Gifts For and From Dad

As we head towards Father’s Day weekend, I’d like to share the news that we’ve been included in an exclusive holiday gift basket put together by City Grit for Williams-Sonoma.

Sarah Simmons, founder and chef of City Grit, is inspiring in many ways. Her creative and entrepreneurial spirit shines through all her work, whether showcasing celebrity chefs’ from around the country at her NYC culinary salon, or championing artisan food makers in projects like this great basket.

Also featured in this basket is Three Jerks Jerky. I had the pleasure of meeting one of the “jerks,” Daniel Fogelson recently at Cheese Plus’ 9th Summer Artisan Food Festival. I got a chance to taste his jerky, and can happily say it’s amazing, and worth seeking out. So, if you’re looking for something uniquely curated with a dad’s taste buds in mind, then I encourage you to head over and order one up.

Speaking of dads, I also wanted to take a moment and introduce you all to my father, Al Manfredi, pictured here rocking the always fashionable SFQ baseball cap. He’s been a huge supporter of SFQ and my culinary career from the very beginning, as you can see from this photo below. Those are his arms and feet as I’m about to create something delicious for him.

He enthusiastically spreads the word about SFQ wherever he goes. He’s retired now, but taught P.E. and coached Varsity Basketball at Rio Americano High School in Sacramento, CA for over 25 years, so he runs into many former students and colleagues, and makes sure they know all about the sauce and our story.

Along with my mother Peggy (also invaluable to the cause), he makes local deliveries for me, and they both keep me up to date with pictures of our sauce displays on stores shelves around town.

He’d be a great father even without all the extra help he gives, and I wouldn’t have found all this love, happiness, and success in San Francisco without him. Thanks Dad! I love you!