Why These Chefs and Food Professionals Give Back at Foodwise Sunday Supper
October 9, 2026
Every October, Foodwise Sunday Supper brings together farmers, chefs, sommeliers, and other members of the Bay Area’s food community to support local farms, food access, and youth education. Guests enjoy an abundant reception and four-course feast created by 35 of the Bay Area’s top restaurants, hear from inspiring speakers, and help raise vital funds for Foodwise’s farmers markets and programs.
Behind the scenes, a dedicated committee of 17 local food, beverage, and hospitality leaders volunteer their time and expertise to make this important fundraiser a success, coordinating with chefs, supporting event planning, and ensuring all of our guests and participants have an incredible evening.
What does it take to put together one of the most delicious events of the year? Read on to hear from three Events Committee members as they share what they love about Sunday Supper, and menu sneak peeks. Be sure to reserve your seat today for Foodwise Sunday Supper on October 18.
Christina Alexis, The Pleasure Principle Supper Club
Chef Christina Alexis is the owner and head chef of The Pleasure Principle Supper Club, a dining events company that offers pop-up dining and boutique catering services in the Bay Area. Christina first popped up at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market at the first annual Juneteenth on the Waterfront in 2021. Since then, she has participated in other Pop-Ups on the Plaza events and hosted a few free cooking demos.
“I’ve also worked as a private chef for 10 years in the Bay Area and have had the opportunity to cook for everyone from Jane Fonda to Joe Biden, but I’m happiest when I get to cook for my community!” Christina says.
How did you first get involved with Foodwise?
I was graciously recommended by Shakirah Simley, a former board member.
How long have you been part of the Events Committee? What’s your role in supporting Sunday Supper?
This is my second year as an Events Committee member. I’m a proud chef team lead for Team Rosemary (Burdell, Californios, and Paula LeDuc Fine Catering).
What are you most looking forward to at this year’s Sunday Supper?
The energy is positively electric. It is so cool to see an event of this scale come together. It is cooperation embodied and for me, in this day and age, that is so radical and frankly soothing to witness.
What dish for this year’s event seems most exciting to you?
I mean, call me biased, but my team’s Lamb Barbacoa by Californios sounds incredible, and I can only hope to get a shred of meat or a taste of it if I’m lucky. To be honest, all of the menus sound delicious. I mean these are the cream of the crop cooking at Sunday Supper, and truly every menu is a can’t-miss dining event!
Why do you choose to volunteer for Foodwise?
Simply put, Foodwise does the meaningful and impactful work at a scale that I would only be able to hope for or dream about. As a volunteer, I can proudly say that I’m a part of that impact and that makes me feel so empowered to do more work for the collective. Because that’s what it’s all about: all of us.
Madeline Janning, M. Janning Communications
Madeline Janning is the owner of M. Janning Communications, an Oakland-based boutique marketing and PR agency focused on supporting restaurants, wineries, and hospitality brands, especially those that are female-founded.
“We partner with clients who share our passion for great hospitality to amplify their stories and build meaningful connections. Our focus is helping the people behind great food and drink get the attention they deserve,” Madeline says.
How did you first get involved with Foodwise?
When I lived in the city, I always loved supporting the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and I knew I had to find a way to get involved. In the early days of my PR career, I connected with Brie and Christine to see how I could best support their team. Once I saw how much Sunday Supper does for farmers and for Foodwise’s programs, I was hooked. Working with the Foodwise team, especially Sarah Henkin (what a star!), has kept me coming back every year.
How long have you been part of the Events Committee? What’s your role in supporting Sunday Supper?
This is my third Sunday Supper with the Events Committee, and I’m reception manager again this year. I’m also chef team lead for Team Pear (Camber, Octavia, The Progress, Dandelion Chocolate), which means I work with our chefs on their menus, rentals, and logistics before the event. I also support the team on some comms and PR consulting.
What dish for this year’s event seems most exciting to you?
I love Team Pear’s lineup. The Progress is doing a roasted Anderson Ranch goat loin with Tierra Vegetables heirloom corn, Full Belly Farm chilaca chile, Lonely Mountain husk cherry, and quince. It’s a true celebration of fall at the market.
Why do you choose to volunteer and support Foodwise?
I believe in their mission to empower farmers and communities. My whole career is about supporting our food and beverage communities, so giving my time back to it matters to me.
Gizela Ho, Good Morning 96
Chef Gizela Ho is the chef/owner of Good Morning 96, soon to open in San Francisco. The seasonal menu will bring together global flavors inspired by Gizela’s travels as well as Asian and Guamanian cuisines. She brings her long history in the Bay Area’s best kitchens to her volunteer work as a chef team lead for Sunday Supper, including her experience as Chef de Cuisine at Rich Table.
“Good Morning 96 is going to be seasonality-focused and kind of like a bridging of cultures through food. I’ve traveled a lot, so I’m not tied to a specific cuisine,” Gizela says.
How did you first get involved with Foodwise?
I actually participated as a chef for the last couple of years [with Rich Table]. And every time the opportunity comes up to do Sunday Supper again, it’s a no-brainer. I think it’s a great opportunity to meet a lot of other chefs. We’ve always shopped at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, so it was really important for me to support that market in any way that I can.
How long have you been part of the Events Committee? What’s your role in supporting Sunday Supper?
I actually joined the committee pretty recently, maybe four months ago when Gaby [Maeda] reached out and said that Sarah [Henkin] needed a couple more people to help on the committee. It was really easy for me to say yes because I had supported Foodwise Sunday Supper for so many years already.
I’m a team lead, which means I’m the liaison between the chefs on Team Quince (Camber, Nopa, Tiya, Saison) and the rest of the event and other chef team coordinators.
What are you most looking forward to at this year’s Sunday Supper?
The auction is always really exciting to me because it’s so high energy. A couple years ago, I think Rich Table was able to raise $50K during the auction! This year, I’m looking forward to seeing how it comes together from the organizational side, because I’m always on the cooking side of it every year.
What dish for this year’s event seems most exciting to you?
On my team, I’m really excited for our entree. Chef Pujan is doing a Tandoori Chicken Chaap. I’m not so familiar with Indian food. I know there’s a lot of moving parts, and I’ve always really appreciated how well they can balance all the spices that they use in their cooking. So I’m interested to see that.
Why do you choose to volunteer and support Foodwise?
I think it’s really important to support the farms in general. Everybody loves going to the farmers market, but no one knows how much effort it takes to farm. I’ve visited a couple farms before, and I’ve always been in awe. If you think kitchens are understaffed, farms are understaffed.
Any way that we can help and support the farmers is only going to help restaurants and kitchens and everybody. It’s all symbiotic. I just want to be able to do what I can to support them, whether it’s buying produce from farmers directly at the market or doing these events that help them as well.
Tickets are going fast! Reserve your seat today before they sell out.
Thank you to our whole Events Committee for making Foodwise Sunday Supper possible: Christina Alexis, Daniel Capra, Gaby Maeda, Gizela Ho, Heather Rice, Jacob Bindman, Jared Murray, Joel Costa, Kory Cogdill, Larry Piaskowy, Mac Malone, Madeline Janning, Nora Furst, Pamela Mazzola, Sarah Henkin, Sonia Morris, and Taira Kater.
Topics: Events