Oakland

Have you ever had them? Arepas are like corn pancakes with pockets stuffed with savory fillings.

Steel Rail Public House says they are going Off the Rails with a gastronomic experience you will not want to miss next  Fri. evening, Nov. 11, from 5-9pm  on Water St. next to Scott’s in Jack London Square. They are showcasing the talents of two local culinary artisans CHICA and Miss Arepita.

CHICA  brings her Chicana (Mexican-American) style faire to the table and Miss Arepita brings the cooking influence of her Venezuelan roots. Together they will create a cross cultural take on Arepas, this traditional Venezuelan dish.

Steel Rail offers these unique culinary Off the Rail Kitchen Takeovers every Fri. night in November and December just to infuse your evening with wonderful culinary creations by local chefs and artisans.

The best thing about Steel Rail, aside from the people, is the value. They have great coffee, craft beer, wine, small bites, soups, sandwiches and melts for reasonable prices in a warm, friendly atmosphere. And the price is right. Check out their menu. And you know you are in Jack London territory with the Pullman Grilled Cheese and the Call of the Wild roast beef, cheddar cheese and caramelized onion sandwich.

Located at 439 Water St. at the foot of Broadway, Steel Rail is at the end of the Continental Railway. Their belief is that steel rail workers helped shape the local community and they continue to celebrate  the spirit of this local community of Oakland. Steel Rail honors Oakland’s storied past and celebrates the people here in Jack London Square by providing a warm and casual setting. “We created Steel Rail as a welcome place for the entire community to eat drink share and unwind,” according to the founders.

Co-founder Chef Effie Speigler grew up on the coast of South Florida and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in NY. He traveled and honed his skills in Northern Tuscany under the tutelage of famed chef Nino Mosca. Co-founder Steve Sparkes was born in Kingston, Jamaica and grew up on a street called Unity Lane.  That street name says a lot about who he is. From Burgundy, France to Oakland’s Linden Brewery, he has over 30 years in the service industry and uniting community. Temoor Noor was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and comes from a vibrant family of designers, entrepreneurs and chefs. These three are close friends, sharing the same vision of farm fresh foods, excellent serivce, sports and building community in a joyful space in Jack London Square.

You can reach Steel Rail at 510-823-2345  or visit them at 439 Water St. in Jack London Square.

You are invited to  join BOSS (Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency) as they celebrate four and a half decades of working for social, racial and economic justice and equity, an end to homelessness and dignity and opportunity for all. The mission of BOSS is to help homeless, poor, and disabled people achieve health and self-sufficiency and to fight against the root causes of poverty and homelessness.

WHEN: Sat., Oct. 29, 6-9pm

WHERE: The Pavilion at Scott’s Seafood in Jack London Square

WHAT: A very special celebration in the spirit of Marti Gras to commemorate a legacy of service!

• Dinner with a special Creole menu
• Live Zydeco music by Grammy-nominated Andre Thierry
• Oakland Youth Chorus
• Comedian J-Red
• Vocalist Rhonda Benin
• Mistress of Ceremonies -Emily Turner, KPIX5
• Keynote Speaker – Alex Briscoe, Tipping Point Comunity
• Legacy awards to Keith Carson – Alameda County Board of Supervisors, San Francisco Foundation and Lateefah Simon – Akonadi Foundation
• Online  Silent Auction – bid now! Bid often.*

Buy your tickets (scroll down page) or become a sponsor and get tickets for FREE!

*SILENT AUCTION  What can you bid on? All kinds of great things like A Night at Hotel Shattuck with Breakfast for 2 at FIVE, Tasting and Tour of St. George Spirits in Alameda, Tickets to the Oakland Symphony, Spa package from International Orange, Indoor Rock Climbing or Skydiving, or Family fun at Slide Ranch Farm, and many, many more! All items will be available for final bids at Gala!

Funds will support BOSS’s year-round programs to TURN LIVES AROUND.

BOSS is at the cutting edge of innovation to help solve the most pressing issues of our time – homelessness, poverty and mass incarceration.

About BOSS:

Forty Five years ago a group of volunteers from Berkeley’s Jewish community came together to respond to the growing number of mentally ill homeless on the streets, following the closing of state mental hospitals. They pooled their resources, energy, empathic wisdom, and love into a volunteer-led outreach effort, the Hillel Streetwork Project. Volunteers talked with people on the streets, directing them to safe respite and referring them to health care or housing.

It was, and still is, a labor of love.

Today, that small street outreach project has grown into award-winning comprehensive, evidenced-based Alameda County-wide initiatives that fight poverty at 20 programs in Berkeley, Oakland, and Hayward. BOSS now employees over 150 full-time staff, interns and trainees. They have built dozens of public-private partnerships and have a track record of developing meaningful and impactful services – housing navigation, mental health case management, education, employment and violence intervention services and shelters, transitional and permanent supportive housing programs that have improved the lives of thousands of Alameda County residents. BOSS is at the cutting edge of innovation to help solve the most pressing issues of our time – homelessness, poverty, and mass incarceration. (by Sonja Fitz)