Townrootz

#005 - Truffle Shuffle.  Today’s interview is with Jason McKinney from Oakland’s Truffle Shuffle.  Truffle Shuffle has an incredible “pandemic pivot” story.  Co-founders Jason McKinney, his wife Sarah McKinney, and Tyler Vorce all cut their teeth together at Napa’s famous French Laundry Restaurant. In 2018, they set out to start an “honest truffle company with the goal of sourcing honest and susta...

#004 - Chanchos.  Today’s interview is with Matt Meyer and Daniel Paez, longtime friends and founders of Chanchos.  Matt and Daniel were working on opening a new bar in Oakland (Low Bar) to recreate the Oakland bar scene they enjoyed in their early 20s.  When the pandemic hit, they started Chanchos to sell comfort food.  Chanchos allowed them to fund the bar build-out and test the market along the...

#003 - Formosa Chocolates.  Today’s interview is with Kim Yang, founder of Formosa Chocolates.  Kim is a doctor but left her medical career to become a chocolate entrepreneur.  She followed her passion and that led her to culinary school and traveling the world visiting chocolate shops. Formosa ships chocolate to all 50 states.  Kim is known to sometimes include handwritten notes with shipments. L...

#002 - Brown Bag Bread Club.  Today’s interview is with Lee Magner, founder of the Brown Bag Bread Club.  Lee is a longtime professional baker.  When he was furloughed from his job due to COVID he started baking and delivering fresh bread around Oakland.  The response was AMAZING!  People loved his bread and created a community of bread aficionados.   The club offers monthly or biweekly subscripti...

#001 - Welcome to the first episode of The Townrootz Podcast. This podcast is for and about Oakland, CA - otherwise known as "The Town".  No matter if you live here, work here, or are visiting, we have something for you.  We cover local businesses, people, community organizations, events, and experiences that make-up Oakland.  They all have their own unique stories and we will bring them...