Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

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New Contra Costa health permit allows home kitchens to sell meals to the public

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Photo: CC Health

Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations can offer meals for dine-in, delivery and takeout and with limits, in addition to Cottage Food Operations already allowed

By Contra Costa Health

Contra Costa residents interested in selling home-cooked food to the public can now get a health permit to do so, an affordable option for entrepreneurs that ensures the safety of their customers.

Beginning July 1, Contra Costa Health (CCH) offers a new type of food permit for small-scale, home-based restaurants operated inside private homes by their residents. Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) can offer meals for dine-in, delivery and takeout. MEHKOs can offer meals for dine-in, take-out, and/or delivery, and can also be used as a commissary for permitted food carts.

“By providing this option we ensure that people who sell food out of their homes do so in a safe manner that protects the health of our community,” said Federal Glover, chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. “We also open the door for neighborhood businesses, and for more access to healthy, nutritious food in areas where options may be limited.”

The board unanimously adopted an ordinance in May authorizing the county to offer the permit under terms of a 2018 state law. Several other Bay Area jurisdictions already do so, including Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Solano counties, and the City of Berkeley.

The permit allows meals to be stored, handled, and prepared to be served or delivered in a private residence. Most other food permits require a commercial kitchen in a restaurant or similar facility.

A permitted home can also serve as a space to prepare food for sale on street carts, a requirement to obtain a cart vendor health permit that has proven to be a significant barrier in Contra Costa.

As with holders of standard commercial food permits, MEHKO permit holders must meet requirements relating both to the spaces where their businesses operate and the food-safety training of operators. CCH will inspect each permit holder annually or more often.

The MEHKO permits do limit the holder to selling no more than 30 meals per day and 90 meals per week, and no more than $100,000 in gross annual sales. There are also some limitations regarding the type of food that may be served.

CCH will schedule workshops throughout the county later this year for potential applicants.

“This permit is great for new entrepreneurs who are just getting started,” CCH Environmental Health Director Kristian Lucas said. “It’s also a way for the public to know that a seller advertising on social media is complying with food safety regulations.”

MEHKO permit holders will be required to display their permits at their homes, and their health inspection records will be available to the public at cchealth.org.

Cottage Food Operations Already Allowed

Contra Costa Health offers two kinds of permits for home-based food operations. In addition, to the new MEHKO, the county also allows Cottage Food Operations (CFO) which “is a home-based operation that allows limited amounts of certain foods to be prepared in a home kitchen for retail sale. A CFO can prepare and package non-potentially hazardous foods from home. The California Department of Public Health maintains a listing of foods approved to be sold from a private residence. Some examples of these foods include cookies, candies, jams/jellies, muffins, cakes, and pies. Only foods on the state listing are approved as cottage food products.

According to the California Department of Public Health Food and Drug Branch, “There are two different classes of CFO’s:

Class A: This type of CFO can sell home-kitchen prepared foods directly to the public. This includes transactions made via the phone, internet, and any other digital method. A direct sale may be fulfilled in person, via mail delivery, or using any other third-party delivery service. A Class A operator’s current maximum gross annual sales are $75,000.

Class B: This type of CFO can sell home-kitchen prepared foods directly to the public or indirectly through restaurants and food markets. A direct sale may be fulfilled in person, via mail delivery, or using any other third-party delivery service. An indirect sale may be fulfilled in person, via mail delivery, or third-party delivery service. The current gross annual sales for a Class B operator are $150,000.

For more information about the new and CFO permits, including how to apply, visit cchealth.org/homekitchens.

National Day of Prayer East County Prayer Breakfast Thursday, May 2

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Deadline for tickets: Monday, April 29

Join in on the 73rd National Day of Prayer as prayers are offered for our nation, state, cities & communities, schools, churches, families & youth, homeless & others in need, military & veterans, first responders, hospitals & medical personnel and businesses.

Space is limited to the first 85 attendees. RSVP and purchase tickets for $32.50 which includes tax and tip, at eventbrite. No profit is being earned from the sale of tickets as all proceeds will be paid to the restaurant.

Good Friday Passover Seder Friday, March 29 at Campos Family Vineyards

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Photos from 2023 Good Friday Passover Seeder. Source: Ralph Rechnitz

Ralph Rechnitiz will host a traditional Passover Seder again this year with his Palestinian ministry partner Saed Awwad on Good Friday, March 29 at 5:00 p.m. at Campos Family Vineyards, 3501 Byer Road in Byron.

All are invited to join in for an evening filled with delicious food, meaningful rituals, and joyful celebration! For more information click, here.

Natural gas ban lifted for new buildings in Contra Costa County

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Supervisors suspend all-electric requirements following U.S. Court of Appeals ruling

(Martinez, CA) – The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Tuesday suspended enforcement of its requirement that most new buildings be constructed as all-electric buildings.  The County’s all-electric building requirement, as part of the County’s building code, had prohibited the installation of natural gas infrastructure in most new buildings and required developers to use electricity as the sole source of energy in the building.  With Tuesday’s action, the County’s all-electric building requirement will not be enforced.

Last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invalidated a City of Berkeley ordinance that prohibited natural gas infrastructure in new buildings. The court held that the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act precludes cities and counties from adopting building codes that prohibit the installation of gas plumbing in buildings.

Contra Costa County’s all-electric building requirement, like the invalidated City of Berkeley ordinance, prohibits the installation of gas plumbing in new buildings.  The County is therefore suspending this requirement in response to the Ninth Circuit’s decision.

At the same time, the Board of Supervisors remains committed to the goals that prompted it to adopt the all-electric requirement: improving public health and fighting what they believe contributes to climate change. The Board referred the topic of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings to its Sustainability Committee and directed staff to report on alternatives for advancing this objective at the Committee’s next meeting.

“Contra Costa County remains committed to reducing the use of fossil fuels in buildings and continues to support the construction of new buildings using all-electric technologies.  We are eager to identify new and innovative ways to continue to pursue our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.” said Board Chair Federal D. Glover, District 5 Supervisor.

The County encourages residents and businesses to continue to install all-electric building systems and appliances. There are many benefits of all-electric construction, some of which include:

  • Cleaner air and better health outcomes from eliminating the emissions associated with burning fossil fuels, particularly indoors.
  • Not having to pay to install gas pipes in new buildings.
  • Taking advantage of financial incentives and rebates for all-electric appliances.
  • Resilience against power outages, particularly when electric technologies are paired with battery storage.
  • Hedging against high electricity costs by being able to schedule electric appliances to operate at times of day when electricity costs are lowest.
  • Preparing for the potential discontinuation of gas appliances in the future that could occur from possible regulatory actions by regional, state, or federal agencies.

There are many good resources on the benefits of all-electric buildings, including:

The County’s sustainability web site has information on state and federal incentives, rebates, and other ways to fund all-electric upgrades.

The Bay Area Regional Energy Network has information on training opportunities, rebates and incentives, and contractors.

MCE, the community choice energy provider for most of Contra Costa County, offers rebates and incentives.

The Switch Is On, sponsored by the Building Decarbonization Coalition, is a collaborative campaign to support all-electric home conversion by providing tools, support, and resources to Californians.

Rewiring America provides information about the benefits of all-electric technologies, and helps generate a personalized plan for individuals, including costs and savings.

PG&E also has resources on all-electric buildings, including rebates, incentives, rate plans, and design guides.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

San Ramon’s Shish Grill to be featured on America’s Best Restaurants Roadshow in March

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Photo source: Shill Grill Yelp

By Suzanne Hale, Communications Specialist, America’s Best Restaurants

SAN RAMON: – Local restaurant Shish Grill will be hosting a visit from America’s Best Restaurants (ABR) in early March 2024.

America’s Best Restaurants, a national media and marketing company focusing on bringing attention to local, independently-owned restaurants, will bring its ABR Roadshow to Shish Grill in Samon restaurant on March 7th.  Popular dishes will be highlighted, along with an extensive on-camera interview with owners Guss and Nancy Annan about the restaurant’s special place in the community. The episode will be aired extensively on social media channels at a later date.

Providing authentic Mediterranean food in the San Ramon area, Shish Grill offers an extensive menu of Greek, Lebanese and Mediterranean food served in a casual setting.  The space is also home to an international market where produce, ready-made foods and pantry staples can also be purchased.

Shish Grill has a commitment to reduce use of disposable products to save money and help the environment. By using reusable dishware, the restaurant reduces their use of plasticware by tens of thousands of pieces a year.

The healthy cuisine, which includes many vegetarian and vegan options, is popular with the community; Shish Grill offers catering for all sizes of group gatherings. Popular items include the Shish Plate, a mix of beef, chicken, and kafta kabobs with rice and vegetables; chicken shawarma; and Spicy Chicken, noted on the menu as chef Nancy’s favorite, which is chicken breast stir-fried with onions, bell peppers, roasted garlic and housemade shish grill hot sauce.

Shish Grill has won East Bay Times’ “Best in East Bay 2023” for several categories several years in a row, including 2023 Best Neighborhood Grocery and Best Barbecue.

America’s Best Restaurants will be filming on location on Thursday March 7th from 2 pm to 5 pm PST.  The press is invited to attend. The restaurant’s finished episode premiere date will be announced on their Facebook page and will be featured on America’s Best Restaurants’ website at https://americasbestrestaurants.com/rests/california/shish-grill.

Restaurants featured on the ABR Roadshow are found through customer nominations or by a restaurant applying to be featured at www.americasbestrestaurants.com.

About Shish Grill: Open Monday through Saturday, Shish Grill is located at 1061 Market Place in San Ramon, CA. Telephone is (925) 415-3270. For more information visit www.theshishgrill.com.

About ABR: America’s Best Restaurants, a national media and restaurant marketing company based in Florence, KY, travels the country telling the stories and highlighting the unique food of locally owned independent restaurants as part of their ABR Roadshow. Restaurants are featured not only on ABR’s Restaurant Network of social media channels and website, but also each individual establishment’s Facebook page. With over 1000 episodes filmed, America’s Best Restaurants is the premier marketing agency for restaurant owners and operators to have their story broadcast coast-to-coast. Visit AmericasBestRestaurants.com to learn more and to view the episodes and profiles of hundreds of America’s Best Restaurants!

 

The Wright Social Spot celebrates the Bay Area’s best 2023 Pre-Valentine’s Party

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Dinner & Live Music Show & Celebrating February Birthdays.

Get your tickets now!

Presented by Wright’s Catering and The Wright Social Spot

Saturday, February 11, 2023, 4:00 – 11:00 PM

509 W. 2nd Street, Rivertown, Antioch

$75 per person. Purchase your tickets today on EventBrite.

The Wright Social Spot welcomes our first event of 2023 with The Best Indoor Pre-Valentines Dinner & February Birthday’s Event of the Year with Live Music Performances & 4-Course Dinner.

Please Join Us in celebrating LOVE at a Classy, Upscale, Fun-Filled Pre-Valentine’s Day “2023” Event.

COME AND GET YOUR LIFETIME GLASS ROSE!!!!!!

Live Music, DJ, Dancing, 4-Course Dinner included with the $75 cover.

DON’T MISS THIS AWESOME DINNER MUSIC EVENT!! GET YOUR TICKETS NOW BEFORE THEY ARE SOLD OUT!!!

  • HOSTED BY: Paul & Maggie Wright from The Wright Social Spot & WrightCatering.net
  • WHERE: 509 W. 2nd Street, Antioch, CA
  • DATE: Saturday, February 11, 2023
  • TIME: 4:00 PM -11:00 PM
  • WHAT’S INCLUDED: Singing 🎼🎵🎼♪ Dancing 💃🕺4-Course Dinner 🍽😋Beverages🍸 🍹 🍸
  • INCLUDES DINNER SERVICE: 7:00PM – 8:30PM (Choice of Chicken, NY Steak, Salmon, Shrimp) – included with $75 Admission. Dinner Options available for Oxtails (+ $25), Lamb (+$25), King Crab Legs (+ $50), Lobster (+$50)
  • RSVP BY: February 11, 2023, Pre-paid Reservations Required so get your tickets early.
  • PAYMENT OPTIONS: Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, Debit/Credit or PayPal to 415-971-8776 Or Eventbrite, Credit/Debit (NO REFUNDS, NO EXCEPTIONS)
  • DOORS OPEN: 4:00 PM
  • PARKING: Lots of free parking (FIRST COME FIRST SERVE) THEME: Black & Gold & Red
  • MORE INFORMATION: Call or Text Paul at (415) 971-8776 or Maggie at 209-896-7131
  • YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/W0QgsYc2DEo
  • WEB: WrightCatering.net
  • FB: #WrightSocialSpot
  • FB/IG: #RightsCatering
  • PAST EVENTS PHOTOS: https://photos.app.goo.gl/TnMVF8fCJitKAtpr6
  • THEME: Black, Gold & Red
  • VENUE VIDEO: https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxuhKD3v6bDqgpXy3nukv1RaxissbySzeE

DONT MISS THE BEST INDOOR PRE-VALENTINE’S & FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS PARTY IN THE EAST BAY!!!

OUR EVENTS ARE ALWAYS FUN FILLED AND SOLD-OUT!!

Please share this link with your friends and family.

Grand opening of “wildly popular” Korean fried chicken restaurant in Brentwood August 11

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Bonchon is bringing even more crunch to California

Popular U.S.-based brand opens first delivery and carryout-only concept

First 50 guests eat free, plus lion dancers

With its wide-array of flavors and crunch-worthy Korean double-fried chicken, Bonchon – meaning “my hometown” – is a food experience unlike any other Eastern Contra Costa County has had before.

The wildly popular restaurant, known for crispy, hand-brushed Korean fried chicken, is opening its 27th California location in Brentwood, situated at 5611 Lone Tree Way (near FedEx Office and  Home Depot) with hours of operations from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant will be spearheaded by local entrepreneur Thomas Nyugen.

This Brentwood location also marks the very first one for Bonchon dedicated to delivery and carryout operations. With the new model, it will allow for seamless customer interaction and ease the ordering process for individuals looking to get their favorite Bonchon meal through delivery or on-site pickup.

“Not only am I able to grow with such a globally-loved brand but being able to offer the first delivery and carryout-only location is such an accomplishment,” said Nyugen. “I am eager to serve the Brentwood community Bonchon’s flavorful chicken with our specialty sauce offerings, I am certain that we will quickly become a regular spot for those looking to get a great meal for family, friends or themselves.”

To give residents an opportunity to try Bonchon’s delicious, crunch-worthy wings, a grand opening celebration will take place on Thursday, August 11. The first 50 guests in line will receive five of the brand’s double-fried chicken wings, hand-brushed with their choice of the soy garlic or spicy signature sauce, for free. To add to the grand opening excitement, the Brentwood location will also host lion dancers at 6:00 p.m. on August 11 for all guests to enjoy.

Their menu also has Starters which include pot stickers, shrimp shumai, Takoyaki (ball-shaped calamari), chicken sliders, pork buns, Korean tacos, popcorn shrimp and edamame; Main Dishes which include bulgogi (thinly sliced marinated ribeye, sautéed with mushrooms, scallions, sesame seeds, and onions), japchae (marinated ribeye stir-fry), chicken katsu over rice, tteokbokki (rice cakes with fish cakes), bull dak (spicy chicken and rice cakes), wraps, bibimbap and fried rice dishes, plus udon noodle soups and sesame ginger salads. Their sides include fries, onion rings, kimchi, cole slaw, pickled radish, kimchi coleslaw and, of course, rice; plus they offer a rice cake dessert called mochi. Bonchon | Menu

“Our team could not be more eager to open this new California location with Thomas. His passion for Bonchon and dedication to catering to communities’ needs are just two of the reasons he is a great operator within our franchise system,” said Greg Buchanan, chief administrative officer at Bonchon. “Customer convenience is a top priority for us, so developing our first delivery and carryout location is a huge step for the brand. We know that residents will love having an easy way to get their Bonchon fix!”

Since its inception in Busan, South Korea in 2002, Bonchon’s mission to share Korean comfort food around the world has been more than a success. With 385-plus locations worldwide and more than 115 locations in the U.S., the Korean chicken brand is a global sensation. On top of the cult-favorite fried chicken wings, drumsticks and strips, the brand also provides a variety of flavorful offerings and Pan Asian favorites including japchae, kimchi, Korean tacos and potstickers.

As strategic expansion continues and Bonchon locations sustain consistent sales growth, multi-unit operators have placed a high priority on adding the concept into their portfolios.

About BonchonBonchon is a global restaurant brand known for distinctive Korean double-fried chicken, Asian fusion cuisine, and Korean specialties. Born in Busan, South Korea in 2002, the concept was established in the United States in 2006. Bonchon sets out to have its fans “Crunch Out Loud” by sharing the joy of hand-battered, double-fried, crazy crispy Korean fried chicken with the world.

Bonchon currently currently has more than 386 restaurants across eight countries including Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, Australia, Vietnam and the United States. In the U.S. the chain has more than 114 restaurants with franchise outposts in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

The brand has earned several accolades – it was recognized by Business Insider as “the gold standard for fried chicken” as well as included in Nation’s Restaurant News 2021 “Top 500 Restaurants”, Fast Casual Magazine’s 2022 “Top 100 Movers & Shakers” and Entrepreneur’s 2022 “Franchise 500”, “Fastest Growing Franchises”, “Top Food Franchise” and “Top Global Franchise” lists.

For more information about Bonchon, visit bonchon.com. To learn more about its franchise opportunities, visit franchising.bonchon.com.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.