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12 NIGHTS of CHOCOLATE
A benefit for the SF-Marin Food Bank
This is our 12th year of 12 Nights of Chocolate, and it’s still one of our favorite traditions. Each November, we transform our factory into a celebration of chocolate, food, drink, music, film, and some of the incredibly talented people we’re lucky to call friends.
We’ll welcome an exciting line-up of chefs and bakers for intimate dinners and brunches, with cacao making its way into every menu. Beyond the kitchen, this year’s series includes guided wine and whiskey pairings, Music & Chocolate, plus our annual screenings of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and Big Night — the latter an excellent chance to combine dinner and a movie. We’ll close out the season with our Holiday Market, bringing together talented local makers, food producers, and artists for a day of shopping, snacking, and holiday cheer.
As always, 12 Nights is also about giving back. Our dinners and brunches benefit our longtime partner, SF-Marin Food Bank, with all net proceeds supporting their vital work in our community. Over the years, together we’ve helped provide more than 400,000 meals.
Event Calendar
November 11th
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.M
Wine & Chocolate
Fortified wines have long been a classic companion to chocolate, and with good reason. This is our second time offering this unique seated tasting, where our Chocolate Education Team will lead you through a thoughtfully selected flight of ports, sherries, and Madeiras, each paired with a distinctive single-origin chocolate. Together, we’ll explore how notes of dried fruit, spice, and toasted sugar in the wines meet the fruity, floral, or nutty flavors in our chocolate. It’s a pairing that reveals depth, warmth, and a satisfying sense of discovery.
Guests must be 21 years or older to attend this experience. We’ll verify your age upon arrival.
November 12th
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.M
Music & Chocolate
Our Summer Series event with Bay Area harpist Erica Messer was so successful that we’ve invited her to 12 Nights for a holiday Music & Chocolate event. Set within our factory space, this experience pairs harp compositions with a progression of Dandelion chocolate desserts, each duo thoughtfully matched to highlight moments of texture, flavor, and feeling. The result is an intimate, multi-sensory evening that invites you to slow down and notice the subtleties of flavor and sound.
Please note: Pairings include nuts, dairy, and gluten. We are unable to make substitutions.
November 13th
7:00 p.m.
Whiskey & Chocolate
Join us in our Bloom chocolate salon for a guided tasting exploring the pairing of whiskey and chocolate. Guests will enjoy four distinctive whiskeys alongside four carefully matched chocolate bites, including single-origin chocolate squares, and composed chocolate desserts. Along the way, your host will guide you through the flavors, aromas, and textures of each pairing, sharing how different whiskey styles interact with cocoa, and highlighting what to look for in each sip and bite.
November 14th
SHOWS at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Dinner & a movie featuring A16 Chef Yosuke Machida and Pastry Chef Charlie Guyard, La Cocina Chefs, & Kitty Oestlien of Tansy Wines
Big Night at Dandelion
It’s no secret that we love movies at Dandelion, and what’s better than dinner and a movie? Join us for a delicious evening that celebrates food on film like no other: 1996’s star-studded, Italian-themed Big Night. We look forward to welcoming you with bubbles and bites, and Kitty Oestlien of Tansy Wines will be pouring Italian wine (included in your ticket) throughout the evening. La Cocina will join in the fun with some small dishes of their own — along with A16’s owner Shelley Lindgren, Chef Yosuke Machida, and Pastry Chef Charlie Guyard — who’ll share their incredible pizzas hot out of the oven and end with a chocolatey dessert.
We will be collecting pantry items and donations for the SF-Marin Food Bank.
Note: This seated dining event will be served family-style, and as a result we will be unable to accommodate dietary restrictions or allergies.
November 15th
12 p.m.
3 p.m.
7 p.m.
Willy Wonka at the Chocolate Factory
An annual tradition returns! We’ll be turning our 16th Street chocolate factory into a treat-filled movie theater for a screening of our favorite movie, 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder. As always, we’ll have lots of hot chocolate and special snacks for everyone, both kids and adults, to enjoy while watching the film. We will be collecting pantry donations for the SF-Marin Food Bank.
Please note: There is no seated dinner at this event.
December 6th
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Complimentary General Admission
10 a.m. EARLY ENTRY: $25
Dandelion Chocolate Holiday Market
For the fifth year, we’re transforming our factory into a festive holiday shopping destination. We’ve invited friends, collaborators, and creators to set up shop for an afternoon of shopping, socializing, and connection. Guests will discover 25 vendors (keep an eye on our Instagram for updates and sneak peeks!), including some of our favorite chocolatiers, ceramicists, food producers, foragers, printmakers, and so much more. We’ll provide chocolate samples to keep shoppers going as you select ceramics and consider gorgeous accessories for best-friend gifts. It’s a perfect holiday day out. And don’t worry, our café and retail space will be open for guests to enjoy a hot chocolate or mocha while picking up a couple of bars to go, or a Hot Chocolate Mix Trio for a neighbor.
We will be collecting pantry items and donations for the SF-Marin Food Bank.
November 4th
6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
an evening with ...
David Fisher, Serena Chow Fisher, Emma Lipp, Jack Irving, & Anne Moser
As per tradition, our opening night brings local legends and 12 Nights veterans Serena Chow Fisher and David Fisher to the kitchen. They’re the duo behind Michelin-starred 7 Adams, which The New York Times named one of the best 25 restaurants in San Francisco. We heartily agree. Joining them is James Beard Award semi-finalist Emma Lipp, chef and co-owner of Valley in Sonoma — a San Francisco Chronicle “Top 100” restaurant known for simple, seasonal cuisine. Next, at the tender age of 23, is Jack Irving, Chef de Cuisine at Octavia and “the biggest rising star in the S.F. chef scene,” according to SFGATE. Serena will be providing desserts (always exceptional, always a surprise), while Anne Moser of San Mateo-based Backhaus will be providing a mouthwatering bread service.
November 5th
6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
an evening with ...
Darryl Bell, Brenda Landa, Max Harnden-Castillo, Melissa & Sean McGaughey, & Azikiwee Anderson
Tonight, we welcome Missouri native and James Beard Award semi-finalist Darryl Bell of Stateline Road Smokehouse in Napa. Do yourself a favor and pick up his BBQ sauce at our holiday market. And joining us for the first time are Brenda Landa of Outerlands — don’t miss her fresh takes on California comfort food for the neighborhood — and Max Harnden-Castillo of Kantine. (He’s ready to translate Scandinavian sensibility into dinner). On dessert, Melissa McGaughey and husband Sean McGaughey return! Together, they run the James Beard-nominated Quail & Condor bakery and the Michelin-starred Troubadour Bread & Bistro, both in Healdsburg. On bread service, we welcome back Azikiwee “Z” Anderson of the award-winning, community-driven Rize Up Bakery, whose first brick and mortar just opened on Howard Street.
November 6th
6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
an evening with ...
Alex Hong, Ryan Shelton, Danny Stoller, Spencer Horovitz, & Amy Brown
We’re happy to welcome back Alex Hong of Sorrel, (and Arquet in the Ferry Building) easily considered one of the best restaurants in S.F. (not to mention earning a Michelin Star for eight consecutive years). Also returning is Ryan Shelton, whose restaurant Merchant Roots features fanciful, thoughtful tasting menus that change with the seasons. New to 12 Nights is veteran Bay Area chef Danny Stoller. He has cooked in and led multiple James Beard Award-winning restaurants, co-started the pop-up that became Square Pie Guys, and has a forthcoming French brasserie, Petit Américain. Oui, chef. Spencer Horovitz of famed pop-up Hadeem (soon to be a Lower Haight restaurant) is rounding out the night with dessert. Babka lovers, take note. For bread service, Amy Brown of the delicious Marla Bakery in Santa Rosa returns (for the first time since 2014!).
November 7th
11:00 A.m. – 1:00 p.m
a seated brunch featuring...
Nicholas Bonamico, Tony Cervone, Isaac Taitano, & Amy Chen
Our own Nicholas Bonamico joins us for brunch. Everything he makes is beyond exceptional. Prior to heading up our Confections team, he had a distinguished 17-year career with Bouchon Bakery. We love collaborating with our neighbors, so when Tony Cervone, the culinary force behind Souvla (and formerly with Kokkari Estiatorio) said yes to doing 12 Nights, we were thrilled. Next, a baker whose pop-ups always sell out: Isaac Taitano opened Tano last year, inside Paper Son Coffee. His Asian-inspired pastries and inventive flavors lead to long lines before the doors even open. We are huge fans of Amy Chen, Head Baker at Juniper (which uses our chocolate in their pastries and drinks). It's one of the best bakeries in S.F., as evidenced by The Chronicle recently naming them “best croissant” in a blind tasting.
November 7th
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
an evening with ...
Gizela Ho, Jazmine Fenton, Megumi Nakamura, Melissa Loar, Quinn Berger & Andrew Roth
We are truly excited for this all-star line-up. Chef Gizela Ho, who spent a decade at the legendary Rich Table, has a forthcoming S.F. restaurant. It’s called Good Morning 96, and it’s rooted in her Hong Kong heritage and Guam upbringing. Jazmine Fenton, friend of Gizela and the former Chef de Cuisine of Che Fico, known for her hyper-seasonal menus, is also cooking tonight. Joining both is Megumi Nakamura, who spent years at Rintaro and now runs her lauded Bar Tanuki pop-ups, which always sell out. (If you know how to get a seat, we’re all ears.) Octavia's pastry chef Melissa Loar is providing dessert. Keep an eye out for Lorella, her first brick and mortar bakery along with chef Melissa Perello, opening any day now. For bread service, we welcome Quinn Berger & Andrew Roth of Compagnon Bakery, a Stonestown Farmers’ Market favorite.
November 8th
11:00 A.m. – 1:00 p.m
a seated brunch with ...
Nasir Amar, Max Blachman-Gentiles, Matthew Kosoy, & James Wong
Since opening in the Ferry Building just last year, Parachute has become one of the city’s most talked-about bakeries. The lamination genius behind it all is Nasir Amar, who trained in Michelin-starred kitchens and now turns out over 1,500 pastries daily. Max Blachman-Gentiles’ pizza restaurant, Jules, is one of the toughest reservations in town. It’s a New York Times “best restaurant,” and one of Bon Appetit’s “best new restaurants” of 2026. Now in his third year, we can safely say Matthew Kosoy is part of the 12 Nights family. The self-taught baker owns Rosalind Bakery, with a flagship location in Pacifica and an outpost at the Embarcadero. Rounding out the line-up is James Wong of Breadbelly. We’ve been friends and fans for years. James (who comes from Michelin-starred restaurants) and his team create some of the most inventive pastries, sandwiches, and toasts in San Francisco.
November 8th
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m
an evening with ...
Meichih & Michael Kim, Chris Yang, Francis Ang, Ellie Estrada-Londo, & Lorena Ramos
We are thrilled to welcome back these amazing chefs for what will be a creative, Asian-forward menu. Husband and wife chef duo - Meichih and Michael Kim reimagine Korean and Taiwanese cuisine at the popular Yeobo, Darling in Menlo Park. Joining them is Piglet & Co. Chef / partner Chris Yang, known for his elevated night market-influenced menus. Old friend Francis Ang returns as well. He’s the Chef / owner of Abacá (named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America), and is known for his personal, innovative approach to Filipino cuisine. The dessert course, sure to be incredible, will be handled by Ellie Estrada-Londo, Executive Pastry Chef of Michelin-starred Nisei, who was just named Starchefs 2026 Rising Star Pastry Chef. Bread service will be provided by Lorena Ramos of Base Camp Bakery, a queer Korean-Chicana-owned artisanal bakery focused on naturally leavened bread. Bar Iris's Beverage Director Timofei will be crafting special cocktails for the evening.
November 9th
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.M
an evening with ...
Alan Hsu, George Dingle, JP Carmona, Michelle Fried, & Jackson Schnetz
It’s always a treat to welcome first-time chefs to 12 Nights, and this line-up is … a jawdropper. We welcome Alan Hsu, Chef and Co-Owner of the Michelin-starred Sun Moon Studio — a four-table restaurant in West Oakland whose 12 seats are wildly coveted (“The best restaurant you’ll never go to,” says The San Francisco Standard). Next up is another Benu alum: George Dingle, the expat behind Dingles Public House, which brings modern British fare to Hayes Valley. Joining the line-up is JP Carmona, formerly at Manresa and now the co-owner of Routier, a French bistro in Lower Pacific Heights. On dessert, Michelle Fried of Saison (and formerly Morimoto, Eleven Madison Park, and Sons & Daughters) is known for her innovative dishes that often blend savory and sweet. Rounding out the night, Jackson Schnetz of Forma Bakery in Oakland will provide bread service.
November 10th
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.M
an evening with ...
Brian Limoges, Adam Gale, Sophie Hau, & Eric Chow
PLEASE NOTE: We can only accommodate vegetarian dietary restrictions on this evening, and no other requests will be honored.
On this final night of chef dinners, the fine-dining team at Enclos — which just earned its third Michelin star within two years of opening — is taking over. Leading the charge is Executive Chef Brian Limoges, whose cuisine reflects a deep respect for seasonality, sustainability, and a sense of place (well earned after time as a Sous Chef at Atelier Crenn and Executive Sous Chef at Quince). Joining Brian is Adam Gale, who now leads the kitchen at Enclos following time at Quince, Saison, and Eleven Madison Park. On dessert is Sophie Hau, Pastry Chef of Enclos. Her elegant dishes draw inspiration from Sonoma County's bountiful produce, while her precision and refined French technique are the result of years spent at Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park, Per Se, & Californios. Rounding out the evening with bread service is Tartine alum Eric Chow, whose Astranda Bakery has a cult following in The City.
About SF-Marin
Food Bank
Since 1987, the SF-Marin Food Bank has pioneered many successful models aimed at ending hunger in San Francisco and Marin.
Before the pandemic, one in five neighbors was at risk of hunger. Now, we know the need is even greater. The Food Bank addresses hunger head-on — from their food pantry network and home-delivered groceries to CalFresh (food stamp) enrollment. Nearly 60 percent of what they distribute is fresh fruit and vegetables.
To meet the dramatic increase in the need for food, the Food Bank has opened 27 emergency pop-up pantries across San Francisco and Marin. Every week, their pantry network is distributing food to about 55,000 families weekly — almost double their pre-COVID numbers. The pop-ups will stay open as long as necessary, and with community support, they’ll be able to open even more pantries in more neighborhoods that need help.
The Food Bank continues to be here as a steadfast beacon of community, compassion, and care as we provide food for the hungry. Together, with supporters like you, we’ll continue to help neighbors in what promises to be a marathon.
Learn more or get involved here.