Oakland Bloom in the News

Oakland-based immigrant chef overcomes hurdles to launch business

For Oakland’s Marlene Rojas, starting a food business came with formidable barriers. She had neither the formal training nor the capital to launch a business. AND her immigration status limited her access to culinary school and business classes. She was stuck.

But then Marlene discovered a training program built to help people like her.

November 14, 2024
KALW

Oakland Bloom Envisions a More Equitable and Cooperative Food Industry

Oakland Bloom launched in 2015, with a focus on providing training and opportunities for Bay Area immigrant and refugee food entrepreneurs. Almost a decade later, the organization continues to advance economic equity in the food industry, while also reimagining what that industry can be.

“A lot of what we do is really about designing different pathways for business ownership for the population we serve, which is poor, working-class, migrant, and BIPOC chefs,” says [Program Director] Claudia. “A lot of them have families and full-time jobs. It’s something that they’re balancing with their regular lives.”

September 6, 2024
Foodwise

Oakland Bloom Launches Open Test Kitchen

Oakland Bloom’s mission sets out to “advance economic equity in the food industry.” In particular, OTK supports participants who are “poor and working class immigrant, refugee and PoC chefs” by combining commercial food training with the opportunity to earn an income.

October 1, 2024
East Bay Express

This radical Bay Area restaurant took home one of the food industry’s most prestigious awards

“In March, a little-known Oakland restaurant got some surprising news: It had won one of the food world’s highest-profile awards.Understory, a colorful, worker-run restaurant that opened at 528 Eighth St. in spring of last year, had won the James Beard Foundation’s emerging leadership award. It honors ‘the visionaries responsible for creating a healthier, safer, and more equitable and sustainable food system.'”

July 21, 2022
SF Chronicle

Serving More Than Food: Restaurant Co-Ops Put Economic Justice on the Table

“Co-ops are providing high-quality jobs largely unavailable in an industry notorious for its low wages and exploitation.”

January 19, 2022
Truthout

This Oakland Restaurant Was Developed in the Spirit of Mutual Aid

“It’s a food incubator, a place where refugee chefs can hone their skills, a kitchen for mutual aid — oh, and a restaurant too.”

April 8, 2021
Next City

The restaurant putting workers in charge – and inequality on the chopping block

“A rotating menu of Filipino, Moroccan, and Mexican cuisine underpins an ambition to uplift the food industry labor structure”

March 31, 2021
The Guardian

Immigrant chefs pursue their culinary dreams at Oakland Bloom

“Immigrants often face disadvantages in the food industry. This nonprofit is working to change that.”

January 4, 2021
Oaklandside