Love Burn spices up chicken in So. San Francisco

An order of a Love Burn’s Hot Chicken Leg being boxed up. INQUIRER/ Migiuel Carrion

SAN FRANCISCO – In times of uncertainty, like the current pandemic, launching a business can be extremely risky. In California, most public places have been forced to close their door, or cope with turbulent schedules of reopening and sporadic stay-at-home orders in various counties.

But, in the heart of the Bay Area, a new pop-up has been gaining traction despite the circumstances. Love Burn Chicken, located in the newly opened bowling alley called Hometown Bowl in South San Francisco, has been serving up Nashville-inspired Hot Chicken with a global twist for nearly two months.

According to its website, “Love Burn, is the love child from food veterans Christian Perez, Dexter Lee, Jason Angeles, Justin Isip, and Ronnie Taylor.”

Co-owner Justin Isip says, “The name Love Burn, it comes from the fact that I think everyone, at some point in their life, has had their fair share of experiences of love. Whether that’s a good experience or a bad experience, some people might say they’ve been burned by love before.”

The menu is fairly simple. One can order either a chicken sandwich or a hot chicken leg quarter with different sides such as fries and coleslaw.

Love Burn’s menus. INQUIRER/ Migiuel Carrion

The spice levels are from zero to four, all with corresponding descriptions linked to the name Love Burn. Level Zero is described as “Just Friends” while Level Four says “One Night Stand.”  The spice blend has ingredients such as Chinese five spice and guajillo chilis, among others.

Isip says the reason for starting the business was to satisfy a “burning desire” in the area. “There was a necessity to have spicy chicken… there was not really any other spicy chicken here in the Peninsula and that’s kinda how it all started,” said Isip.

When Love Burn first opened in November, co-owner Jason Angeles says businesses were beginning to reopen only to close again due to a spike in Covid cases.

“So (we’re) just operating as primarily takeout and delivery apps, but we know since we have a good base, once this does reopen and we get to some sort of normalcy that we’re in a good spot,” says Angeles. “(We) started off with SSF Chickenbox and now Love Burn. And with the catering company that Chef Ronnie Taylor and I have been doing, we’ve been feeding seniors throughout this time.”

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Vegan takeout bakery in Long Beach

By Staff

LONG BEACH, California – Fil-Am Kym Estrada has been creating plant-based Filipino baked goods since 2016. Her one-woman bakery moved from Brooklyn to Long Beach in October 2019.

Pop-up San & Wolves Bakeshop’s Kym Estrada with goodies on offer. SCREENSHOT

Estrada says that her biggest goal is to open a storefront in Long Beach, but until then, you can find San & Wolves Bakeshop on its website.“I’m Filipina and I’ve been vegan for 10 years,” Estrada told ABC7. “I basically started this out because like there was nothing like it. I miss my culture and I miss eating foods I grew up eating.”

Estrada started selling vegan treats at events across Southern California until the COVID-19 pandemic hit.mCustomers can pick up online orders at Annie’s Soul Delicious in L.A. on Fridays or at Salud Juice Bar in Long Beach on Saturdays.

Portland’s Filipino vegan pop-up

PORTLAND, Oregon – Kumare PDX, a new vegan pop-up is already making a splash in the Portland vegan food scene.

Owned and founded by Filipino sisters Ada and Carla Chavez, Kumare PDX specializes in Ensaymadas in four flavors: the Classic topped with buttercream and shredded cheese; the Dulce De Leche, slathered with vanilla buttercream and drizzled with caramel; the Jackfruit has ripe jackfruit jam in addition to the vanilla buttercream; the Ube, with a triple dose of the purple yam with ube buttercream, ube crumble, and ube custard.

Kumare PDX is currently taking preorders only, with scheduled pickups to ensure safe and efficient customer service. The Ensaymada box comes with one of each flavor for $25. Check Instagram at @kumarepdx to see where it’s popping up next.

San Antonio’s Sari-Sari Filipino Restaurant opens new spot

Stone Oak residents who like Filipino fare now have a new market to explore. The popular Northwest San Antonio spot Sari-Sari Filipino Restaurant, Market and Bakery opened a 1,700-square-foot space packed with housewares, decor and Filipino pantry staples as well as made-to-order halo-halo shaved ice and steamed buns, MySA reports.

Camille and Adrian De Los Reyes’ original Sari-Sari location is temporarily closed due to the pandemic. That location, at 5700 Wurzbach Road, will resume curbside service Friday, February 5 post.

Meanwhile, the new market, located at 18720 Stone Oak Parkway, Suite 115, is now open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.