The Town Kitchen: Great Food. Great Jobs. Stronger Community.

“Oakland is really diverse with great youth supportive programs out there to encourage development. We are partnering with those that are already doing great work,” said Sabrina Mutukisna, founder of The Town Kitchen.

The UC Berkeley graduate is equally as modest when she describes The Town Kitchen’s own connections, progressions and plans.

The Town Kitchen is a socially-sustainable enterprise, employing low-income youth to create and deliver chef-crafted lunches and meals throughout Oakland. The meals are prepared in The Port Kitchens, a collaborative kitchen in Uptown Oakland. The Town Kitchen prepares the main course and then partners with other local businesses such as Mamacitas Café, Red Bay Coffee and others to complete and plate each meal.

While there is a minimum of 10 lunches required for local delivery, there is no minimum for delivery to facilities like the Impact Hub Oakland.  “We are proud to partner with many Oakland businesses, I can’t imagine having launched a business anywhere else. It’s such a nice energy,” said Mutukisna.

Town Kitchen’s motto: “Great Food. Great jobs. Stronger Community.”

Mutukisna also partners with Beyond Emancipation and Youth Uprising to recruit employees, all while offering fair wage employment of $15 to 20 per hour. In partnership with The Town Kitchen’s non-profit partner, ISEEED, employees are trained in entrepreneurship and can receive course credit from SFSU.  The average age of Town Kitchen employees, 90% of which live in Oakland, is 20-something. A small group of high school students work on the weekends and throughout the summer.

Town Kitchen Quick Facts:

•     Town Kitchen has been featured in the East Bay Express, Co.Exist & Stand4Magazine.
•     Town Kitchen sources locally & is organic, whenever possible.
•     Town Kitchen’s Executive chef hails from Google.
•     Find out more at: www.thetownkitchen.com