San Francisco, CA
San Francisco restaurants, bars step up to support LA fire victims
San Francisco restaurants support LA fire victims
Several San Francisco restaurants have joined the wildfire relief effort in Southern California. These efforts showcase the power of the community coming together to support those in need, even from hundreds of miles away.
SAN FRANCISCO – Several San Francisco restaurants are stepping up to support people affected by the devastating wildfires in Southern California.
What we know:
Octavia, located at Octavia and Bush streets, quickly recognized the urgent need for action as the fires raged in Southern California.
“Personally, I’m from Southern California, and I have a lot of friends and family there,” said Jack Irving, Chef de Cuisine at Octavia. “As the fires started unfolding, it became clear we needed to do something.”
Octavia, which had paused its monthly Saturday bake sales, is bringing it back this weekend. The event, called Saturbake, will feature pastries, breads, pasta, and sandwiches, and run from 10 am to 1 p.m. All proceeds will go to World Central Kitchen’s relief efforts, which are feeding thousands of evacuees and first responders on the ground.
“It feels so good to see the community of San Francisco come together, not just here, but everywhere,” Irving said. “In restaurants, we’re all about hospitality, and I believe that goes beyond just serving dinner. Taking care of people is what we do.”
The Flour + Water Hospitality Group, which includes Flour + Water in the Mission District, is also donating a portion of sales from every tasting menu, house wine, and Margherita pizza to World Central Kitchen.
Modern Indian restaurant Besharam, located in the Dogpatch neighborhood, is also donating a percentage of proceeds from every tasting menu ordered to World Central Kitchen.
In downtown San Francisco, Holbrook House is donating $3 from every Los Angeles Gin Martini sold through January 31st to the American Red Cross.
Erin Rickenbaker, co-owner of El Chato wine bar, is also fundraising to support relief efforts. She once lived in Los Angeles, and shared that this cause is especially personal for her.
“It’s nice to be able to provide people with warm meals and offer what we can. We may be far away, but this is something we can do, and it feels good,” she said.
A portion of sales from El Chato on Tuesday night, which saw a busier than usual crowd, will go directly to restaurants feeding fire victims in Los Angeles.
Hadley Kemp, a San Francisco resident, came out to support the cause.
“I can’t stop reading the news, looking at photos, and hearing from friends who live down there,” Kemp said. “So, anything we can do to give back.”
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco man who sexually assaulted relatives gets 25-year prison sentence
A San Francisco man convicted of sexually assaulting two of his relatives was sentenced to a lengthy prison term, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office said in a press release that a judge sentenced Sergio Alvarado, 60, to a total of 25 years and four months in state prison following his convictions.
A jury found Alvarado guilty of three counts of forcible rape and one count of forcible oral copulation for crimes that happened in 2014. He was also convicted of attempted forcible oral copulation on a minor and assault in a 2019 case involving a different victim.
Prosecutors said Alvarado sexually assaulted the first victim repeatedly over a period of several months. Several years later, Alvarado assaulted the other victim, a 16-year-old relative, in his car after he offered to drive her to a job interview, the DA’s Office said.
“Family violence occurs within ongoing relationships that are expected to be protective, supportive, and nurturing,” said Assistant District Attorney Sheila Johnson in a prepared statement. “Mr. Alvarado’s exploitation of that trust caused two generations of women profound psychological trauma. Hopefully, seeing him brought to justice restores their sense of humanity and sends the message that violence of this kind will not be tolerated.”
San Francisco, CA
Holiday travel at San Francisco airport being affected by winter weather
With rain and wind in the forecast, it may make some people’s holiday travel a little more difficult.
At San Francisco International Airport, more than 400 flights have been delayed. Maggie Nelson’s was delayed coming into the airport.
“It seemed like everyone was in a panic or a hurry to get anywhere,” said Nelson. “The plane was crowded. There was a lot of turbulence.”
Nelson flew in from Redmond, Oregon, usually a quick flight to SFO, just under two hours, but she ended up being delayed nearly that long.
“Originally, we were supposed to take off at 2 p.m. and then our flight got delayed to 2:50 p.m., and then it got delayed again,” Nelson explained. “I don’t think we took off until 3:30 p.m. because of high winds or something.”
California is in the middle of an intense storm period. Two systems bringing heavy rain and strong winds, and Nelson could feel all of it.
“The turbulence was pretty bad,” said Nelson. “There was a point where I got nauseous. I was like ‘Are we there yet? Is this over?’”
While she’s grateful to be on solid ground, Shon Alkaslasi was about to take off or at least try to.
“United sent a text that wind might affect operations,” said Alkaslasi.
He arrived early, just in case of holiday traffic, now he’s anticipating he may be delayed. He’s travelling home to Los Angeles, another area in the middle of the storms.
“I would say I’m not the biggest fan of turbulence so I am a little bit nervous about that,” Alkaslaski detailed. “But if they say it’s totally safe to travel, I’m not usually concerned but the feeling of bumps on a plane is just not the most comfortable and I’ll have to deal with it.”
Airport Duty Manager Crystal David said overall things haven’t been too bad, but West Coast flights, like Alkaslasi’s and Nelson’s, are the ones most likely to be impacted.
“SFO is on a ground delay program throughout the night, through midnight and so right now it’s about 127 minutes because of winds,” said David. “Mostly it’s the west coast flights are that are being affected right now with delays of up to 35 minutes for the west coast traffic.”
She said the delays could continue into the morning, when even stronger winds are expected. She recommends travelers check in with their airlines.
But for Nelson, she’s just glad she made it home.
“I used to live a lot closer so it’s a lot harder to come home now so when I do get to come home, I try to take advantage of that and appreciate it,” said Nelson.
San Francisco, CA
Executive chef of new buzzy San Francisco restaurant Bourbon Steak visits ABC7
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — ABC7 got in the holiday spirit Monday with the executive chef of San Francisco’s buzziest restaurants that just opened in October — to a lot of fanfare.
We’re talking about Bourbon Steak, inside the Westin St. Francis Hotel.
Legendary celebrity chef Michael Mina’s latest opening brings him back to San Francisco, and everyone came to celebrate: a cable car, Mayor Daniel Lurie, and Warriors superstar Stephen Curry — a partner in this venture who created the bourbon bar Eighth Rule inside the restaurant.
But they’re not just about style. They are first and foremost about steaks.
Because they are on the menu for so many holiday gatherings, we are delighted that Bourbon Steak executive chef Kevin Schantz joined us on ABC7’s “Midday Live.”
Watch the full interview in the player above.
If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live
Copyright © 2025 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
-
Maine1 week agoElementary-aged student killed in school bus crash in southern Maine
-
New Mexico1 week agoFamily clarifies why they believe missing New Mexico man is dead
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a 47-year-old physicist and fusion scientist, shot and killed in his home in Brookline, Mass. | Fortune
-
Detroit, MI1 week ago‘Love being a pedo’: Metro Detroit doctor, attorney, therapist accused in web of child porn chats
-
Health1 week ago‘Aggressive’ new flu variant sweeps globe as doctors warn of severe symptoms
-
Culture1 week agoTry This Quiz and See How Much You Know About Jane Austen
-
Education1 week agoVideo: How We Tested Earplugs for Sleeping
-
World6 days agoPutin says Russia won’t launch new attacks on other countries ‘if you treat us with respect’