Pop Up Guest Chef Dinner - a tribute to Chef Charles Phan

Pop-up Guest Chef Dinner - A Tribute to Chef Charles Phan featuring Slanted Door Chef Dong Choi and Gigi's Chef Tu David Phu

A part of SF Cookbook Week

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

6:30p-9:00p 

Welcome cocktail, 3-5 courses plus wine

Join Farming Hope and Just Add Salt as we kickoff SF Cookbook Week with special guests Chef Dong Choi and Chef Tu David Phu for an unforgettable night of incredible food and inspiring community in tribute to the late Chef Charles Phan. All proceeds from the evening will support Farming Hope's culinary job training and food justice work.

About Chef Tu David Phu:

Chef Tu David Phu, a San Francisco Chronicle Rising Star Chef and chef-partner at GiGi's, a Vietnamese-influenced wine bar in San Francisco, draws on his Oakland upbringing and the resilience of his refugee parents. His roots trace back to Nước mắm Hưng Thành (in Phú Quốc, Vietnam) where he has his a family lineage rooted in artisanal fish sauce since 1895.

Chef Phu's culinary expertise is a testament to his diverse experiences. He honed his skills in the hallowed kitchens of renowned establishments, ranging from New York's internationally acclaimed Daniel to San Francisco's prestigious 2-star Michelin restaurant, Acquerello. Throughout his career, he absorbed the essence of various culinary traditions, from American culinary excellence to classical European techniques. Yet, a profound connection to what he calls "the memory of taste" led him back to his Vietnamese roots.

About Chef Dong Choi:  

Dong Choi was born in Seoul, Korea and moved to Atlanta, Georgia as a young child. He alternated between eating traditional Korean and southern comfort foods. Choi found a love for cooking in college and began building a career working with award-winning chefs like Joel Antunes in Atlanta, as Executive Chef for David Myers in LA, Las Vegas, Asia, and with the Michael Mina Group and Daniel Patterson Group.

Choi moved to the Bay Area and in 2017 joined The Slanted Door Group to lead the opening of Rice & Bones, the group's fast casual restaurant aimed at bringing high-quality, tasty food to students and faculty at The University of California, Berkeley. In 2018, Choi was promoted to Chef de Cuisine of The Slanted Door San Ramon where he developed new dishes and managed day-to-day operations of the 7K+ sq. ft. space, eventually passing the reins to his successor.

During the pandemic, Choi led the opening of Chuck's Takeaway, the group's first takeout sandwich shop catering to the needs of remote workers in San Francisco. Its successful launch and inaugural year prove that Choi has a strong pulse on what customers want.

As Head of Research & Development for The Slanted Door Group, Choi continually redefines what it means to cook modern Vietnamese and Asian cuisine in the US. He plays a critical role in the menu creation at The Slanted Door Napa.

About Farming Hope:

Farming Hope is a culinary job training and food justice nonprofit. We provide paid transitional job training to individuals overcoming obstacles to employment, offer nutritious culturally relevant meals free of charge to food-insecure families, and rescue food that would otherwise go to waste.

The Guest Chef Series at Farming Hope's Refettorio celebrates local chefs who share our core values of inclusivity in the workplace, food access, and sustainability. Our job-trainee Apprentices have the incredible opportunity to work, learn, and grow alongside some of the best chefs in country. By purchasing a ticket to this event, you directly contribute to our Apprentices' economic empowerment and to creating a more inclusive restaurant industry.

For those who are interested in group tables, event sponsorships, or have any questions, please contact us at giving@farminghope.org. We are happy to assist you and provide further information about this exciting event.

The ticket price includes a fair-market-value cost plus $175 tax-deductible donation to Farming Hope, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, EIN: 83-2393341.

Parking:

There is street parking and a few parking lots around the area. The closest parking garage is the Opera Plaza Parking Garage with entrances on Golden Gate Ave & Turk Street. 

Thank you to Sausalito Liquor Company and San Pellegrino for their beverage support and to Mehta Plastic Surgery for their generous support of this special dinner and Farming Hope's mission.