August 15, 2026

Hello Dear Reader:

September is only weeks away, and at Chile Lindo, that means one thing—get ready!

Every year, I sell more empanadas during September than I do throughout the rest of the year combined. On September 18, Chile celebrates Independence Day—and I always joke that the way Chileans celebrate, you'd think we won the war last year.

Every culture has an iconic handheld food, and for Chileans, empanadas are it. The empanada is woven into Chile's history, literature, folklore, and family traditions. It is our culinary symbol and a source of national pride.

That's why, when I envisioned Chile Lindo as a cultural bridge and brand ambassador for Chile, I set high standards.

Customers often ask me, What's the difference between a Chilean empanada and an Argentine or Peruvian one? Every country has its own style and traditions, but what ultimately makes a great empanada isn't nationality — it's craftsmanship. It's handmade. It's small batches. It's quality ingredients. And it's an owner who obsesses over every detail. After 30 years, I'm still tweaking recipes, refining techniques, and fussing over every batch, because excellence is a moving target.

September also marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), when companies, organizations, and community groups celebrate the rich diversity of Latin American cultures. That means catering orders begin pouring in, making this month our busiest time of the year.

August is already off to a great start because, on Thursday, August 13, Chile Lindo was honored to host this month’s San Francisco Heritage Happy Hour.

Heritage Happy Hours take place every month at a registered Legacy Business, and I want to thank SF Heritage for their valuable work preserving what makes San Francisco, San Francisco. I can’t say enough about how important this work is for a business like Chile Lindo, which has always aimed to showcase Chilean culture in San Francisco.

Thank you for recognizing, through your social media, that Chile Lindo is a “cultural ambassador” at the heart of our city. It was wonderful to see everyone enjoying our pastel de choclo, Chilean pastries, and tasting our now-famous empanadas.

I also want to thank my fellow Salvadoran hospitality colleagues, Victor and Evelyn Reyes-Umana, owners of Bodega del Sur, for their generous donation of exquisite Malbec and Albariño. I’m always moved by their enthusiasm for Chilean wines and vineyards, inspired by their visits to Chile, as well as by the warmth they have for the Chilean people.

I invite you to visit their Bodega del Sur winery in Calaveras County and check out their website for the numerous events they organize, as well as the fundraisers they support for worthy causes. It’s wonderful to see fellow members of our Latin American hospitality community supporting one another and celebrating the cultures we bring to California.

I loved meeting other Legacy Business owners, along with the staff and board members of SF Heritage, and I’m happy to say that we all had fun and that the event was a great success.

Also, I was especially surprised to discover that Chile is featured beyond Chile Lindo on the Open Doors to History newsletter, published by SF Heritage Special City, leading with a photograph of the "Little Chile" plaque located beside Café Zoetrope in North Beach (thanks for the heads-up, Marcia Gagliardi, tablehopper.com).

The plaque commemorates Chilecito, the Chilean quarter established during the Gold Rush, where Chilean miners, merchants, and entrepreneurs helped shape early San Francisco. I was honored to attend the plaque's dedication in 2002.

When news of California's Gold Rush reached the port of Valparaíso, thousands of Chileans sailed north in search of opportunity. Little Chile became far more than an encampment. Chileans brought mining expertise, maritime trade, agriculture, and entrepreneurship that helped build early California. One remarkable example is José Manuel Ramírez Rosales, who is recognized as one of the founders of the historic Gold Rush town of Marysville. There are several plaques throughout Gold Country honoring these early Chilean pioneers, and over the years, I've been invited to attend many of those dedications.

Another Chilean historical event coming up in September is called History Live! Chileans in San Francisco, presented by the San Francisco Historical Society in collaboration with the Consulate General of Chile in San Francisco. The program takes place on Tuesday, September 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Museum of San Francisco, with Patricio Cabezas Logan, Consul General of Chile in San Francisco, in attendance.

On a different note, a toast to Chile’s wonderful wineries—and to last week’s spectacular breaking news: Santiago will host The World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2026 this November! 🍷🇨🇱

Before I sign off, I want to highlight my recent report on Jimmy Langman and his magazine Patagon Journal. I was very pleased to discover the latest issue at Rainbow Grocery and, of course, picked up a copy immediately!

It’s wonderful to see a publication that continues to shine a light on Patagonia’s extraordinary people, landscapes, culture, and—especially important to me—its conservation efforts. The current issue features the winners of the Seventh Patagonia Photo Contest, showcasing the extraordinary beauty and wildlife of Patagonia.

And on a final, final note, do not forget my absolute favorite annual event held every September at the San Francisco Botanical Garden — Flower Piano!

🌸 🎹 🎶

I look forward to seeing you soon at Chile Lindo. Swing by for Chilean wine, our famous empanadas, and our delicious pastries. Come celebrate San Francisco's history—and Chile's enduring place in it.

Saludos,

Paula Tejeda

Chile Lindo

August 2026 Heritage Happy Hour: Chile Lindo

_{Chile Lindo has proudly shared Chilean cuisine, culture, and community in San Francisco.}

_{Instagram: @sfheritage}

_{"The Heritage Happy Hour is a convivial “no-host” gathering of heritage professionals, young preservationists, aficionados, friends, and Legacy Business cohorts interested in safeguarding San Francisco’s unique architectural and cultural identity. We get together on the Second Thursday of each month from 5-7 pm at a registered Legacy Business (usually bar or restaurant) in San Francisco."}

_{A few months ago, I had the pleasure of welcoming Patricio Cabezas Logan, Consul General of Chile in San Francisco, and his colleague Isabella Tomás, Consul General of Austria in San Francisco, to Chile Lindo.}

^{It is inspiring to welcome guests who value the importance of building community through food, culture, and a shared love of good food.}

^{I look forward to continuing to share more of Chilean culture with the San Francisco Bay Area. ¡Gracias, Cónsul!}

Instagram: @chileensanfrancisco

_{The San Francisco Historical Society and the}

_{Chilean Consulate of San Francisco present:}

_{History Live! Chileans in San Francisco}

_{Presenter: Marica Campos}

_{Tues. Sept. 8 @ 6:30 P.M.}

_{(Livestream & In-person)}

_{A free Livestream or in-person ticket required}

_{(suggested donation $25).}

_{Read Forest at Chile Lindo Kitchen Culture}

_{I'm thrilled to welcome Read Forest, singer, songwriter, and guitarist based in Davis, California. Born in Boston to a Chilean mother from Santiago and a New York-born father, Read's musical journey reflects a life shaped by many cultures.}

_{His music blends classical traditions with American and Chilean folk, Brazilian and Peruvian influences, and even songs performed in Mapudungun, the language of the Mapuche, the Indigenous people of Chile.}

_{Join us for an intimate evening of music, culture, and community—the kind of experience that makes Chile Lindo Kitchen Culture a place where people gather not only to enjoy great food, but to discover extraordinary artists.}

_{Chile Lindo Kitchen Culture}

_{2943 16th Street}

_{San Francisco, CA 94103}

_{Saturday, August 22}

_{7:30 p.m}

_{Brumosa luz de luna}

_{Composer • Guitar:  Read Forest}

"Read Forrest, from a young age, was strongly influenced by a variety of musical styles. Hearing his father play songs like “Freight train” on the guitar, while his mother learned enough chords to play and sing “Gracias a la Vida”, by Violeta Parra, were inspiring enough to start developing a love for music. One very inspiring moment was at age six, sitting in a classroom at the artistic school his aunt and brother attended, a young man came with his guitar and sang to a group of children. His name was Victor Jara. The warmth and dedication he offered was unforgettable. Many years later, Read would learn and sing some of those songs in the same "poblaciones" Victor had frequented. One was “Herminda de la Victoria”, in Pudahuel, Santiago.

Read’s father – who lived in Massachusetts - got him a guitar at age 12 and hired a blues guitarist to give him some lessons, during the time they were spending together. Later, back in Chile, he started learning Latin American folklore and spent some time studying classical guitar at the conservatory of the Universidad de Chile. At age 17, Read started writing songs, mostly about the social processes he was a part of. He sang frequently at churches, community centers and universities, in "poblaciones," for labor unions and at human rights festivals.

Eventually, Mapuche poetry started making its way into Read’s writing, and the ceremonial music he was a part of - in traditional Mapuche ceremonies – started influencing the pulse of his songs, which became, in many cases, the beat of the kultrun, which resembles the beat of Mother Earth’s heart. The main characteristics of his musical style derive from this experience and his participation in many circles and gatherings of medicine people and elders of first nations from along the continent, as well as from the experience of co-founding an ecovillage that became an environmental and social proposal in practice."



_{If you've been dreaming of exploring Chile's spectacular wine regions, there has never been a better time.} 

"The awards ceremony will celebrate the vineyards offering outstanding hospitality and wine tourism experiences, recognising emerging talent alongside established names. Last year's ranking saw Millahue's Vik named The World's Best Vineyard 2025, with Schloss Johannisburg and Bodegas Ysios ranked No.2 and No.3 on the list respectively.

At the 2026 awards ceremony, in its home country, Vik will join the Hall of Fame group, formed of all the vineyards that have topped the annual poll of The World's Best Vineyards over its history, which are no longer eligible to be voted on new editions of the list. Last year's ranking marked the first time a Chilean vineyard had topped the ranking, with seven other vineyards from the country making the list."

_{Read more}

_{The War Memorial Veterans Gallery in San Francisco is currently hosting Transmutation: The Art of Hans Casanova, a solo exhibition by acclaimed Chilean jewelry sculptor Hans Casanova. The exhibition features his striking sculptural pieces, which combine metalwork with contemporary art jewelry, and will be on view through September 30, 2026.}

Instagram: @hanscjewelry

Kristine Tompkins, president and co-founder of Tompkins Conservation, was a keynote speaker alongside Esri president Jack Dangermond during the Plenary Session of the 2026 Esri User Conference, held July 13–17 in San Diego.

The Esri User Conference is the world’s largest annual gathering of GIS professionals, software users, and developers.

🙏 Thank you to everyone who has contributed to my fundraiser.

Your support means so much right now and is a powerful reminder that this work is — at its heart ❤️ — about community. 🙏

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🌼🌿 DONATE HERE 🌼🌿

_{I don’t say Chile Lindo empanadas are the best. Google does.}

_{I’ll let the reviews speak for themselves.}

CHILEAN CUISINE & CULTURE -- CONNECTING & CREATING COMMUNITY



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Chile Lindo Coffee Shop

2944 16th Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

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Chile Lindo Kitchen Culture

2943 16th Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

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