When it comes to food in the San Francisco Bay Area, flavor overflows, and one big reason is the nonprofit La Cocina. For chef Olivia Mecalco, cooking has always been about family, a passion passed down through generations.

"My family, my grandma, she loved to cook. My mom, she loved to cook. And when I was little, my mom always told me, 'You have to cook for family.' That's why I started cooking, and I learned after her," Mecalco said.

Since 2005, La Cocina has helped turn stories like Mecalco's into success, giving budding entrepreneurs the support to make their culinary visions a reality. Executive director Leticia Landa says it's all about community empowerment.

"We work with mostly immigrants, women, people of color, people who are incredibly talented entrepreneurs, who are needing

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