Homestead Restaurant In Oakland Introduces Summer Charity Events

Homestead in Oakland, California's Piedmont Avenue neighborhood will host a series of charity events occurring on Wednesdays from noon to 4:00 p.m. beginning in July. The restaurant will be setting up a "lemonade stand" selling $2.00 lemonades and iced teas (or Arnold Palmers) and $3.00 strawberry shortcakes (gluten free and dairy free) and all proceeds will be donated to the cause du jour. On July 8 and July 15, the beneficiary will be the Youth Business USA (www.ybusa.org) organization that helps low-income young adults start businesses by providing coaching, training, interest-free startup loans, pro-bono professional services and mentoring. On July 22 and July 29 the beneficiary will be Tenderloin Safe Passage (tenderloinsafepassage.org) that provides safe commutes to and from school for youth in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood. The restaurant was opened in August 2013 by Fred and Elizabeth Sassen and offers an upscale farm-to-table menu (no tipping, prices includes service) prepared with seasonal, often locally sourced, organic ingredients. Fred, 30 years old and most recently at Camino in Oakland and prior to that, Executive Sous Chef at Farallon in San Francisco, grew up outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Working in neighborhood restaurants and then premier downtown venues led to culinary school and the decision to relocate to San Francisco to pursue a career. Seven years at Farallon, farm tours throughout California, and stages at other acclaimed restaurants set the stage for opening Homestead. Elizabeth (previously a sous chef at Farallon and Waterbar restaurants, both in San Francisco) grew up on a farm in the Central Valley, as did her parents. In addition to time spent in San Francisco, Elizabeth worked in Madrid, Spain, running a small high-end restaurant called Memento. Highlights of the rustic 48-seat dining room located in a 1920s Julia Morgan building, with contemporary design work by Carrie Shores of Larson Shores Architecture and Daniel Austin of Rocket Restaurant Supply, include hues of fennel green, fresh cream and copper, floor to ceiling windows, original brick inlay, an open kitchen, home-style cabinets, a large butcher block table, repurposed antiques, a custom-built wood-burning grill, and artwork by local artists. An outdoor patio has room for 18 people, weather permitting. Homestead also has a semi-private room that can accommodate 10 seated guests, and provides the option of doing custom pre-booked dinners ranging from family style feasts to refined tasting menus. Homestead is located at 4029 Piedmont Avenue, between 40th and 41st Streets, in Oakland, California. The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Neighborhood street parking is often an option and there is a city lot directly behind the restaurant. For more information or for reservations, which can also be made via OpenTable.com, call (510) 420-6962. The web address is www.homesteadoakland.com.