have until Dec. 31 to apply for a National Science-Health-Environment Reporting Fellowship. If you're an early-career, U.S.-based journalist, this program is for you.

casw.org/news/applica...

@sejorg.bsky.social @healthjournalism.org @sciencewriters.org

Since Stop AAPI Hate, some Oakland Chinatown residents are rethinking crime prevention - Oakland Voices A nationwide rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in 2021 spurred demands for more policing. Today, some Oakland Chinatown residents say their thoughts on public safety have evolved.

Here's a link to the story: oaklandvoices.us/2024/09/12/s...

A woman with black hair and black dress holding up an award certificate in front of a step and repeat backdrop that says "San Francisco Press Club"

A paper award with black and orange colors that says "Momo Chang First Place print/digital small newsroom general news story San Francisco Press Club"

A black background with the words "General News Story First Place: Momo Chang, Roselyn Romero, Tommy Craggs ' Since Stop AAPI Hate, some Oakland Chinatown residents are rethinking crime prevention' Oaklandside and Oakland Voices; Second Place: Ted Andersen ' Big property tax bills start to roll in from Prop. 19 reform' San Francisco Business Times"; Third Place: Gabe Stutman: 'Tension over hiring an Israeli Counselor Roiled a Bay Area Music Camp and Ended Friendships' The Jewish News of Northern California"

Honored to have won a first place at SF Press Club ceremony last night, shared w/co-writer @roselynr.bsky.social & editor @tcraggs22.bsky.social. Thanks to @oaklandside.org @oaklandvoices.bsky.social @maynardinstitute.bsky.social for co-publishing the story.

Oakland gift guide: Chinatown on foot A walking guide to discover hidden gems for foodies and plant-lovers from small businesses — plus where to stop for dumplings and sweets.

A walking guide to help you discover hidden gems for foodies and plant-lovers — plus where to stop for dumplings and sweets.

Giving trees: East Bay backyard orchards are a mutual aid lifeline Oakland Gleaners and Alameda’s Project Pick have had record years, redistributing a combined 11 tons of fruit to those in need.

Oakland Gleaners and Alameda’s Project Pick have had record years, redistributing a combined 11 tons of fruit to those in need.

Giving trees: East Bay backyard orchards are a mutual aid lifeline Oakland Gleaners and Alameda’s Project Pick have had record years, redistributing a combined 11 tons of fruit to those in need.

Oakland Gleaners and Alameda’s Project Pick have had record years, redistributing a combined 11 tons of fruit to those in need.

Oakland gift guide: Chinatown on foot A walking guide to discover hidden gems for foodies and plant-lovers from small businesses — plus where to stop for dumplings and sweets.

#SmallBusinessSaturday is coming up. I wrote a guide for Oakland Chinatown for @oaklandside.org , which includes a fortune cookie factory that makes gift sets and swag, a housewares shop, plant shop, and of courses, places to eat dim sum and Asian desserts 🌿🥠🧫🥟🍨 oaklandside.org/2025/11/24/o...

Oakland schools have stemmed principal turnover OUSD has made substantial gains in principal retention this year, which means stability for schools and students. But principals worry that looming budget cuts could undermine that progress.

"Oakland schools have stemmed principal turnover"
This is some positive news for Oakland Unified School District (where eons ago, I was a new teacher, before I became a professional journalist)! Reporting by Ashley McBride for @oaklandside.org oaklandside.org/2025/11/24/o...

teh calendar is up! If you click through to the website you get to see my favorite event of the week, which I FOROGT TO INCLUDE before we sent it to subscribers.

Go to the website, there's a pretty picture of a magic eight ball on it.

“We need to almost see ourselves as part of nature,” she said, “instead of something that’s far away from it.”

Carolyn Johnson is CEO of the Black Cultural Zone in East Oakland. She'll be receiving a leadership award from @sanfranciscofdn.bsky.social. I chatted with Carolyn about her family history and her work. sff.org/carolyn-john...

Launch Coyote Media Collective A new alt-weekly-style publication is hitting the Bay Area

awoooooo

givebutter.com/coyotemedia

What Deep Cuts to NOAA Mean for U.S. Fisheries The dismantling of the agency will affect fisheries, oceans, and weather forecasting. U.S. fishers are already feeling the impact.

My latest for @civileats.com “The hard-won progress over the last 30 years to rebuild most of our fisheries, from in many cases severe depletion, could very quickly be reversed if we’re not going to enforce the rules...” Andrew Rosenberg, former NOAA senior official.
civileats.com/2025/05/15/w...

Protests Mount Against ICE Detentions of Immigrant Farmworkers Unions and advocacy groups say worker organizers have been targeted amid federal immigration sweeps.

Protests Mount Against ICE Detentions of Immigrant Farmworkers

civileats.com/2025/05/09/p...

Op-ed: Why Most No-Till Agriculture Is Not Actually Regenerative The majority of no-till farming in the US depends on herbicides, which devastate soil life.

“The majority of no-till farming in this country is focused on herbicides, not regeneration,” writes first-generation organic farmer Nate Powell-Palm in an op-ed. “These chemicals devastate ... the microbes and bugs that farmers need to regenerate soil.”

You're welcome!! Well-deserved! 💙🎉

🍁 A nice Q&A from contributor Elena Valeriote with Ella Smoot of the Oregon Maple Project! 🍁

Proposal Could Threaten Endangered Species’ Survival in Farm Country If approved, the change to the Endangered Species Act would give farmers more leeway to use pesticides on critical habitats.

The Trump administration proposed a change to the Endangered Species Act that would give farmers more leeway to use pesticides on critical habitats.

Civil Eats has been nominated for 2 James Beard journalism awards! One, for our member newsletter + another for @greymoran.bsky.social's story about a solution to protect farmworkers. Big congrats to our associate editor, Christina Cooke, for "Black Earth," published in The Bitter Southerner. 🧑‍🌾🥬

Trump Orders Deregulation of the US Fishing Industry President Donald Trump yesterday announced an effort to create a “new era” of seafood policy, with an executive order that aims to “reduce the regulatory burden” on U.S. fisheries. Ocean sustainability groups have expressed concerns that the order could damage ocean ecosystems and deplete fisheries. “The United States should be the world’s dominant seafood leader,” Trump wrote in the order, Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. “But in addition to overregulation, unfair trade practices have put our seafood markets at a competitive disadvantage.”

Trump Orders Deregulation of the US Fishing Industry

Read the latest from the Food Policy Tracker ➡️ buff.ly/JiWEDcq