Heena Patel, Besheram

Saturday, June 14, 2025, 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm

Stop by the Foodwise Classroom for a cooking demo featuring the seasonal bounty of the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. This month, we’re showcasing Stone Fruit as part of our Seasonal Spotlight program.

Heena Patel is the chef and co-owner of Besharam, a regional Gujarati restaurant in San Francisco’s Dogpatch district. Roughly translated to mean “shameless,” Besharam features Heena’s bold interpretation of the flavors and dishes that were prevalent throughout her childhood in India, playfully reimagined within a California context. Since the restaurant’s opening, Heena has received local and national attention for her fearless style including recognition as a James Beard Foundation Awards Best Chef California semifinalist in 2022, and accolades from Eater San Francisco as the Restaurant of the Year in 2019. At Besharam, Heena offers an experience that is unmistakably hers, while paying homage to her heritage and every chapter that has informed the journey to this moment.

All demos take place in the Foodwise Classroom (under the tents in front of the Ferry Building) and are free to the public, with recipes and samples for all.

Seasonal Spotlight

Foodwise’s Seasonal Spotlight program shines a light on the best produce that California farms have to offer at our farmers markets. Join us for free samples, cooking demos, and festivals to celebrate a different peak-season produce item each month. See upcoming events.